Yesterday I was looking over my book-a-holic wife's shelves, hoping she had a couple of early Gillian Slovo novels (nope). While we were talking about the wonderful Barbara Kingsolver today, the wife suggested today that I spend a year where all the fiction I read is all by women, (with a bias towards non-Western). And... Continue Reading →
Seminar Report: On fields, entrepreneurs, Jaws and The Wire. No, really
A glorious late summer’s day. What better way to spend it than being a mouse in the maze that is Manchester Business School, and chancing upon the first “Manchester Institute of Innovation Research” seminar of the academic year? It was on “Institutionalisation of the Field of Entrepreneurship” The presenter, Prof Benson Honig, set about demolishing... Continue Reading →
Academic Conference Bingo Card #mylifeiscomplete
Aside from the sudden arrival at my side of the wife, nothing could have made me happier five minutes ago than this magnificent 'Conference Bingo' card!! If only I had had it two weeks ago before going to Brighton... via @TheSocReview, by Kat Gupta (here, I think) and Heather Froehlich (here, I think). UPDATE -... Continue Reading →
Tony Abbott and his #climate record since becoming Prime Minister 2 years ago #auspol
“By their fruit ye shall know them.” Since September 7th 2013 Tony Abbott has done his best to undermine Australia’s response to climate change. Here’s a guide to the ruins, under the following headings Opposing robust climate action Attacking green groups In favour of coal Undermining renewables Symbolic action [If I've missed anything, please let me know!... Continue Reading →
“The Girl in the Mirror” – 80s pop and #feminism
Today on Youtube, while doing grunt work on the PhD (goes quicker with a soundtrack), I stumbled on something I don't think I'd ever heard - a political (feminism) pop song from the 1980s. You can watch it here, followed by my attempt at lyrics and a John Berger quote that seems to fit.... "Following... Continue Reading →
The gift that keeps on giving: of solar panels and Australian Prime Ministers #climate #auspol
On 20 October 1997 a team of Greenpeace activists scaled the walls surrounding Kirribilli House, the Sydney residence of Australian Prime Minister, John Howard. Solar panels were rushed past the security guards and lifted up on to the roof as a 'gift' to the Prime Minister. From the roof, the protesters used mobile phones to... Continue Reading →
#Climate refugees? We were warned almost 30 years ago. #qanda
Two Australian scientists warn that Australia will have to take climate refugees! Yep, you guessed it. They made this warning in... 1988. Quiddington, P. (1988) SCIENTISTS WARN OF ISLANDS' PERIL Sydney Morning Herald 23rd August Australia may need to take in a wave of environmental refugees from coral atolls in the Pacific and Indian oceans,... Continue Reading →
Group dynamics and “research agendas from below” #IST2015
So, I was at the International Sustainability Transitions Network conference for 3 and a half days. (Here’s my take on days 1 and 2.) Because I am a mug, I volunteered to be one of the chairs of the “Shaping the future transitions research agenda” process, which ran on the Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. This... Continue Reading →
Environmental #IST2015 – of ‘sustainability transitions’ and (beyond) the ivory tower
There's nowt as practical as a good theory, as we sometimes say up north. If true, this would make the University of Sussex one of the most practical places in the world about now. The sixth International Sustainability Transitions' (IST) conference (the main event of this network) is taking place over 3 and a half... Continue Reading →
#climate and #Australia, or, “The paranoid style in… Australian politics”
I ripped the title off from here. My simple point is that the recent hilarity/dismay/shrugging caused by Maurice Newman (Prime Minister Abbott's chief business advisor) is not a new 'meme,' as the young people say. Lisa Cox of the Sydney Morning Herald starts her 8th May 2015 story as follows - Climate change is a... Continue Reading →