October 9 2007 by The Systemic Analyst.

In a recent informal survey, International Perspectives asked 100 Canadian respondents whether or not they felt their voice was being heard in a party-based electoral system. A considerable 52% felt that they were not heard in a party-based system, with a further 13% responding that they did not know whether their voice was heard or not. The figures suggest that the electoral options put forth in the upcoming referendum do not adequately reflect the changes many Canadian voters actually desire to see, which might entail moving away from political parties altogether.

With nearly all of the respondents, 87%, viewing narrow-based parties either unfavourably or ambivalently, it is unlikely that voters in Ontario will accept a Mixed Member Proportional system, which would effectively give more influence to smaller parties.

Some 65% of respondents felt that they do understand the electoral options put forth in the referendum. Although 75% of respondents were not even aware that a Citizen’s Assembly had been established to consider the electoral options.

Although many respondents (39%) felt that they knew their local candidates in the upcoming election, 48% of those polled felt they did not know their local candidates whereas another 13% were uncertain whether they knew their local candidates or not. Such figures suggest that although changes to our current electoral system need to be considered, proposed improvements should present solutions to voter concerns as opposed to magnifying the short-comings. This leaves some to wonder at the effectiveness or legitimacy of using unelected-layman organizations to propose such serious changes to public institutions.

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October 9 2007 by The Systemic Analyst.

Nature Reports has published a must-read article on the potential impact of environmental changes on security.

Unfortunately, most mainstream media focus on changes to the environment has centred around senseless debates as to the degree of human involvement in sparking such changes. Little long-term assessment as to what the overall impact such changes could have on security has been shared with the public, if such analysis has been commissioned and conducted at all.

Environmental changes have been gradual, but marked. Indeed, it is unlikely that the environment will be altered drastically over night. However, with time we could find ourselves living in a very different environment than the sort we are in today. The good news is that this gives us time to look towards possible outcomes and prepare as a result. As the article in Nature Reports suggests, this will entail finding solutions to mass migration and water scarcity. Such preparation will also necessitate more proactive planning around food security, including preparations for introducing crops more suited to the new environment and increasing local food production.

Whether or not such preparations are underway is hard to say. Preparing for such incredible possibilities is not a human forte. Strategic vision is very much required if proper planning is to be first created and then successfully implemented. In most countries, economy trumps security making many measures (especially those that are intended to prevent long-term fallout) unfavourable.

Here’s to hoping that the human race enjoys a monumental shift in perspective before it suffers a cataclysmic shift in environment!

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