Reflection and Proposition Toward Coral Bleaching At The Great Barrier Reef

Learning

The drafted proposal had a good foundation. From the foundations of research into the changes of coral reefs along the Queensland coast, stakeholder influence and understanding, to the targeted audience, the peer feedback suggested a clear understanding to where the design action was headed. The colleague and I conversed on the functionality of the design solution questioning how the data visualisations will be resolved? What will make the proposition intriguing to the suggested audience? Is it possible to collect data in a more efficient and accurate way? Through clear analysis of the findings and filtering through statistical or conceptual findings the data should be resolved through a series of interconnected information visualisations. The colleague referenced the tool of ‘processing’  through code to interpret mass forms of data and scaling them accurately to achieve the desired result. Particularly through the use of API, CSV tools to filter through the research and develop a visual solution that is well informed.

Another point of feedback highlighted the need to close in on a specified response for the desired audience. Understanding the design solution, its functionality, usability and relevance to the audience will allow for a more well thought out and refined design solution. Whilst the proposition understood the issue in a clear way, or possibilities to change through the use of data visualisation and information graphics, the 3D application of this was somewhat vague. Through understanding user activities, designing for catalogue, book or instillation application were discussed to resolve this problem.

Overall, the discussion of possible ways to organise and collect statistics and research for the information visualisations allowed me to refine the way these information graphs could be applied. Thus allowing for the refinement of the design proposal.

 

Refined Design Proposal

The Catalogued Death of the Barrier Reef

Practice Type

Illustrating the eventual death of the Great Barrier Reef, will looking at time, colour and relationships through information visualisation. Data graphics, charts and keys communicating the issue of Coral Bleaching at the Great Barrier Reef.

The Issue

Coral bleaching affects marine species and habitats of the northern region of Australia, particularly the biodiversities and ecosystems that live on the 2300km of the great barrier reef. The coral bleaching affects the 600 types of soft and hard coral of the region and the variety of species that live and interact with the area. The issue is bound by the lack of education of governments, coastal communities and recreational users of the ocean prompting over-fishing, over-tourism, and disposal of waste in the area, thus disturbing the natural balance of life within the habitats and ecosystems interacting with the area. Eventually, the cause of the coral bleaching lies in the hands of these built systems all inextricably reliant on the ocean. Ocean conservation is urgent and imperative in these areas, the ocean is the being of all life and without it all life may perish or be harmed, from ecosystems in water to on land.

Future generations, impacted by the capitalistic and consumerist society of today are the main stakeholders effected in this transition period of climate change. With a tally of three mass deaths of coral fisheries around the world it is imperative to understand the trends in deaths, directly impacted by human behaviour and in turn visually understanding the deterioration, erosion and suffocation of the massacred coral fisheries. Approaching the issue in a new way may be communicated through understanding, temperature, light, colour, oxygen, shape, texture and body of these habitats.

• Climate change is evident through the changing patterns of sea temperature increase, altered weather patterns, ocean acidification and sea levels rising.
• Coral bleaching is impacted by coastal development and catchment modification: clearing and modifying coastal habitats, artificial barriers to flow, and disposal and resuspension of dredge material.
• Changes to reef environments through land-based run-off, nutrients from run-off (including its links to crown-of-thorns starfish outbreaks), sediments and pesticide run-off.
• The remaining impacts of fishing, illegal fishing, collecting and poaching, incidental catch of species of conservation concern, effects on discarded catch, retained take (extraction) of predators, and retained take (extraction) from unidentified or unprotected spawning aggregations alter coral reef environments.
• Finally marine debris both on land and from sea sources.

Overall, the prominent stakeholders impacted by the issue are coral species and the marine life surrounding. Looking at the issue, species by species, colour by colour, form by form will communicate the death of the reef in a new way.

Possibility to Change

Understanding coral bleaching will be successful with change. To measure the success of the design solution will be reliant on evoking urgency. The solution will be illustrating trends in a new way, educating audiences efficiently, showing time, showing change, showing rhythm or sound through multiple information visualisations that work complimentary to each other. Whilst looking at the coral reef as a whole, the prospect of understanding the deaths is masked. By looking at the trajectory of the death of specified species in a coral reef habitat and furthermore relating this to time, colour and form will show a more poetic response to the issue.

Design Action

Experimentation & Visualisation

Through the visualisations of time, colour and relationships of the reef, I have developed a design action that can be used as a coastal package of sorts to be used or employed within the tourist industry of the proposed area, North and Central Queensland coast. The action will be incorporated and tied into a catalogue or information booklet prototype, tourist cards or an instillation piece by the sea or near diving. Targeting the 18-25 year travellers, both localised and international will require sensitive and engaging forms of information graphics, localised to the great barrier reef. The Information prototypes will be integrated into the system of tourism and delivered as a sort of coral reef package for all users of the reef.

The graphics will be outspread. Audiences will be able to pick up information cards sprawled in with post card stands, or tourist offices of the area. Information booklets and posters of up and coming trends, outlook reports, packaged in a practical tote bags will be offered within the tourist industry, abroad diving ships, tours and/or any other recreational practice. Products of which audiences are able to unpack and interact with can  provide a more physical understanding of context and urgency toward the issue of coral bleaching. To eradicate tourism on the reef would harm livelihoods of the area, nonetheless integrating educational systems through well resolved prototypes of which the suggested audience are willing to take on induce investment into the issue and eventually motivation for change for future generations.

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Blog post 10

Idea Proposition!

After weeks of research, mapping exercises, peer feedback and a transition brainstorming exercise there came in a week where we had to share our draft proposal idea with a peer and teacher to get a better clarity on solution directions. In between the semester break; I realized that my sub-issue ‘Coral Bleach’ within the big issue of climate change is based in Queensland. Until last week I have been looking at exploring the idea of generating research based in Sydney hop on- off bus, which was inappropriate. I then looked at exploring the idea of a day trip journey data collection of a tourist in Queensland but as personally I have never visited Queensland which in a way acted as a barrier with my primary knowledge of the place. I shifted the approach on my design idea to a point where I can still continue using the same concept of reinforcing the information on Coral bleaching to create awareness and engage them to participate in reducing their carbon footprint while still visiting Australia.

In week 7 for a draft proposal, I shared the idea of a small book that interprets the current scenario of the coral bleaching through visual interpretation and elaborate the issue by some information on “Dos and Don’ts” for any tourist to make sure they don’t leave behind the bigger carbon footprint mark in Australia. The feedback from the teacher and peer was supportive and included some core possibilities that can be achieved with visual metaphors and digital adaptations.

Draft Proposal:

Project title: Don’t leave your mark.
Tag line: …for the better Coral world.
Practice Type: Service Design
Issue: Coral Bleaching
Target Audience: Queensland Tourists
Possible Change: Reduction of carbon footprint in Queensland tourism sector
Design action:
Australia tourism industry is one of the biggest contributors in its economical growth. My service design approach will focus on the same industry where in we create an awareness of Coral Reef bleaching at Great Barrier Reef and also involve tourist in the process of reducing their individual carbon footprint. The whole concept is for tourist and by tourist.

