I strongly believe that knowledge is power, and you can never stop learning enough. The world has many many things to grab your attention, and if you can just hold on for the wild ride you would be surprised what all you can absorb.
My father is a history buff, do not ever take him on in a game of trivial pursuit with any intentions of winning, but if its teams, nab him up before anyone can blink. When we would travel as a family, vacations typically consisted of museums, battle fields, memorials, and any other historically significant thing there was. I admire these places for what they are, but have never been so interested to dive in and absorb everything I can, for hours and hours, about the history of a place and events.
I do however love science museums, interactive exhibits, shows, and can even enjoy lectures about anything, including history. I am a visual learner, hands on, down and dirty. I went to a Polytechnic University with the motto "Learn by Doing" for pete's sake... I think we can nail the coffin on that one.
I have always been an observer, and great and remembering the placing of things, locations of places, and directions to places I have been to once. I have been the practical one, the planner....
The other half of my family, consists of much more book people type, very very smart, intelligent people as well, just in a very different way, history buff book smart.
I note this only because I am back in the home town visiting the family and observing the difference in lifestyle, choices, actions from myself and those I surround myself with. It is fascinating the small differences that I notice and scream at me, that the teenager (I realize the fact that she is a teenage skews the results due to teenage hormones, listening and observing skills) does not see, that my mother is trying to see, and that my father and other sister are just oblivious to at times.
There is a huge house, which is slowly loosing tenants, as the kids grow up, with the youngest, the teenager taking over the front living room with every electronic device known to a teenager..... all on at the same time, half sitting ideal.... in a southern california desert.... when its 110 outside, and people have not 1, but 2 air conditioners for their homes... and the green lawn that is only green because the California Water Project brings water to southern california deserts...
I notice there is no chickens or compost bin for leftovers and scraps... something new to even my every day life style, but non-the less, something I am excited about taking part in, because it reduces the amount being carted to a landfill hundreds of miles away.
I have developed a consumption conscience that is getting stronger by the day... I am thinking of everything, buying items that will last a long time if I need them to, clothes, shoes, pots and pans, furniture, buying second hand when I can, and not at all when I do not need something.
My sister is a pack rat, I joke (seriously) that I want to be notified of when she will actually be moving out (she is getting married in march) so I can come park a lawn chair and in the front lawn and watch, with a pitcher of sweet tea vodka lemonade...
I understand she is what she sees, people needing things, filling up spaces, going shopping for good deals. I understand that I am also challenging myself, and it is tough as well, to not buy things because I think I might use them, because its pretty, because it would be nice to have, instead trying to only by things that I need, have a good use for, and do not already have something that will do the same job.
Sometimes I think Ignorance is Bliss, and then I found knowledge, and knowledge allows me to choose to do better or be a part of the problem... now, how do we get everyone else, that is not ingrained in the energy/environmental/resource world to understand, care, and most importantly change?
Education and Knowledge I suppose, it worked for me didn't it? Of course I am the hands on visual learner, so seeing it in front of me works, maybe for this history buffs they might have to wait a few years for the history books to take hold of it...hopefully we can get through to them before then....
Until then I will have to just continue to learn by doing, and outreach and educate. Knowledge is Power waitting to be applied, now my job is to go apply it where it is needed most.
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Monday, August 16, 2010
Can you and I make any difference?
I have been surrounded by climate change discussions, and greenhouse gas emissions, energy use, and reduction strategies galore, for a few years now. To the group of people that make up the professional realm of climate science, resource management, and solution development, I feel like only a spectator, but once you consider the idea that planners really focus more on the future, and not the present, with their work, you start to see the connections possible when climate science and planning colliding and combining forces.
Planners give selflessly when develop long range planning documents. Most professionals will have moved on to another position, another career, or may not even live to see the effects of their work. Place making, creating environments, through words, being the bad guy and having to tell people the great dream that they have imagined, is not possible, due to zoning, which, the planner (yourself, or "the guy before you" developed). However, being able to envision what can be, and attempting to set up the "mainframe" for the development of the future successful community, is a gift.
When I was introduced to greenhouse gases, climate change, and ppm, I was over my head, but after hearing about it, reading about it, hearing about it again, and reading about it about 200 times over, I started to develop an understanding of what planning and I could truly do with my knowledge and abilities for this area of focus. I developed an understanding of how this data, scientific articles, numbers, graphs and descriptions actually pertained to the every day person, and how the every day person in America contributes to it. I also have come to a point in which I think there are things that can be done to alter the future choices and decesions we all make. The real battle at hnad is can we do enough, soon enough, and how. I think there has been enough discussion, debate, and you should do this or that and it will solve it all talk... its time to buckle down and do it, for yourself, your neighbor, your community, health, well-being, and future generations, lead by example people, professionally, but also personally.
