Systemic musings

2008-07-24T17:46:00.002+09:00

ANZSYS conferences Roger Attwood who organised the 2006 conference in Katoomba advises that 'ISCE publishing has now produced a very nice hardback version of the Katoomba proceedings, along with alternative electronic versions.' The 2008 conference will be held in Perth from 1-3 December.

2008-07-24T08:53:00.003+09:00

Understanding agriculture's dilemma between food security and conservation – new publication The emergence of food security as a global issue is refocusing concern on the nature, properties and functioning of agro-ecosystems, a term coined by Gordon Conway in the 1980s. This report by the World Business Council on Sustainability (WBCS) and IUCN draws attention to recent trends and reveals some

2008-07-17T11:41:00.005+09:00

Conserving systemic failure in the face of climate change Understanding current governance arrangements as 'structure determined systems' explains why politicians will continue to fail citizens in a climate change world. Yesterday the Australian Government released its much heralded Green Paper on emissions trading. Media reports generally suggest that the government has it right - in

2008-06-30T20:37:00.004+09:00

Significant indicators of social and political transformation? The British Government's £100 billion commitment to 'green innovation' is a welcome development, one that hopefully will be emulated in other countries as quickly as possible. It seems particularly good timing from an Australian perspective. It provides relief and, hopefully, an antidote, to the inane debate recently held in the

2008-06-17T19:41:00.003+09:00

Dealing with the global water crisis - leaving it to a market or getting pricing right? This interview with Maud Barlow based on her new book is worth a listen. Her book, Blue Covenant: The Global Water Crisis and the coming battle for the right to water is published by Black Inc Books. In this interview she makes the case for getting water pricing right within a framework of water being a

2008-06-07T09:41:00.004+09:00

'This is a part of reality that economists simply don't see' says Ross Gittins I am not quite sure what to make of this article by Ross Gittins, one of the main economic writers for the Fairfax media in Australia. On the positive side I concur with the main thrust of the argument - and would welcome much more of this type of analysis here in Australia where neo-classical theory is hegemonic.

2008-06-07T09:24:00.002+09:00

Discount on John Seddon's book for readers of this blog Following my posting on John Seddon's book I have been contacted by folk at Triarchy Press. They are offering my ' blog readers a 20% discount on the full price of Systems Thinking in the Public Sector. In order to claim their discount, readers should enter tp20 in the promotional code field at the checkout'.

2008-06-06T14:30:00.001+09:00

More sobering analysis .....but what of the action? In today's paper: 'Water shortages could prove an even bigger threat to mankind this century than soaring food prices and the relentless exhaustion of energy reserves, a panel of global experts has told the Goldman Sachs "Top Five Risks" conference.'

2008-06-05T15:35:00.004+09:00

John Seddon's book should be an early Christmas present for all politicians Like so many others I rejoiced when New Labour and Tony Blair were first elected. By the time of the next election I could not bring myself to vote for him or New Labour (not that I voted Tory either). By the time of his departure I was so relieved that we threw a party and invited all those friends who felt like us .

2008-06-05T15:24:00.002+09:00

The recursion of real-life and fiction... Barack Obama and the West Wing I liked Justin Webb's 10 reasons Why Obama won. As a West Wing fan I was particularly struck by his 10th reason. Liberal fantasy or not ...the first phase has come to pass. '1. He is black. Geraldine Ferraro has a point: Obama's individual story is important and his racial makeup - he is of mixed race - is a part of his

2008-05-26T08:32:00.000+09:00

Systemic insights: some gems from recent reading 1. From Bernard Poerkson's 'The certainty of uncertainty' , subtitled 'Dialogues Introducing Constructivism'. I found this an engaging read as it provides insights into the history and nature of those interviewed (Von Foerster, Von Glaserfield, Maturana, Varela, Roth, Schmidt, Stierlin and Watzlawick). Some excerpts that I particularly liked

2008-05-20T17:01:00.003+09:00

Good news 'green' innovations here in Melbourne Here is a good news story for a change which is basically employing systems thinking. 'Australians use 18 million printer consumables each year with the bulk of these inkjet cartridges and toners ending up as hazardous landfill. But an innovative Melbourne-based organization is turning this waste into viable products, transforming an environmental

