NewsFusion for March 2024
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It has been a minute since we last posted but we cannot think of a better way to rev up the science, design, and culture engines than sharing the inspiring testimony Milinani Trask, Hawaiʻi Island Trustee for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, offered at the August 9th, 2022 public scoping meeting in Hilo regarding the National Science Foundation (NSF) Thirty Meter Telescope project on Maunakea.
As we have shared on Future-ish in the past, it is important to note that on the topic of the Thirty Meter Telescope, Native Hawaiians and others that oppose the current project as it is being implemented are not against science, science agencies, or even projects like the Thirty Meter Telescope. What has become one of the most important parts of this complex situtaion is that indigenous peoples MUST be included and consulted on projects that have even the smallest possiblity of impacting their culture, traditions, worldview, and knowledge systems. If projects like the Thirty Meter Telescope were initiated in the right, culturally sensitive and respectful way - and progressed through the many stages of planning, construction, and maintenance also in the right way - there is a very good chance that such projects could proceed.
Sadly, this not the case in many such projects and we here at Future-ish hope to help shape the future on this matter every opportunity we get. Sharing such passionate and inspiring testimony is one tiny step in that direction.
NewsFusion for January 2022
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NewsFusion for January 2022
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NewsFusion for April 2017
Science...
I just finished watching Prince Charles' film "Harmony - a new way of looking at the world" on NBC. Wow! I'm really impressed!!! It is the first such film that truly raises issues of broad sustainability, including both environmental and social elements. Most impressive to me is that the film makes a strong connection to the worldviews and particular challenges of Indigenous Peoples around the world. Among many other people and issues presented in the filrm, Dr. Vandana Shiva (pictured above) told the story of sustainable agriculture, Janine Benyus discussed biomimicry, and Gitg'at Elder and Coastal First Nations Executive Director, Art Sterrit, recounts brokering the Great Bear Rainforest Agreement in British Columbia. A lot of science, a lot of design, a lot of culture...I need to see it a few more times to take it all in! Check out the trailer below:Harmony Movie Trailer from Balcony Films on Vimeo.
The Society for Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS) is a society of scientists dedicated to fostering the success of Hispanic/Chicano and Native American scientists—from college students to professionals—in attaining advanced degrees, careers, and positions of leadership.
The UK Pavilion at the 2010 World Expo has both scientists and designers all abuzz. Designed by English designer Thomas Heatherwick, the building utilizes 60,000 transparent rods that move with the wind and send shimmering light into the interior of the stucture by day and cast an etherial glow by night. Even more impressive...each rod tip contains a seed from Kumming's Institute of Botany. Inspired by Englands love of gardening and public parks, and the Kew Gardens Millennium Seed Bank, Heatherwick created the building and broader pavilion to honor and celebrate green spaces, sustainability, and biodiversity. Reposted from Sustainable Sean.
Originally posted on: Brothers After All...A much anticipated book by Mark Dowie explores the tenuous relationship between global conservation efforts and indigenous peoples. Conservation Refugees shows that even though conservation and indigenous movements share many objectives, they also come into conflict, particularly when Western ideas, opinions, and worldviews don't match up with Indigenous ways of thinking, being, and doing. The field of integrated conservation and development (ICD), also referred to as community-based conservation and/or participatory conservation, has been around for several decades but the challenge of protecting diversity without impacting the indigenous peoples that often inhabit the same critical areas is still just that...a challenge. Heated discussions on ICD have played out in both the academic and mainstream press but in the end, Indigenous Peoples are still becoming refugees in the name of conservation. Perhaps Dowie's book will bring a new perspective to the diversity dilemma.
