Re: Population, Consumption, Economic Growth, ESA policy statement
I'd like to second Ashwani's comment from the email below: "I really do think Jared Diamond's basic point is, if we want to take a honest crack at "solving" carrying capacity issues, we need to be looking in our own homes first. If that's true, I agree with him." =20 And I'd like to extend this basic principle to ESA and suggest that as we develop a policy statement on economic growth we include a strong and clear section derived from=20 self-reflexive and self-critical understanding of our own role=20 in perpetuating the problematic growth paradigm. ESA is one "home" that we need to look to first for both understanding the root cause of our current ecological crisis and finding the=20 solution. In ESA, as in likely most of our individual homes, universities, agencies, offices, organizations, corporations, including my own, the growth paradigm is present in almost every thought and action. We talk, plan and act to grow our membership, to grow our journals and publications, to=20 increase our funding, to increase our power and influence, to increase our material research capacities, to increase=20 our data and monitoring systems, etc. etc. Caught up in this same cultural mindset, I work to increase my publications, research projects, grants, students, income, retirement funds, etc. It is all about growth and increase, and this systemic fundamentalist goal becomes the basis for rationalizing all manner of consumption, waste, rushing, short-cuts, lack of full accounting, short-term thinking, competitive anxiety, etc. We rationalize and compare to other sectors and say that we must compete and grow or else the non-ecological or non-science or various "other" sectors will get the upper=20 hand. We criticize agriculture and energy and transportation and housing and cities and planning and every other sector. But we are just as consumptive and just as growth oriented. =20 Stephen Covey of "Seven Habits of Highly Effective People"=20 fame wrote (paraphrased if not verbatim) "Any time I think=20 the problem is 'out there', that thought is the problem." =20 We could make ESA a microcosm of the sustainable=20 future. We could look inward and solve the climate, growth, and other environmental crises at home first, and then lead by example. Solving the problem in-house is likely the=20 harder part! This could be another reason we like to spend more time looking outward and elsewhere. Even admitting this does not make it easy - it is still wicked hard to go against the great rushing torrent of the mainstream. For this issue of scale I think we need to look for strength in=20 numbers and in positive feedback - I think we need to find ways to convert to the non-growth, (dynamic) steady state,=20 descent path as whole communities and networks and as networks with full circles including social functions like=20 funders, researchers, publishers, educators, government. These kinds of social "trophic" groups form full circles to fund, conceive research, carry out, test results, report,=20 publish, promulgate and educate, apply and implement=20 technology, policy and management relative to ecological=20 knowledge. If ESA alone tried to change paradigms away=20 from growth, we might get swept away by all these other=20 partners if they did not join in our 180 degree course=20 correction. But if a set of partners from all of these sectors=20 could change in concert, we could run the entire enterprise=20 in a new way. =20 One last thought is that if we see ourselves as caught in a "vicious cycle" and find ourselves thinking "I can't change the system", it may help to try to band together to re-wire or re-route our social networks into new=20 cycles - like a "glorious cycle", or a "soft landing cycle"=20 or some other such beneficial type of collective=20 self-reinforcing culture, mindset and action plan. Maybe...some dreaming "out loud", on the eve of Martin Luther King day. I could be off, but it's some honest 2 cents worth of rough ideas and hopefully good intentions... =20 Dan Fiscus, still unsustainable after all these years =20 =20 From: Ecological Society of America: grants, jobs, news on behalf of = Ashwani Vasishth Sent: Sun 1/20/2008 7:05 PM To: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU Subject: Re: Population, Consumption and Economic Growth Ganter, Philip F. wrote: > I am always confused by the message in stating the inequality between = consumption between the developed and developing economies.=20 > =20 Whether one goes to Ehrlich & Commoner's I=3DP*A*T or to Robert Kates' "Population, Technology and the Human Environment: A Thread Through Time," I think the basic point of such stories is to emphasize that population is only a part (some of us would say a relatively small part) of the carrying capacity plot line. As a Third Worlder, from India, whenever I hear the population drum being beaten, I flash to the idea of "there go those over-breeding heathen." Thing is, I'm really, really glad the
Re: Population, Consumption and Economic Growth
