Historic Paris Agreement - 195 Nations set path to keep global temperature rise well below 2 degrees celsius

News like this epitomise the idea behind my entire approach to live, and the name of this blog.

Source: Climate Council Australia on Google+ - https://plus.google.com/+ClimatecouncilOrgAu

"It is the best outcome we could have hoped for, not just for the Least Developed Countries, but for all citizens of the world." 

Key pointsThe measures in the agreement included: 

- To peak greenhouse gas emissions as soon as possible and achieve a balance between sources and sinks of greenhouse gases in the second half of this century 

- To keep global temperature increase "well below" 2C (3.6F) and to pursue efforts to limit it to 1.5C 

- To review progress every five years 

- $100 billion a year in climate finance for developing countries by 2020, with a commitment to further finance in the future.

Source: BBC - http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-35084374

We must remember however that this agreement is just the first step. The success of this pursuit is of course dependent on all federal governments to design policy sophisticated and direct enough to regulate the change that is needed. The deal seems to have allowed flexibility for nations to do so which is important as not only is this agreement legally binding, but resistance from old energy supporters will undoubtedly identify complex problems.

For the full release from the UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, click here.

What important truth do very few people agree with you on?

A very interesting question was raised by +Yonatan Zunger which thankfully, I haven't been asked in a job interview (I most certainly would have been stumped). 

"What we know is a drop, what we don't is an ocean." - Isaac Newton

It's a brilliant question, one that's important in terms of self-reflection and honing the awareness of what is around us -- two very important and underrated skills. In any case, as usual, an interesting question leads me to focus inwards and determine where I stand. I do plan on addressing this question myself. In fact, I have been pondering it all morning and am at this point unsatisfied with what I have written so far. So, this post will just focus on Yonatan's response. My own will be bookmarked for a later date. 

In a recent book, Peter Thiel noted that when he interviews people for a job, he likes to ask them: “What important truth do very few people agree with you on?” I like this question; it can tell you a lot about how a person thinks, and where they're willing to argue with people. It also got me thinking about my own answers to such a thing (as a good question will always do), and while I could probably think of a few dozen answers, here's one that came to mind quickly.

I believe that people aren't actually stupid.

... My unpopular idea is this: people tend to be specialist experts in the circumstances of their own lives. If someone is unemployed, a job is available, and they aren't taking it, I'm going to start from the assumption that yes, they are aware that jobs pay money and they need money, and they probably know something I don't. (For example, that job would require that they stop providing child care to a relative's children, or the cost of getting to that job would eat up all the pay, or any number of other things) If someone is voting for a political candidate who seems directly inimical to their needs, then I'm going to assume that they have some other needs as well which this candidate does serve, and that those are more important to them....

It's more complicated than simply agreeing or disagreeing, but if a I had to choose one, it'd be the latter. Overall, people are stupid, but not in a way that leaves us as unsuccessful or unable to learn content or develop abilities. Obviously, social progress indicates we are as a whole, incredibly intelligent.  

The biggest concern is that the traits and motivations brought forth here are not actually associated with stupidity. "Specialists in circumstances" is another way of saying narrow-minded and short-sighted -- or to be more emphatic -- self-centred and ignorant. These may not be attached to the idea of stupidity, and I suppose this is another question worth pondering, but in my opinion they should be. People are not nearly as rational as Yonatan implies. If this were true, then logic would lead to everyone making evidence-based evaluative decisions almost all the time - at least most of the time, even the unemployed person who wants a job and needs a job but isn't making moves to get one. 

Although I understand the point, and agree if the emphasis is that people are very knowledgeable when it comes to their very specific individual bubble, I disagree with this meaning that they are intelligent. If you only know, and therefore are only able to make rational decisions on the things that absolutely fit in with the direct effects of your experience, you are not intelligent. Such nears the definition of self-centred and ignorant. 

That is not to say that I think most people are stupid, human capacities and the ability to learn and retain knowledge and synthesis it to better one's life and the lives of others is very high with most people. The problem is the self-centred ignorance I speak of. People too often do not making rational decisions based on evidence. Instead, they let fear and emotion outweigh objective observation. Whether it's engagement in wars, civil rights, career success or relationship dynamics - we all are guilty on an individual and on a societal level of making decisions we ended up regretting because they prioritised emotions and rhetoric over historical, expertly reviewed evidence.


