Connections: Prehistoric and Modern
Sep. 16th, 2023 08:22 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
tcpipA good portion of this week was spent working on a 3,000-word essay - with 60 references - for the paleoclimatology paper (goodness, I've fallen into Aotearoa New Zealand parlance). My chosen subject was comparing the Younger Dryas, the last stage of the Pleistocene, with the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), especially in light of a recent paper that posit an impending collapse of the AMOC through the same mechanism as is commonly believed caused the Younger Dryas (i.e., a sudden influx of freshwater). If such a collapse were to occur one could end up with a situation where land and atmospheric temperatures increase, whilst the North Atlantic Ocean temperatures would fall - and there would be global ramifications. Interestingly, studies on the AMOC are most paleoclimatological as well, given that it's only been in the last twenty years that we've had an instrument record. Anyway, the essay will be followed up in a few weeks with an accompanying presentation.
Another form of connection between the prehistoric and modern occurred last night when I visited the Connection exhibition at Lume with Liana F. This is the third such event of theirs I've been to (along with Van Gough and The French Impressionists), it was really quite an impressive experience, expressing the deep and even religious connection of people to their land (broadly defined), and yet again with a combination of immersive and gallery artwork, accompanying music, interactive pieces and more. I was sensible enough to purchase "unlimited visit" tickets, so another visit mid-week is in order. One thing that really struck me was the disproportionate number of people from a non-European background that were present (based on phenotypical characteristics) - African, Indian, and Southeast Asian.
A related matter is the ongoing issue in the Voice campaign. I've had a number of interactions with "no" voters over the past few weeks. Based on these I started asking the question: "Do you know what you're voting on? The actual words to the constitutional amendment?". Of the 118 I surveyed (yes, really), over 97% could not give the correct answer, or even something close. Given that the 'no' campaign has now been caught out for instructing their volunteers to literally lie and sow confusion, one wonders what this means to the principle that an effective democracy depends on an informed public sphere, rather than one controlled by demagoguery.
Another form of connection between the prehistoric and modern occurred last night when I visited the Connection exhibition at Lume with Liana F. This is the third such event of theirs I've been to (along with Van Gough and The French Impressionists), it was really quite an impressive experience, expressing the deep and even religious connection of people to their land (broadly defined), and yet again with a combination of immersive and gallery artwork, accompanying music, interactive pieces and more. I was sensible enough to purchase "unlimited visit" tickets, so another visit mid-week is in order. One thing that really struck me was the disproportionate number of people from a non-European background that were present (based on phenotypical characteristics) - African, Indian, and Southeast Asian.
A related matter is the ongoing issue in the Voice campaign. I've had a number of interactions with "no" voters over the past few weeks. Based on these I started asking the question: "Do you know what you're voting on? The actual words to the constitutional amendment?". Of the 118 I surveyed (yes, really), over 97% could not give the correct answer, or even something close. Given that the 'no' campaign has now been caught out for instructing their volunteers to literally lie and sow confusion, one wonders what this means to the principle that an effective democracy depends on an informed public sphere, rather than one controlled by demagoguery.
no subject
Date: 2023-09-16 11:22 pm (UTC)As we were walking past them, a couple of people offered us a pamphlet, which we politely declined. A bit further down, another woman offered us a pamphlet, which we again declined, at which point, unprompted, she followed up with "They're giving away the country, you know."
I stopped. "I'm sorry? 'They'. Who are 'they'?"
"The Corporate Government. The Government is a corporation, and it's selling the country."
"That ... no it isn't."
"Yes it is, you just have to do your own research."
"So tell me, which youtube videos do I have to watch to learn this sort of thing?"
"It's in the Constitution. It says it in the Constitution!"
"... no it bloody doesn't!" at which point I was called away so we wouldn't be late to Afternoon Tea.
They were gone when we were on our way home.
I'm just wondering, if I had continued, exactly how long it would have taken to get her to state that it was because of the Jews.
I'm not saying that everyone or even most people considering No are racists or cookers. There are valid questions that people can have about it. (I mean, I think those questions have valid answers, but it's not unreasonable to ask the question.) But dear sweet baby Jesus on a tricycle, racists and cookers are all lining up to vote No.
And that's the thing: while the No case may have valid questions, we're not getting any of them from the No Campaign. The No Campaign has nothing but dissembling, fear campaigns, and outright lies.
no subject
Date: 2023-09-19 05:57 am (UTC)Not long at all. I have encountered a few no-voters in recent days who think it's because of the Jews.
Including the former bassist of Ratcat.