A design solution, which is offered in form of a small tourist handbook which will have a small visual interpretation of how corals are vanishing from Great Barrier Reef on acetate sheets. This enables the reader to feel the issue by its storytelling style. Second part of the book will display some basic information on the current mass bleaching events on reefs and how the corals are dyeing due to environmental toxins. It will also throw some light upon how carbon footprint from tourism industry, which is also one of the causes for coral bleaching events. The third part of the book will feature some dos and don’ts they can use in order to release minimal carbon footprint while they are visiting Queensland. The fourth and last part of the book will be similar to part one where transparent sheets of Corals are placed back in reef making it a worth watching wonder of the world.

This small handbook will feature some great tourist spots coupons; map to move around apart from the coral reef issue. It can be available at tourist counters, travel agencies, bus stands, stations and airports for traveller to avail the information easily. Extension for the idea on a digital platform can be an interactive mobile app that allows the traveller to view all the information on app and can be linked with GPS, which can offer the visitor with better commutation mode, eatables, local shopping which in a way contributes in less carbon footprint. The whole idea of “Don’t leave your mark” is to create an emotive expression for any sightseer to empathize the after effects of high level of carbon footprint  in Australia.

References:

4 Free Brainwriting Tools for Idea Generation in Research – Brainspores 2014, Brainspores. viewed 25 September 2016, <http://www.brainspores.com/4-free-brainwriting-tools-idea-generation-research/&gt;.

 

 

Blog post 9

Triggering through Brainstorming!

After working individually on the problem statement (as per blog post 8), as a group we collaborated once again to brainstorm the initial idea generations.

We started our discussion, by first briefing each other on the category of climate change as we were individually looking at and sharing our problem statement with each other. Our issues were overlapping in a way as they had more or less same stakeholders. We together used some important keywords from all our researches as a base point that can be used to generate design ideas.

Brainstorming initial ideas by group.

Carbon footprint, Livestock industry, Sustainability, Greenhouse gas, Carbon image and Carbon tax were starting points for us. Without much thinking we let our brains over speak and wrote all the possible ideas that were popping out of our mind.

Strength – By not thinking deeply on each idea, it gave us an opportunity to write as much as we can. This in a way helped us in later stage combining two or more initial thoughts and creates a concept as a design solution.

Weakness – Sometimes in such scenario the ideas and keywords get repetitive. And with more information I worried that I might miss out on some important aspect and cover the irrelevant.

Sketches done while brainstorming.

Later we shared our initial ideas with the teacher and got some peer feedback. I developed a sketch version of what I can use as a starting point in all three type of executions.

Generative Experimentation: Data collection of the emotions, a tourist has while visiting different tourist spots in Australia.

Data Visualization: Mapping the carbon footprint of a set of tourist in their one-day trip to Australia visit.

Service Design: Exploring the idea of a one-day journey on a hop on- off tourist bus and how at each point a tourist will be encouraged to reduce their carbon footprint by either offering them a better commutation mode or offering them discounts on eating vegetarian food.

For example, back of a museum ticket will have the information on how one can reduce their individual CO2 if they take a public transport back to their hotel, or may be a Café voucher which can have some information on a particular food type that contributes to less gas emission in the environment compared to some other food item while its production.

My peers also contributed their feedback on my ideas and gave me a better understanding on which is workable concept. With a basic starting point I think it should be a good start for a semester break where I can explore more using research to understand the design possibility and its practical execution.

References:

Brainstorming 2015, Disabilitythinking.blogspot.com.au. viewed 17 September 2016, <http://disabilitythinking.blogspot.com.au/2015/09/brainstorming.html&gt;.

 

Visual Documentation Of The Brainstorming Session

Strengths

The brainstorming with the group allowed my own understandings to narrow and allowed me to explicitly begin to think about coral bleaching itself. The brainstorm allowed me to understand cause and effect, both of stakeholders, being governments and corporations affecting future generations. Alternatively, the cause and effect of human interaction and the marine species effected. By understanding the needs for conservation, the need for awareness, empathy and education of coral bleaching and the rapidity, possibilities of solutions became paramount to answer these problems; temperature, time, light, colour, life.

Weaknesses

Whilst understanding and networking through this form of brainstorming conceptually the understanding of coral bleaching was narrowed down, however it was difficult to disregard other information and filter through what was relevant and irrelevant considering the grand scale of the issue.

Strengths

Further brainstorming was conducted directly derivative of the first brainstorm. When considering possibilities I had questions the urgency of coral bleaching and its rapidity and connecting them to the stakeholders, cause and effect, possibility and facts associated. This particular brainstorm, again narrowing down short term and long term effects, all leading to the eventual death of the coral and marine life. By understanding a sense of urgency both in the long term and short term possibilities of solutions became clear. Creating empathy, communicating clarity and illustrating in an interesting toll the death of this life.

Weaknesses

I am still yet to understand how to bring these possibilities or findings into a visual or system understanding. Researching solutions, forms, inspirational work and further data is still pivotal during this phase. Experimentation with time and colour, or time and form, or time and trends is essential.

Strengths

I began to visually map out and draw connections with locations. By listing trends, locations and coral bleaching the extremity of the issue is understood. There is a clear connection between the three instances of mass coral bleaching within some of the most prominent coral reefs around the world (one being at the great barrier reef) and the trend of bleaching down the coast of Queensland.

Weaknesses

Again, I understand the processes, the networking, the issue in relation to the location of the coral bleaching, forms and time. A weakness of this type of experimentation could be making the issue broad again by bringing in international locations and international trends. I am unsure how I would interpret this. On the other hand, I could use this international analysis to provide context to the issue as a whole as opposed to Australia on its own. Resolving this confusion will be experimentation to resolve the problem.

Brainstorming Possibilities For A Design Response

Brainstorming Session

1. Who does the problem affect?

The problem affects a variety of groups from individual to organisational.

• Everyone and anyone.
• Smaller scale communities.
• Under developed populations, taken advantage of by larger and more powerful stakeholders, such as business owners or governments.
• The general public that are manipulated, under educated and masked by the truth and urgency of the issues present in climate change through media and policies.
• Future generations, these being the generations without the ability to change or prevent the actions of current generations.
• Species, marine and land, which in turn effect systems and biodiversities that even humans interact with.
• Families, the livelihoods involved in the issue, the people un-educated by the problems of their practices (i.e. overfishing or pollution) but unable to act on this.

2. What are the boundaries of the problem?

• A lack of awareness, this will involve educating the uneducated.
• Lack of understanding, the vague understanding of the processes of climate change and how it effects processes and cycles on a wider scale.
• Naivety or skepticism. Groups aren’t interested or choose to denounce the importance of climate change and more particularly coral bleaching. There is no understanding of how it affects individuals personally. 

