DEB200 - Introducing Sustainability Group Assignment: Bendee Downs

If you hadn't already heard, there's a lot of work involved in studying. The time taken to lean and regurgitate the information seems to be insurmountable, but at the end it works out ok.

Our main assignment (report) was in conjunction with Engineers with out boarders, a group that apply university level students at real world problems. The site was at a place called Bendee Downs, located in Queensland South West. We had to create a "Eco Tourist" resort, which in my mind is still an oxymoron. The report it self was broken up into different areas, being a cultural centre, camp sites, walking trails and star gazing. Other activities included spear throwing, boomerang throwing and story telling. I felt uncomfortable about dictating the activities that to me seemed culturally insensitive, what is to say that one activity is appropriate over an other.

I also saw difficulties in sitting buildings, as I felt their had to be a spiritual map that showed areas that had significance in the landscape. Other difficulties where transportation, as flying or driving there was a negative aspect. We added to the idea of creating a adventure trail, or package that would end up at the site. The site also had two air strips, both that needed maintenance.

The overall strategy of the assignment, and the presentation where both executed by our team fairly successfully and was good to end on a high note. Just wished I had a bit more time to work on a few other features.

DEB200 - Introducing Sustainability

I'd have to say that this subject was equally complex as Stewardship of Land. I found it odd that the lecturer couldn't handle the fact that they where teaching 1,400 students, and that the university saw it fit not to customise the subject. Now, with two weeks before my big exam, I'm in the process of swallowing a horses pill.

INTRODUCING SUSTAINABILITY DEB200

Sustainability these days seems to be a key phrase that is bantered around as much as Nuclear was around in the 1980's. This current hot button is better thought of and used than the older term, environmentalism. Unfortunatly this term has conitations of the "Tree Hugging Hippy" and of extremist views and actions. Although I don't believe this to be true, in terms of marketing sustainability has made it's mark in defining environmentalism has ever been dreamed of.

In introducing sustainability, it is another subject that appears to be easy, but deep down is quite complicated and litigious. It's themes of observation in the first assignment (essay) where to say, quite open ended but the main focus was to establish the idea of being awake in your environment.

Perceptions of the environment are hard to observe, and these concept and points of view are even harder to understand fully without appreciating a historical use and habits. Just like a goat track is formed in a field because of the topography, peoples movements and uses through the environment have impacts that are unforeseen and unaccounted.

Can these be be analysed by using semiotics within the landscape? Does the impact of using the same road for 500 years imply sustainability or is it just a sociocultural belief in this is what has been done so we don't need to change. Is sustainability about change?