Ganter, Philip F. wrote: > I am always confused by the message in stating the inequality between > consumption between the developed and developing economies. > Whether one goes to Ehrlich & Commoner's I=P*A*T or to Robert Kates' "Population, Technology and the Human Environment: A Thread Through Time," I think the basic point of such stories is to emphasize that population is only a part (some of us would say a relatively small part) of the carrying capacity plot line. As a Third Worlder, from India, whenever I hear the population drum being beaten, I flash to the idea of "there go those over-breeding heathen." Thing is, I'm really, really glad the Ehrlichs wrote The Population Bomb. If they proved wrong in their prognostications, its only because we live in an evolutionary, responsive world. They poked at the world, and the world responded. I was in India. I saw the massive family planning efforts in the 1970s. But I also saw the forced sterlization camps, and the men and women herded into "health clinics" to meet the quotas imposed on civil servants by a remote and removed central government. Some things come with a high cost. Or take China. One child per family. And what happens? We come today to a world in which there are, what?, fifty million more men than women in China? And Tibet then becomes the "seeding ground" for a new generation of Chinese, with massive, widespread impregnation of Tibetan women? Who will take responsibility for these ignominies? Over-population is a Third World problem. Over-consumption is a First World problem. Let the Third Worlders find a solution to their problem. We should look to our own sins. We don't. I really do think Jared Diamond's basic point is, if we want to take a honest crack at "solving" carrying capacity issues, we need to be looking in our own homes first. If that's true, I agree with him. Cheers, Ashwani
Field Assistant - Canopy Herpetofauna and Arthropod Surveys in Amazonian Ecuador
Field Assistant Needed: Canopy Herpetofauna and Arthropod Surveys in Amazonian Ecuador Research Investigator: Shawn F. McCracken, PhD. Student, Texas State University Position Description: Motivated, reliable, and durable field assistant to work on a field study of the herpetofauna and arthropod communities of canopy phytotelmata (tank-bromeliads) in primary rainforest at the Tiputini Biodiversity Station (TBS), Yasuni Research Station (YRS), and along the Via Auca in the Ecuadorian Amazon. Assistants will contribute to a project focusing on amphibian and arthropod diversity and density in a large canopy tank-bromeliad, Aechmea zebrina, occupying different forest types and management regimes. Assistants will be responsible for independent scouting surveys to identify potential survey trees, providing ground support during sampling, collecting/recording data during sampling, transporting heavy gear and sampled bromeliads long distances in difficult terrain, following protocol to collect data for each bromeliad, dismantling bromeliads in a screen tent and collecting all herpetofauna and arthropods, recording specimen data, collecting blood or tissue samples, preserving specimens, sorting arthropods, and data entry. Other responsibilities may include tree and trail mapping, Visual Encounter Surveys (VES), and opportunistic sampling. Assistants are not allowed to collect data for personal research projects or publication. However, assistants are encouraged to contribute as coauthors on papers for which they collected and analyzed data. Assistants performing well in their position will be given strong letters of recommendation and potential future positions working with the TADPOLE Organization. Qualifications/Experience: Applicants should minimally have significant progress towards a BS/BA (or higher degree) in Biology, Ecology, or a related field. Previous experience with amphibians, reptiles, or arthropods is not necessary but a strong interest in these animals and the mental tenacity to handle them is required. Previous experience and comfort with living and working outdoors is strongly preferred. The ideal applicant should have prior experience with living or working in a foreign country, preferably a developing country in the tropics. Knowledge of English is required and Spanish is helpful, but not necessary, a willingness to learn will benefit greatly. Experience with collecting systematic data in a scientific context is preferred, the commitment to learn is a must. Tree climbing experience using Single-Rope Technique (SRT) is highly preferred; those interested in learning this skill if accepted should look online for training opportunities. In general, applicants must be in good physical and mental condition; feel comfortable being far away from family and friends; be emotionally mature, energetic, respectful of others, and very patient; have an excellent eye for detail; experience with bugs, snakes, frogs, heights, and being alone in the forest (day or night); have very good social skills, especially in small groups; and be able to maintain a positive and humorous attitude towards challenging and tiring work. Additional Beneficial Skills: Use of Digital SLR Camera Use of GPS equipment Adobe Lightroom Microsoft Access Microsoft Excel Adobe Photoshop Microsoft Word ArcGIS software Raven audio analysis Weather instrumentation Navigation Generally comfortable with technology This work will be rigorous and demanding. Assistants will be expected to work about 8-12 hours in the field each day, about 25 days out of each month. The terrain in the