Hot, Flat and Crowded

Thomas Friedman on his new book 'Hot, Flat and Crowded'

http://fora.tv/2008/10/30/Thomas_Friedman_Why_We_Need_a_Green_Revolution

Friedman points out 5 major BIG ISSUES which are,

1, Energy and Natural Resources Supply and Demand

...while Americans reduce energy cunsumption, China's cities are growing like Rockets, consuming way more energy than that of American reduction. Overall, we aren't going green at all.

2. Petrodictatorship

...in a petrol state, peace will be determined by oil prices; when it's up, people are angry; when it's down, there'll be peace. That's a fact.

3. Climate Change

...rather than saying "Global Warming", call it "Global Weirding", because climate change doesn't mean that it's only getting hotter; it's getting more weird.

4. Energy Poverty

...no access to energy means no access to Google means no access to the latest information or research currently going on. That'll lead to a major fallback.

5. Biodiversity Loss

...China's trying to mate two 80 years old and 100 years old turtles; it's the last 2 of its kind. That's the reality we're facing today.

and points out that we need the "Green Revolution".

While people argue "We already have a Green Revolution", Friedman points out that "there was no revolution where no one loses".

However, this time, the Green Revolution led by companies, are telling that everyone is a winner in this revolution; we have green energy, green petrol, and green products. Buy it; you are joining the revolution.

Friedman refers that statement to that we are having a "Green Party"; it's no revolution, but a party.

Countries, agreeing to the Kyoto Protocol, well, that's not exactly how revolutions happen. It's almost impossible that all countries reduce 5 percent energy consumption by year 2012 or whatever. That's unnatural. The place, where real movements occur, is among private companies and organizations.

So, how does the revolution happen?

He enhances on the importance of "price tagging"; right price signals as right incentives. Without them, there'll be no revolution.(This bit, please watch the video.)

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Well, recently, I watch these kinds of video alot. I see them in places like www.ted.com or http://www.gelconference.com or www.fora.tv and so on.

I am always impressed by all the unique speakers approaching similar set of questions in their very own ways.

However, as I see more of them, the less I get impressed by each talk; she has the point, ok, next.

That's partly because, their talk is not affecting my life. They don't interfere. I see them, I live a life totally unrelated to it. I see that as a problem. I'm missing something. Listening to all these valuable talks, and I'm doing nothing myself.

That's when I decided to think practically; what's the My Life Version(MLV) of this talk. I have to interpret the story into my scale to actually have a grasp to it.

Well, how to fix global warming is too big for me, so I make it into a MLV trouble. That'll be like to think "I don't know about global warming, that's a trouble". Because if I don't have my version of explaining that global warming is bad, I can't take any action to make a change...

...I'm losing it myself,lol

I might end it here.

So, basically, the way to approach big themes like global warming, is to think the theme in a MLV model; how is this problem actually affecting Me practically?

That's all for now.

Cheers

Joe

The Witch of the West

Here it goes.

This summer, when I was in Nepal with one of my best friends Takuma, since we were so bored (what a waster!) that I asked the hotel manager for some books to read. He came back with this book called "The Witch of the West is Dead". mmm, sounds political :)? Nono, just a nice novel.

西の魔女が死んだ (新潮文庫)/梨木 香歩

￥420

Amazon.co.jp

Anyways, I was surprised that I got a Japanese book in Nepal. It shows how much Japanese people go to India and Nepal.

So I read it in a go. Luckily(?) the weather was so bad that we never stepped outside that day apart from getting some food. I was able to really concentrate.

What I liked about the book was that the main characters were living an international life altogether. Mai, the main character in the book has an English grandma, and Mai's mother is an English-Japanese lady.

This concept of internationality was really close from what I was experiencing, therefore I liked it from the beginning.

The best part is how grandma is characterised in the book. She's a kind of old-fashioned gentle person, still has a strong mind of hers. She has an awful lot of knowledge on wild flowers and weeds. Still, she only tells them when necessary, and just by reading the passage, I felt myself getting relaxed by these wild plants. Such a great description. Kaho Nashiki is the author. The words she chooses are full of gentleness but has a strong sense of existence, like the words really reach your heart. So, when you read this book and interact with Nashiki's world, you find yourself wanting to be a part of her story. At least that's what I felt. I really wanted to meet the old grandma of Mai's.

There was a strong message in this book that was told through Mai's grandma. She told Mai to make a decision that's true to your own voice; not led by others. That's the basic mentality that you should possess to become a qualified witch (yes, that's her message). Well the becoming-a-witch story would be almost completely irrelevant to most of you, but I'm sure her core message would hit alot of your hearts. My words aren't that seductive so go on and read this book to find out the real message.

Anyways, this book has become one of my favorites. I would like to share with you all through this report, and also to keep vivid in my memory box. Hope you'll get a chance to read it! You just need to understand a hell lot of Japanese:)

Cheers

Joe

How This Blog Will Gonna Be From Now On

Hey, So I've decided the direction of this blog, meaning what will I be going to write from now on.

Basically, it'll be one of these nerdy philosophical blogs where I'll spit out all my thoughts.

The function of this blog would be sth like a "mind pool", rather than an "information pool" where useful facts come and go.

I also decided this blog to be written in English so that I can practice it; I haven't written anything in English for so long!! And also I have a SAT Test coming up:(

Anyways, There will be no Japanese written here (apart from all the shitty ads).

So, if anyone would be interested enough to read my egoistic POVs, please do so. I would appreciate it:)

Cheers.

Joe