A Geography Post – biophysical interactions

A Rare Podcast at 30 Below Zero — Sue Flood on Antarctica, Making Your Own Luck, Chasing David Attenborough, and Reinventing Yourself

https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-tim-ferriss-show/id863897795?i=1000549280466

This is a @timferriss podcast which has a good story related to #geography. Sue Flood’s story as a photographer in her own right, spending 11 years working on David Attenborough programs, is really interesting. Likewise, interesting because the location of the interview is in a tent on Antarctica with the sound of penguins in the background.

But this is not the story I want to share.

Sue made an interesting commentary as follows.

1. A volcanic eruption (#lithosphere) in Tonga.
2. The impact was to spread a cloud of dust into the #atmosphere.
3. This trapped heat in the atmosphere temporarily increased the temperature on the earth surface.
4. This extended the summer season in the North Pole.
5. The freezing of the ice caps was delayed by 3-4 weeks (#hydrosphere)
6. Polar Bears had an extra 3-4 weeks diving into the Arctic seas getting food into their system to manage the four months of not eating. (#biosphere)
7. Scientists discovered that the Polar Bears were heavier, breeding increased and the young polar bears were healthy.

This story reality caught my attention. I thought if I I could tell it correctly it would engage the students. This week I have relayed the story to my classes, teachers and even parents. From the feedback it did engage the listeners and generated interest in the subject.

Listening to this podcast gave me an opportunity to share stories of geography from the perspective of #geographers. In this case bringing together an example of biophysical interactions.

Speed and Scale : A global Action Plan for Solving our Climate Crisis Now (2021) by John Doerr

16 December

Speed and Scale : A global Action Plan for Solving our Climate Crisis Now  (2021) by John Doerr

I recently read and reflected on John Doerr’s Measure What Matters. Where as in the first book the examples were mainly business, this one focuses his approach to climate change.

It is timely for me as a geography teacher and as a person with an interest in understanding the issue of climate. What I like about the book is that it is not about causes but rather the focus is on providing solutions using Doerr’s OKR framework.

The  approach suggested is to  focus on the model of OKR known as Objectives and Key Results with establishing a frame work for zero emissions though the following.

1. Electrify transportation
2. Decarbonise the grid
3. Fix food
4. Protect nature 
5. Clean up industry
6. Remove carbon.

Given I do things in factors of six I also like it was six factors!

Following this he suggests in the spirit of speed and scale, he sets in place four strategies  to accelerate the transition.

1. Win politics and policy
2. Turn movements into action
3. Innovate
4. Invest

Six things I liked in Speed and Scale 

1. It has a structured plan to make a difference with out dwelling on causes.
2. There are interviews with dozens of people who are dedicated to making a difference.
3. The cost of renewables is clearly coming down and there are more options.
4. Everyone can do something to make a difference even if some of the big five countries are dragging the chain.
5. There is a small section on indigenous leadership on page 106 which indicates the value and power of adopting their strategies.
6. The proposal is ambitious, positive and is a detailed collation of key facts I did not know about.

It is a book which has increased my awareness, knowledge and understanding of the issues.

Buraadja: the Liberal Case for National Reconciliation by Andrew Bragg (2021)

21 November 2021

Buraadja: the Liberal Case for National Reconciliation by Andrew Bragg (2021)

In 2018 I made a submission to The Joint Select Committee on Constitutional recognition relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders Peoples.  

In October 2018 I attended the public hearing at the Aboriginal Centre for Excellence in Redfern where I was given the opportunity to speak at the hearing because my local member and Co-Chair Julian Leeser saw me in the audience, knew I made a submission (number 400) and asked me if I wanted to address the hearing. I took up the offer and a few months later I saw what I said being written up in Hansard and the final report.

In November this year I replied to a package I received from Senator Andrew Brag celebrating his two years in parliament and after a couple of emails he sent me a copy of his book which is the focus of these thoughts.

Six things I learnt from Buraadja.

1. It is a long time since we have had a successful referendum and it was concerning aboriginal peoples. I have a greater appreciation of the effort of Harold Holt and others, prior to and after 1967.
2. There are so many names that I have heard about over the years like Charlie Perkins, Neville Bonner and Noel Pearson, Stan Grant to name a few, that I know a lot more about and the context in which they operated. So many insights such as: Charles Perkins – “We don’t live in the past but our past lives with us.”
3. Clearly the message is – doing with rather than doing to. Moreover, aboriginal people working for themselves.”It is about us, and anything’s about us needs to be shaped by us”. Finally, progress needs to be localised and regionalised.
4. I am not alone in struggling with the fact that I am not aboriginal, want to assist/ be involved but don’t know how to go about helping. It is a complex web when we bring in native title and land rights in the context of the Baranga and Uluru statements, potential treaty and the process of Makarrata, Closing the Gap, Truth Telling,The Voice, Co-Design and the Constitution. More recently there is confirmation of the #NgurraPrecinct and the #NationalRestingPlace
5. The Australian Day debate is complex bringing into focus three patterns of thought: Indigeneous heritage, British institutions and our multicultural gift.
6. I have a long way to go, I don’t know where I am going but it is a journey of awareness, knowledge understanding, and hopefully some sort appropriate involvement on my behalf.

Hidden Brain Dunkirk, Normandy and Climate Change

I tend to steer away from discussions of climate change while taking a professional interest in it as a geography teacher.

For the past year I’ve been listening to an excellent podcast called The Hidden Brain.

https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/hidden-brain/id1028908750?i=1000539691014

As a teacher I believe is important to play the straight bat. This approach tends to flow over into life.

Today I listen to an episode which likened the strategy to approach climate change to the World War II battles of Dunkirk and Normandy – one a strategic retreat the other a tactical advance.

The the former is described as adaptation while the latter as mitigation.

One could not have happened with out the other.

I wouldn’t do justice to the podcast if I tried to summarise it but I do highly recommended not only for the geographers amongst us, but also the historians and of course those of you who are concerned about climate change.

It’s worthwhile persevering and listening to what is being done in the Maldives.

Martin

27 October 2021

Mums Birthday

Geography

The Geography effect – the end of geography as we once knew it?

This is Part 2 of an article and podcast on the changing numbers of students enrolled in studying geography in NSW schools between the period 1995 and 2019.

Part 1 The Geography Effect- The End Of Geography As We Once Knew It?

In Term 2 2020 I took Long Service Leave and one of the things I did was to take a deep dive into the NESA website and had a closer look at the numbers of students studying Geography.

With this research I put together an article for publication at the end of the year in the GTANSW/ACT Geography Bulletin.

I am optimistic about the future of Geography, despite the title of this podcast, but I wanted to learn from the past and see why the numbers of Geography have declined, or at the very least levelled off at a lower level.

The is a lot to learn from the past to understand the present and hopefully shape the future.

This is part one and sets the background and the scene for more detail later and invites listeners to contact me if they would like to continue the discussion.