Ich liebe Zuege!

Happy Fourth of July to all! I realize I am a little late. In fact, it's been so long since I've posted anything at all. I have however, had some wonderful opportunities as of late to gain some fantastic perspective and even start to learn about some issues which I myself have trouble taking responsibility for. It can be really frustrating though, when people refuse to open their minds to the idea of sacrifice for the sake of the environment, the people around us (in the present and the future), and even for ourselves. So even as I struggle with some sustainable habits, I try to practice what I preach. More on that later.

This is all very heavy stuff though, and as I got a good reaction to my bicycle mishap a few weeks ago, I thought it might be a nice idea to start this entry with another funny story at my own expense, especially as most of my readers will recognize right away what a typically "Clair" moment this was...

I actually spent my Fourth of July in Heidelberg this past weekend, meeting the other interns of the RISE program and having some fantastic experiences, one of which was a tour of the Mercedes Benz facilities near Stuttgart, their largest. However, to get there at a reasonable time, we had to leave the hostel at 6:00 a.m., so we were obviously sleep deprived. This is a good thing to keep in mind as you read the following conversation which occurred on the bus. The cast of characters includes various interns and I'm sure I haven't gotten all the details correct, so if any of them read this, I beg pardon.

Elaine: I see Starbucks everywhere here. There are two in Heidelberg!
Cory: I know; isn't it horrible? That and Dunkin' Donuts. And Burger King and McDonald's.
Me: Oh, I hate seeing that here.
Todd: Some of them have actually been around for a long time though.
Cory: Have you noticed that the Subways here are way better than in the States?
Me: Oh my gosh, yes! When I ride in New York, I always have to have something to hold onto. But here, I can just kind of surf. They start and stop so smoothly I can just stand there without thinking about anything. I love it.

Everyone stares blankly and smiles faintly at me. Cory gives a little polite nod and says something along the lines of...

Cory: Well yeah, that's true.
Elaine: Did we just go from talking about the Subway restaurants to subway trains?
Me: (pause, then blurting) I love trains!

This was a moment I could not live down.

Getting back to Mercedes Benz however, I have to absolutely rave about what an incredible experience it was to get a glimpse of their production facilities. One of the lines had accomplished 99% automation levels, and it was fascinating and almost eerie to watch these monstrous machines move heavy pieces with extreme rapidity and precision down to a .3 mm tolerance. Parts were moving in all different directions over our heads and we were informed that if a machine were to experience a breakdown, the very skilled repair team has just three minutes to fix it without failure in the entire line. It was absolutely a vision of the future. And though this type of concept is often presented as rather frightening, I was actually heartened by the optimization of resource use and cleanliness of the facilities. It was an example of the use of technology to further sustainability, rather than detract from it.

Later we were able to ask company representatives some questions, and though I received positive feedback to my inquiries regarding the emissions of the facilities themselves, I was less satisfied with the view towards the emissions of their products. Under intense pressure from the EU to lower the average emissions from their cars to incredibly low levels by 2012, Mercedes is definitely investing in research and development of more sustainable cars. Thus far however, solutions are not obvious. They specialize in the production of luxury vehicles (excepting the Smart car), and they are simply too large to achieve the average mileage necessary. They are lobbying to impose standards based on horsepower (i.e., cars should be limited to emission levels per horsepower). I am not sure where I stand on this issue. On one hand, it seems fair and logical for all types of producers. On the other, maybe the solution doesn't rely entirely on the technology, but also on the mindset of the consumer. Maybe smaller cars are the necessary solution and Mercedes Benz should start to think about shifting their market. Whatever the "fairest" option is, I think this would be a smart marketing move either way, especially given the boom in sales the Smart car has seen recently in the US.

Of course, I certainly can't presume to tell Mercedes Benz what to do, especially when I continue to contribute to the problem of high emissions myself. I discovered the latest source of my irresponsibility is the fact that I eat meat. I know. I had the same reaction. This is just taking it too far.