Yes there are many contributions that large corporations, cities, states, and the nation need to take, and are able to take, that you and I could not accomplish, nor would amount to the difference we can make. However, you + I + your neighbor, best friend, sister, and the chain of people they are all attached to, can be more respectful and concise of what we do and how that effects the environment and everyone/thing that rely on it.
Now, back to the question at hand. Are a group of individual personal changes or professional plans capable of making really change, that will have enough effect on future development to make any amount of measurable mitigation of climate change or greenhouse gas emissions?
In short... partially. Just like there is no "solve all solution" to the oil crisis or any other over-utilized, over-demanded resource, personal and professional planning can not solve all of it. But planning for the future, just like your parents taught you about finances, is a vital part of the puzzle. And realizing that we may not be able to stop it soon enough, adaptation strategies may become increasingly important as the years go on.
As a planner I feel as though I am charged with the idea of taking technical documents, and translating them to an understandable pattern, navigating lengthy documents that drive even planners themselves crazy. Holding public hearing meetings and making sure everyone gets heard, as well as making sure the finally verdict of any decision are upheld and clearly spelled out to those it applies to.
And because of this, I will try to explain to you what it is that you could possibly do, that just might make the difference.
In reality I look at the entire environmental movement of the 21st century and see a clear step of the solution, its a as a triple answer, reduce, reuse, recycle... it isn't rocket science, as most logically answers today aren't, its simple, but yet increasingly difficult to set in motion and apply.
The most prevalent and affective step to a solution I see is that we need to focus on the R's (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) in the order they are listed, rather than backpedaling, although we seem to have mastered that as a society... professional back peddlers... but backpedaling will not work forever... if we can reduce our demand on the earth, the demand for resources, the demand to move about so much, to reduce our footprints, intake, need for things from far away that we could simply get around the corner or in our backyard, there could be a real impact. Things such as vegetables, clothes made in the US, our state, or regional neighborhood, rather than aboard. Furniture and art by local craftsman and artist not only supports the local community, but reduces the emissions used to get it to you, it didn't have to travel across oceans, or the country, and it will provide a sense of pride within you, the piece has a story, its a piece that has not been made 1,000,000 times over, it is unique, it has a story, and becomes special to you. What isn't to like about that?
Planningyour future is vital to having a postive outcome and impact, on your life and others. Taking the time to really think and consider each purchase, the life-cycle of each item, financially for yourself, as well as environmentally, has the potential to make a difference. Planning head allows to you to think about the future, act responsibly, and be aware of yourself and your habits. Education and awareness change peoples choices, their decisions, their actions. I challenge you to become part of the education and awareness of to yourself, your family, your friends and start the change you wish to see in the world.
Planners give selflessly when develop long range planning documents. Most professionals will have moved on to another position, another career, or may not even live to see the effects of their work. Place making, creating environments, through words, being the bad guy and having to tell people the great dream that they have imagined, is not possible, due to zoning, which, the planner (yourself, or "the guy before you" developed). However, being able to envision what can be, and attempting to set up the "mainframe" for the development of the future successful community, is a gift.
When I was introduced to greenhouse gases, climate change, and ppm, I was over my head, but after hearing about it, reading about it, hearing about it again, and reading about it about 200 times over, I started to develop an understanding of what planning and I could truly do with my knowledge and abilities for this area of focus. I developed an understanding of how this data, scientific articles, numbers, graphs and descriptions actually pertained to the every day person, and how the every day person in America contributes to it. I also have come to a point in which I think there are things that can be done to alter the future choices and decesions we all make. The real battle at hnad is can we do enough, soon enough, and how. I think there has been enough discussion, debate, and you should do this or that and it will solve it all talk... its time to buckle down and do it, for yourself, your neighbor, your community, health, well-being, and future generations, lead by example people, professionally, but also personally.
Yes there are many contributions that large corporations, cities, states, and the nation need to take, and are able to take, that you and I could not accomplish, nor would amount to the difference we can make. However, you + I + your neighbor, best friend, sister, and the chain of people they are all attached to, can be more respectful and concise of what we do and how that effects the environment and everyone/thing that rely on it.
Now, back to the question at hand. Are a group of individual personal changes or professional plans capable of making really change, that will have enough effect on future development to make any amount of measurable mitigation of climate change or greenhouse gas emissions?
In short... partially. Just like there is no "solve all solution" to the oil crisis or any other over-utilized, over-demanded resource, personal and professional planning can not solve all of it. But planning for the future, just like your parents taught you about finances, is a vital part of the puzzle. And realizing that we may not be able to stop it soon enough, adaptation strategies may become increasingly important as the years go on.