3. When does the problem occur?

• There is a sense of urgency with climate change, most noticeable in global warming trends and coral bleaching. With now three mass coral fishery deaths around the world it is only paramount that more will follow.
• This directly affects the dependency of species interacting with the area and thus the dependency of humans on the ocean. 
• There are long term and short term impacts of coral bleaching.

4. Where is the problem occurring?

• The Great Barrier reef and coral fisheries in Australia.
• Coral Fisheries around the world; The Great Barrier Reef, Australia, The Palancar Reef, Mexico, Raja Ampats, Indonesia, Grand Central Station and Chimneys, Fiji, Belize Barrier Reef, Belize, Magic Passage and Planet Rock, Papua New Guinea, Andaman Sea reefs, India, Aldabra Atoll, Seychelles.
• Particularly, in the Australian Great Barrier Reef, the corals affected north and central to the Queensland coast are most impacted. The area’s that undergo over tourism or that are affected by overfishing and pollution. 
• The indo-pacific regions and small coastal communities meeting at the oceans could be analysed as a more widespread impact assessment.

5. Why is it important that the problem is fixed, what impact does it have on all the stakeholders?

The ocean is the centre all of life. An unhealthy ocean is an unhealthy life, both in water and on land.

Documenting Potential resolutions:

• Emphasising the importance of marine conservation for ALL species.
• Using factual and researched proof of coral bleaching and transforming this content from black and white to shapes, sounds, light and form.
• Creating empathy for the living species interacting with and around coral reefs.
• Increasing awareness of the issue of coral bleaching, so as to counteract the lack of education that bounds the problem.
• Illustrating the death and grave yards of past species. 
• Illustrating the death toll in relation to external systems; i.e. ecosystems, farming, recreation.
• Visualising deterioration and degradation in relation to time and colour.
• Illustrating connecting paradigms and stakeholders through lines, textures, shapes. Creating a more manageable and simplified system of making these connections and understanding the cause and effect of these networks.

Possibilities: Visual Solutions

Drafted Proposal

Coral bleaching affects marine species and habitats of the northern region of Australia, particularly the biodiversities and ecosystems that live on the 2300km of the great barrier reef. The coral bleaching affects the 600 types of soft and hard coral of the region and the variety of species that live and interact with the area. The issue is bound by the lack of education of governments, coastal communities and nautic users promoting over-fishing, over-tourism, and disposal of waste in the area, thus disturbing the natural balance within the habitats and ecosystems interacting with the ear. Eventually, these man made issues cause these reef fisheries to die. Ocean conservation is urgent and imperative in these areas seeing as the ocean is the being of all life and without it all life may perish or be harmed, from ecosystems in water to on land and including those of which humans interact with.

Future generations, impacted by the capitalistic and consumerist society of today are the main stakeholders effected in this transition period of climate change. With a tally of three mass deaths of coral fisheries around the world it is imperative to understand the trends in deaths, directly impacted by human behaviour and in turn visually understanding the deterioration, erosion and suffocation of the massacred coral fisheries. Approaching the issue in a new way may be communicated through understanding, temperature, light, colour, oxygen and so on.

Resources

Baker, A., Glynn, P. & Riegl B., 2008, ‘Climate change and coral reef bleaching: An ecological assessment of long-term impacts, recovery trends and future outlook’, Estuar. Coast. Shelf Science, Vol. 80, Pp. 435–471.

The Great Barrier Reef Marine Authority, Australian Government, 2016, ‘About the Reef’, The Australian Government, Viewed 18th September 2016, <http://www.gbrmpa.gov.au/learn-about-the-reef/reef-beat-series/reef-beat-2016-threats-to-the-reef&gt;.

Gleason, A., 2014, ‘Stefanie Posavec’s Intricate Information Design’, Trendland, Viewed 18th September 2016, <http://trendland.com/stefanie-posavecs-intricate-information-design/&gt;.

Simborg, 2016, ‘Relationships with Between Scientific Paradigms’, Pinterest, Viewed 18th September 2016, <https://au.pinterest.com/pin/573153490060844069/&gt;.

The Australian Government: Bureau of Meteorology, 2016, ‘Coral Bleaching’,The Australian Government, Viewed 18th September 2016, <http://www.bom.gov.au/oceanography/oceantemp/GBR_Coral.shtml&gt;.

Blog Post_6

Web Scraping data

Social media platform is the open canvas to develop, share and generate content across geographic locations. ‘Twitter’ as a social media plays a major role in sharing content on this platform. It is an online social networking service that allows users to post their opinions and read other’s opinion., which are usually referred as “Tweets”. If one has a Twitter account, then they can read as well as post tweets. Non-account holder can read post though but cannot tweet alternatively. In today’s time it is a very impactful and popular platform to express opinions as well as update information about any topic. It includes current affairs, weather, sports, politics, health, cuisine and the list is endless.

There are other platforms on social networking sites such as Facebook and Instagram that are equally popular. However twitter as a platform is different, where the short piece of information can be shared due to character limitations and one has to be to the point when expressing his or her views. Other platforms such as Facebook and Instagram are mainly large content-based platforms. Moreover when information is shared via twitter its interface allows readers to relate to the matter more effectively.

For this task, I was more keen for an image based web scrapping but I think content does play a vital role in my research as different hashtags breeds diverse re-tweets and responses from users. I started using the same tool shared in the class workshop and later explored another tool to get better results such as number of re-tweets, most liked tweet, top ten hashtags and so on.

DATAPIPELINE online web scrapping tool for ‘twitter’

I considered five different explorations based on my topic of climate change. These five analysis where categorized in three forms leading the issue of climate change. First, what causes climate change – #greenhousegas, second, what gets affected because of climate change – #coralbleaching & #globalwarming and third, what can be done to overcome climate change – #sustainability & #carbonfootprint. I studied these sub issues hashtags, to see how different users globally react and add other hashtags, which co-relates the issues in their tweets and re-tweets. Based from the previous research, I was very much depended on the thought of ‘Carbon Footprint’ as one of my important keyword in this project. But with data scrapping exercise, the keywords and its role within the issue seems changing constantly.

Scrapped data

The web scrapping analysis allowed me to understand that most of the tweets and re-tweets happen to follow the similar hashtags, and most of the content is generated from the commercial accounts that try to follow the sustainability as there core value.

 

Most favourite tweet for #sustainability

#carbonfootprint tweet by ‘The Woodland Trust’

The below visualizations showcases the amount of tweets and re-tweets each hashtags has generated and how the relationship within the sub-issues changes to get new data every time. If I have to follow one of the re-tweet and explore more of it’s hashtags, I might generate a different relation within the sub-issues all over again.

