NATURE HAPPENS PRESENTATION 2.1

MAN DID NOT WEAVE THE WEB OF LIFE

©2007 BEAL INSTITUTE FOR STRATEGIC CREATIVITY

MAN DID NOT WEAVE THE WEB OF LIFE BUT IS MERELY A STRAND
IN IT.


MAN DID NOT WEAVE THE WEB OF LIFE BUT IS MERELY A STRAND
IN IT. WHATEVER HE DOES TO THE WEB HE DOES TO HIMSELF

CHIEF SEATTLE, MORE THAN ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO


IF .. ..-.


THE HARDEST
THING TO SEE IS
WHAT’S IN FRONT OF
YOUR EYES

- .... . / .... .- .-. -.. . ... - / - .... .. -. --. / - --- / ... . .
/ .. ... / .-- .... .- - / .. ... / .. -. / ..-. .-. --- -. - / ---
..-. / -.-- --- ..- .-. / . -.-- . ...


THEN- .... . -.


THE HARDEST
THING TO DO IS
WHAT YOU KNOW YOU
HAVE TO DO.

- .... . / .... .- .-. -.. . ... - / - .... .. -. --. / - --- / -.. ---
/ .. ... / .-- .... .- - / .. ... / -- --- ... - / -.-. .-.. . .- .-.
.-.. -.-- / . ... ... . -. - .. .- .-..


NATURE HAPPENS


WE ARE AT THE ONTARIO SCIENCE CENTER TAKING PART IN
A CHARETTE:


A CHARETTE: ADAPTING TO WATER DISASTERS


A CHARETTE: ADAPTING TO WATER DISASTERS PRESENTED AS
PART OF DIGIFEST 2008 ‘WATER’S EDGE’ PROFESSIONAL
DEVELOPMENT SERIES.


WE EXPLORE THE POWER OF IDEAS AND SYMBOLIC
REPRESENTATION TO SEE IF INROADS CAN BE MADE


TOWARDS RELATING THE DANGERS OF DOING NOTHING IN
THE FACE OF IMPENDING DISASTERS ASSOCIATED WITH WATER.


THE SCOPE IS FOCUSED ON THE TSUNAMI THAT STRUCK
INDONESIA IN 2005


WHERE RECONSTRUCTION IS TAKING PLACE EXACTLY
IN THE DISASTER ZONE


THE KEYNOTE SPEAKER, ERIK DAVIS, IS A VETERAN DISASTER
RELIEF SPECIALIST WHO HAS THE LOOK OF SOMEONE USED
TO WARZONES,


THAT IS, HE IS REALISTIC BUT HOPEFUL, ENCOURAGING US
TO KEEP AN OPEN MIND.


STARTING WITH THE TITLE, THINGS BOTHER ME


I TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHY BY LOOKING AT:


MOBILITY > MOVEMENTS IN BEHAVIOUR LEADING TO CHANGE


THE HUMAN RELATIONSHIP AND CONNECTION TO THE NATURAL WORLD


VANTAGE


VANTAGE
BEING PRESENT IN THE WORLD AROUND US


VANTAGE
SEMANTICS AND THE EFFECTS OF LANGUAGE


VANTAGE
HUMAN RELATIONSHIP TO DISASTER


VANTAGE
WATER-RELATED DISASTERS


VANTAGE
HARNESSING AND CONTROLLING WATER / BUILDING ON BORROWED LAND


VANTAGE
THE FUTURE OF LIVING WITH WATER > RISKS WE CAN TAKE


VANTAGE
THE HUMAN RELATIONSHIP TO WATER


THERE’S A CONSENSUS HERE THAT A GOOD STORY
GOES A LONG WAY TO IMPRESS…


BUT CAN IT GO FAR ENOUGH?


MYTHS, FAIRYTALES…


MYTHS, FAIRYTALES… SCARYTALES…


DRILLS ARE APPARENTLY A GOOD WAY
TO PUT PEOPLE IN A SITUATION


WHAT STORIES DO WE TELL?


