Archive for the ‘politics’ Category
Education Quality
Tuesday, December 15th, 2009
Education is important and as my son will be starting his school-based education in a little over a year I find myself with a keen eye for discussion on the topic of education quality. I was lucky enough to leave school thinking that school failed me but those not so lucky more often leave school feeling like they failed school and this belief one way or another can set you up for life.
So if you too find the topic interesting I recommend having a read of this short blog post by Max Wind-Cowie of the Demos Think-Tank blog: Education is a high-stakes game
This TEDtalk from Bill Gates is also very interesting. I think it is in the second half where he talks about quality of education.
Posted in alternative media, family, politics | 6 Comments »
So what does Cap & Trade mean?
Thursday, December 10th, 2009
So I have tried to flog a little mini doco called The Story of Stuff for a while now and if you have not seen it yet please do… it’s relevance will be around for too long I think.
But the hot topic at the moment is Cap & Trade or some variation of that. At first I thought it was a very good idea or at least a good place to start. Now I am pretty sure it is not a good idea and fear that it might in fact be a very bad idea. I would love to hear your thoughts but first please watch the video Cap & Trade, made by the same guys that made The Story of Stuff.
Posted in alternative media, design, environment, inspiring, movies, peace, politics | 3 Comments »
PARK(ing) Day 09
Tuesday, September 15th, 2009
It’s that time of year again where you find a good car parking space, put down some tarps, roll out your turf and invite people to PARK. Urban Grind’s park will be in Harcourt St this year from 7am till 11am. For me PARK(ing) Day is about many things but mostly about starting conversations because that tends to lead to those other things anyway. What? Anyway…
It all started here… www.parkingday.org
Find all of the Brisbane PARKS here… www.brisbaneparkingday.com
That time of year is this Friday the 18th of September 2009. Thanks Simon.
Posted in art, design, environment, inspiring, local community, politics, urban grind | 9 Comments »
Hope, World Leaders and Us
Sunday, August 23rd, 2009
Awesome. This guys speech gives me hope. First Obama now this guy. Surely Australia can’t be far off leadership like this.
At first I think that this guy must have been a past Prime Minister and was so surprised to find out that he is the current. Gordon Brown’s speech is far from political spin. It talks practically and wisely about the future. How problems like climate change will need a global effort and how we need to be structuring ourselves towards this effort. I found his talk very inspiring. He doesn’t talk like a politician – he talks like a man that can understand a problem and formulate a solution that includes concerns far beyond his own political party or personal political aspirations.
But what does this say about us? I said, first Obama, now this guy. I feel like something is happening/changing and it must be us. Men like these exist all the time, You probably know or have at least heard of one. Check out TED.com if you haven’t. I heard it said once that Hitler emerged as a leader because the mindset of the people allowed him too. I hesitate to call it democracy as I am not so sure that is what we have in our country nor is it the force I think which is at play, but I do believe it to be true that leaders emerge when the people are ready. But the kind of leader, is determined by the mindset of the people. At elections it feels as though there are no Obamas or Gordon Browns to choose from in Australia. Are we ready for such leaders? If they did emerge would we recognise them? I think we like to think in business terms in Australia, especially when it comes to politics. Maybe the leaders I dream of don’t see a market for their kind of leadership just now?
When I think of Australia and leadership as it relates to the rest of the world I see Australia having a wonderful opportunity to play a leading role as we face the challenges that lie ahead. My reasons are derived from the following 2 quotes.
“People who have wild ideas about how to run the earth ought to start with a small garden” – Ahmed Kathrada
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” – Margaret Mead
Posted in alternative media, environment, inspiring, personal, politics | 2 Comments »
350.org: Because the world needs to know
Sunday, June 21st, 2009
This looks like an interesting campaign for climate change. I will reveal more details later but I do have an idea on a way that Urban Grind can participate.
Posted in alternative media, environment, inspiring, local community, politics, zeroWaste | No Comments »
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The Story of Bottled Water
The Story of Cap & Trade
The Story of Stuff
Love these…
“You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete.” - Buckminster Fuller
