The Nature of Nature.

I was doing some work before on an essay entitled "The nature of Nature" (Seddon G, The nature of Nature, Landprints, Cambridge University Press, Melbourne, 1997 pp 7-14).

This is what I concluded. Language is the major problem in defining what nature/natural and un-natural are.
For example; in the conclusion to this particular essay (or chapter in the context of this being a book), he points out the paradox of setting aside "Wilderness Parks/Areas".
I will expand on this a little...

By naming a wilderness park a "Wilderness Park", we have, through language created a wilderness park as a construct; we have placed our values on it, tied our emotions and ideologies to it and placed cultural significance on it.
By naming it, and naming it a "Wilderness Area", exempt from human intervention, we are intervening, removing "Wilderness" from it and replacing "Wilderness" with "Cultural", or "socially constucted area of apparently no human intervention".

The same language problems occur when in Spring and Autumn, the Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) conduct fuel reduction burnoffs. (For those outside of Victoria and Australia generally, it is a practise used to reduce the risk and severity of bushfires during the fire season). Controlled, low temperature, heavily monitored fires in State Forests which reduce the amount of fire fuel on the forest floor.
Some groups call for the banning of this practise as they see it as "Interfering with Nature". Other groupps will call this "Design with Nature" and others yet, "Living with Nature".
Which is correct?
Some native plants here need fire to germinate...They only germinate after fire has passed through the area. It does indeed reduce the amount of "discarded" vegetation from living plants on the forest floor.
The Aborigines used to also conduct controlled burnoffs well before Europeans landed on these shores. According to Seddon, "Aborigines from South Western Aust had about eight different words for "burning-off"...since they did it in different ways, at different times and for different purposes.

So is Burning-off, Interfering, Designing or Living with Nature? What if it is done in a "Wilderness Area"?
Hmmm.

Anyhoo....Still haven't heard a word from "V". I must be in trouble and in deep.
But Bye for now.

Hey.

There is another reason I've been slack......
I kissed "V" and it has totally freaked me (and her) out. I didn't mean to. It just happened. It was great though. I'd waited SOOO long.
So I was stressing about that heaps.
Y'know, the whole did I do the wrong thing etc...
I still don't actually know, as we haven't spoken properly since. Neither of us have run away though. I guess that's a good thing. I still have no idea what she is thinking though.
I know I'm happy with it...and with following that path, but is she?

THAT my freinds is the BIG question.


Condolences too to the people who've lost loved ones in the Hurricane "Katrina". And to the people who've lost everything...even if all the loved ones made it through.
Living in an area where bushfires are the main threat, I can empathise with the people who love living where they do, despite the dangers.

Bye for now...

I been even slacker

Hey all
I been even slacker than usual over the last couple weeks.
Why?
Well i haven't needed to use comp so I've avoided it while I can sorta thing...But I'm back around now, so expect (or alternatviely, avoid) more.
I may even have time later on to put something up here.

But, until then...Cheerio.

Just another Hi

HI.
How you all going? Me is ok.
I have been busy as this week which why I haven't posted, but the work I did during the week will be posted here over the next week or so. So keep tuned.

"V" been taken to a psych ward but will be out during this week..I hope.

Touching Base

Hey all. Just dropping in to touch base. Not much to say today.
Heard from "V". I didn't think I would ever again. She sounded pretty keen to get in touch. She sms'ed me tonight. I called her. She sounded pretty pleased to hear from me.
As pleased as me?
I doubt it.

Volunteered to be a part of "Indymedia". Independant, non corporate, non government media outlet. It's quite funny. I was watching "Outfoxed" earlier tonight too and was on the Indymedia site looking some stuff up anyhoo. So I put my hand up to volunteer. What will I do?
I dunno.
I've added a link here too... Find them in YOUR city.