Ratios of different Hashtags within the issue of climate change

Findings:

• Carbon footprint has not yet been explored as one of the core value of sustainability in Australia.
• People believes in sustainability
• Global warming seems more as a political concern than a man made disaster
• Coral bleaching in Great Barrier Reef does not yet act as a concern to the mass in Australia.
• Greenhouse gas is one major concern for climate change, which can be addressed, with numerous solutions.

 

References:

Export your Twitter searches to Excel – Data Pipeline 2016, Northconcepts.com. viewed 5 September 2016, <https://northconcepts.com/tools/twitter-search/?q&gt;.

Sasja Beslik on Twitter: “It’s not just talk any more. #Sustainability is core business. https://t.co/glnUQ7BJfl https://t.co/iRfLwUrp3M&#8221; 2016, Twitter.com. viewed 5 September 2016, <https://twitter.com/SasjaBeslik/status/772694254875443200&gt;.

The Woodland Trust on Twitter: “Trees create wildlife homes and reduce our #CarbonFootprint. Apply for #FreeTrees now: https://t.co/VMgBUxYKkA https://t.co/a00REbQ4gs&#8221; 2016, Twitter.com. viewed 5 September 2016, <https://twitter.com/WoodlandTrust/status/769794678799667200&gt;.

 

 

Scrapping the Web For Data: Twitter Advanced Searching

Specified Features and Functions

Twitter is a web based platform sporting a variety of forms and functions. When uploading, updating and sharing tweets users are able to import photographs, links, videos and share these via other media platforms. Viewers may upload posts as tweets, whilst also selecting, liking and ‘re-tweeting’ posts shared by personas and pages audiences follow. Through a selected language, waves of viral topics and discussions circulate the platform of which are categorised in twitters advanced search that highlights specified words, phrases, hashtags, languages, accounts, locations, times, dates and emotions. Material may be further categorised into top tweets and live tweets.

Users and Identity of Community

The community of users on the advanced twitter search are diverse and endless. Users may vary from individual personas or the general public, organisations, government groups, personas of authority, non-governmental organisations, demographics, diverse in gender, political, social, religious and so on.

I have categorised the users into two refined groups, individual and numerous. Individual users are those with one voice and one operation or navigation through the site. Often they may represent one viewpoint or work through and navigate one pathway. Individual users have specified unique and skewered viewpoints based on opinion and may represent a bias of data. Individual users navigate a variety of thoughts on environment, religion, politics, comedy or pop culture. These may be one or more issues and topics, whilst some are in more in depth others may simply scratch the surface. Numerous users are representations of groups. They may have two or more operators that work on the site and create the accounts image or identity based around an aim or target goal (i.e. to spread awareness, entertainment or mass media). Numerous users often work with specified issues and tasks at hand, and attempt to communicate to the wider public. Supporters of these voices are from other individuals and numerical groups.

When looking into users that are related to climate change, conservation, coral bleaching and sustainability numerical groups and organisations dominate these pathways. Organisations identified specifically for these topics present most of the data, tweets, posts and sharing.

Automated Systems: Step-By-Step

User Study: Who Talks about the issue?

1. First, using the stakeholder mind mapping and issue mapping, I draw out keywords I wanted to research.
2. An example of this could have been looking at a study of coral reef’s. The phrase is particularly broad, a noun without any connotations (positive or negative) and by entering the chosen word into the ‘phrase’ area of the search a number of results surfaced.
3. I scrolled through the variety of forms, accounts, tweets, photographs, videos and tallied whether the users are numerical or individual.
4. I recorded the results in data spread sheet.
5. I then continued this function, by looking at hashtags.
6. I recorded the results in a data spread sheet.
7. I then began looking at more controversial words such as, coral bleaching, global warming, depleting natural resources and altered biodiversity.

Active Study: Promotion of Action

1. First, I searched keywords and phrases within the spectrum of action, meaning words that promoted and active response, awareness or affirmation of the issue of climate change.
2. For example, I grew form the phrase ‘marine conservation’, typing this into two areas, hashtags and phrases.
3. Again I scrolled through a variety of sources, recording users.
4. I recorded likes or retweets inferring how aware or how shared these posts or ideas were.
5. I recorded demographics, who is talking about the issue and what areas these are these specified to.
6. By recording my results in a data spread sheet I was able to specify origins of certain answers.
7. I looked at a variety of words; sustainability, coral bleaching and marine conservation, sustainability and climate change.

Results

Twitter Advanced Search

Using the twitter advanced search I was able to see in clear view sources, organisations, research and posts in the distinct areas of which I was searching, that being ‘coral bleaching’. The groups were represented as generally positive, conservation groups hosting meetings, influential people doing influential work. It was rather interesting to note the photograph search. Here a repetition of colours and marine photography is shown. This brought me to think about how I could produce visually engaging data that communicates the destruction that is coral bleaching in an interesting way so as to stand out from the photography and generalised media related to the task.

Climate Change

User Study 

This user study began very broad, a simple representation of any topic that is stimulated by the phrase ‘climate change’. Essentially the issue is rather broad and interaction with this issue is apparent.

Action Study 

 

The demographics of users who are thinking of the issue of climate change range from Europe (Italy, UK), Australia, USA (Texas, Colorado, New York, Seattle or Washington) and South Africa. A majority of users from this short study reside in the USA.

Marine Conservation 

User Study 

The next search rule summarised all users in relation to ‘Marine Conservation’, whilst users are followed and posts are seen, it is interesting to note the decrease in sharing by retweeting on a number of tweets, such as the relation to increasing marine protected areas or marine conservation education.

Action Study 

People interacting with marine conservation here  are again generally ranging. Re-appearing locations in the USA show some consistency in activity with climate change and marine conservation on a deeper level. Some new appearances can be noted in Canada, Ghana and Germany. Again, referencing international understanding.

Sustainability 

User Study

When studying users of sustainability data showed an increase in interactivity with followers of posts, slowly showing more re-tweeting and engagement in the issue. Much of the retweeting occurred in response to an actions. The term sustainability is very broad, results referencing ‘digital privacy’ or building can be seen in the imagery, skewing the data. In the future phrases in reference to sustainability will need to be more explicit, like ‘sustainable energy’ or ‘marine sustainability’.

Action Study 

Here I didn’t look that far into the location of the users seeing as the first automated system  results showed skewed or irrelevant data. Although, understanding the term sustainability was well known.

Coral Bleaching 

User Study 

Finally, I progressed into a more explicit search, looking at coral bleaching. It is evidently a more controversial issue sparking the more retweets of all of the phrase studies. Twitter posts ranged from the ‘worst coral bleaching events’ or ‘coral bleaching caught on film’ again referencing controversies that spark the interest of the audience. However when moving deeper into the date of posts, the amount of posts and conversations about the issue was significantly less than the other phrases searched.

Action Study

Australia became significantly repetitive in this twitter archive, particularly to note the location of bleaching in Queensland and the amount of users discussing or sharing the issue. Again users in the USA, UK and Europe were also present during this search.

