Gardens, not buildings

Seth Godin's insight is astounding.

"Great projects start out feeling like buildings. There are architects, materials, staff, rigid timelines, permits, engineers, a structure.

It works or it doesn't.

Build something that doesn't fall down. On time.

But in fact, great projects, like great careers and relationships that last, are gardens. They are tended, they shift, they grow. They endure over time, gaining a personality and reflecting their environment. When something dies or fades away, we prune, replant and grow again.

Perfection and polish aren't nearly as important as good light, good drainage and a passionate gardener.

By all means, build. But don't finish. Don't walk away.

Here we grow."

Costa Rica announces plans to close its zoos and release animals from captivity

Over at Treehugger is an article announcing that the Costa Rican government has announced plans to close its zoos, freeing creatures from their long captivity.

“We are getting rid of the cages and reinforcing the idea of interacting with biodiversity in botanical parks in a natural way,” said Environment Minister René Castro. “We don't want animals in captivity or enclosed in any way unless it is to rescue or save them.”

While I understand that zoos help with conservation, education and  future generations involvement in nature, I always come away from a visit to one feeling sad. So, this I like very much.

Beavers

 It's almost the weekend and as I've been reading "What has nature ever done for us?" about carbon capture I thought a post about how wonderful beavers are would be appropriate.

According to Ellen Wohl of Colorado State University in Fort Collins, "Beavers offer a mechanism of carbon storage," by building dams and creating wetlands where carbon is in the sediment and organic matter. (From an article over at the New Scientist).

I know that there is also a great project in Scotland, where they have reintroduced beavers back into the wild and it seems to have been a huge success.

So, bring them back, what's not to love?

Fair Wear Foundation

A little off topic but if you are someone who worries about where the clothes you buy for your family come from and if they are made in a sweatshop by underage workers, then this foundation is for you.

"Fair Wear Foundation is an independent, non-profit organisation that works with companies and factories to improve labour conditions for garment workers."

Check out their page of brands that are members of the foundation.

Voynich manuscript

The Voynich manuscript has been described as "the world's most mysterious manuscript". It has been carbon dated to the 15th century and is possibly from northern Italy.

What's amazing is that it appears to be a manuscript with information and illustrations about plants and their uses but the plants don't match any known species.

Both fascinating and beautiful.

Educating the Next Steve Jobs

Interesting article over at The Wall Street Journal by Tony Wagner about how schools can teach students to be more innovative.

"In conventional schools, students learn so that they can get good grades. My most important research finding is that young innovators are intrinsically motivated. The culture of learning in programs that excel at educating for innovation emphasize what I call the three P's—play, passion and purpose. The play is discovery-based learning that leads young people to find and pursue a passion, which evolves, over time, into a deeper sense of purpose." 

The irony of course is that Steve Jobs was not a product of the education system either..... he dropped out of university and went his own way. So, while I agree with the article maybe Steve Jobs was a bad example to use.

Urban sprawl eating into wildlife habitats in Europe

 Another report from the EEA (European Environment Agency) with depressing undertones.....

"Our high-consumption lifestyles are putting more pressure on the land. But beyond the proportion of land we are covering with concrete, there is another important effect – roads and other infrastructure are carving valuable habitats into increasingly smaller fragments, with serious consequences for some of Europe’s most endangered species." EEA Executive Director Hans Bruyninckx.

Maybe we should take a leaf out of the 2012 Olympic Park's book (thanks to the wonderful people at Pictorial Meadows) and infuse all public spaces with as much wildlife habitat as is humanly possible.