maiden blog

First impressions

To be honest, thinking of Industrial Ecology, taking a Social Systems course was not the first thing that entered my mind, let alone blogging about it. No, I was not born in a cave, and I do live in the 21^st century, but to me blogging feels like thinking out loud. Why should I do it and why would others need to know what I am thinking?

I do see, however, that it is sensible to acquire communication skills and to learn to use the communication systems available. If we are to be agents of change, as it says in the Industrial Ecology website, we cannot do that on our own. We shall have to convince others and for that we need communication. Else we would be like the voice crying out in the wilderness, wouldn’t we?

But then again; if all of us a blogging in a world that is full of blogs, aren’t we calling out in a wilderness of noise? Who will hear us then? Let us find out.

My theoretical knowledge of social sciences is best described as basic. I have acquired some in works council courses some 25 years ago and in the bachelor programme of applied environmental science at Hogeschool Utrecht (in the past three years). I trust that will be compensated for by years of practice.  

Industrial Ecology inspired puzzle

The graph shown below is from a study by Wageningen University. It shows the percentages of the respondents who say they have meat in their hot meal never, 1 or 2 times a week, 3 or 4 times a week, 5 or 6 times a week or 7 times a week.

http://www.lei.wur.nl/NL/publicaties+en+producten/LEIpublicaties/?id=1413

Comparing the figures for 2009 and 2011 the percentage of vegetarians and vegans is fairly stable, but more people have become part time vegetarians or so-called flexitarians. However, the average annual meat consumption per person remained stable at some 43 kilograms.  (Source http://www.pve.nl/pve?waxtrapp=suefHsHsuOpbPREcBlBKHM) 

Why is it that more people are part time vegetarians but the average consumption of meat remains the same?

• ·         Are the portions per meal becoming bigger? More and more meat is purchased in supermarkets where it is pre-packed and portioned.  Customers do not ask for the quantity you would like to purchase but choose from what is there. Besides this there is an abundance of ready to make – only add meat packets in the supermarkets, usually made for considerable quantities of meat, e.g. 350 grams for 2–3 persons.
• ·         Is more meat consumed between meals, e.g. in the form of snacks or in sandwiches?
• ·         Do people really reduce the number of meatless meals or are their replies based on wishful thinking?