According to a New York Times article from last year, the meat industry contributes more to global warming than all transportation combined. As could be expected, many animal rights' groups are using the evidence as a platform for promoting vegetarianism. And though I do not support the opportunistic aspect of this development, I do have to acknowledge that cutting some meat out of our diets could have a big impact. And we all (even the Europeans) eat a lot of meat. Cheese and eggs and nuts are great too though. I could never imagine my life without steak (please keep our plans for the bbq, Mom), but certainly the effort to reduce meat consumption is a necessary evil. As always, by taking the little steps, we point ourselves in the right direction, even if the journey might last for awhile. And who knows...maybe it would help with the ever growing problem of obesity as well.


I will end this entry with another wonderful NY Times article, this one a little more arguably lighthearted. For $50 (a reasonable price for a touristy outing in the city), sightseers can get a glimpse of waste and pollution in Newtown Creek, lined with dumps and processing facilities which cater to the results of our very unsustainable practices. Interesting certainly to residents who never see this side of the city. Fascinating probably to visitors, whose images of dirty city life are epitomized on these shores. For me, it is sobering.

Please check out the other blogs I've linked to! They are brilliant, interesting and relevant.

TURKIYE

I am a traitor. I came to Germany with hopes of getting even closer to the neat and clean and oh-so-civilized German culture I love so much (balanced of course by their unhealthy love of beer and American rock music). Instead, in the semi-final game between Germany and Turkey this Wednesday...I will be cheering for Turkey. Here is how it happened. On Friday, Turkey played Croatia, and in their usual style, waited until the overtime of overtime to sneak in the necessary goal and win by 11-meter shots. It was the longest soccer game I've ever watched and also the most exciting. All I remember at the end was my feet leaving the ground, hearing a bench crash behind me, and then being hugged all around. Then I got a glimpse of the Turkish heart behind all this hubbub. We walked the streets of Berlin until 3:00 in the morning observing the chaos. I did a Turkish folk dance in the middle of the street! This video (taken mostly right where we were standing) makes it look like a riot. But I just couldn't believe what great spirits everyone was in. The bangs in the background are fireworks, not gun shots, by the way. Here are a couple of pictures taken by my friend, David, another intern:

That crazy looking girl in the front of the second picture is me, with my friend Mustafa. There is a fist just beyond that which belongs to his brother (my advisor) Semih.

As much fun as I have been having watching all these soccer games, I have of course, been continuing my very time-consuming work. But I try to keep up with the latest at home, and here is an article that recently caught my attention. It discusses a lot of interesting things (including the more realistic cost aspects of owning a gas guzzling car), but most interestingly, it discloses the fact that in May, a car (rather than a truck or SUV) was the top selling model in the United States for the first time since December of 1992. I found this staggering. First of all, I had no idea the industry was so completely dominated by non-car models. Second of all, I was so proud to hear that there has been a domestic response to the crisis of oil prices. As much as these decisions might come from purely economic motivations, they are motivations nonetheless. Here is another interesting perspective from the New York Times. Gas prices alone are not the only indicator of an ever growing energy crisis. The fact is, people who have to drive a lot, have to spend a lot on gas even if it's not that expensive. In rural areas, the impact of rising prices is even greater. Those in Hunterdon County can really consider themselves lucky, with the lowest percentage of their incomes being spent on gas.

And finally, as I am remembering this summer how wonderful travel can be, I have to share an interesting goal of mine. I would someday love to visit Curitiba, Brazil. Brazil has never been the country I aspire to see before I die, but Curitiba itself is cited as a masterpiece of urban planning. It's an interesting place to read about. Let me know if anyone has been...

And until then, I will just visit my little piece of Turkiye right here in Berlin.

Fahrrad Fahren

I know I promised to write again soon, so here is the entry I know everyone has been desperately awaiting. I am feeling a little bit tired and sick though, so like a good educator, I will use the opportunity just to tell a good story...

On Monday night I decided to spend some quality time with my roommate and tag along with her and her friends to watch the German soccer game on the big screen at the arena in Berlin. Around midday, she sent me a message asking if it would be okay with me if we rode bikes there. In all my excitement about doing "the Berlin thing," I assured her that I could definitely manage it even though it's been years since I've been on a bike. Well. Then I saw the bike. And it looked a little big. I wanted to be a good sport though (I just learned there is no exact expression for this in German...an ominous sign). I couldn't reach the seat, but I remembered how easily I used to be able to hop up onto a bike using the pedals as a boost. So that's what I did. Everything fell right into place--seat, handles, and pedals--for a moment. Then all of a sudden, the pedals weren't there anymore. And I was already going. At this point, I forgot all my instinctive bicycling skills. Long story short, I ran into a parked van, teetered ominously for a moment, and then fell right on my butt...hard.