Future Directions

• Moving forward I will be collecting data from Australia explicitly. This study proved a general understanding of the issue, however I will be looking at more locally and nationally based demographics and particularly based around coral bleaching, ocean acidification, raising temperatures and the effect of these on the biodiversities of selected regions.

• Shows understanding through a variety of demographics and activity hand in hand with the key words. Internationally or globally the words aren’t all understood. How can these all be linked together? or how can a study of one location such as the great barrier reef become relevant to a wider and more international audience?

• Looking closer at data surrounding dates may be beneficial to provide more research into the urgency of the issue, thinking about ways to communicate the extent of coral bleaching.

• I will be thinking of ways to record and categorise the data more poetically, possibly extracting data in relation to colour, or all data in relation to action verses inaction, or emotion verses fact.

• Finally, I may search stakeholders and interpret data from the phrases in a connection to the specified stakeholders.

 

 

Blog Post – 5

Different perspective on ‘Coral bleaching event’

All the research since past four weeks has helped me built a base in my topic, but every week I felt it needed to narrow down the funnel to get a better insight on the issue. With such a complex problem of coral bleaching, there are various factors that can be involved in leading the concern. My approach towards the ethnography of the subject started in a class exercise with peer interviews (two interviews), this made me realise that the topic does not have enough exposure. After giving a brief introduction on the problem, I got couple of insights, which were worth considering while creating a probe.

Interview transcript:

1. Have you any time recently come across any article or concerns about climate change?

• Response 1 – Not much, but I did come across articles on ‘Global Warming’ but not coral bleaching in particular.
• Response 2 – Yes, climate change is a global issue. Winter use to be extremes in China but due to climate change; winter has been not that cold in recent time.

2. Do you think climate change is one of the reasons for coral bleaching?

• Response 1 – Climate change is an effect of human error and so indirectly it’s us who is responsible for coral bleaching.
• Response 2 – Yes, climate change is definitely a reason for coral bleaching. Sea temperature increases due to the same resulting in bleaching events.

3. Have you visited any other coral reef in the world?

• Response 1 – Yes, in Bali. As Bali does not have any environmental regulations, the coral is not great to experience and water is very dark.
• Response 2 – No.

4. What’s your experience or approach with issue that might affect tourism?

• Response 1 – It will not much affect on tourism, as Australia can offer much more to tourists.
• Response 2 – Yes, people want to go to beautiful place for their vacations. If Coral is not maintained enough, tourists might avoid going there.

5. Do you think Government is to be blamed for the bleaching?

• Response 1 – Yes to an extent, they could have prevented or improved upon the concerns from climate change.
• Response 2 – Yes, tourism is a big economy for Australia. So government should maintain the coral reef for a better tourism growth.

6. What do you think is Australia tourism’s future without coral reef?

• Response 1 – Even if government would have acted upon it on time, not much could have been repaired. But in case they still need to work upon it.
• Response 2 – To maintain the tourism, government should act upon it but even individually we should do something to start with.

“Great Barrier Reef might not be that GREAT enough”

Insights from interview:

• Less exposure
• Reducing carbon footprint on an individual level
• Only problems above ground level are visible to people

Probe

Probe questionnaire

Initially, my research was based on tourism but as and when I started understanding the issue, it was more appropriate to look at other aspects of the problem but not tourism. Based on the insights and feedback from peer interview, I developed the probe questionnaire for understanding how much exposure does the age group from 18 to 35 years has unanimously around the issue of coral bleaching. Initially, I thought of having a probe with a world map, pens, some stickers to post on the coral reefs they have visited around the world. But I scrapped the idea as it did not serve my purpose of understanding how much exposure, today’s youth has about the bleaching issue in Australia. Instead I developed a questionnaire around the existing knowledge people from different culture and regions has about the issue. The probe had questions related to visits in different coral reefs around the world, their social media posts about their experiences, do they have any idea about the coral bleaching mass events; and the most important factors they think are responsible for bleaching and who should be responsible. I also included a question where they can recommend any ideas which can be acted upon to reduce the bleaching of the corals.

I did the survey at my work place, ‘Vodafone Store’ where my teammates are from China, Vietnam and India. Couple of them are locals now where as others have just recently in last two years moved here. This multi-cultural factor made me understand the issue from different perspective.

Summarising the research in important pointers:

• Coral bleaching issue does not seem to effect people on any individual level
• Greenhouse gas emission stands out the most effective factor for bleaching event
• People believe in accepting the fact of ‘change starts with oneself’
• Australian tourism definitely gets affected with great barrier reef not being great enough for tourists
• People need to act upon their own ‘carbon footprint’
• Social media is an important platform to raise awareness

I think that probe was successful with some great insights that might help be in selecting the appropriate platform for web data scrapping. It is leading me to a next level where in tourism as a research factor has been ruled out and I assume focusing on ‘carbon foot print’ on different social media platforms will be a subsequent advancement in the project.

Blog post – 3

Mapping stakeholders

Climate change is a complex issue involving many factors like global warming, coral reef bleaching, green house gas emission, pollution and many more other concerns. With such a multipart problem the issue involves many stakeholders to differentiate in diverse categories. Identifying participants and its relationship helps in indulging the problem from different perspective. In week three and again in week five, we in our study group had some stakeholders mapping exercise, which assisted us with much better and clear impression about distinctive aspects of climate change and its stakeholders.

Map developed by Krupali Vaidya, Megan Wong and Vicky Lam in week three (August 2016).

The map above is a gist of overall stakeholders that are involved in three different categories – ‘Human’, ‘Non-Human’ and ‘Living’. More mapping was again explored in week 5.

Map developed by Krupali Vaidya, Megan Wong and Vicky Lam & Rachel Ellis in week three (August 2016).

I tried exploring more with the stakeholders mapping using the ‘Fried Egg’ method from ‘Designing for the common good’ method (Dorst, Kaldor, Klippan and Watson, n.d.). The map below suggests the existing stakeholders involved with the coral bleaching at the current stage in the inner circle. Where as the outer circle includes the potential stakeholders, which can be involved in the issue. This mapping style can be utilised in creating themes and frames with the approach for service design in coming weeks.

Scrambled egg style mapping, inspired from ‘Designing for the common good’ method (Dorst, Kaldor, Klippan and Watson, n.d.)

 

Image Interpretation

The ten images archived helped me explore the imagery exploration on the issue. Each image has its own story and complexity behind it, which shows how creatively an artist has tried to understand and experiment the topic within it.

Image #1

Great Barrier Reef before the mass blessing event in 2016.

This image is used in an article written by Ove Hoegh-Guldberg which talks about the effects of global warming on coral life leading to coral bleaching. The stunning image of a colorful corals underwater is used to emphasize the beauty of the corals at the great barrier reef. This image also helps to bring to a readers mind the thought of a colorless, bleached great barrier reef which in turn makes the reader conscious of the effects of global warming.