Yonatan's original post in full can be found here: https://plus.google.com/103389452828130864950/posts/K7RW8jBKAoX

Over 15,000 Flood Victims Displaced in Zimbabwe - Shelterbox Disaster Relief

Earlier this year, Zimbabwe was hit with devastating flooding in the districts of Chivi, Masvingo and Tsholotsho (see Figure 1). In January and February, 850 mm of rain hit the Masvingo and Matabeleland North provinces. This is nearly twice the average these regions receive annually. Fears of the Tokwe-Mukosi Dam not withstanding the volume of water were dissipated and on 11 Feb, the Zimbabwean Government launched an international plea for $20 million in assistance to help the approximately 15,000 people displaced (OHCA, 28 Feb 2014)

Figure 1: Map of Zimbabwe showing Masvingo (Southeast) and Matabeleland North (West) Provinces. Source: NationsOnline.org

Although it withstood the pressure, water levels came within 5 metres of surpassing capacity of the Tokwe-Mukosi Dam. Because of this, Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe  declared the situation in the basin a state of national disaster. Communities downstream from the dam were instructed to  take necessary precautions to avoid danger. Over 3,000 households were moved to the Chingwizi Resettlement Camp. Official estimates point that over 700 tons of potential harvest will be lost compromising food security until the next harvest season which isn't until 2015. This is due to over 1,000 hectares of inundated food crops. Thankfully, the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) has made generous contributions allowing the World Food Program to begin providing food for the next four months. There is great difficulty in rationing nutrition for over an estimated 15,625 displaced people. (Reliefweb.int, 1 Aug 2014)

Figure 2: 600 stranded during floods in Zimbabwe Source: voazimbabwe.com

Although the disaster declaration expired on 9 May, humanitarian assistance continues three months after the onset of the emergency. There are still over 15,000 people displaced people living at Chingwizi and new issues are developing such as the need for recovery and supporting the community to rely less on aid as they resume their lives. 

One organisation providing such disaster relief is Shelterbox International. Shelterbox provides emergency shelter and vital supplies to support communities around the world overwhelmed by disaster and humanitarian crisis. It is a Rotary Club partner and as such it is dedicated to providing humanitarian services, encouraging high ethical standards and building goodwill and peace throughout the world regardless of race, religion, creed, colour, gender or political preference. 

Shelterboxes are exactly what they sound like by name. They are emergency packs designed to provide essentials for security to those most in need of shelter. Here is an excerpt from their About Us page:

We deliver the essentials people need to begin rebuilding their lives in the aftermath of a disaster. When we send boxes, each one is tailored to a disaster but typically contains a disaster relief tent for a family, thermal blankets and groundsheets, water storage and purification equipment, solar lamps, cooking utensils, a basic tool kit, mosquito nets and a children’s activity pack. 

For colder countries, we can deliver winterised aid that includes more blankets and groundsheets and a thermal liner that fits between the inner and outer layers of the tent retaining more heat.

Sometimes our aid is not packed in boxes but sent in bulk. It is essential that we always support the needs of those who have survived disasters and this can vary enormously based on the type and scale of a disaster. We also do this to maximise donors’ money ensuring that we only send what is really needed and appropriate for the situation and culture.

Figure 3: An example of a Shelterbox. Source: jetsongreen.com

What stands out about their mission is the intention to create tailored packs depending on the nature of the disaster, location and circumstances of those seeking relief. One of the more admirable aspects of their work is shown when they send thank you letters for donations. These explain that it may be be some time until they are able to indicate where the box is going. The idea is that as an organisation, rather than highlighting a specific group of people or location -- or even a purpose, they are most concerned in the most efficient means of using funding to provide the most substantial aid as possible. This reflects the truly chaotic situations many people around the world are in and rather than dedicate assistance to favoured groups, the help goes to where it is needed most given the circumstances of the victims of that particular time. Once a box is created and dispatched, notification is sent of where it went and why it was so crucial that this specific box went there. The basis of charity and humanitarian aid being decided upon based on who needs it most rather than any other personal, cultural or political criteria is top priority and rightfully so . 

Below is the background and latest updates from volunteers in Zimbabwe. For more information on the work Shelterbox is doing, or to contribute to one yourself, please visit http://www.shelterbox.org/.