I was then given a different bike and the rest of the riding went fairly smoothly, with Annika shouting over her shoulder, "Clair ich bin so stolz auf dich!" And the lesson in sustainability for today is: Though it might seem difficult to integrate sustainable practices into our lives at first, we should always try try again.

I would love to get some mail from anyone and would absolutely return the favor. And if anyone is especially motivated, I really miss Cheerios.

Clair Johnson
c/o Sarah Ewald
Marchlewskistrasse 75
10243 Berlin
Deutschland

Bier und Energie

It feels a little bit strange sitting down to write again, because it's been so long since my last entry! I was very sorry this week to learn I had made the unforgivable mistake here of getting the dates of the Europameisterschaft wrong. It has already begun, and I am invited nearly every night to watch the games with my co-workers, roommate, or American friends. And it is unbelievable how much they think I'm missing out when I take a night off to buy groceries or sleep. It's even harder to keep up with the beer they drink during the course of the evening. It's no stereotype...Germans drink a lot of beer.

But for the time I haven't spent here at the internet cafe I have been learning a lot as always, much of which is being passed on to me by others. So of course, the least I can do is pass it on. My dad, who rivals me in brilliance and vanity, sent me this quote recently from James Carville, "I think if I was Senator Obama I would say the biggest economic problem we face is the biggest national security problem and the biggest environmental problem." Energy. This is a concept I think we should all mull over a little bit.

The problems of our world are certainly complex and overwhelming, but being able to identify relationships like this allows us to figure out where we could focus our efforts next, and at the very least, what considerations we should incorporate into the actions we are already taking. For instance, many of the innovative developments which are being pursued by social entrepreneurs in third world countries (here I go again...) try to incorporate not only immediate solutions to the problems the population there faces, but also solutions which are socially and environmentally sustainable. A perfect example is ICT (Information and Communication Technology) infrastructure development. Traditional efforts have focused on leading developing countries through the same phases our industrialized nations experienced. In other words, they tried to give people living in poverty telephones. Well intentioned? Yes. Well thought out? No. This is a particular area of technology developing at an astounding pace. Why not skip the struggles we went through and jump right to the most modern infrastructures we can offer? This requires less investment in the long run, and maximum utility in the short run. And if we furthermore implement these foundations upon sustainable energy sources, we are definitely headed in the right direction.

As idealistic as I know these ideas often sound, I grudgingly admit to a very selfish qualm that I've been learning to come to terms with in the past few weeks. I find myself suddenly enthusiastic about saving the world, and then I realize...I'd like to remember myself in the process. I am not so generous as to be willing to give up my comfortable home, my extra cash for beer and shoes, and my casual attitude toward long showers. But the beauty of the new logical, entrepreneurial, and economic philanthropy is that we don't have to give that up. We can live in a world where we all take part in our own creature comforts, at whatever various levels they may exist.

I concede that this entry is shamefully short, but the creature comforts of a warm bed and buttery cookies are calling my name. I will try to post again asap, because I am never out of things to share! But to make up for my neglect, I will leave you with some sites to explore on your own. Slow Food International is an organization dedicated to returning to the enjoyment of food, not the addiction to food. Again, it addresses the sustainability of our habits, and the Bildungsprozesse that accompany such issues. Their daughter organization, Terre Madre, focuses on those who produce the local food we could be enjoying. And finally, New American Dream explores our use of energy in our households and the paths (simple and drastic) we might pursue to reduce that usage. These are not areas I explore regularly, and I admit I haven't even had much time to explore these websites. But if they are of interest to anyone, please please take a look and send your thoughts on to me! I am always interested and immer hier...