Image #2

Call Climate change our greatest threat by Josh Marks

This image is used in an article written by Josh Marks about what Hillary Clinton need to do to win over climate hawk voters. The image of a polar bear stranded in the middle of the lake is a very impacting image and a tells us how we have contributed directly or indirectly towards global warming. A polar bear who could move around freely is stuck and has to live with the reality. Although global warming is a major issue now its consequences could be worse if not taken seriously.

Image #3

Coral Bleaching at Lizard Island on the Great Barrier Reef

The image shows how climate change has an adverse affect on the Great Barrier Reef. The climatic changes have resulted in warmer sea temperatures and resulted in bleaching. Action on climate change may reduce the likelihood of future bleaching events.

Image #4

Drought is one of the most significant impacts of climate change on food

Matt Mc Grath, an environmental correspondent at BBC news has written article about food shock threats due to Global Warming. The image shows the situation resulted due to drought and all the fields getting dried up. The article focuses on areas impacted due to higher temperatures and people getting affected due to this. The global impact is even worse and and could worsen if appropriate action is not taken.

Image #5

Eerie blue men submerged under water warn of climate change

This article by Lucy Wang is about an art installation by an Argentinian artist Pedro Marzorati called Eerie blue men submerged under water to warn climate change. The electric blue men in water move up and down in an arc formation. They depict the rising temperatures due to changing climate conditions which makes them stay under water and at the same time moving up again to live.

Image #6

Artistic installation on the occasion of release of the report entitled Impact of Global Climate Change

The image consists of 1000 tiny men made of ice sculptures sitting on the steps of tiny concert hall. It is a very dark and creative representation of how climate change and increase in the temperatures has impact on the human life. Some ice sculptures are melted and some are about to melt shows how climate changes has different impacts on different living beings.

Image #7

Climate change and its devastating impact on the earth’s many ecosystems

The image shown in this article depicts a pictorial view of the devastating impact on planet earths ecosystems. This image brings light to the future of our planet, if we continue on this course of consumerism. The image has an artistic edge and is open to an individuals interpretation of the image.

Image #8

 

Intricate coral art by scientist-turned-artist Courtney Mattison to send message about climate change.

The image shown is how coral reef should be but unfortunately due to adverse climatic conditions its not the reality anymore. Courtney Mattison is a scientist turned artist has made hand crafted ceramic coral sculptures and shows beautiful coral reefs spread across in different forms. Its important to note that although its artificially made, Courtney claims that coral reef were this fresh and beautiful years ago and be extinct if the issue is not addressed quickly.

Image #9

The new Marine Educational Center in Malmö, Sweden, by Danish studio

The image shows life like eco system like ponds and planting which gives visitors with hands on experience of nature. It’s a good initiative by Danish Studio Nord Architects of creating awareness of maintaining eco systems.

Image #10

The warning by a warming globe

Beverley Mitchell in this article emphasizes on the greenhouse gas emissions and its affects. “We are running out of time” is a warning. Warning against what we as humans have failed to control in the run for money. The globe shown in the image is red hot and is a result of preventive measures being ignored for many years. Greenhouse gas emission as per World Meteorological Organization has been highest in 2013. The red hot Globe is a reality not far away if nothing is done to control it.

 

References:

Climate Change, Nele Azevedo 2009, Studio Ideas and Inspiration. viewed 27 August 2016, <https://studioideas.wordpress.com/2009/11/02/climate-change-nele-azevedo/&gt;.

Cooke, L. 2016, What does Hillary Clinton need to do to win over climate hawk voters?, Inhabitat.com. viewed 27 August 2016, <http://inhabitat.com/what-does-hillary-clinton-need-to-do-to-win-over-climate-hawk-voters/&gt;.

Dorst, K., Kaldor, L., Klippan, L. and Watson, R. n.d., Designing for the common good,.

GROZDANIC, L. 2016, Malmö Marine Education Center Teaches Visitors About Global Warming by Replicating Marine Ecosystems, Inhabitat.com. viewed 27 August 2016, <http://inhabitat.com/malmo-marine-education-center-teaches-visitors-about-global-warming-by-replicating-marine-ecosystems/&gt;.

Jewell, N. 2016, Artist creates intricate coral art to send message about climate change, Inhabitat.com. viewed 27 August 2016, <http://inhabitat.com/artist-creates-intricate-coral-art-to-send-message-about-climate-change/&gt;.

King, A. 2016, Theconversation.com. viewed 27 August 2016, <http://theconversation.com/great-barrier-reef-bleaching-would-be-almost-impossible-without-climate-change-58408&gt;.

McGrath, M. 2016, Global warming increases ‘food shocks’ threat – BBC News, BBC News. viewed 27 August 2016, <http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-33910552&gt;.

Mitchell, B. 2016, “We Are Running Out of Time” – New Reports on Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Inhabitat.com. viewed 27 August 2016, <http://inhabitat.com/we-are-running-out-of-time-new-reports-on-greenhouse-gas-emissions/&gt;.

Ove Hoegh-Guldberg, T. 2016, Coral Bleaching Comes To The Great Barrier Reef As Record-breaking Global Temperatures Continue, Polyconundrum.com. viewed 27 August 2016, <http://polyconundrum.com/articles/climate/impacts/10770-coral-bleaching-comes-to-the-great-barrier-reef-as-record-breaking-global-temperatures-continue.html&gt;.

Upcoming Events – Nature/Revelation – Art+Climate=Change 2016, Artclimatechange.org. viewed 27 August 2016, <http://artclimatechange.org/event/nature-revelation/&gt;.

Wang, L. 2016, Eerie blue men submerged under water warn of climate change, Inhabitat.com. viewed 27 August 2016, <http://inhabitat.com/eerie-blue-men-submerged-under-water-warn-of-climate-change/&gt;.

The Republic of Everyone

“we help you bring brand, sustainability, and creativity together to make doing good, good for business”.

Mission

The republic of everyone is an design studio of interdisciplinary designers and professionals that strive to reinforce sustainability, community and design that promotes and better world. The republic of everyone works together with a range of clients from large corporations to small non-governmental organisations, only providing work that will design for a better climate and sustainable resolutions in the contemporary world.

The republic of everyone works with a number of clients involved in the conservation of the globe including the non-governmental organisation; world wildlife fund (WWF), to governments, corporations such as MIRVAC, Accor, country road, Gore-Tex, the Australian Red Cross or Veolia. Whilst the studio works nationally within Australia with a variety of clients. The studio is also international, setting up office in Mexico and England.

Fight for the Reef: Campaign for World Wildlife Fund (WWF)

‘Fight for the Reef’, was two designed campaigns over two years created to draw attention to the issues of shipping and dredging  in reef waters, bringing awareness to the affects of these human activities on the reefs. The campaign results in a petition submitted to UNESCO with over 500,000  signatures and messages of support. Through the development of concept, design and collateral, television advertisement and digital design to successfully promote a balance between development and the environment.

