|
View the H-World Discussion Logs by month
View the Prior Message in H-World's November 2009 logs by: [date] [author] [thread] View the Next Message in H-World's November 2009 logs by: [date] [author] [thread] Visit the H-World home page.
Northeastern University redgillett@gmail.com I am really delighted this conversation has come up because it raises the specter of an ethical as well as economic choice many of us make when confronted by conferences half a country, continent, or world away. We are public intellectuals, teachers, and de facto role models in our teaching environment, as well as (presumably) intelligent, involved, ethical individuals aware of the sometimes scarey processes of human interactions with each other and the globe over long periods of time. As such I am surprised no-one has debated the ecological benefit of providing electronic streaming and distance options for the WHA. I couldn't agree more, that live conferencing is difficult to replicate and a richly rewarding and wonderful thing. Attending the WHA is one of the choices I positively and consistently make despite limits on my financial and carbon budget. I do, however, do my utmost to combine the conference with research opportunities and family/friendship connections as a responsible use of the energy resources I consume. Each academic faces a load of invitations and professional imperatives to attend conferences and to fly or travel significant distances for their research. These things have a great ecological cost. Making the WHA conference (and any academic gathering) distance-accessible would be a boon for those of us who DO want to make ethical choices about consumption, who ARE aware of the latest science on climate change, and who believe in the importance of making responsible decisions as individuals in addition to any political actions we might be taking. It would also be something that bears out the role of the WHA as not just recording but engaging with change over time and the impact of humans upon the environment and each other through world history. I hope that adds a new dimension to the conversation - I think about these issues every single time I apply for a conference and that applies to the WHA as well.
 Humanities & Social Sciences Online 
|