HERE’S ONE:


THE TIDE GOES IN AND OUT TWICE A DAY WITH
SWISS PRECISION


AND IF YOU PAY ATTENTION TO THE BEACH
YOU GET A SENSE OF WHAT’S GOING ON


IF YOU FILMED IT FRAME BY FRAME YOU’LD SEE
PATTERNS OF BEHAVIOUR


WHAT WILL ROLL WILL ROLL, WHAT WILL FLOAT WILL FLOAT,
SOME THINGS WILL BE SWEPT AWAY AND OTHERS WILL SEEM
NOT TO MOVE


THE STRUCTURES WE BUILD AND INFRASTRUCTURES WE
CONSTRUCT ARE THE MOST DIFFICULT TO SHIFT:


LEAST LIKELY TO MOVE WITHIN TYPICAL CONDITIONS


ERIC SAYS:


IT’S HARD TO GET PEOPLE TO


IT’S HARD TO GET PEOPLE TO MOVE


THE STRUCTURES WE BUILD AND INFRASTRUCTURES
WE CONSTRUCT ARE THE MOST DIFFICULT TO MOVE
WITHIN TYPICAL CONDITIONS


RECONSTRUCTION AT THE SCENE OF THE CRIME GOES
AGAINST BETTER JUDGEMENT


WHEN ALL SENSES CALL FOR MOVEMENT AND MOBILITY


NOT ONLY PHYSICAL MOVEMENT BUT MOVEMENTS
IN THINKING AND BEHAVIOUR


THINKING


THINKING BACK NOW THAT MOVEMENT NEED NOT BE AS
SERIOUS, OR PERMANENT AS IT MIGHT SEEM.


AS CHILDREN WE PLAY WITH THE WATER’S EDGE


CHASING OCEANS AS THEY RETREAT,


RETREATING AS WAVES SNAKE IN


AGAIN AND AGAIN


AGAIN AND AGAIN TO GRAB AT OUR FEET.


WE (INTER)ACT THIS WAY


INHERENT INTELLIGENCES:


INHERENT INTELLIGENCES: SPATIAL
HOWARD GARDNER’S NINE INTELLIGENCES
KINESTHETIC
LINGUISTIC
LOGICAL
MUSICAL
INTERPERSONAL
INTRAPERSONAL
NATURALISTIC


INHERENT


AT THE AGE OF FOUR MOST CHILDREN ARE AT THE GENIUS
LEVEL IN TERMS OF MULTIPLE FRAMES OF INTELLIGENCES.


GARDNER’S STUDY FOUND THAT INTELLIGENCE AT THIS LEVEL
DECREASED RADICALLY WITH OLDER SUBJECTS -


AT THE AGE OF TWENTY ONLY 10% QUALIFIED,
AND OVER TWENTY UNDER 3%.


SUGGESTED HERE IS THAT CHILDREN HAVE THE ABILITY
TO OBSERVE WITHOUT FORMING CONCLUSIONS


THEY TYPICALLY DO NOT OVER-RIDE WHAT THEY ARE
CAPABLE OF SEEING, EXPERIENCING AND DOING -


ABILITIES LOST IN ADULTHOOD


WE FORGET WE KNOW


WE FORGET WE KNOW HOW TO SEE


WE FORGET WE KNOW HOW TO FEEL


WE FORGET WE KNOW HOW TO MOVE


WE FORGET WE KNOW HOW TO BE


KNOW HOW TO BE
WE FORGET WE
IN THE WORLD


WE GO FROM TOUCHING TO DESCRIBING


FROM JUMPING TO TESTING


FROM SEEING TO BELIEVING


NOMADIC CULTURES KNEW HOW TO MOVE


NOMADIC CULTURES KNEW HOW TO MOVE
IN ACCORDANCE WITH NATURE


WITH WHAT WE KNOW


CAN WE ADOPT A NEW TYPE OF MOBILITY


DEVELOPING ATTITUDES AND RYTHMS IN TUNE WITH
NATURE


RELATIONSHIPS THAT ARE PLIABLE AND RESPECTFUL.


HOW WE MOVE OR DO NOT MOVE


HOW WE MOVE OR DO NOT MOVE
MAKES A DIFFERENCE


THE HUMAN RELATIONSHIP AND CONNECTION TO THE NATURAL WORLD.