As a planner I feel as though I am charged with the idea of taking technical documents, and translating them to an understandable pattern, navigating lengthy documents that drive even planners themselves crazy. Holding public hearing meetings and making sure everyone gets heard, as well as making sure the finally verdict of any decision are upheld and clearly spelled out to those it applies to.
And because of this, I will try to explain to you what it is that you could possibly do, that just might make the difference.
In reality I look at the entire environmental movement of the 21st century and see a clear step of the solution, its a as a triple answer, reduce, reuse, recycle... it isn't rocket science, as most logically answers today aren't, its simple, but yet increasingly difficult to set in motion and apply.
The most prevalent and affective step to a solution I see is that we need to focus on the R's (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) in the order they are listed, rather than backpedaling, although we seem to have mastered that as a society... professional back peddlers... but backpedaling will not work forever... if we can reduce our demand on the earth, the demand for resources, the demand to move about so much, to reduce our footprints, intake, need for things from far away that we could simply get around the corner or in our backyard, there could be a real impact. Things such as vegetables, clothes made in the US, our state, or regional neighborhood, rather than aboard. Furniture and art by local craftsman and artist not only supports the local community, but reduces the emissions used to get it to you, it didn't have to travel across oceans, or the country, and it will provide a sense of pride within you, the piece has a story, its a piece that has not been made 1,000,000 times over, it is unique, it has a story, and becomes special to you. What isn't to like about that?
Planningyour future is vital to having a postive outcome and impact, on your life and others. Taking the time to really think and consider each purchase, the life-cycle of each item, financially for yourself, as well as environmentally, has the potential to make a difference. Planning head allows to you to think about the future, act responsibly, and be aware of yourself and your habits. Education and awareness change peoples choices, their decisions, their actions. I challenge you to become part of the education and awareness of to yourself, your family, your friends and start the change you wish to see in the world.
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
100
I have run across a few different articles recently that discuss the applicant of the concept of less is more. A fight against American Consumerism for some, for others a way to escape from a world in which they feel isolated, constrained, or drowning in their life.
The idea is that if you limit the number of things you own, and keep this number fixed, that you will result a less stressful, more financially stable life. Mostly I have come across people that have decided to place 100 as the "magic" number, with some flexibility on the rules of what counts, what doesn't, and what you can group (some count things such as pots and pans, some decide shared items such as dining room tables, chairs, kitchen items should not count, and then items that are hygiene related and really is just gross to limit to 1 or 2 total, such as underwear, sock, etc. ) Some say 100 personal items, some say 100 items total... your life, your rules, as long as you set them, and stick to them.
The idea fascinates me. I mean, realistically it makes a lot of sense, you end up not making nearly as many purchases b/c something is on sale, you simply like something, but won't use it, type sales. Reducing the amount of waste coming from you, and reduce the demand.
I have an article in the works discussing the 3 R's; reduce, reuse, recycle, and this idea does touch on the reduce R.
You reduce demand, you end up purchasing quality items when you do buy them, and your overall satisfaction with the items you own theoretically goes up. You consider your purchases more thoroughly, and spend more time desiring them, making the purchase more pleasing, even purchasing things like houses, taking into consideration and valuing the local environment you are putting yourself in outweighing the "typical desirees" (such as access to trails, and places you will enjoy, over the size of the space).
It is as much an environmental shift as it is a mental and financial shift. Many of those that have accomplished this feat claim their debt decreases, they feel less stressed, more free to explore the world, and financially stable, and available to do as they please, take jobs that pay less, b/c they do not need as much money to do the things they find satisfying.
There are many TV shows that focus on less is more, and as Americans in an economic down turn, it is truly an ideal time to focus on this. The focus of making yourself a better person seems to be a trend, with less is more, think less weight = biggest loser, less stuff = hoarders... These are extreme cases, but the fact they get air time, means that there is a population out there that connects with the theme... You have too much weight, internal and externally around, and shedding this "weight" can open a whole new world of possibilities.
Quality over Quantity, Less over More, truly thinking Long-term investment over short term thrill.
I do not know if I could truly get down to 100 ( I counted the items I have hung in my closet yesterday, just to see where I stood, I was at about 90, just there, and then the shoes below not even counted) If I really stand there and look at what is there, I could eliminate things I do not need, but enjoy having. Maybe slowly I will start eliminating this unnecessary items. Mostly I think it begins with not buying more, because I do shop second hand more often, but find that I will sometimes buy things (even second hand) that I do not need, but might want or might use, if I eliminated these purchases, I would save money, save stress, and save closet space.... it is a short "high" so to speak of buying things, the excitement of having something "new".
