Exterminate:Communicate

The more 'modern' and technologically saturated our society becomes the more I think we need to build certain 'glitches' or inefficiencies into our daily life. One only need look at the plethora of forms of interpersonal communication we have today: snail mail, email, telephone, cellphone, fax, twitter, facebook, and even blogging...The list could go on, but you get my point. We are in my opinion, simply overwhelmed by forms of communication.

The introduction of new cellphone applications like 'google lattitude' which enables you to track your friend's movements via google maps is an even more intrusive development that is making it evermore difficult to escape to, dare I say it, "be by oneself".

I am curious to know what psychological effects such technological 'developments' are having on our society. I think it is pretty safe to say that: 1) dependency issues are on the rise; 2) people are becoming more self-obsessed and egotistical; and 3) people are becoming increasingly apathetic to 'important issues' (whatever they are?) as their capacity for 'information' is exhausted by the sheer magnitude of innane interpersonal communication.

While I know that the most common argument against what I am saying is that the individual has the power to turn off their cellphone or not reply to emails. And yes, they do. However, the problem as I see it is that as the potential for contact becomes possible 24/7, so too does the expectation.

I am sure we have all sent a message by one form of communication or another and become exceptionally frustrated by the failure of the recipient to respond. My fear is that interpersonal communications' etiquette will become such that it is simply unacceptable to ignore the nagging beeps of one's cellphone or to turn it off while one enjoys a family dinner.

The pressure to be able to be contacted at all times coupled with the inflated sense of self importance that is perpetuated by facebook shrines to the self means that the individual will become convinced of the need to be contactable all day every day. Surely there is no better way to affirm one's self-importance than the ability to field another person's request of oneself instantaneously. What I mean by this is that regardless of the content of the text/email/tweet, it is the fact that another person believes that you have to know immediately what it is that this person has to communicate to you that in turn makes you feel important.

While I am not saying that I am completely innocent of this crime - I do, after all, write a blog! - my point is that we need to build inefficiencies into the systems of technology that swamp us: glitches that make it possible (and acceptable) to step outside the constant stream of information that comes our way.

This could be as easy as developing a culture that actively encourages people not to have cellphones, or, simply, to become more accepting of people's privacy and their desire to be out of contact. And yes, this is already possible. My concern however, is that as new generations are born with cellphones and facebook, they may never fully appreciate the importance of being by oneself.

More roads do not bring faster travel times

A report recently (Sept 4, 2009) published by John Odgers, a transport analyst at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology has found that the billions of dollars spent building new motorways in Melbourne in the 1990s has failed to bring about the time savings promised by those people behind the new motorways’ construction.

I would strongly urge members of the Wellington Regional Land Transport Committee, New Zealand Transport Association as well as the Minister and officials at the Ministry of Transport to consider this report before setting in motion construction of a flyover at the Basin Reserve.

The recently released National Land Transport Programme (2009/12) has priced investigation, design and construction of the flyover at the Basin Reserve at $47 million. This is a hike from the $33 million price tag the project was given only one year ago!

Construction of a flyover at the Basin Reserve will inevitably lead to duplication of the Mt Victoria Tunnel which was priced at $175 million in 2008.

The $222 million that it would cost to see these two projects undertaken would have far greater (and more sustainable) impact on our region’s future if it were invested in public and active transport initiatives. It is time that we accepted the future will be very different from the present and it is time that we began investing to make this future a livable and sustainable reality.

Stop the flyover - the latest action

Wellington needs YOU!

The New Zealand Transport Authority (NZTA) has recently (August 2009) released its National Land Transport Programme for 2009/12. The Wellington section of this document sets out plans that could see a flyover constructed at the Basin Reserve at a cost of $47million - a considerable hike on the initial price tag of $33million. What's more, should the flyover be constructed, it will likely lead to duplication of the Mt Victoria Tunnel at a cost of more than $175million.

Funding to acquire the property to construct the flyover is expected to be secured in 2010 while money to design the flyover is expected from 2011/12. Construction would inevitably follow on after that.

However, it is still only 2009 which means that we the people of Wellington still have the chance to prevent this ridiculous road from being built.

So I strongly urge you to come join Sue Kedgley and the Green councillors at the Cambridge Tce entrance to the Basin Reserve next Monday (7th Sept) at 9.15am to launch the Green Party 'no flyover' petition.

Bring your banners, t-shirts and local community. We won't let this unnecessary road building project go ahead!!!

If you are interested in more information you can view the NZTA's Wellington document by clicking on the following link: http://www.nzta.govt.nz/publications/nltp/docs/wellington.pdf