EDGAR ALLEN POE’S A DESCENT INTO THE MAELSTROM


TELLS THE STORY OF A SAILOR TRAPPED IN A HUGE WHIRLPOOL.


TRAPPED IN THE VORTEX, THE SAILOR STUDIES THE PATTERNS
OF OTHER PHENOMENA CAUGHT IN THE SAME CURRENT


CURRENCY


FACINATION FOR WHAT HE SEES REPLACES FEAR,
ENGAGEMENT AND UNDERSTANDING SAVE HIS LIFE


HOW WE RELATE OR DO NOT RELATE


HOW WE RELATE OR DO NOT RELATE
MAKES A DIFFERENCE


VANTAGE.


THE SAFETY OF HIGH GROUND
IS A PRIVELEGED VANTAGE POINT.


SEEING INTO THE DISTANCE WITHOUT OBSTRUCTION
IS ALSO A GREAT VIEW


OTHER BENEFITS FROM HERE, LIKE STAYING DRY AND
STRATEGIC ADVANTAGE, ARE PERHAPS LESS OBVIOUS
UNDER ORDINARY CIRCUMSTANCES.


WE WRITE POEMS ABOUT IT, PAINT AND ADMIRE IT


WE WRITE POEMS ABOUT IT, PAINT AND ADMIRE IT
FROM A DISTANCE.


THROUGH BINOCULARS AND TELESCOPES WE MARVEL
AT THE FORESHORTENED AND COMPRESSED INTRICACY


SNAKES TIGERS POISON
WHAT CAN THESE THINGS MEAN FROM HERE?


FROM GREAT HEIGHTS
IT’S EASY


TO KEEP IT AT ARM’S LENGTH


IS THIS SAFE?


IS THIS SAFE? NO


IS THIS SAFE? NO
CAN


IS THIS SAFE? NO
CAN IT


IS THIS SAFE? NO
CAN IT TOUCH YOU?


IS THIS SAFE? NO
CAN IT TOUCH YOU? YES


CAN WE SEE


THIS


FROM HERE


WHAT WE SEE AND DO NOT SEE


WHAT WE SEE AND DO NOT SEE
MAKES A DIFFERENCE


WHEN COMBINED, THE WORDS


NATURAL + DISASTER


NATURAL + DISASTER
DON’T ADD UP


NATURAL
NATURAL DISASTER MAY BE A TERM WE HAVE COME TO ACCEPT

DISASTER
IN DISTINGUISHING NATURALLY OCCURING PHENOMENA


NATURAL
SUCH AS EARTHQUAKES, HURICANES, FLOODS AND TSUNAMIS

DISASTER

NATURAL
FROM DISASTERS CAUSED BY HUMANKIND SUCH AS OIL SPILLS,

DISASTER
FOOD SHORTAGES, AXES OF EVIL, AND TCHERNOBYL


NATURAL
HOWEVER, THE CONCEPT NATURAL DISASTER

DISASTER
IS BARELY ONCE REMOVED FROM OTHER CONCEPTS SUCH AS


NATURAL
‘AN ACT OF GOD’ AND

DISASTER
‘BY THE HAND OF ALLAH’


NATURAL
IN FACT THE TSUNAMI THAT STRUCK INDONESIA IN 2005

DISASTER
HAS BEEN CALLED ALL THREE


NATURAL
DESTRUCTION BY NATURE, GOD, OR ALLAH CARRY THE SAME

DISASTER
FATALISTIC IMPLICATIONS


NATURALABSOLUTION FROM
AND IN THE SUBTEXT,

DISASTER
ACCOUNTABILITY


NATURAL
FOR OUR ACTIONS AND NON-ACTION

DISASTER

HUMAN
THE MESSAGE IS THAT THERE IS NOTHING WE CAN

DISASTER
DO ABOUT IT OTHER THAN ACCEPT IT


HUMAN
ORADAPT RATHER THAN CHANGE
PROACTIVELY

DISASTER

HUMAN
OR ADAPT RATHER THAN CHANGE

DISASTER

HUMAN
OF OUR OWN FREE WILL

DISASTER

HUMAN
WITH RESPECT
FOR LIFE
AND REVERANCE

DISASTER

HUMAN
THE DISASTER PORTION OF THE TERM HAS TO DO

DISASTER

HUMAN WE ARE THERE
WITH THE FACT THAT
UNPREPARED
AND

DISASTER

HUMAN
BUILDING IN FLOOD PLANES, ON FAULT LINES,
RECONSTRUCTING IN DISASTER ZONES

DISASTER

HUMAN
IS NOT NATURAL

DISASTER

HUMAN
IS NOT NATURAL

DISASTER
OR AS SOMEONE AT THE CHARETTE PUT IT:


