On Tuesday the OECD will be meeting. It's the rich countries' club, a useful talking shop for elite decision makers. On the agenda is what to do about the awkward fact that while we SAY we want to stop the world getting more than two degrees warmer, at the same time we are allowing public... Continue Reading →
Simians Cyborgs and Shell: on corporate propaganda and fallback positions
The oil major Shell has a blisteringly slick and seductive new advert that extols the virtues of gas as a ‘transition fuel’ (which it isn't). As a piece of propaganda, it would make Donna Haraway guffaw with delight. It’s 80 seconds of ‘Jenna and Cory’ who live together extolling the virtues of hybridity. They are 'alternative'... Continue Reading →
Of Monbiot, Manchester and miserable ‘feral’ futures.
Nature as redeemer, nature as escape, nature as the solace for our "gridded, controlled, mannered urban lives." So far so romantic. Well, nature is on the road, and she’s gunning for the lot of us. We’ve poked the beast, and now it really is waking up. On a quiet day, you could hear it snoring.... Continue Reading →
Terrible meetings? Here’s a nesta reasonable ideas…
According to the American humourist Dave Barry “Meetings are an addictive, highly self-indulgent activity that corporations and other large organizations habitually engage in only because they cannot masturbate.” (As in, meetings aren't just ego-potlaches, they're also for the recycling of anxiety and responsibility). While meetings might be full of wankers, they’re surprisingly joyless experiences. “Nesta”,... Continue Reading →
Excellent “Academic Reading & Writing Workshop” at University of #Manchester
So, you’re doing a Masters, or even a PhD (wow, you must be soooooooooooooooo smart. Not). You’d think you’d know how to read and right, write? Not so fast. You’ve probably picked up some bad habits, and even if you haven’t, there are other habits and tricks (“hacks” or “apps” or “patches” as the young... Continue Reading →
Video: A Moratorium on new coal mines – Richard Denniss seminar + Q&A
The seminar itself is excellent, with good questions (and answers) about a call for a moratorium on the construction of new coal mines. But nonetheless, apologies for rubbish quality of footage.
2 brilliant articles on our SNAFU civilisation – #climate #nuclear #culture #doom
Carol Cohn (1987) Sex and Death in the Rational World of Defense Intellectuals Signs, Vol. 12, No. 4, Within and Without: Women, Gender, and Theory. (Summer, 1987), pp. 687-718. link Thomas Homer-Dixon, Brian Walker, Reinette Biggs, Anne-Sophie Crépin, Carl Folke, Eric F. Lambin, Garry D. Peterson , Johan Rockström, Marten Scheffer, Will Steffenand Max Troell... Continue Reading →
No such thing as a free lunch on Planet Zarg. How not to do an event
Imma keep this “no names” and no “tend to identify" details. I will do that by invoking planet Zarg and the Zargians. Once upon a time on planet Zarg (in the constellation of Kasterborous, at galactic coordinates 10-0-11-00:02 from Galactic Zero Centre, since you ask) a subset of Zargians were invited to attend an event... Continue Reading →
PhD First Years – read this now. NOW.
Fortunately my experience of doctoral training was COMPLETELY different. By the way, I have a second hand bridge for sale. It's in Sydney.
Two different papers on the history of #Australia and environment may be of interest.
In Ward (2015) "Tea Party imitators? The campaign against the carbon tax, the media and a new uncivil politics", Australian Journal of Political Science, 50:2, 225-240, there is a very handy account of the bizarre and distasteful year of 2011, when Julia Gillard as Australian Prime Minister skilfully steered the ‘Clean Energy Futures’ legislation through... Continue Reading →
marchudson.net 