B U R N

In the past two weeks I have been exposed to some extraordinary thinkers.

Among other things and people, I got to spend some time with Annemarie Mol, who happens to be one of my favourite academicians.

Her scholarly work mixes rigour with an almost childish – this is the best word I can come up with – disregard for academic conventions and stylistic rules. My second reason for finding her so inspirational has to do with her appreciative tone. I used to juxtapose good academic work with criticism and scepticism, at least those are the ‘values’ I tend to lean towards myself, but her manuscripts exhibit a wonderfully refreshing orientation towards that which is positive, without ever falling into the trap of naivety.

Most people would be able to understand her eclectic writings on the fluidity of the Zimbabwe Bush Pump (pdf) and the body multiple (pdf). Yet, unlike the vast majority of philosophers and social theorists, she manages to mix good narratives with complex discussions about ontology and epistemology. 

It is, in short, non-pretense at its best.

Come on Jeroen, let’s share it. I would be happy if you gave me just 1 per cent. And no-one would notice anyway.

Finally, I got around to setting up something that I have wanted to set up for a year or two.

What has been missing in my world is an international community that links together people with an interest in corporate social responsibility and related areas.

There are, of course, tonnes of mailing lists, news sites, and blogs readily available, but I prefer to work with people who have faces and bodies.

Say hello to my new darling, Oxford CSR, and join in, if you wish, on Facebook.

Here is the sales pitch:

**OK, it all sounds so bloody grand, but I am quite keen on setting up a platform like this for people who are interested in these areas**

It is now broadly recognised that companies have a key responsibility in setting the societal agenda beyond the financial bottom line and traditional philanthropy.

Considering Bhopal, Exxon Valdez and the Enron bankruptcy, while many a scandal has shown that companies cause environmental and social problems, it is beyond doubt that the key challenges facing humanity in the 21st century cannot be met without business and businesses forming part of the solution.

Notions such as corporate social responsibility (CSR), business ethics, sustainability, social entrepreneurship and environmental performance have emerged as vital signifiers of contemporary business conduct. Risk and opportunity thus go hand in hand.

The Oxford University CSR Society is for anyone who wishes to understand these developments better, whether in a professional or private capacity, and regardless of their level of experience and background.

While it is a poor start, it is, nevertheless, a start.

I have a little confession to make.

Sometimes when returning late from a night out, having possibly enjoyed one or two glasses of port too many, I shout “keep up the good work,” “hear hear,” or some other words of encouragement at the songbirds in my way.

I know this may sound is really strange, but there must be a reason why birds sing all night, all year round on these latitudes.

I like to think that I am doing my bit to keep this tradition in place.

As Oxford braces itself for another flood, I am intrigued as to why a country like England is acting as if this were an instance of freak weather.

Perhaps the Environment Agency should stop reviewing movies and think hard about how to go about implementing one or several of their own solutions.

It turns out that American-turned-British author Bill Bryson pondered upon the exact same thing in his book, Notes from a Small Island:

By the time I finished my coffee and returned to the streets, the rain had temporarily abated, but the streets were full of vast puddles where the drains were unable to cope with the volume of water. Correct me if I’m wrong, but you would think that if one nation ought by now to have mastered the science of drainage, Britain would be it. In any case, cars aquaplaned daringly through these temporary lakes and threw sheets of water over nearby houses and shops.

I will be moving to the Bay Area to take up a Visiting Researcher position at University of California, Berkeley’s Science, Technology and Society Center for one month from March.

If, among my enthusiastic group of committed readers, anyone happens to know someone who knows someone who knows someone who might have a spare room or studio available for that period, please do get in touch.

I am nothing but a sweet angel to live with and will be working most of the time anyway.

Thanks.

How mind-blowingly stupid would it be for a Scandinavian prime minister to call for a press briefing on governmental efforts to reduce carbon emmissions and then put bottled French water on the table?

I hope this picture is taken from the archives, whilst, on the other hand, that would perhaps prove the greenwashing point even further…

The semi-long walks, the rural surroundings, the sheep, the howling wind, the coast line, the castles, the food, the relative solitude, and the people all brought me well into the new year: Cymru.