Bishop Hill Diary dates, intellectual incuriousity edition
Feb 4, 2015 Academia Diary dates Greens The Royal Society of the Arts is going to do one of those interminably dull events in which a bunch of pseudo-academics and green activists preach to the converted. The flyer is reproduced below, but note that the first sentence is completely untrue.
In a bid to generate a new dialogue that sparks enduring change, the RSA is embarking on a series of climate change events with a difference.
The 2015 Paris climate conference is looming, and there’s widespread consensus that it is our final chance for a truly international, multilateral resolution to the planet’s most pressing challenge. But why is it so hard to find a way forward?
For the second event in our brand-new series, we are adopting a 'Question Time' format, gathering expert representatives in each of what we feel are the seven main dimensions of the climate problem: science, behaviour, democracy, law, technology, economy and culture.
Our panel will provide expert insights into the competing priorities, responsibility voids and overlapping areas of jurisdiction that make climate change such a difficult issue to resolve. But above all, we are keen to hear what you, our audience, consider the key barriers to progress.
Panellists to include: Economist, LSE, Lord Nicholas Stern; climate scientist, UCL, Chris Rapley CBE; Green Party member of the London Assembly, Baroness Jenny Jones; Co-founder, Futerra, Solitaire Townsend; green-energy entrepreneur and founder of Solarcentury, Jeremy Leggett; psychoanalytic psychotherapist, Rosemary Randall
Details here.
Reader Comments (62)
Salopian, perhaps if you are feeling "lost, angry or powerless" about climate change, you should have an appointment with one of these undistinguishable academics, let them know, why you feel the way you do, and report back.
The following day, the Royal Society of Art will be running a symposium on "Making money from pictures of the fairies at the bottom of your garden".
The list of speakers will be the same.
Golf Charlie, I suspect that, if I did, the report back would be along the lines that 'they removed my wallet and credit cards and replaced them with a tinfoil hat'.
Unfortunately, as noted by other commenters, I don't think 'psychoanalytic psychotherapy' is a regulated profession, so I suspect the only redress would be through local Trading Standards Officers.
Remember the film "No Pressure", directed by Franny Armstrong, which had kids being blown up in a classroom? She also directed the film "The Age of Stupid", premiered in 2009.
What does that have to do with the Royal Society?
Armstrong’s film was embraced by the Royal Society in March 2010, when they organized a Public Symposium with the Tate Modern Gallery in London. It’s title was: "Rising to the Climate Challenge - Artists and Scientists Imagine Tomorrow's World."
https://royalsociety.org/events/2010/age-stupid/
“Tate and the Royal Society collaborate by bringing together scientists and artists to imagine the social and psychological impacts of climate change.
On 19 and 20 March, Tate and the Royal Society collaborate to bring you a screening of the film The Age of Stupid following, (sic) by a discussion and a public symposium about the social and psychological impacts of climate change.”
Speakers for the symposium included Professor Brian Hoskins, Imperial College Grantham Institute, Lucy Orta, Robert Bloomfield, Tomas Saraceno, Professor Steve Rayner, Agnes Denes and Professor Corinne Le Quere, now Tyndall director.
The panel is made up of people who are thoroughly enjoying the supposed climate crisis. My question for them is how sad and deflated would they be if they were to be persuaded that their fears are overblown? The scenario is a bit incredible since it would involve a major ego-threatening event, one involving the letting in of contrary information.
"...Hate is too much an integral part of their worldview." --Rick Bradford
It's worse than you thought, Rick. Hate and fear trigger a chemically-induced state of excitement as endorphins and adrenaline are released into the blood stream. People who have attained this state are no longer under the control of the reasoning forebrain, but are slaves to a primitive part of the cerebellum, which part is often called, somewhat misleadingly, "the Lizard brain."
The excitement is addictive. Victims must constantly seek opportunities to fall under its spell. This addiction can be combined with reliance on other substances with powerful effect. That does not mean that alcoholics, etc., are, dipso facto, Global Warming addicts as well, merely that these conditions can be mutually exacerbated. Denial of their addiction runs deep among such people.
If you look at the RSA website you can see that it does a lot more than support painters and writers etc. It is into all manner of social projects including running schools and working with minorities and other needy groups. It has involvement in a wide range of issues and is funded by a number of charitable trusts such as Rowntree, as well as local authorities and its members. Quite an eye-opener for an organisation with a fairly low profile as far as I was aware.
No doubt, this is the way that the Green Blob would like to see the electoral system in the UK evolve - you will only be entitled to vote, unless you first submit your voting intentions for approval.
“… psychoanalytic psychotherapist, Rosemary Randall”.
She’d be there on standby in case of emergencies.
"Thanks jorgekafkazar (Feb 4, 2015 at 7:03 PM). I know exactly what you mean. If you'll just acknowledge that all us lefties are not (dipso facto) murderous Stalinists then I'll nominate your post for the BishopHill Hall of Fame." --geoffchambers
So acknowledged. Each of us has that protective part of the brain designed to take over in emergencies. Some of us let it take control of us, even very intelligent people of all political stripes. Addiction takes many forms and is cunning, baffling, and powerful.
Sorry to get here late.
I don't know what you do in the UK, but in the USA, big political meetings play inspirational pop songs to open and close festivities.
For a Dimensions meeting on our atmosphere, I nominate for the opening ceremony the Fifth Dimension's 1967 hit, "Up, Up and Away" ("Would you like to fly in my beautiful balloon? Way Up in the sky in my beautiful balloon...")
And then to close, as attendees are packing up and exiting, playing the B-side of that 1967 45-rpm record, would be perfect: "Which Way to Nowhere."