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Gregory Bateson- The ecology of mind

The major problems in the world are the result of differences between how nature works and the way people think

So today im going to keep learning and looking around me in order to get some perspective on a thing or two.

Jacobs and Scott (1992)

I know its a little bit tedious, but sometimes we all need a little reminding. Note to self:

1. Remind the team that we have chosen a ‘sustainabiliy’ theme for our current project
2. Remind Dave and Mr B over the next few weeks when they make more policy proposals.

WILL BIRMINGHAM CLEAN UP?

Birmingham currently asks its residents to put black bags full of rubbish, including food waste, out on the streets every week with recycling in open boxes collected every 2 weeks.

On most streets around the city, this means that by the time the lorries arrive to collect the stuff we put out, bags have been ripped open by rats, birds, foxes or cats and on windy days (like recently) the recycling is blowing all over the street. http://www.karmadillo.co.uk/b31/?p=5725

The second biggest city in the UK could challenge rubbish collection and recycling practices nationally but is the will of change there? or could we see the introduction of more standardised approaches set elsewhere?

I will be following this one…. update to follow later

ZIP ACTIVATION OF OUR STREETS

Jihyun David has designed a series of new street furniture inspired by msterdammertjes and the dutch bike’s culture in the hope to recapture the city streets and remind local residence of its importance as a social rather that a people traffic domain. The objectives of Zip are simple and as follows:

• Zip is about Amsterdam. By combining two of the symbols of Amsterdam, bikes and red bollards,  it creates a new icon of Amsterdam’s design.

• Zip is Fun. It’s fun to ride it and it’s Leuk to take a picture on it!

• Zip is about Re-Use. Low footprint on the environment, recycling,  are in the DNA of the project

• Zip It’s about re-discovering public space. By providing comfort and fun, ZIP can transform an empty space into an attractive spot.

• ZIP is for people and not for cars.  It invites people to consider the importance of the street as a social space instead of a mere traffic domain.

• Zip is temporary & nomad.

• ZIP is a project by Jihyun David

Having only just announced that the northern line will be extended to Battersea to support the major regeneration of the Power Station in the heart of a new enterprise zone, administrators have been called to manage the mounting debts clocked up by Irish property tycoons Johnny Ronan and Richard Barrett.

The scheme consisted of 3,400 homes and 900,000 sq metres of retail and office space and was due to create 25,000 jobs. This will surely put the extension at risk and may increase other parts of South London’s chances of obtaining an extension….to Lewisham or Peckham???

Heathwick train to link major London airports but not London’s link to major international cities

With Heathrow full and Gatwick remaining the busiest international single runway in the world, the government of the UK has proposed that a new train linking the two major airports be developed to cut travel times between the two airports.

What’s the point though? This will only increase travel by 35 miles within London but with 2 miles of runway you can travel anywhere.

London could fall behind as a leading economic and business centre in the world if workers are not able to obtain direct access to key cities in China, India and Brazil.

Give us a break Boris

This is the digital image produced by the London Cycling campaign, which is demanding London Mayor Boris Johnson reconsider the pro car scheme designed for the Blackfriars Bridge. Having highlighted 2 fatal deaths in recent years and gathered data on near misses, at the heart of their design is the safety for both cyclists and pedestrians. The design itself is influenced by US road schemes which introduces Kerbs to keep cars out and in a time of financial restraint they claim that their proposals would only add an additional 1% to the cost.

With a notable increase in cyclists on the road and more people seeking to take up cycling through the encouragement of the Boris bikes and increased transport costs next year, it is clear that we are likely to see increasing demands from pro-cycle groups across the capital.

When Healh and safety gets in the way of supporting green priorities….. Valerie Nonis of the London Borough of Lewisham, south London has been asked to remove her flower pots on the basis that they obstructed escape routes…..

From this……

To this…..

The new regeneration project by the developer Renewal is only just gone through the first stage of planning, but it seems terribly exciting. For a south London this is on par with the Olympic games in London.

Working with Sport England, TFL, Lewisham Council and other local community organisations like New Cross Gate Trust and Winslade Estate residents, the people behind the project believe that this could be ‘as big as the Doclands’, but there are major challenges which are thrown up besides the usual issues of recession and low level of local skills. There is a large housing estate right next to the development called Winslade or known locally as Lovelinch. At present it is managed by the council who have no intention of giving it a much injected renewal programme of new windows and doors to make it look as smart as Tustin Estate across the road in South. How will the residents feel as the potential ‘poor relation’ of the family housing proposed which although will be ‘designed to fit in’ as Renewal say, will still be streets ahead in terms of sustainability and aesthetics.

In addition, we may see a new Dale farm saga emerge as pressure to remove a small but established travellers site in Bermondsey in the light that ‘the gentrifiers wont want to live near them’ drama. Although the site is within south it does sit feet away from the Millwall Den, which will be at the heart of the development and is an ease drop from South Bermondsey station the nearest over ground station with direct links from London Bridge.

I will provide updates on planning and the designs as they emerge.