HUMAN
“THERE’S NOTHING NATURAL ABOUT THIS DISASTER,
IT’S HORRIBLE”

DISASTER

WE COULD CALL IT A HUMAN DISASTER


IN ANY CASE, THERE IS NO POLICY FOR SUCH
DISASTER


WHERE WE PLUG IN


WHERE WE PLUG IN OR DO NOT PLUG IN


WHERE WE PLUG IN OR DO NOT PLUG IN
MAKES A DIFFERENCE


THE HUMAN RELATIONSHIP TO DISASTER


ERIC SAYS: PEOPLE ARE EARTHQUAKE SENSITIVE TO THE TUNE OF
10% OF THE POPULATION

. .-. .. -.-. / ... .- -.-- ... / .--. . --- .--. .-.. . / .- .-. . / . .- .-. - .... --.- ..- .- -.- . /
... . -. ... .. - .. ...- . / - --- / - .... . / - ..- -. . / --- ..-. / - . -. / .--. . .-. -.-. . -. - /
--- ..-. / - .... . / .--. --- .--. ..- .-.. .- - .. --- -.


ONE IN TEN WILL GET A HEADACHE OR FEEL DIZZY 30 MINUTES
BEFORE THE EARTHQUAKE.

--- -. . / .. -. / - . -. / .-- .. .-.. .-.. / --. . - / .- / .... . .- -.. .- -.-. .... . / --- .-. / ..-.
. . .-.. / -.. .. --.. --.. -.-- / ...-- ----- / -- .. -. ..- - . ... / -... . ..-. --- .-. . / - .... . /
. .- .-. - .... --.- ..- .- -.- . .-.-.-


10 MINUTES BEFORE THE EARTHQUAKE DOGS WILL START TO BARK

.---- ----- / -- .. -. ..- - . ... / -... . ..-. --- .-. . / - .... . / . .- .-. - .... --.- ..- .- -.- . /
-.. --- --. ... / .-- .. .-.. .-.. / ... - .- .-. - / - --- / -... .- .-. -.-


‘AND THEN THE EARTHQUAKE HAPPENS’ ERIK SAYS

.- -. -.. / - .... . -. / - .... . / . .- .-. - .... --.- ..- .- -.- . / .... .- .--. .--. . -. ... / . .-.
.. -.- / ... .- -.-- ...


‘AND THEN THE EARTHQUAKE HAPPENS’ ERIK SAYS
GET IT?
.- -. -.. / - .... . -. / - .... . / . .- .-. - .... --.- ..- .- -.- . / .... .- .--. .--. . -. ... / . .-.
.. -.- / ... .- -.-- ... / --. . - / .. -


NATURAL
WARNING SYSTEMS ARE

DISASTER
NOT VERY EFFECTIVE
.-- .- .-. -. .. -. --. / ... -.-- ... - . -- ... / .- .-. . / -. --- - / ...- . .-. -.-- / . ..-. ..-. .
-.-. - .. ...- .


ERIC SAYS: GETTING PEOPLE TO PREPARE IS AN UPHILL BATTLE

. .-. .. -.-. / ... .- -.-- ... / --. . - - .. -. --. / .--. . --- .--. .-.. . / - --- / .--. .-. . .--. .-
.-. . / .. ... / .- -. / ..- .--. .... .. .-.. .-.. / -... .- - - .-.. .


ANIMALS RAN FROM THE TSUNAMI.
WHY DIDN’T WE?
.- -. .. -- .- .-.. ... / .-. .- -. / ..-. .-. --- -- / - .... . / - ... ..- -. .- -- .. .-.-.- / .-- ....
-.-- / -.. .. -.. / -. --- - / .-- .