research site is quite hilly in places, seasonally floods in others, and the climate is often hot, humid, and rainy this is a rainforest just south of the Equator in which close to four meters of rain falls a year thus persistence, maturity, dedication, and good humor are very important. Preference will be given to applicants with previous outdoor experience in demanding environments. Cost/funding: A portion of costs will be paid by the project, applicants will pay approximately US$ 13-15/day towards station fees (includes on-site lodging, laundry, and three meals daily). Successful Ecuadorian applicants may apply to have station fees paid in full. Assistants are also responsible for the costs of obtaining a visa to work in Ecuador if staying longer than 90 days (~US$ 300), health insurance and immunizations that permit that work. Proof of suitable insurance and yellow fever immunization is a must; vaccinations against typhoid, rabies, hepatitis, etc. are all also strongly recommended (see the Center for Disease Control website for Ecuador, http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/destinationEcuador.aspx). Applicants must also pay their own round-trip airfare to Ecuador (cost varies) and for travel within Ecuador to and from the research station (~US$120 by plane or US$20 by bus). Assistants are responsible for their own field clothes, gear, and personal ite
Registration open: BC 2008
Dear colleagues, We are pleased to announce that registration for the 2008 Berlin Conference on the Human Dimensions of Global Environmental Change/International Conference of the Social-Ecological Research Programme is open (http://web.fu-berlin.de/ffu/akumwelt/bc2008). The conference will be the eighth in the series of annual Berlin Conferences and will be held on 22-23 February 2008. These conferences usually drew between 300 and 350 participants from all over the world. Next year's conference will address the theme 'Long-Term Policies: Governing Social-Ecological Change'. We are fortunate to say that we received over 400 abstracts from 60 countries all over the world. Plenary speakers include John Schellnhuber, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research and Chief Climate Advisor to the German Chancellor, and Oran Young, IHDP Chair and Bren School, Santa Barbara, Amory Lovins, Rocky Mountain Institute, Christian Schauer, Vice President, Products and Senior Risk Engineer, Swiss Re (AssTech GmbH), and Frieder Meyer-Krahmer, State Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Education and Research. Semi-plenary speakers or round table speakers include Miranda Schreuers, Freie Universität Berlin, Environmental Policy Research Centre (FFU), Martin Jänicke, Freie Universität Berlin, Environmental Policy Research Centre (FFU), Nick Ashford, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Frank Biermann, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Andreas Rechkemmer, IHDP Executive Director IHDP, Robert Lempert, RAND, Stefan Ulreich, E.ON, Ren Yong, Director of Environmental Policy Research at the State Environmental Policy Administration, Qi Ye, Public Policy Institue at Tsinghua University, Environmental Policy and Management, Norichika Kanie, International Relations at the Department of Value and Decision Science, Graduate School of Decision Science and Technology, Andrew Ross, The Fenner School of Environment and Society, Louis Lebel, Unit for Social and Environmental Research (USER), Joyeeta Gupta, Vrije Universiteit, IVM, Thomas Jahn, Institute for Social-Ecological ResearchJoske F.G. Bunders, Athena Institute for Research on Innovation and Communications, Detlef Sprinz, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research and University Michigan, Klaus Jacob, Conference Chair, Freie Universität Berlin, and Bernd Siebenhüner, University of Oldenburg. On the conference website (http://web.fu-berlin.de/ffu/akumwelt/bc2008/index.htm) you will find detailed and regularly updated information on the 2008 Berlin Conference including travel and hotel information, and the conference programme. We would be pleased to welcome you in Berlin! Registration is open, please see http://web.fu-berlin.de/ffu/akumwelt/bc2008/registration.htm. We are looking forward to meeting you in Berlin in February! With best regards Marlen Arnold, Ruben Zondervan, Eike Zaumseil Conference Managers
Executive Director Position Available - San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory (SFBBO)
Executive Director San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory Milpitas, California=20 The San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory is looking for a visionary leader = with a successful track record to lead our growing organization. The Bird Observatory is a small, non-profit organization with 26 years = of experience conducting avian research in the San Francisco Bay area. = This research contributes to land management decisions that address = local conservation challenges of concern to resource agencies, = policymakers, and California citizens. In addition to our 26 years of = riparian research and breeding population studies of colonial water = birds and California gulls, our staff participates on the South Bay Salt = Pond Science Team and the San Francisco Bay Area Upland Habitat Goals = Focus