The Devil Shift

My seatmate, Wilhelm, from Tanzania, suggested a few minutes ago (I am blogging while in class) to use one of the term 'Devil Shift' as a possible entry in my blog. This is probably one of the few terms I will remember in my current module on Environmental Policy and Management. The term doesn't mean the coming of the devil, because it is already within our midst! It means portraying your enemy more powerful and horrible as they are or they might be. A good example is telling your mother that your playmate pushed you that caused you a nasty bruise on your knee, when the problem is you are simply a weakling!

Politicians and interest groups use this to gain support from and influence behaviors of analysts and undermine objectivity of analysis, and consequently results. Environment groups could exaggerate how industries destroy the environment. But then again, probably not.

Shady skepticism

Climate change skeptics argue that cosmic activities which are beyond human control affect climate change. These random cosmic activities affect cloud formation which render the unpredictability of climate change. Recent research findings, however, debunk this theory.

I remember watching 'The Great Global Warming Swindle,' a film that seems to be the antithesis of 'The Inconvenient Truth.' The former argues that human-induced climate change is negligible, and sunspots and not CO2 is the culprit. And because we cannot control sunspot activity, climate change is beyond our control.

Try 'youtube -ing' for The Great Global Warming Swindle and see the other side of the fence.

Which is which?

Climate change, biodiversity, and food crisis. These are probably the three most trendy terms and environmental issues lately. Given your limited resources, which would you 'fix' first? Do we cut out CO2 emmisions? Conserve the panda? Feed the hungry? Or produce cleaner fuel?

We were taught to have a 'holistic' view on development management. Include the three pillars of sustainable development in our decision-making. How doable is it actually with limited money, knowledge, and skills? How whole is holistic? These are not only the questions you and I probably wonder. These are the same questions UN bodies, governments, and other decision-makers struggle with when talking about environmental issues day in and day out.

Toss coin

Priorities. That's what our lives ideally should be organized through. Do you eat your breakfast and forget about getting late? Stay in a company, earn money, and climb up the corporate ladder? Or leave for another country, study, start anew and expand your horizons?

The same is need in our environment and biodiversity. With the millions of species and hundreds of them on the brink of extinction, which one do we save first? If you have the rest of the world shrunk to the size of your back yard, and you only have once chance to save a small parcel of your lot, which one do you choose? Your corner of wild orchids or the pine tree center piece? If you have come to a decision, your neighbor might ask, why did you did you choose such? Your other neighbor might ask (you have nosy neighbors!), how do you protect it? And when your parents-in-law visit, they ask, what do you have the money to protect it? Finally (hopefully!) the local authority asks, when will you start protecting it (you live in a nosy neighborhood, actually)?

Think now. And think fast. Need some leading clues? The Economist's Green.view

And if I pass by and see your garden, I might ask, did you see your neighbor's backyard? It's clean off the weeds you are growing!

Guide to the CBD

To brush up on my knowledge for the upcoming CoP9 on biodiversity, I've been reading 'Governing Global Biodiversity: the evolution and implementation of the Convention on Biodiversity.' The editor, Philippe G. Le Prestre, oversaw the contribution of 16 different authors.

I am only close to finishing the first chapter that relates the story of the biodiversity convention. The introduction, penned by the editor himself, traces the origin of the biodiversity through a conservation treaty. Biodiversity has now come a long way to discussing intellectual property rights, trade, technology transfer, human health, and culture.

What I have picked up from the first 30 pages of the book affirms the whole gamut of clashing interests not only in the issue of biodiversity but also environment in general.