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From Dr. Kevin Hilton who is having email issues with Jiscmail. Terry === I would agree with Matthew to a degree. While we have increased our awareness and understanding, in a number of professions including Design over the last few decades, the fact is we do seem to be changing too slowly to deal with predictions of impact. Whilst this in the main seems to be down to human differences in world view perceptions of threat and value in change, I believe a key problem we all face is in not finding a common catalyst/vision to 'redirect' everyone 'together' in a more positive direction. Instead some of us would appear to be making some effort to redirect our own practices but experience difficulties as we get it caught up in so many other issues, and complexity. To use a clock analogy: We need to slow down this particular clock, so that it works in a more realistic (Sustain-able) manner, providing value to all. However, effort from each cog (profession) alone is too weak to make the correction. Also if all cogs do not move in the right direction at the right speed it also acts against the efforts of others and the system remains uncorrected. To enable such massive change would seem to need a single medium of communication and coordination, to focus on and facilitate doing rather than just talking or writing about doing. This would suggest to me the need to radically change our perception of the function of the world press channels and other modes of immediate broadcast, to communicate the value of everyone changing together, and reporting where it is starting to work. We need clear feedback and positive news, to further enable change, rather than the sad 'entertainment value' of bad news which enables some people to think 'Well at least I'm alright Jack.' I suppose core to this 'correction' then is determining and ensuring a responsible practice for the media. The problems with this proposition first off are lack of trust in the media, and secondly the political influence and denial of issues which we have seen in the press, when it is actually less risky to accept and respond to predicted threats even if the prediction proves wrong. It is a bit like the philosopher's risk analysis for being atheist or a believer, showing that the risk is less for being a believer. Like most people and businesses there is the deep drive to make money and deal with problems later. However, our value systems do seem able to change in times of catastrophe when we are seen to work together for resolution. The problem with the evidence of catastrophe is that it is often already too late, at least for the victims. Also, getting someone to work in a preventative rather than curative mode seems almost akin to asking for belief of a religious nature. 'Sure I'll believe as long as 'He' shows himself.' Many of the cultures in this world base their learning and understanding upon their physical senses, not the imagination of what might be. And attempting to 'convert' them brings up a whole host of other problems, not to mention being ethically questionable. So, in terms of what we might 'see' change more quickly than climate, to 'prove' the value of change, would be evidence of a better alternative to the money hungry consumerist model of existence. But maybe the human animal is not wired to appreciate any other system as 'more rewarding'. I'd certainly like to see us 'doing' something along those lines though, to see global TV plus local community show examples of reducing 'expenditure' and improving well-being and balance, to encourage myself and others to copy or at least investigate whether we can also make such improvements. I'm presently planning to make a prototype video of how I live in my house, not to say this is the best way to live, but to say these are changes I have made to my lifestyle; for me then to investigate whether watching such a video, of someone 'familiar' to the audience, (at Northumbria), helps them to raise more appropriate questions of change, and follow through to actual change, more effectively than just reading or talking about it. I'll let you know how it goes. Regards Kev Dr. Kev Hilton Head of Research The Centre for Design Research School of Design City Campus East Northumbria University Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 8ST UK 0191 243 7340 [log in to unmask] http://northumbria.ac.uk/experts/kevinhilton