Teams. Through our Outreach program, we actively provide = opportunities for people to be directly involved in the natural history = and science of the San Francisco Bay Area, expanding their appreciation = for the local environment. The Bird Observatory considers its team of = 100 long-standing, dedicated volunteers part of its family and they = greatly enhance the reach of our science. RESPONSIBILITIES Organizational Development * Manage the development and implementation of strategic plans=20 * Communicate our organizational vision to partners and the community=20 * Oversee and implement a plan for ongoing evaluation of the = organization's effectiveness=20 * Develop and implement program structures and policies to support the = organizational mission=20 * Provide leadership for fostering collaborative relationships = throughout the organization and the Bird Observatory's partners=20 Fundraising and Development=20 * Develop and implement a sustainable, diversified fundraising plan=20 * Maintain and build upon current funding sources including grants, = contracts, and donations=20 * Identify and develop new revenue sources including a major donor = campaign=20 * Develop, support, and coordinate a capital campaign program=20 * Develop and support grant and contract applications=20 Fiscal Management=20 * Prepare monthly finance reports for the Board of Directors (Board) and = supervise audits, expenditure reports and other requested fiscal reports = for the Board=20 * Supervise finance staff and coordinate management of financial and = administrative procedures to maintain fiscally sound programs and = accounting systems=20 * Prepare an annual budget and development plans to meet financial needs = of programs and administrative operations=20 * Regularly track performance against budget to ensure that the = financial goals are achieved, cash flow is maintained, and the financial = reserve is built upon=20 * Adhere to Generally Accepted Accounting Principals and Checks and = Balances as outlined in the Financial Policy=20 Program Development, Administration, and Evaluation * Provide leadership, direction, and support for the staff/organization=20 * Promote an organizational culture/structure that fosters cooperation, = communication, teamwork and trust=20 * Ensure compliance with all organizational and legal requirements for = hiring and employment practices=20 * Provide for development activities that upgrade staff skills, motivate = performance and promote staff retention=20 * Hire, train, and supervise staff and independent contractors=20 * Conduct annual staff performance reviews=20 Board Support * Provide advice, and help facilitate policy development and change, to = assist the Board with organizational support and development=20 * Maintain standards and structure for appropriate and effective = communication between the Board and staff=20 * Provide the Board with pertinent and timely information for decision = making and organizational evaluation=20 * Assist Board leadership to recruit, orient, train and mobilize new = board members to support the mission=20 * Facilitate operations and provide staffing as appropriate for Board = committees=20 Community Relations * Proactively market and promote the Bird Observatory's mission and = supporting services to the media and community=20 * Serve as the primary representative of the organization at fundraising = events, technical meetings, and public outreach events as directed by = the Board=20 * Communicate organizational vision to a variety of stakeholders = including partners organizations, foundations, resource agencies, and = members of the community=20 * Cultivate and sustain collaborative partnerships with partners and = resource agencies in the conservation field=20 QUALIFICATIONS Successful applicants will have the following qualifications: * Two to five years of experience with non-profit management=20 * An advanced degree is preferred (M.S. or Ph.D.), but a B.S. w
Re: Population, Consumption and Economic Growth
I think the point of this article was to call for the reduction of consumption in developed nations. Is population growth important? Of course! However, all the projections I've seen recently show the human population leveling off at around 9 billion about midcentury. Plus, overpopulation is widely acknowledged as a problem. Neither of these things is true of economic growth and consumption. Here, the ideal is still infinite growth, which is impossible in a finite system. For this reason, taking a position on economic growth is more important than reiterating for the umpteenth (sorry for the technical term) time that overpopulation is a problem. Just my 2 cents, Jane On Jan 20, 2008 1:45 PM, Ganter, Philip F. <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Jane (and Jared, perhaps) > > I am always confused by the message in stating the inequality between > consumption between the developed and developing economies. Is it that we > should live like Kenyans or that Kenyans should live like us? Pointing out > the inequality does not point to a solution. Economists seem to say that, > if we join into a world economy, all will eventually live like us. The > invisible hand of the free market will do the job. They would point to > recent increases in per capita incomes in some