Tirian.org

The Observer Effect

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 05:21:02 +0000

I enjoyed reading Ken Wilson’s chapter “Thinking about the ethics of fieldwork” in “Fieldwork in Developing Countries.” I want to focus on one sentence found on page 186 that says, “…people who are aware of being observed, tend to report or behave in a biased fashion, either willfully or subconsciously…if a researcher attempts to observe [...]

Kick down some cash for Haiti!

Mon, 18 Jan 2010 05:41:10 +0000

Kick down some cash for Haiti! I could only afford $10, but at least its something!

Hatian-American Catherine Laine (Swarthmore 98), a personal friend, and a super hero of humanity in my opinion, is running operations for AIDG (Appropriate Infrastructure Development Group). I trust her more than I trust any of the big organizations. Remember that [...]

The Tradegy of the Niger Delta

Wed, 16 Dec 2009 07:44:07 +0000

In his article “Righteous Oil? The Oil Complex, and Corporate Social Responsibility,” Michael Watts weaves a pretty scary web in his portrayal of the “oil complex,” The oil complex could take many forms but the goal is always the same: get as much oil out as quickly and cheaply as possible. In [...]

“The End of Cheap Oil,” by Campbell and Laherrere – compared to – “Risks of the Oil Transition,” by Farrel and Brandt

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 09:01:01 +0000

“The End of Cheap Oil,” by Campbell and Laherrere

• diminishing oil supplies will lead to severe economic and geopolitical consequences by 2010

This article, written in 1998, brings the reader’s attention to the supply of global conventional crude oil and predicts that by 2010 the demand will begin to outpace supply leading to severe economic and geopolitical [...]

Cap and trade versus a tax on carbon as a mechanism for reducing greenhouse gas emissions (200 words)

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 08:48:50 +0000

One distinct advantage of cap and trade versus a carbon tax as a policy mechanism for reducing GHG emissions is that it allows us to meet any carbon emission goal we decide upon simply by setting the carbon cap at that level. In this scheme carbon credits would be traded in the market place, [...]

Cutting Butter With a Chainsaw

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 08:45:31 +0000

When Amory Lovins refers to energy in terms of “quality,” he is referencing one of the principles in the Second Law of Thermodynamics. Entropy is the measure of disorder in the universe and the law states that entropy (disorder) is always increasing. Because of this law there is a spontaneous direction in which [...]

The Mustang and the Donkey

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 08:42:26 +0000

The climate talks are a lot like a car race if you think about it, but with a twist. Each country is racing toward the finish line as if getting there would be enough to win. But the twist in this race is that, in order to win, we have to all finish at the [...]

Learning Under the Full Moon

Wed, 09 Sep 2009 02:38:53 +0000

It is impossible for those of us who work here every day not to be plagued by certain questions. Will life ever return to normal? What is normal? Maybe there is no such thing. Maybe there is just life ? each and every individual has their own ? They must accept it and live it the best they [...]