FATALLY FAST PHENOMENA

..-. .- - .- .-.. .-.. -.-- / ..-. .- ... - / .--. .... . -. --- -- . -. .-


AN EARTHQUAKE LASTS SEVERAL SECONDS

..-. .- - .- .-.. .-.. -.-- / ..-. .- ... - / .--. .... . -. --- -- . -. .- / .- -. / . .- .-. - .... --.-
..- .- -.- . / .-.. .- ... - ... / ... . ...- . .-. .- .-.. / ... . -.-. --- -. -.. ... / ..-. .- - .- .-..
.-.. -.-- / ..-. .- ... - / .--. .... . -. --- -- . -. .-


FLOODS CAN OCCUR IN A MATTER OF 20 MINUTES

..-. .- - .- .-.. .-.. -.-- / ..-. .- ... - / .--. .... . -. --- -- . -. .- / .- -. / . .- .-. - .... --.-
..- .- -.- . / .-.. .- ... - ... / ... . ...- . .-. .- .-.. / ... . -.-. --- -. -.. ... / ..-. .- - .- .-..
.-.. -.-- / ..-. .- ... - / .--. .... . -. --- -- . -. .- / ..-. .-.. --- --- -.. ... / -.-. .- -. / ---
-.-. -.-. ..- .-. / .. -. / .- / -- .- - - . .-. / --- ..-. / ..--- ----- / -- .. -. ..- - . ... / ..-. .-
- .- .-.. .-.. -.-- / ..-. .- ... - / .--. .... . -. --- -- . -. .- /


TORNADOS ARE HERE AND GONE IN A BLINK OF AN EYE

..-. .- - .- .-.. .-.. -.-- / ..-. .- ... - / .--. .... . -. --- -- . -. .- / .- -. / . .- .-. - .... --.-
..- .- -.- . / .-.. .- ... - ... / ... . ...- . .-. .- .-.. / ... . -.-. --- -. -.. ... / ..-. .- - .- .-..
.-.. -.-- / ..-. .- ... - / .--. .... . -. --- -- . -. .- / ..-. .-.. --- --- -.. ... / -.-. .- -. / ---
-.-. -.-. ..- .-. / .. -. / .- / -- .- - - . .-. / --- ..-. / ..--- ----- / -- .. -. ..- - . ... / ..-. .-
- .- .-.. .-.. -.-- / ..-. .- ... - / .--. .... . -. --- -- . -. .- / - --- .-. -. .- -.. --- ... / .- .-.
. / .... . .-. . / .- -. -.. / --. --- -. . / .. -. / .- / -... .-.. .. -. -.- / --- ..-. / .- -. / . -.--
. / ..-. .- - .- .-.. .-.. -.-- / ..-. .- ... - / .--. .... . -. --- -- . -. .- /


TORNADOS ARE HERE AND GONE IN A BLINK OF AN EYE
MUDSLIDES AND AVALANCHES ARE FFP
..-. .- - .- .-.. .-.. -.-- / ..-. .- ... - / .--. .... . -. --- -- . -. .- / .- -. / . .- .-. - .... --.-
..- .- -.- . / .-.. .- ... - ... / ... . ...- . .-. .- .-.. / ... . -.-. --- -. -.. ... / ..-. .- - .- .-..
.-.. -.-- / ..-. .- ... - / .--. .... . -. --- -- . -. .- / ..-. .-.. --- --- -.. ... / -.-. .- -. / ---
-.-. -.-. ..- .-. / .. -. / .- / -- .- - - . .-. / --- ..-. / ..--- ----- / -- .. -. ..- - . ... / ..-. .-
- .- .-.. .-.. -.-- / ..-. .- ... - / .--. .... . -. --- -- . -. .- / - --- .-. -. .- -.. --- ... / .- .-.
. / .... . .-. . / .- -. -.. / --. --- -. . / .. -. / .- / -... .-.. .. -. -.- / --- ..-. / .- -. / . -.--
. / ..-. .- - .- .-.. .-.. -.-- / ..-. .- ... - / .--. .... . -. --- -- . -. .- / -- ..- -.. ... .-.. ..
-.. . ... / .- -. -.. / .- ...- .- .-.. .- -. -.-. .... . ... / .- .-. . / ..-. ..-. .--. / ..-. .- - .-
.-.. .-.. -.-- / ..-. .- ... - / .--. .... . -. --- -- . -. .-