2008-05-19T13:15:00.004+09:00

Molecules of Emotion - my letter to Candace Pert in 2001 I have just come across this letter I started writing to Candace Pert in 2000, just after reading her book. It was finished and sent in 2001. Whilst I never received a reply the issues I raise seem as relevant today.Dear Dr Pert,I have just finished reading your book 'Molecules of Emotion'. I felt so engaged by

2008-05-17T13:30:00.006+09:00

Even without climate change there is a water crisis of global significance The late 20th and early 21st century will undoubtedly be seen as the ‘tipping point’ in which human interference in, and demands from, the water cycle transformed it irreversibly. As a recent review of the ‘global water crisis’ points out: ‘For the first time in human history, human use and pollution of freshwater

2008-05-16T16:39:00.004+09:00

Patterns that connect: new old narratives for contemporary circumstances? Over the last two months I have had a number of experiences that taken together reveal some interesting questions - for me at least - about our taken-for-granted Western intellectual tradition. They are of interest I suggest for the very reason that our current ways of thinking and acting seem to have put

2008-05-16T12:09:00.002+09:00

Checkout the BBC World Service report on the Amazon Paradox This excellent BBC report reveals many of the systemic issues that comprise the Amazon Paradox. They include human population growth, human livelihoods, climate impact, food production systems and global trade, technology and the need for new institutional arrangements that can pay for ecosystem services. It is both difficult and

2008-05-12T16:36:00.002+09:00

New discipline of sustainable economics?Check out where you stand with regard to the two contrasting paradigms depicted within this site dedicated to the new arena of 'sustainable economics'. As depicted here the current dominant paradigm is depicted with ecosystems subservient to the global economy and contrasted to that advocated by ecological and sustainable economists who see the economy

2008-05-11T17:10:00.004+09:00

Can Senator Penny Wong head Australia in the right direction.....at last? The whole world knows how irresponsible Australia was in dealing with its carbon footprint during the Howard years. This was also a period when the large coal and resources companies literally ran Australia's climate change policies - hence no ratification of Kyoto until the election of the Rudd Labor Government. Now

2008-05-06T21:35:00.002+09:00

Academics speak out at last …but will it change things? A group of 34 British Academics under the banner of ‘The Weston Manner Group’ have produced a manifesto calling for major changes in how Universities assess their students. It will be a great triumph if their efforts re-orientate current assessment fashions characterised by an ‘obsession with marks and grades to one which puts more

2008-04-29T15:48:00.006+09:00

Sassari, hidden gems amongst an eclectic, sometimes Stalinist, architecture I have just spent a week in Sassari, the second city of Sardinia. Compared to other Italian cities I have experienced it feels somewhat forgotten. This is typified by all the building activity at the moment in which the city authorities are making a valiant attempt to resurrect the many medieval and 19th century

2008-04-19T03:02:00.002+09:00

The International Assessment of Agricultural Science and Technology for Development (IAASTD) has reported ....and exposed significant systemic issues I drew attention to the activities of IAASTD in a posting last year. The panel recently finalised its report in Johannesburg, but not before a walk-out by representatives of the biotechnology industries. Two pieces in New Scientist present the

2008-04-19T02:48:00.006+09:00

Great article about working across borders to manage water In an article entitled 'Eco-warrior for peace' Jewel Topsfield has written an absorbing portrait of someone who breaks the stereotypes associated with the complexities of the Middle East. This is an inspiring case of water management and the much needed collaboration and cooperation between Jordan, the Palestinian territories and Israel.

2008-04-11T00:40:00.002+09:00

Geoffrey Vickers Archives now available on-line A new on-line catalogue of the Geoffrey Vickers papers is now available from the OU Archive web pages. The catalogue is also available from the Archives Hub website. The Archives Hub is a national gateway to descriptions of archives within UK universities and colleges. As part of the Hub, the Vickers catalogue is now cross-searchable with

2008-04-10T01:47:00.002+09:00

Explore your political compass This site is designed to break out of the trap in our language and thinking associated with 'the old one-dimensional categories of 'right' and 'left', established for the seating arrangement of the French National Assembly of 1789'. The site's authors argue that these categories ' are overly simplistic for today's complex political landscape'. I found this

2008-04-07T02:46:00.003+09:00

Professor of Systems Sciences, The Faculty of Environmental, Regional and Educational Sciences, University of Graz, Austria Applications for this post close on 21st April 2008. It is good to see new Chairs in Systems being advertised. Research and teaching duties include: Coordination and direction of activities in research and teaching related to systems sciences, in particular of those