rapidly growing economies as > evidence to support this contention. Ecologists will remind economists that > only an increase in real productivity will lift the developing world to our > standard of living and that looking at areas of increase may only be > variations within a zero-sum overall game. This means we must consider > population, as we must ask if, at present population levels, there is > sufficient resource to attain this. If we (ecologists) present evidence to > conclude that this is not attainable, then we must advocate reduction of > some sort. This could be reduction in the gap between living standards (a > solution only if there is no more population growth) or that we reduce > population (or both). This is the 800 pound gorilla in the corner. We seem > to be acting that, if ignored, it will go away. I guess I want to ask the > ESA if, based on the evidence they can find, the committee drafting the > statement would call for population reduction. If you go to my original > post on this topic, I wrote that I thought the ESA failed in its duty in the > 1990's when it chose sustainability rather than population size as its > focus. If tough recommendations about population size are off the table > once again, we may be part of the problem once again. Please do not think I > am unaware of the many difficult questions that arise if we must consider > recommending a reduction in human population size. The questions are such > that many among us will discourage a recommendation for reduction because it > is either so unpopular as to make us ineffectual in the political sphere or > unethical because the recommendation might be used by those willing to harm > the powerless of this world to maintain, or even increase, the gap between > the poor and the wealthy. There is danger in addressing these issues but we > are already on the edge of this discussion in the debates over carbon > emissions. The gorilla may already be stirring. > > Phil Ganter > Tennessee State University > > > -Original Message- > From: Ecological Society of America: grants, jobs, news on behalf of Jane > Shevtsov > Sent: Fri 1/18/2008 6:27 PM > To: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU > Subject: Population, Consumption and Economic Growth > > Here's an article by Jared Diamond that may be of interest re: the > discussion of economic growth. > > Jane Shevtsov > > --- > WHAT'S YOUR CONSUMPTION FACTOR? > By Jared Diamond > > The population especially of the developing world is growing, and some > people remain fixated on this. They note that populations of countries > like > Kenya are growing rapidly, and they say that's a big problem. Yes, it is a > problem for Kenya's more than 30 million people, but it's not a burden on > the whole world, because Kenyans consume so little. (Their relative per > capita rate is 1.) A real problem for the world is that each of us 300 > million Americans consumes as much as 32 Kenyans. With 10 times the > population, the United States consumes 320 times more resources than Kenya > does. > > People in the third world are aware of this difference in per capita > consumption, although most of them couldn't specify that it's by a factor > of > 32. When they believe their chances of catching up to be hopeless, they > sometimes get frustrated and angry, and some become terrorists, or > tolerate > or support terrorists. Since Sept. 11, 2001, it has become clear that the > oceans that once protected the United States no longer do so. There will > be > more terrorist attacks against us and Europe, and perhaps against Japan > and > Australia, as long as that factorial difference of 32 in consump
SCB2008 Extended Deadline for Abstract Submission
Dear Colleague, The deadline for submitting a contributed, paper, poster, and speed presentation abstract has been extended to January 23, 2008. This year's meeting, From the Mountains to the Sea, will examine three extended broad themes (Land Conservation and Terrestrial Diversity, Freshwater Ecosystems, and Coastal and Marine Conservation) and as always, contributions from all fields of conservation research and practice are welcome! Please visit our updated website: www.conbio.org/2008 . ** Details for the call can be found at the meeting site: www.conbio.org/2008/ and go to "call for abstracts" ** To submit your paper, please go to: www.conbio.org/2008/submit ** For symposium organizers, please follow instructions sent by Matthew Smith, SCB2008 meeting manager ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) ** Registration will open January 30, 2008, watch for the announcements on SCB's home page: www.conbio.org >From the Tennessee River Gorge to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the >array of ecosystems near the city of Chattanooga turns outdoor activities into >treasured experiences. Chattanooga is located close to the two most >biologically diverse river basins in the United States. Celebrate biodiversity >conservation at our 22nd Annual Meeting. Thank you, and apologies for cross-postings! Regards, SCB2008 Local Organizing Committee Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA www.conbio.org/2008 [EMAIL PROTECTED] *=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=* Alan D. Thornhill, Ph.D., Executive Director Society for Conservation Biology 4245 N Fairfax Dr, Suite 400 Arlington, Virginia 22203-1651 US voice: 1-703-276-2384 x102 fax: 1-703-995-4633 [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.conbio.org/
