ENERGY
!?
(A
cartoon exploration -Chapter Eight)
Preamble:
We human beings face major challenges to our survival as a species,
perhaps none as extraordinary as those created by the ego that resides
in each of us. This element of our psyche plays a pivotal role in
determining our perceptions and is characterised by both an abhorrence
of notions of mortality and an incredible, ingenious capacity for
self-deceit. It is well capable of generating vast, sophisticated
rationales of denial of change/stewardship and can easily make us our
own worst enemy. Smile.
Fortunately
there are ways we can transcend the trickery of the ego. We can, for
instance, ensure our use of symbols embraces change/stewardship,
reflecting the wisdom of the great principles of physics. This chapter
explores our use and abuse of one of our most potent symbols - the "energy
efficiency" symbol. We know energy is all pervasive, mysterious and
vital. Thus our use of the 'energy efficiency" symbol essentially
reflects and generates our world view. Serious flaws in our notions of
either energy or efficiency are compounded in potentially fatal ways.
We are our symbols and the changes enabling the excesses of the
Industrial Revolution have not occurred in a language vacuum. Previous
chapters illustrated how energy has become equated with fossil fuels and
a few Bulk-generated electrical products. Similarly the change in
consciousness that enabled the people on the small island of Britain to
dominate most of the planet is reflected in changing notions of
stewardship and efficiency. The meanings of associated symbols such as
"science", "resource" and "economy" were reversed, so they now express complete denial of
change/stewardship. Energy efficiency is now associated with deprivation
and loss.
These cartoons illustrate this hilarious and
ingenious process of self-deceit and point to how we can once again associate
energy efficiency practice with truer stewardship, bounteousness and harmony
with all.
Enjoy.
ENERGY
!?
Updates
and Additions
19 February
2014
Reflections
on Shake Up - the NZAEE National Conference in Christchurch
Maybe, just
maybe, there is hope our New Zealand schools could embrace civics.
15 August 2013
Energy
?! - Chapter seven -The Ego and Power
When
we understand that there are as many forms of power as there are forms
of energy we are opened to a vast sustaining potential.
18 July 2013
Energy
?! - Chapter six -The Ego and Greenhouse World
Our
likening of the processes of Earth's atmosphere to the operations of a
greenhouse is a giant conceit that puts humanity at great risk.
21
June 2013
REVIEW:
350.org Do the Maths
Reflections on Bill McKibben's show in Wellington and why Bill is a
genius.
18
May 2013
Energy
?! - Chapter five -The Ego and Global Warming
Our confusion of warming with warming up deprives us of a
wonderful, vital dimension of the thermodynamics of the universe(s).
16
April 2013
Energy
?! - Chapter four -The Ego and Potential Energy
Our estrangement from the universal potential by our division of
kinetic energy from potential energy.
5
March 2013
Energy
?! - Chapter three -The Ego and Forms of Energy
The grand confusion of forms and perspectives of energy.
26
Jan 2013
Energy
?! - Chapter two -The Ego and the Conservation Principle of Energy
The
incredible inconvenience of this great principle.
8
Jan 2013
Energy
?! - Chapter one -Introducing The Ego and Energy
A cartoon exploration of our psychology and the the nature of
energy.
22
Sept
2012
The
Sustainability Principle of Energy
and
The Compassionate Curriculum.
(An Illustrated Essay - A brief
Historical Overview)
3 August
2012
Towards
a sustainable education system
A graphic
comparison of the New Zealand Curriculum Framework with the
Compassionate Curriculum Framework with brief comment
31
January 2012
A
Practical Guide to Enjoying True Hope
An essay
exploring how the great principles of physics can help identify false
hope and enable the experience of sustaining hope.
5 October 2011
"An
Orwellian Climate"
Letters to
Australasian Chief Science Advisors explaining contemporary confusion in
climate care communication (Prof Peter Gluckman, Prof Ian Chubb, Prof
Tim Flannery, Dr Andrew Glikson )
15 September 2011
The
2011 New Zealand Election Campaign
(A
letter to New Zealand people alerting them to the dangers of the huge
hidden yet in-your-face advertising campaign promoting the sale of our
national assets.)
16 March 2011
Thought
Experiments re the Carbon Trading Ethos
(Originally
designed for the Office of the New Zealand Parliamentary Commissioner
for the Environment.)
26 February
2011
Letter to Radio
NZ
(Contains
reflections on broadcasts and ratings of the sustainability of a wide
range of its programmes.)
29
November 2010
The Joy in the Art of Civics
(Brief reflections on this state of being and the dangers of
Environmental Education)
24
November 2010
Celebrating
Our Climate
(Draft one: A climate education framework founded in the Sustainability
Principle of Energy offering an alternative vision of how we can
communicate the role of humans in Earth's climate processes.)
13
October 2010
Conversation
with NZ Minister of Education (Anne Tolley) re the
sustainability of the national education system. Read the Minister's
letter and reflections on the flaws inherent in the Education Ministry's
response.
4
November 2010
Letter
to the Office of the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment
Introduction to the Sustainability Principle of Energy with
discussion of the nature of science.
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