Karie Brädschah

As the revolutionary writer I know myself to be, I am not surprised that as of late, my blog has gained immense popularity and heavy media attention. In particular, certain well-placed employees at AIG have been promoting my insightful compositions, and I look forward to the recognition I am sure to get now that I am a famous journalist. In fact, I like to think of myself as an environmental Carrie Bradshaw, except instead of writing about sustaining a relationship, I write about sustaining our planet, and instead of writing from the comfort of my bed in NYC, I have to hop down the street to a cafe for my internet access. As I headed to the cafe this evening, I couldn't help but wonder...should we focus on sustainability in the corporate world or at an individual level? =)

In seriousness though, this is a question we should be thinking about. I am actually very honored that people (my family though they may be) are so eager to share my thoughts from abroad. In fact, I have a great deal of admiration for my entire family, and consider their enthusiasm anything but obligatory. That being said, I have to confess that the ideas presented here are, in a large part, not my own at all. I simply find these concepts wonderful and exciting. And one of the very first steps anyone can take in progressing a fine idea, is to spread that idea. Because everyone who listens will take hold of it in their own way, and make individual life changes, or join an organization, or write a book, or win a Nobel Prize...all because they were inspired by an idea, a person, or a blog. So while I am flattered by the attention, I hope above all that anyone who reads this might consider taking a role in improving the world the best way they can.

And this brings me to the most interesting thing I've researched lately. My favorite topic thus far has most definitely been the concept of social business, though I have been disappointed in the lack of information beyond the Muhammad Yunus book and his own websites. It seems the concept is so young that there are not yet many institutions established in its name. For review (as there will be a quiz) a social business is established with the exclusive goal of achieving a social objective, and all profits go either to repaying initial investors or to furthering the business' progress in attaining its social goal. People who invest in and create their own social businesses are known as social entrepreneurs. And today, I came across a publication defining and praising yet another type of philanthropist: the social intrapreneur. The social intrapreneur works within a company and uses its assets to help create a social business and garner support for it within the company. Social intrapreneurs have helped companies such as Coca Cola and Citibank establish social business sectors based on the ways in which they personally can have the greatest impact. Playing this role certainly takes a lot of time, talent, and commitment, as social intrapreneurs often face extreme opposition from companies, especially those that are firmly rooted in their profit-seeking goals. However, when they are successful, social intrapreneurs bring the amazing resources of multi-billion dollar companies to bear on some of the most serious social issues in the world. What an amazing force.

So now I've developed some pretty heavy ideas about the main issues we are facing in our time period: maintaining our own economic security and levels of comfort, overcoming social inequities like poverty and crime, and maintaining an environmentally sustainable world through all of this development. We really have a long way to go. But I think the key is to start looking at how our lifestyles and cultures have developed under a microscope. We are the way we are for many reasons, and just as amendments are necessary to the Constitution, so are they necessary to our way of life. Why are we so inspired to consume and to conquer and to profit? Why are we so averse to comprehending the suffering of distant people and of our very earth itself? It's time to evolve a little farther. Survival is no longer about the individual; it is about the community, the posterity, and the species outside of our own, especially those upon which we depend. I might even go so far as to propose that survival is not just survival anymore; it is discovery. We know how to survive...now we need to figure out why to survive.

I am very quick to criticize the irresponsible behavior of many Americans, most especially with respect to our consumption patterns. And though I try to avoid the comparisons between the European lifestyle and the American lifestyle (after all, Europe has many problems of its own), Berlin in particular carries this feeling of "been there, done that...and we're still trying to figure out how to do it right." It's a city full of contradictions. There are muscleheads driving Smart cars and beautiful, fashionable girls on motorcycles. Every other vehicle on the road here is a bicycle, and the riders are healthy young people, eldery people, obese people, and smokers...while they are riding. Everyday I encounter punks on the street who can afford hair dye, cigarettes, and beer, but still have to beg me for money. There are dogs without leashes everywhere, even in restaurants, but they are not strays, and they are immensely well behaved. And even the most affluent citizens ride the subway. My point is, that while Berlin is not perfect, its current culture reflects the enormous social/political/economic changes in its past, and it is a culture of flexibility, openness, and a very sincere desire to achieve the best way of life with as much integrity (and enjoyment) as possible. I think the planning efforts here reflect the adaptable way in which we might approach planning in all communities, at all levels of development. The results are always different:

Eins und zwei und drei und vierundfuenfzig

Although still relatively minimal, the time I have spent at the TU has made me thoroughly aware how essential it is not only to speak of high hopes and aspirations for the future, but also to act today, to make that future a reality. This being fundamentally true, I sometimes wonder how effective all this sincere and admirable research is. After all, academia spends countless hours and dollars to produce papers which sometimes only comment on other papers. This is not to say that academia makes no progress. It is quite the contrary. Some of the most interesting and groundbreaking developments occur in the labs of universities worldwide. But I also think it's worth considering cleaning up the "production processes" of our research. Might it be possible to merge the capitalist time motivation of big companies with the thoughtful subject motivation of the scholastic world? I tip my hat to those who have started to forge such collaboration.

It is particularly interesting to consider these issues when observing the process of research building. I often find it extremely frustrating to follow the thought process of the guiding professor here. Recently, in working on the write up of a research proposal, Professor Seliger established that he wants to keep the definition of the topic broad, but with fundamental exemplars of our subtopics. What does that mean??? Much of this process is bureaucratic, an attempt to satisfy the reviewers while giving ourselves the flexibility to discover what is actually most important as we progress. But again, where then is the actual progress being made? I do not want to sound too naively idealistic, nor do I want to take anything away from the wonderful things both universities and companies attempt and succeed at accomplishing. I do however, think there needs to be cooperative effort to incorporate some of the most innovative thoughts with some of the best leadership, and forge the paths which will make true advancements as easy, efficient, and effective as possible.

In any case, since I've brought up Professor Seliger again, I do need to relay a bit of information from him that I recently found somewhat provocative. As we were trying to come up with "fundamental exemplars" of the particular topics we were discussing, he cited the presence of IKEA in China. Now I personally am a big fan of IKEA. I always associated them as being clean, European producers, with great designs, and even better prices. But apparently, because production is centered in China, IKEA has avoided dealing with the illegal logging that the Chinese do in Myanmar. Because logging is strictly controlled in China, the Chinese illegally and irresponsibly harvest the precious resources in Myanmar and use the wood to produce IKEA's many varieties of inexpensive furniture. After explaining all this, Professor Seliger said, "And as consumers, we are responsible for that." And I suppose he's right. Our vision of a sustainable future lies not just with company responsibility, but also consumer responsibility. But how am I supposed to get reasonably priced furniture and also keep tabs on all the producers I buy from? It is seemingly impossible to find companies without a rap sheet and still get a bargain.

Between my deep thoughts about all these paradoxes though, I have managed to find the time to have the German cultural experiences I so enjoy. I have been having my fair share of wursts, Turkish street food, and beer. And I've even gone so far as to have my first experience in a sauna! Now I am looking forward to the start of the European Football (Soccer) Championship, in German, the Europameisterschaft...which I think has a better ring to it. This will be three weeks of absolute craziness, starting July 7th. We Americans think we take sports seriously, but I doubt anything compares to national pride in Europe during a football championship. The Germans tend to be very hesitant about displaying nationalistic fervor, with the exception of their support of their football team. I am really looking forward to witnessing all the mayhem, and I think it would just be fantastic if Germany were to win. I will most certainly have to watch the games and celebrate (or mourn) with everyone else; there will be no other way of life for these three weeks. Click on the picture below (which leads to a video from just before the 2006 World Cup) to get an idea of what will be going on. The title of the song refers to the years Germany won the world cup.


I will be sure to let everyone know if I survive...

Kleine Schritte

Since I've already spent a considerable number of words gushing about definitions and questions and exciting possibilities for the future, it's probably about time for me to actually explain what it is I'm doing this summer and where I'm doing it. The DAAD (Deutscher Akademischer Austausch Dienst - German Academic Exchange Service) runs a program every summer called RISE (Research Internships in Science and Engineering). (I promise I will not use any more acronyms in this post.) Through this program I obtained my position in Berlin, where I work with a PhD student named Semih, and another student who works for him, Diana. He is part of a team of PhD students who work for a professor by the name of Dr. Gunther Seliger. We are all a part of the Institut fuer Werkzeugmaschinen und Fabrikbetrieb of the TU-Berlin, which translates to the Institute for Machine Tools and Factory Management. Anyone who knows me will recognize that this is not a title which would normally attract me. But given what I have learned here so far, I am sure I made the right decision. Here is the building I go to everyday:

The water in front is the Spree River, though the entrance is on the other side of the building, which isn't nearly as impressive. The classrooms and offices are located in the white space surrounding the large circular room covered in windows; this circular room is the machine hall. I am not allowed to take pictures there, but I wish I could! It is filled with huge machines and all sorts of interesting research projects. The ceiling feels tremendously high, and it is filled with skylights, giving it a Willy Wonka-esque feeling.