Re: Population, Consumption and Economic Growth
Jane (and Jared, perhaps) I am always confused by the message in stating the inequality between = consumption between the developed and developing economies. Is it that = we should live like Kenyans or that Kenyans should live like us? = Pointing out the inequality does not point to a solution. Economists = seem to say that, if we join into a world economy, all will eventually = live like us. The invisible hand of the free market will do the job. = They would point to recent increases in per capita incomes in some = rapidly growing economies as evidence to support this contention. = Ecologists will remind economists that only an increase in real = productivity will lift the developing world to our standard of living = and that looking at areas of increase may only be variations within a = zero-sum overall game. This means we must consider population, as we = must ask if, at present population levels, there is sufficient resource = to attain this. If we (ecologists) present evidence to conclude that = this is not attainable, then we must advocate reduction of some sort. = This could be reduction in the gap between living standards (a solution = only if there is no more population growth) or that we reduce population = (or both). This is the 800 pound gorilla in the corner. We seem to be = acting that, if ignored, it will go away. I guess I want to ask the ESA = if, based on the evidence they can find, the committee drafting the = statement would call for population reduction. If you go to my original = post on this topic, I wrote that I thought the ESA failed in its duty in = the 1990's when it chose sustainability rather than population size as = its focus. If tough recommendations about population size are off the = table once again, we may be part of the problem once again. Please do = not think I am unaware of the many difficult questions that arise if we = must consider recommending a reduction in human population size. The = questions are such that many among us will discourage a recommendation = for reduction because it is either so unpopular as to make us = ineffectual in the political sphere or unethical because the = recommendation might be used by those willing to harm the powerless of = this world to maintain, or even increase, the gap between the poor and = the wealthy. There is danger in addressing these issues but we are = already on the edge of this discussion in the debates over carbon = emissions. The gorilla may already be stirring. Phil Ganter Tennessee State University =20 -Original Message- From: Ecological Society of America: grants, jobs, news on behalf of = Jane Shevtsov Sent: Fri 1/18/2008 6:27 PM To: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU Subject: Population, Consumption and Economic Growth =20 Here's an article by Jared Diamond that may be of interest re: the discussion of economic growth. Jane Shevtsov --- WHAT'S YOUR CONSUMPTION FACTOR? By Jared Diamond The population especially of the developing world is growing, and some people remain fixated on this. They note that populations of countries = like Kenya are growing rapidly, and they say that's a big problem. Yes, it is = a problem for Kenya's more than 30 million people, but it's not a burden = on the whole world, because Kenyans consume so little. (Their relative per capita rate is 1.) A real problem for the world is that each of us 300 million Americans consumes as much as 32 Kenyans. With 10 times the population, the United States consumes 320 times more resources than = Kenya does. People in the third world are aware of this difference in per capita consumption, although most of them couldn't specify that it's by a = factor of 32. When they believe their chances of catching up to be hopeless, they sometimes get frustrated and angry, and some become terrorists, or = tolerate or support terrorists. Since Sept. 11, 2001, it has become clear that = the oceans that once protected the United States no longer do so. There will = be more terrorist attacks against us and Europe, and perhaps against Japan = and Australia, as long as that factorial difference of 32 in consumption = rates persists. [More] http://www.edge.org/documents/archive/edge233.html#diamond
ESA and Economic Growth State Steady as (S)he (Nature and other economies) goes Re: Response to Nadine Lymn Re: Economic Growth
