First Opinions, Careers Advice and 2012

First Opinions

   Recently my eyes were opened to how first opinions are often wrong, and sometimes hugely wrong. I had to visit a little welsh town, in order to do my research project for my degree. I visited Llanrwst I didn't have a very good day. The weather was overcast with occasional showers, the town looked deserted and grey, the people who I met in the town, were mostly grumpy and unfriendly. I came away from this encounter with a bad view of Llanrwst. However I returned to Llanrwst last week, this time with nicer weather, a mild spring-like day with sunshine. This time the streets were lively and everyone I spoke to that day was very friendly (if not over friendly in comparison). Needless to say my views on Llanrwst have greatly improved and I feel bad for the way I judged it the last time and apparently just like you shouldn't judge a book by its cover I think that you shouldn't judge a place on one day/visit.
 

Careers Advice - The gaping hole.

   So since year 9 (ages 13-14) pupils are made subtly aware for career options, after all that is the year you pick you GCSE's and god forbid you not choose based on the career you want. Again during years 10 and 11 Career options and advice are thrown around freely making a conversation about your future prospect unavoidable and as this is the last year of compulsory education it is expected if not necessary. If you choose to go to 6th form (I can't speak on behalf of colleges as I went to 6th form) Again careers advice and suggestions are shoved down a pupils throat (I mean you need to know this sort of thing before you choose your degree course, right?)

   So taking into account all the effort mentioned above in giving career advice, why is it that after 2 and a half years at uni is the first hint at advice the ramblings of a lecturer at the front of a bus on the way back from a trip (not to discredit the advice or the action - It was interesting and helpful) but why has it taken this long for a hint? Is it that we are supposed to know all this before we get here? Or is it assumed that the advice is not needed? Because in my opinion that sort of advice and outlining options is never needed more than during the 3 years in uni at the end of which you are expected to settle into a career. It can't be that the idea of having a set career is outdated, (I've never felt more pressure to 'have a plan' or to have a set career that I want to have). So why is there a gaping hole in the career advice system?

 2012 - Apocalypse?

   Last week I went to a lecture at my uni by Myles Dyer about the Internet and using it to solve the problems in the world. During this lecture he suggested that the world and society would have to be hit hard before the majority realised that there needed to be change.
   I stumbled across a song by Gotye who currently has a different song at #1 in the UK charts. But this song that I stumbled across is called Eyes Wide Open, the subject of the song is focused entirely on the destruction of the planet and how we refused to change in order to save it.

If only this was the song that is in the charts - maybe it would open some eyes but it looks like it will take something drastic to make change. If loads of people can care about what one man if Africa does surely it should be so hard for people to care about the planet that effects every single person on the planet. 2012 may not be the Mayan apocalypse. But maybe it is the start of the end, it won't happen over night but maybe this year starts being the final straw for the planet. The End has to start somewhere.

Pocahontas, CAT and the Environment

    So it's been a while since I wrote a blog. I meant to write one to sum up the week that I spent in Barcelona, but I didn't. And since Barcelona I haven't done, been or experienced anything of note (not something big enough to warrant a blog). I did however visit CAT (Centre for Alternative Technology) today. So this blog will be a summary of any recent thoughts I've had and some thoughts on renewable energy and CAT.

Random Musing (Of the Month)

Pocahontas - Colours of the Wind

   I was listening to the soundtrack from Pocahontas (I'm cool) more specifically Colours of the Wind, and for once I listened to the words, I mean really listened. Pocahontas is not something I've ever given too much thought to, other than being my favourite when I was young, and like any good kids film, it has a message. The message in Pocahontas is still just as relevant as it was 15 years ago, as the the natural world is not yet full respected and appreciated, not only that but the other theme running through it is the idea of accepting people who are different, and that just because they are different it doesn't make them any less than you.

"You think you own whatever land you land on, The Earth is just a dead thing you can claim"

"You think the only people who are people, Are the people who look and think like you"

"Come roll in all the riches all around you, And for once, never wonder what they're worth"
  

I wonder whether growing up with films like Pocahontas has influenced our generation, and whether our generation will be more environmentally aware (not just due to Pocahontas) but because we grew up when the world was starting the realise the damage that had been done. I'd like to think that Pocahontas had an effect but it's taken me til the age of 20 to really listen, so surely 5 year old me didn't understand. But I am doing Geography, I do have respect for the natural world and I do have respect for other cultures. So maybe it rubbed off on me after all (Forget other sources of influence - I'm sticking with this theory I like it better).

CAT - Centre for Alternative Technology

   Firstly I'd like to point out irony of getting a bus from North Wales to Mid Wales through Snowdonia (Not the flattest of roads) roughly a 2hour journey to the centre of renewable technology, not that there is any other way but the idea of creating a carbon footprint just to visit a place dedicated to reducing carbon emissions and promoting sustainability is a little off.

   Secondly I was a little disappointed when I was there to find out that CAT is not self sustainable and that they use power from the national grid. After all that is what they are about surely they should be self-supporting?

   Thirdly I learnt that solar panels should be used solely to heat water in the UK as we are just not sunny enough to efficiently use solar panels for anything else. The UK would struggle to put into place anymore hydroelectric stations. I also found out that the UK is one of the windiest places, certainly Europe, so wind power = good, put little wind turbines in gardens and houses are mostly useless. The other good option for the UK's future renewable power is biomass (wood burning).

I really am disappointed that they use power from the national grid though.

And as a side note - Bloggers spellchecker does not recognise the word 'blog'