Most importantly, I finally went punting! It's much harder than it looks, and the Thames is full of hidden dangers: tourists, swans, stumps, stinging nettles on the shore, you name it.
Here, Jonathan and Rachel battle the evil swan. Now, it's pretty hard to maneuver these boats with a stick.. and this swan decided to swim within 2 feet of our boat. We had NO way to get away from him, so he just bobbed next to our boat staring us down. Rachel was terrified, the swan just looked confused, and I was laughing so hard I was crying. Finally, this guy swam off, but I think poor Rachel was scarred for life.
As always, these pictures aren't in any particular order. This picture is a new obsession of mine. In many old cathedrals across the UK, masons added touches of their traditional pagan beliefs to the stonework or woodcarving. I think I've mentioned this before, but these figures are known as 'Green Men.' It's made me want to learn a lot more about old Celtic and Druid practices. This guy was on the tomb of the patron saint of Oxford, St. Frideswide (a woman!).
Kari and Kelley, this is completely for you guys. Harry Potter Hall. This is the dining hall in Christ Church. Quite fine. Elizabeth I watched a play here, Charles I held PARLIAMENT here! Now thousands and thousands of tourists now wander through here thanks almost totally to Harry Potter. Christ Church also has a picture gallery which I finally visited yesterday. Saw a Leo da Vinci sketch and lots of Italian renaissance pieces. Can you imagine how wealthy this college must be to own such priceless pieces!?
Just another view of the majesty of Christ Church! This is Tom Quad. Tom is the name of the bell (Old Tom) in the tower in this picture.
I also finally saw Magdalen College (pronounced Maudlin) and wandered through its Deer Park (yes, this college has the money to maintain its very own deer park).
Though I don't have a picture, the best part of yesterday was finishing my tutorial. I am not really glad to be done with the course, because I think I have a lot more to learn from Dr. Addison. I'm not horribly burnt out either, because the relevance of global climate change keeps me going. The reason the end of the class was so great is that we were (finally, finally, finally) able to treat Dr. A to a dinner and a few pints and talk in an even more informal way than we normally do. We talked for 2/3 hours in a pub called the Kings Arms...and we finally started to answer what I think is THE question about global climate change: how can/should we adapt? This touches on OUR (the West) responsibility to repay the social costs of past emission levels. It involves imposing (or not? do we have the right?) limits on Indian and Chinese industrialization. What is our responsibility to developing economies who may have more pressing priorities than limiting carbon emissions? How do we incorporate development and a greener lifestyle? A systemic paradigm shift may be what's required, but that is VERY unlikely. An international mandate limiting carbon emissions will not be effective or likely feasible (think Kyoto) without enforceability and global participation. Waiting for consumer demand to stimulate change will take to long. So what's to be done? I still don't see a clear answer to that question, and I don't think Dr. A does either. It's a hell of a task for my generation, but I'll cling (as the hopeless idealist) to the idea that we will innovate and somehow rise to the occasion.
Well, WHEW. I still have so much to think about. Sorry to drag you all through that long rant! I know I'm a bit biased, but this issue seems like THE fundamental issue for the coming century. Climate issues lie at the foundation of many of the key issues of our time. Not to give you all more reading than this dreadful blog, but if you have a minute, I recommend you check this out:
http://image.guardian.co.uk/sys-files/Guardian/documents/2008/08/07/Sternreport.pdf
It gives you an idea of the potential impacts of climate change with varying changes in global mean surface temperature.
Ok, I am going to make myself stop. I've got some wandering and packing to do. I'll post one more time before I head off to Canterbury and Dover, and then back to HOT Clemson.
Can't wait to see you all soon!
Love,
Emily
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