Design

• Video Campaign

• Collaborated with google maps underwater in creating App

• Press and Media

• Social Media

• Advertisements

• Web Design

Advertisement

See it, Save it, For the Great Barrier Reef

The great barrier reef, fast becoming an environmental issue of our time, put at risk from coal megaport, shipping, dredging and climate change. The campaign maintains pressure on the Australian government to preserve the iconic sight and list it as a world heritage site. Through the collaboration of the studio, WWF, the grumpy sailor, underwater earth and google, the team creates a dynamic, motivated, and positive advertisement. The campaign introduces design collateral, collaborated with google maps underwater app to give a digital reality experience to the user to completely understand the diversity of the reefs affected. Users become interactive, being able to select areas of the reef to protect and experience.

Collaboration with Google underwater created a digital experience with users to fully experience the reef. Design collateral being cardboard underwater goggles allows users to access the Reef app, log in, select an area of the reef to view, insert the smartphone into the goggles and escape on a certain digital journey. The interesting, novel and transitional use of package design transcends boundaries of interactivity and user experience. Whilst the sustainable use of print encourages users to embark on this experience. Through the app users may also draw the line on areas of the reef to maintain, by selecting the area and becoming owners of the space marked with a profile image. The users develop and community through this digital realm, motivated greater awareness of the impacted reef because of human activity, waste and climate change.

Nonetheless through the development of design collateral, systems and campaigns the organisations involved put the Australian government on probation from UNSECO, increasing urgency to maintain and protect the reef. A resounding win for the health of the reef.

Resources

The Republic of Everyone, 2014, ‘Fight for the Reef’, The Republic of Everyone, Viewed 21st August 2016, <http://republicofeveryone.com/work/vote-for-the-reef/>.

Fight for the Reef, 2014, ‘Fight for the Reef’, Facebook, Viewed 21st August 2016, <https://www.facebook.com/FightForTheReef/>.

Felicity Wishart, 2015, ‘Fight For the Reef’, Fight for the Reef Organisation, Viewed 21st August 2016, <https://fightforthereef.org.au/>.

The Republic of Everyone, 2016, ‘WWF See it Save it for the Great Barrier Reef’, Vimeo, Viewed 21st August 2016, <https://vimeo.com/157964289>.

Blog post 2

Coral bleaching – One of Australia’s biggest environmental concerns

Dead staghorn coral on the central Great Barrier Reef
by Johanna Leonhardt

In my initial research for climate change, the effects of coral bleaching stood out the most in many articles. I continued researching on the issue to gain more information on some other external factors, which might get affected by this crucial environmental concern. While researching, I read an article in which an Australian research team analyzed the effects of bleaching on corals and the consequent threat to the survival of the corals – ‘How widespread coral bleaching could effect tropical oceans’ by the author Ben Thompson. The author has just recently started working with Monitor publication and focuses his research on environmental and world issues. The second article is by Denis Normile, Contributing Correspondent at Shanghai. He is a frequent writer on the researches and science policy developments in Asia, particularly China and Japan. In his article he focuses on the actual effects of coral bleaching on coral life. The image in the blog is by Johanna Leonhardt which showcases, how effective bleaching is on coral, resulting in brown dead staghorn in Great Barrier Reef. This picture was taken in May 2016 and supports the facts from researchers based on Dennis’s article ‘Massive bleaching killed 35% of the coral on the northern end of the Great Barrier Reef’. These corals start bleaching and they loose their zooxanthellae tissue (i.e color), which causes most of them to starve (GBR-Marine Authority). Due to the oceanic water getting heated caused as a consequence of rising temperatures and global warming corals loose their essential elements, which give them, their unique colors and results in bleaching (Thompson, 2016). With the massive rate of 35%, coral reefs on the northern and central sections have been killed by bleaching (Normile, 2016). It simultaneously results in deformed reproduction and growth of corals. Bleaching events can be caused or triggered by as little as one-degree increase temperature within four weeks (GBR-Marine Authority). Coral Bleaching is causing harm to the ecosystem which consequences on external factors like tourism (Thompson, 2016). Based on Mark Willacy’s article from ABC News, more than one third of respondents across a sample of Chinese, UK and American tourists answered “yes “ to a survey question, which asked the respondents if they would choose another tourist destination over Australia in the absence of the Great Barrier Reef (Barrier Reef coral bleaching ‘could cost $1b in lost tourism’, 2016). Mark Willacy’s expertise is in investigating journalism in ABC’s National Reporting Team, Brisbane. His researches focuses geographically around 30 countries. Being a three-time winner of Australia’s premier journalism prize the ‘Walkley Award’, his article spotlights on one of Australia’s biggest environmental contaminations (Mark Willacy, 2016). In ABC New’s Mark emphasises on how Great Barrier Reef coral bleaching could cost $1b of loss in tourism. He focused more prominently on the other external factors affected due to Coral reef, and one such factor was tourism.

The consequences Tourism will economically suffer will be worth 100 billion and jobs in the same sector are worth 39,000 to 45,000, which are solely depended upon the Great Barrier Reef. These losses could account for losses up to 100 of billions of dollars as a multiplier effect according to CSIRO report (Barrier Reef coral bleaching ‘could cost $1b in lost tourism’, 2016). The human species can be held accountable for these phenomena as stated by reef scientist at Queensland University, as coral bleaching was not observed until the late 20th century (Normile, 2016). ‘Coal’ is attributed to be the leading cause of climate change in the Australian context according to the ‘Australia Institute research’ which in turn leads to coral bleaching (Barrier Reef coral bleaching ‘could cost $1b in lost tourism’, 2016). Survival or extinction of the reefs depends upon our future actions according to World Wildlife Federation spokesman Nick Heath (Thompson, 2016). With the advent of rapid global warming, the reefs have a lesser chance of recovery. We are therefore racing against time to reduce green house emissions. As there seems to be no solution in sight scientists hope that “either the reefs will adapt or people will”.

References

Barrier Reef coral bleaching ‘could cost $1b in lost tourism’ 2016, ABC News. viewed 12 August 2016, <http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-06-21/reef-bleaching-could-cost-billion-in-lost-tourism/7526166&gt;.

Mark Willacy 2016, ABC News. viewed 12 August 2016, <http://www.abc.net.au/news/mark-willacy/166888&gt;.

Normile, D. 2016, Massive bleaching killed 35% of the coral on the northern end of the Great Barrier Reef, Science, viewed 12 August 2016, <http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2016/05/massive-bleaching-killed-35-coral-northern-end-great-barrier-reef&gt;.

Science, 2016, Dead (brown) and dying staghorn coral on the central Great Barrier Reef in May., viewed 12 August 2016, <http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2016/05/massive-bleaching-killed-35-coral-northern-end-great-barrier-reef&gt;.