Honorable Forum: Please believe me when I say that I don't want these remarks to appear impertinent or disrespectful, nor do I intend to address them to Warren or anyone else; his post, and a few others, served only as a stimulus, nothing more. It is a great joy to witness such intellectual vigor, and such first rate thinking rocking the towers of hierarchy. "Steady-state," whilst perhaps a valid term technically, has created the (mistaken?) impression among the heathen in the past (and present) that "steady" refers to "static," which refers to "standing still." This further reinforces a certain rigidity of mind, casting in concrete concepts as old (or older) than 1848, thus removing from such "lesser" minds the concept, well-recognized by the "better" minds of having the quality of dynamism, or at least dynamic equilibrium. When it comes to communicating to the vast unwashed multitudes, semantics is not everything, it is the ONLY thing. This is not to suggest "framing" or any other form of manipulation of the masses, nay, far from it, but that the arcane codes of the guilds of old (or the present and future) should be abandoned and a universal, but still accurate mode of speech be adopted, lest the world at large continue to misinterpret academic lingo, not to mention jargon. "Homeostasis" has created similar problems, for example; the multitudes have a pretty sharp intuitive (osmotic, one might say, but that would be obfuscatory) knowledge of word roots (I shall eschew use of the more respectable, but less commonly understood term, etymology), thinking erroneously as a result that organisms are like statues (graven images?) rather than "homeodynamic" ones, or are, when within the realm of conditions we refer to as "healthy," in a state of dynamic equilibrium. This does not question the validity of the term, "steady-state" within the bounds of those academic circles which communicate effectively with it, but it does, respectfully, question whether or not individuals not so blessed will similarly interpret it; further, it does acknowledge its antiquity and its relevance for present purposes, despite its entrenched, even habitual and unconscious use beyond (and, perhaps, sometimes within) those bounds. Frankly, I do question its usefulness as a scholarly term as well, largely for the reasons just stated. Either these distinctions are useful and valid for the reasons stated or they are not. While I do fully recognize that "most people" might be more familiar with the term "steady" than "equilibrium," if there is any justification for sending the reader to the dictionary at all, perhaps that is one. An informal "one-word-answer query" survey of (wo)men on the street might be revealing--what percent would be non-responsive, not know, or respond with "electronics" or "computers," and what percent with "economics" or "ecology?" As to the substance of "steady states," or however the fundamental concept of dynamic stability or equilibrium states should be most clearly expressed, I can only guess at their nature. A well-tuned and balanced engine will continue running provided all of the necessary systems, including an energy source are maintained within acceptable limits; whether or not this is a useful analogy or not depends, I suppose, upon the bounds of relevance and limits of the analogy, and whether or not the question is embraced or "begged." A few non-critical parts--a bolt here and there, for example--might not be immediately apparent in its effects. But given enough time, apparently inconsequential actions can lead to partial or complete system failure. As systems go, earth systems are fairly resilient; they can, crucially and distinctly unlike engines and other artifacts, re-structure themselves and regain their equilibrium in some form, and they can do so without our help. Some might question, whether or not our help is more harmful than helpful--as the sign in the mechanic's garage used to say, "Rates: $5 per hour, $10 per hour if you help." As one who struggled to "help" for more than, shall we say, fifty years trying to help, I must confess that I bungled the job for at least fifteen years before I saw anything like "success." Much of what I "learned" had to be unlearned, and even after embracing intellectual discipline, certainty, aka egocentrism, maintained a certain momentum. By definition, learning has to go on. Ecological economics, like any other term (as happened quickly with "sustainability") that is valid initially, can be abused (as happened quickly with "sustainability," not to mention ecology). It can signify an opening up of consciousness in a new way, or it can be debased by opportunists and used, for example, to justify the continued rape of South Pacific forests, reefs, and other habitats until all there is left in the world are "hot spots." Remember how, in the USA, the citizens were hoodwinke
2. Announcement Conference GMLS 08 in Bremen
Dear Colleagues, we invite you to attend the Conference on 'Implications of GM-Crop Cultivation at Large Spatial Scales' in Bremen, Germany, April 2008. The conference is supported by the German Ecological Society, the German Society for Human Ecology, the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation and the Universities Bremen, Kiel and Vechta. The conference aims at compiling methods and strategies, which address issues related to large scale and long term cultivation of GM plants. Topics include empirical work related to risk assessment, theoretical concepts, as well as methodological aspects such as modeling and data analysis facing large spatial and temporal dimensions. Conference: April 2. - 4., 2008, University of Bremen, Germany Deadlines: Contributions 31. January 2008 Registration 29. February 2008 Please see the website www.glms.eu for new information. kind regards Hauke Reuter -- Dr. Hauke Reuter Dept. General & Theoretical Ecology Centre for Environmental Research & Technology (UFT) P.O. Box 330440, University of Bremen, 28334 Bremen, Germany Tel: XX49 421-218-63473, Fax -7654, email [EMAIL PROTECTED]
