A picture is worth a thousand words. The above photograph, tweeted by @stuartice, illustrates why we need to think about the wider system when solving problems. This is especially true when, as in this case, the wider system involves sentient actors who may not share our goals. Similar effects can be seen in any situation in which decision-makers are trying to save people from themselves. If we … [Read more...]
Death by conservation
An article in last week's New Scientist reports that conservation policies are driving villagers to kill protected wildlife---including elephants and tigers. Government conservation policies restrict use of ancestral lands which causes resentment among villagers. In some cases this resentment manifests itself in the illegal killing of the very animals that the policies are designed to … [Read more...]