Studies also show that people value experiences more so then things, spending times doing things rather than a new shirt, new gadget... which honestly makes sense, items are replaceable, experiences stay with you forever, and those items that do stick with you for a long time, become valuable and are justified. That pair of shoes (I grit my teeth as I say this, b/c I love shoes) that seem fun for the moment, may not be so exciting in say, even a year or two...
In all honesty, it could be a rough road at first... but the idea of seriously considering items as needs and wants, and narrowing down the needs to less, is not such a terrible idea. The positives of environmental, financial, and personal happiness that could come from it long term, may be worth the challenge and struggle... You may open up your world to a whole new concept of happiness and make way for things that you never imagined...
Maybe the task at first does not focus on how much to keep, but instead starts with a number of things to get rid of, say 50.... then you shift into the owning number bracket, say, 200 personal things, and see how we go from there. If nothing else this concept of accounting for belongings, making wise decisions, and reducing the need in your life, makes you observant and aware, which, really is the purpose of the excerise, and freeing yourself from the Haves to realizing what you really Need and want out of life.
-Heather Phillips
The idea is that if you limit the number of things you own, and keep this number fixed, that you will result a less stressful, more financially stable life. Mostly I have come across people that have decided to place 100 as the "magic" number, with some flexibility on the rules of what counts, what doesn't, and what you can group (some count things such as pots and pans, some decide shared items such as dining room tables, chairs, kitchen items should not count, and then items that are hygiene related and really is just gross to limit to 1 or 2 total, such as underwear, sock, etc. ) Some say 100 personal items, some say 100 items total... your life, your rules, as long as you set them, and stick to them.
The idea fascinates me. I mean, realistically it makes a lot of sense, you end up not making nearly as many purchases b/c something is on sale, you simply like something, but won't use it, type sales. Reducing the amount of waste coming from you, and reduce the demand.
I have an article in the works discussing the 3 R's; reduce, reuse, recycle, and this idea does touch on the reduce R.
You reduce demand, you end up purchasing quality items when you do buy them, and your overall satisfaction with the items you own theoretically goes up. You consider your purchases more thoroughly, and spend more time desiring them, making the purchase more pleasing, even purchasing things like houses, taking into consideration and valuing the local environment you are putting yourself in outweighing the "typical desirees" (such as access to trails, and places you will enjoy, over the size of the space).
It is as much an environmental shift as it is a mental and financial shift. Many of those that have accomplished this feat claim their debt decreases, they feel less stressed, more free to explore the world, and financially stable, and available to do as they please, take jobs that pay less, b/c they do not need as much money to do the things they find satisfying.
There are many TV shows that focus on less is more, and as Americans in an economic down turn, it is truly an ideal time to focus on this. The focus of making yourself a better person seems to be a trend, with less is more, think less weight = biggest loser, less stuff = hoarders... These are extreme cases, but the fact they get air time, means that there is a population out there that connects with the theme... You have too much weight, internal and externally around, and shedding this "weight" can open a whole new world of possibilities.
Quality over Quantity, Less over More, truly thinking Long-term investment over short term thrill.
I do not know if I could truly get down to 100 ( I counted the items I have hung in my closet yesterday, just to see where I stood, I was at about 90, just there, and then the shoes below not even counted) If I really stand there and look at what is there, I could eliminate things I do not need, but enjoy having. Maybe slowly I will start eliminating this unnecessary items. Mostly I think it begins with not buying more, because I do shop second hand more often, but find that I will sometimes buy things (even second hand) that I do not need, but might want or might use, if I eliminated these purchases, I would save money, save stress, and save closet space.... it is a short "high" so to speak of buying things, the excitement of having something "new".
Studies also show that people value experiences more so then things, spending times doing things rather than a new shirt, new gadget... which honestly makes sense, items are replaceable, experiences stay with you forever, and those items that do stick with you for a long time, become valuable and are justified. That pair of shoes (I grit my teeth as I say this, b/c I love shoes) that seem fun for the moment, may not be so exciting in say, even a year or two...
In all honesty, it could be a rough road at first... but the idea of seriously considering items as needs and wants, and narrowing down the needs to less, is not such a terrible idea. The positives of environmental, financial, and personal happiness that could come from it long term, may be worth the challenge and struggle... You may open up your world to a whole new concept of happiness and make way for things that you never imagined...
Maybe the task at first does not focus on how much to keep, but instead starts with a number of things to get rid of, say 50.... then you shift into the owning number bracket, say, 200 personal things, and see how we go from there. If nothing else this concept of accounting for belongings, making wise decisions, and reducing the need in your life, makes you observant and aware, which, really is the purpose of the excerise, and freeing yourself from the Haves to realizing what you really Need and want out of life.
-Heather Phillips
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