Thompson, B. 2016, How widespread coral bleaching could affect tropical oceans, The Christian Science Monitor, viewed 12 August 2016, <http://search.proquest.com.ezproxy.lib.uts.edu.au/docview/1776711236/fulltext/47BE37DEB8A544E8PQ/1?accountid=17095&gt;.

Climate Change: Secondary Source Analysis

The Great Barrier Reef: A catastrophe laid bare.

Slezak, M.

The article ‘Great Barrier Reef: A catastrophe laid bare’, is written by Michael Slezak, an author of the news platform, ‘The Guardian’. The source is written by a third party collaboratively for the news platform and although may be considered somewhat unbiased. The article highlights the effects of climate change in clear correlation with the results of the current environmental issue of coral bleaching along the perimeters of the Great Barrier Reef. The source gathers first person accounts of a diver in the reef, quoting, “the smell of death on the reef”, which can be considered a biased statement by a persona that may not be scientifically equipped to constitute the idea of death within the reef. This particular article is a mixture of fact and opinion, with the interview of a driver through the reef, whilst also referencing a study that recorded the bleaching around Lizard Island through photographic documentation over the past year. Seemingly, this is the first time the author has written about the bleaching project conducted by Richard Vevers, although the this is not the first time the guardian has covered the issue of climate change within their news platform. Whilst the article is semi-biased, the ideas and work conducted by Vevers is understandable as the issue is increasingly present in todays environment.

Resource

Slezak, M. 2016, ‘The Great Barrier Reef: A catastrophe laid bare’, The Guardian, Viewed 28th July, 2016, <https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/jun/07/the-great-barrier-reef-a-catastrophe-laid-bare>.

Biodiversity steering committee ends three years of work ‘disappointed’

Kao, E.

The article ‘Biodiversity steering committee ends three years of work ‘disappointed’’ was published by the  South China Morning Post in May 2016. Whilst China has some of the most rigorous and compelling projects and plans targeting climate change, global warming and biodiversity in their country as compared to the rest of the world, it was interesting to uncover the news agency platform and the surrounding issues the article covers. Author, Ernest Kao, a writer for the Herald, writes in an non-biased overtone, the article highlights the concerns and sort of discussion within the Biodiversity Action and Strategy Plan (BSAP) professors, members and leaders. The author writes in the context of current events and quotes the various concerns of professors like Jim Chi-yung without commenting or critiquing this primary reference, suggesting the reliability of the writer to be unbiased. The way in which the author has conducted the article is well noted, leaving the reader to decipher their stance for themselves based on experiences in BSAP. It is interesting to note the BSAP’s summary for the extension of protected areas as a means to support the enriching of urban biodiversity, with statistical support for the number of votes, 2,444 submissions of the plan, members and followers of the group are increasingly aware and concerned about issues of biodiversity in Southern China.

Resource

Kao, E., 2016, ‘Biodiversity steering committee ends three years of work ‘disappointed’’, South China Morning Post, Viewed 28th July 2016, <http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/1948862/biodiversity-steering-committee-ends-three-years>.

Indigenous rangers on the frontline of coral bleaching in remote Australia

Wild, K.

The article ‘Indigenous rangers on the frontline of coral bleaching in remote Australia’, derives from the news and service program ABC, a highly recommended and reliable source of authors with diverse opinions of which must be noted within the article written and studied by the National Reporting Team’s Kate Wild, in July 2016. This source covers another spectrum of opinion on the issue of coral bleaching studied, that being, the indigenous societies views on the highly coveted issue in the Australian environment. To be commended is the study and report of indigenous opinion on climate change, highlighting a variety of standpoints in the issue, from influential minority groups. The way in which the article is written in is quite biographical, reporting on stories and memories of the indigenous in a none biased way. Personal and eye witness accounts provide a deeper insight into the issue, commenting “I never seen the coral turning to white” or “we need scientists to comer here and do research in the crocodile islands”, quoted by Michael Mungula, an indigenous leader in the Yolgnu area. The article could be considered more interview based, suggestive of indigenous concern, trustworthy in a sense when considering their rich knowledge, appreciation and inextricable connection to the land and its developments.

Resource

Wild, K., 2016, ‘Indigenous rangers on the frontline of coral bleaching in remote Australia’, ABC News, Viewed 28th July 2016, <http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-07-11/indigenous-rangers-on-the-frontline-of-coral-bleaching/7557646>.

State of the Climate 2015

Blunden, J. & Arndt, D.

The State of Climate Report is a 2015 study of climate change in a factual and statistical manner. The study is conducted by the American Meteorological Society and edited by Jessica Blunden and Derek S.Arndt. The report is a researched and experimental conducted source of information, completely sourced and documented in a professional anyway and given access to the general public. This allows the source of information to be reliable and non biased. The 300 page report is written and published year by year as a summary of climatic events, processes and statistical changes during that year. Much of the information acquired is visualisation data and graph forms highlighting events of climatic concerns across the world, temperature, humidity, precipitation, cloudiness, river discharge, water storage, soil moisture and more across a number of studies and sources collaborated into one annual review. This article of information is rigorous and well researched across all platforms and a reliable source to consider as support for statements and ideas in climate change, global warming and the adverse effects of this following biodiversity and coral bleaching. The professional body to publish this source provides a sense of support when considering the common opinion found within other articles and news platforms, that being that negative and problematic harmful effects of climate change in the environment.

Resource

Blunden, J. & Arndt, D., 2015, ‘State of Climate in 2015’, American Meteorological Society, Viewed 28th July 2016 <http://www.ametsoc.net/sotc/StateoftheClimate2015_lowres.pdf>.

Australia senator Malcolm Roberts calls climate change a UN conspiracy

BBC Network

The BBC article ‘Australia senator Malcolm Roberts calls climate change a UN conspiracy’, is written and published by the BBC platform in August 2015. Whilst the article is published by BBC itself it does not list one specific author suggesting the collaborative body of professionals that may have covered this story. Altering slightly from the other articles studied the report references the idea that climate change could be considered a ‘conspiracy’. This could be considered both a marginal and common view as climate change is a recurring story covered within the BBC news network, but also marginal in the stance of the political persons commentary. Allegations of Malcolm Roberts suggesting ‘United Nations is using climate change to lay the foundations for an unelected global government’, completely suggesting this rigorously studied and proven issue within the environment is political biased as opposed to a realistic issue. The writer of the article does well is remaining an unheard voice within the report, clearly revealing the opposing opinions and statements of Roberts, without any influence on what is being recited. Again, this type of article allows readers to decipher without providing an overarching propaganda deeming the author unbiased and editorial.  The coverage of the storage is well supported referencing the idea of conspiracy of a variety of fronts other than climate change.

Resource

BBC, 2016, ‘Australia senator Malcolm Roberts calls climate change a UN conspiracy ‘, BBC News, Viewed 28th July 2016, <http://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-36972449>.