NATURALTIME-BASED
DISASTERS ARE NOT

DISASTER
MOMENTS:
-.. .. ... .- ... - . .-. ... / .- .-. . / -. --- - / - .. -- . -....- -... .- ... . -.. / -- --- -- . -. -
... ---... / ..-. .- - .- .-.. .-.. -.-- / ..-. .- ... - / .--. .... . -. --- -- . -. .-


NATURAL
NOT THE FEW MOMENTS IT TAKES A MASSIVE WAVE TO

DISASTER
DEVASTATE A SHORELINE HABITATION

-. --- - / - .... . / ..-. . .-- / -- --- -- . -. - ... / .. - / - .- -.- . ... / .- / -- .- ... ... ..
...- . / .-- .- ...- . / - --- / -.. . ...- .- ... - .- - . / .- / ... .... --- .-. . .-.. .. -. . / ....
.- -... .. - .- - .. --- -. / ..-. .- - .- .-.. .-.. -.-- / ..-. .- ... - / .--. .... . -. --- -- . -. .-


NATURAL
DISASTERS ARE ALL THE MOMENTS LEADING UP TO THE WAVE

DISASTER
-.. .. ... .- ... - . .-. ... / .- .-. . / .- .-.. .-.. / - .... . / -- --- -- . -. - ... / .-.. . .- -..
.. -. --. / ..- .--. / - --- / - .... . / .-- .- ...- .


NATURAL
AND THE TIME IT TAKES TO FORGET ABOUT THE LAST WAVE.

DISASTER
.- -. -.. / - .... . / - .. -- . / .. - / - .- -.- . ... / - --- / ..-. --- .-. --. . - / .- -... --- ..- -
/ - .... . / .-.. .- ... - / .-- .- ...- . .-.-.-


NATURAL
DISASTER TAKES OUR TIME TO HAPPEN

DISASTER
-.. .. ... .- ... - . .-. / - .- -.- . ... / --- ..- .-. / - .. -- . / - --- / .... .- .--. .--. . -.


NATURALREPEATED HUMAN
DISASTER IS IN THE

DISASTER
TENDENCY TOWARDS:
-.. .. ... .- ... - . .-. / .. ... / .. -. / - .... . / .-. . .--. . .- - . -.. / .... ..- -- .- -. / - .
-. -.. . -. -.-. -.-- / - --- .-- .- .-. -.. ... ---...


NATURAL
DISCONNECT

DISASTER
DISBELIEF
DENIAL
-.. .. ... -.-. --- -. -. . -.-. - / -.. .. ... -... . .-.. .. . ..-. / -.. . -. .. .- .-..


NATURAL
(IF GUNS DON’T KILL PEOPLE)

DISASTER
-.--.- .. ..-. / --. ..- -. ... / -.. --- / -. --- - / -.- .. .-.. .-.. / .--. . --- .--. .-.. . -.--.-


NATURAL
NATURE DOES NOT HAVE ACCIDENTS OR MAKE VICTIMS,

DISASTER
-. .- - ..- .-. . / -.. --- . ... / -. --- - / .... .- ...- . / .- -.-. -.-. .. -.. . -. - ... / --- .-. /
-- .- -.- . / ...- .. -.-. - .. -- ... --..--


NATURAL
NATURE DOES NOT HAVE ACCIDENTS OR MAKE VICTIMS,

DISASTER
WE DO
-. .- - ..- .-. . / -.. --- . ... / -. --- - / .... .- ...- . / .- -.-. -.-. .. -.. . -. - ... / --- .-. /
-- .- -.- . / ...- .. -.-. - .. -- ... --..-- / .-- . / -.. ---


HOW WE SPEND OR DO NOT SPEND OUR CURRENCY


HOW WE SPEND OR DO NOT SPEND OUR CURRENCY
MAKES A DIFFERENCE


STILL TO BE ADDRESSED IN PART II:
VANTAGE
THE HUMAN RELATIONSHIP TO WATER


NATURE HAPPENS PRESENTATION 2.1

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NATURE HAPPENS PRESENTATION 2.1