I help Semih in a few ways. First of all, I answer the phone when no one else is there. This was a big accomplishment for me. I was so mortified that I would say something wrong or not be able to understand the person I was talking to. Since I began this task, I have managed to do both. I realize though, that the mistakes are not noted (especially because it is obvious I'm not a native speaker), and when I don't understand, I just wait for the person to finish talking and say in German, "I'm sorry. My German is definitely not good enough for me to help you. I will have Semih call you when he gets back. May I take a name and number?" Usually they say they'll just call back. I also help when English is involved (reading relevant papers, editing, or doing my own research), though all other conversation, reading, and writing is done in German. Not only is this great for day-to-day learning, but I am also gaining unusual skills in terms of learning Microsoft Office in another language! Ultimately, I have done a lot of background reading and am now working intensively in two areas: one in developing a sort of graphical representation of the research areas the department would like to propose soon, and one in a project proposal for a class which the TU runs with the University of Michigan and the University of Seoul in Korea.

This year, Semih's proposal for the course, entitled Global Product Development, is to utilize the idea of "social business" as proposed by Muhammad Yunus. He suggests that the students should develop products or services which could be available to the impoverished through a social business. I think this is a fantastic way to learn about business and production processes, while developing ideas that could change the world. Semih has suggested I look into joining the Master's program here, so I could participate in this course, and I agree that the course alone is a temptation!

Once again, this leads me again to the idea of education for sustainability, a vital aspect of bringing about social and environmental reforms. Given all that I have learned in a little less than two weeks time, I am astonished that I haven't been further exposed to such ideas as an engineering student at an accredited university. Not only is there a moral obligation (in my humble opinion) to explore and share this new area of education, but there is also a competitive edge implicit in having such knowledge. Universities lacking in this area fail to prepare their students for the direction industry must and will take, and as a country, we are failing to prepare for the challenges we must and will eventually face.

Not to beat a dead horse, but I must once again cite Yunus for the clarity of his vision. He notes that the U.S. has about 4.5% of the world's population, yet we produce 25% of the total greenhouse gas emissions. I hope this statistic is as shocking to everyone as it was to me. And when I try to figure out exactly how this statistic makes me feel, the only thing I can come up with is...embarrassment. As one of the wealthiest and most powerful nations, one would expect us to be at the forefront of responsibility and development. Instead, we are behaving like spoiled children. Yunus further cites the development of traffic laws as a method for ensuring overall good, "We all realize that there are circumstances in which sacrificing some part of our personal freedom is necessary to enhance our own security, safety, and long-term happiness [...] I think it is time to consider limiting the freedom of the individual nation to consume or waste natural resources." The United Kingdom, another main producer of greenhouse gases, has drastically reduced emissions over the past ten years. Why are we so adamantly opposed to growing up?

To end on a lighter note, I'll introduce another concept I've learned about recently: Product Service Systems. Simply put, these are systems which provide a service and the product it requires, without actually selling the product to the customer. For example, a taxi company is a product service system. Customers use the service (transportation) and the product (taxi), without actually purchasing a car. Berlin offers a unique PSS known as Call a Bike. They provide high quality bicycles (very popular in this city), which are locked until activated by a customer via the phone. The rider finds a bike, activates it, rides, and then leaves it where ever he wishes. He pays per km through the internet. Customers can also use the phone service to locate the nearest bicycle. Echt cool!

Semih's suggestion to consider the TU for graduate education really got my head going about what I want to do, now that I realize there is so much to be done in the world. In fact, I think the idea of social business could also be very relevant in the poorer areas of the U.S. The point however, is to strive to make these differences in as large or small a way as we can, in every aspect of our daily lives.