Last week we used a little experimental set-up during the mid-term exhibitions to get some initial feedback on the stewardship scenario. A tangible version of our concept platform was presented. Visitors were free to propose projects and post them on the platform. Each visitor also got three votes (lego blocks) to place next to flags [...]
Photographer David Liittschwager set out for five different habitats on locations around the world to place a cubic foot. For a period resembling a twenty-four hour cycle he photographed all species that passed through this cube. Resulting photos, making of videos and an article by biodiversity expert E.O. Wilson appeared in the National Geographic Magazine [...]
NOAH (Networked Organisms And Habitat) is a tool for people interested in their local wildlife. The infrastructure contains an Iphone application with which you can photograph any species that you come across.
In his talk at TED Oxford in July 2009, Geoff Mulgan explains how he believes our economical system should focus on social and human growth since the current focus on economical growth is no longer sustainable. Although most governments currently spend huge amounts of money to fix the failing economical system, they should actually use [...]
Adding monetary value to CO2
This is an overview of the carbon credit system as it was formalized in Kyoto (1997). The aim is to understand what we can learn from this system with respect to proposing an eco currency. Both try to introduce a non-material good into the financial market in order to keep it [...]
In a traditional view on economy many people in the west have been thinking that growth equals prosperity. Although this notion might be deeply rooted in current day society we have to let it go in perspective to our future.
In an article by the Dutch CPB (bureau for economic policy analysis) the application of the contingent value method is critically assessed for cost benefit analysis. They question whether nature and landscape values can be expressed in Euros. Although the method is widely used in assessing e.g. infrastructure projects, many critics remain.
In order to develop poorer areas, the Brazilian government has been stimulating agriculture in some remote and forested areas until recently. Although the education and healthcare facilities have improved the lives of the local people, it has come with great natural depletion. Deforestation accounts for 70% of Brazils carbon emissions today.
The richness of the soil [...]
Areas where high poverty and high population density coincides with high biodiversity may indicate areas in which poor people likely have no other choice than to unsustainably extract resources, in turn threatening biodiversity. © 2006 UNEP/GRID-Arendal
Some of the poorest countries are actually very rich in biodiversity. The current imbalance in tangible rewards for preserving the [...]
photo by Alan Cleaver on Flickr
Even though it is yet unclear how the proposed system will get its money (Tobin tax has been proposed), a study by Mother Jones shows us we should carefully think about how we name it.
American participants in this experiment -with self acclaimed, varied political preferences- were proposed a program that [...]