The Sustainability Transitions Research Network today proudly announces a Mutual Love Partnership (MLP) - with the influential Bilderberg Group. The STRN, which has been in operation for almost a decade, acts as a platform for the exchange of ideas and a forum for chest-beating and prestige battles. It will be subsumed within the Bilderberg Group,... Continue Reading →
Fear eats the soul – of COVID19, narking and Trump/Johnson approval ratings
Over the last few days I've seen some facebook posts/tweets/etc expressing anger/bewilderment that a) people are phoning up the cops to inform on neighbours who are going out more than the narks think they should b) the approval ratings for clearly failed "leaders" like Trump, Johnson and Morrison are going UP even though they are... Continue Reading →
Trying to talk with people about (stopping) the end of the world. And failing.
Since I got back from 7 weeks and 10 tonnes of climate criminality, the same conversation - if you can call it that - has been had several times. Here's the dynamic of it (not obviously direct quotes, for various reasons, and a certain l'esprit d'escalier, but this is my website, so suck it up).... Continue Reading →
The law of two feet: or “refusing to be #egofodder” #Manchester today
You have two feet. One is for learning, the other is for contributing. If you find yourself in a place where you are doing neither, it is your responsibility to respectfully use your two feet (or wheels) to go somewhere that you are. If you don't, chances are you're gonna be ego-fodder. Respectfully: So, no... Continue Reading →
Of plastic documentaries, heroism and Spanish Researchers
The Spanish Researchers UK network is kinda cool. They were created to ”promote communication within the community of Spanish Researchers working in the United Kingdom by creating a social network that facilitates the sharing of professional and life experiences. The association has encouraged this communication via the establishment of Constituencies throughout the UK.” Last year... Continue Reading →
Two novels on undercovers and infiltration – #Spycops #Spycopsfiction
Books reviewed: Under Western Eyes by Joseph Conrad (1911) Demo by Richard Allen (New England Library, 1970) So, I am guiding my reading a bit, because I am Writing A Paper. These two are both about Russian secret intelligence operations overseas. about the infiltration and attempted disruption of dissident social movements. pretty tough to... Continue Reading →
Event report: PIECES of advice about (energy) policy engagement #EnergyPIECES
On Monday 10th December about 60 PhD students and ECRs (early career researchers) gathered in Cambridge for an interesting event, with the does-what-it-says-on-the-tin title "Engaging with energy policy: a masterclass for Social Sciences & Humanities PhD and early-career researchers." Hosted by the Centre for Science and Policy (Cambridge University) and the Global Sustainability Institute at... Continue Reading →
#Climate delay and consequences in a simple metaphor
So recently I was having to explain the delay in doing anything about climate change since 1988, when it became a public policy issue, to a bunch of young women. One of my go-to metaphors is if you're dieting to get into a wedding dress, then if start six months before the wedding, losing a... Continue Reading →
Will #ExtinctionRebellion end up as #chugging for Friends of the Earth?
So, sitting with two very clever friends this morning, spit-balling ideas of where the whole Extinction Rebelliion thing might go, this came up: It's possible that Extinction Rebellion, if it keeps the same set of repertoires (blocking roads, disrupting meetings etc), may end up not moving beyond the students and retired who seem (I have... Continue Reading →
Excellent Event: Ambiguous Transformations: Governance, Democracy, #Climate Transitions
Here’s the gist of a very long blog post. A senior academic (Professor Karin Bäckstrand) gave a very clear summation of the relative importance of the Paris Agreement, the distinctions between ecological democracy and environmental democracy and the (possible) path of transformation that Swedish society is undergoing. She did this in the context of an... Continue Reading →
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