Nix Rust

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🌍 Do our meetings matter? On quantifying the impact of conferences on society 🌍

In an era where calendars are dominated by digital workshops, webinars and globe-trotting for conferences and summits, I've been pondering the following question....

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NB I'm not trying to be spicy here - I really want to understand some tangible impacts that these sorts of meetings have on the world.

#Conferences #SocietalImpact #Productivity #MeasurableResults #AcademicResearch #FutureOfWork

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For instance, if you've recently been to #ClimateWeekNYC, the #EATLancet symposium, a #UN event or another big conference, can you share how your attendance at that meeting has helped to create a real-world change to people and/or the planet?

a man is sitting on a swing in a park waiting to end this meeting . ALT: a man is sitting on a swing in a park waiting to end this meeting .

👉 And for people who have attended a big meeting recently - what are your insights? Can you share an example from your own experience where a specific conference or meeting demonstrably led to a positive, tangible change in the world?

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I’m particularly interested in hearing from academics who have studied the societal impact of large-scale professional gatherings. What data exists to prove that these forums translate into policy changes, scientific breakthroughs, or widespread behavioral shifts?

#AcademicSky 📖

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And what about the carbon emissions if people are travelling from across the globe?

Or the justice implications of those who can't afford to travel?

How do we step out of the echo chambers of existing ideas?

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But how often can we trace a direct line from Meeting X ➡️ Decision Y ➡️ Tangible Societal Change Z? 🤔

While the value of networking, profile-raising, and career development are undeniable, are these high-energy, often high-cost events yielding actual progress on global challenges?

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What quantitative impact are these gatherings truly having on furthering society?

It feels like we're busier than ever, dedicating countless hours to internal meetings, external workshops, roundtables, and international panels.

a man in a suit and tie is standing in front of a window with the words when the meeting could 've been an email ALT: a man in a suit and tie is standing in front of a window with the words when the meeting could 've been an email

🌍 Do our meetings matter? On quantifying the impact of conferences on society 🌍

In an era where calendars are dominated by digital workshops, webinars and globe-trotting for conferences and summits, I've been pondering the following question....

Great thread by @nixrust.bsky.social

nuff said -->>

Oh hai friendly starlings 😍

#BirdSky 🐦 #BirdsOfBlueSky
🦅🦜🪶🦢🦉

Oh hai friendly starlings 😍

#BirdSky 🐦 #BirdsOfBlueSky
🦅🦜🪶🦢🦉

If the government wants economic growth it must bring essential industries into public ownership Successive governments clobber households and small businesses by hiking interest rates to manage inflation, but don’t inconvenience corporations.

Since privatisation England's water companies paid £88.4bn in dividends.

90% of water companies owned by foreign investors/govts.

90% of dividend not recirculated in the UK economy. No UK tax paid on dividends.

Public ownership would make a difference.

Great thread summarizing latest #EatLancet report presentation.

Here is a link to recording of the 3.5 h presentation.

www.youtube.com/live/4ofJYRz...

The EAT–Lancet Commission on healthy, sustainable, and just food systems The global context has shifted dramatically since publication of the first EAT–Lancet Commission in 2019, with increased geopolitical instability, soaring food prices, and the COVID-19 pandemic exacer...

New #EatLancet report is out! What does it state? I've watched the livestream so you don't have to. Here's a summary of the findings
🍊🥓🍒

www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...

🧵

No prob! I wonder how the MAHA and protein-fanatic crowds will react to this?!

Thanks Nix! Excellent overview of the #EatLancet launch

Final thought: wonder how the #MAHA crowd are going to react to this, given there seemed to be a big push to consume more animal products (e.g. beef tallow) to make America "healthy" again. Science says otherwise.

"... a balanced dietary pattern that is predominantly plant-based, with moderate inclusion of animal-sourced foods and minimal consumption of added sugars, saturated fats, and salt."

Veggies are (still) go!

Very important global food paper just out by Rockström et al 👇; thanx to @nixrust.bsky.social for summarizing the main findings 🙏🏽. Focus on fruit and veggies.

And, as if by magic, we at Ostara have been investigating exactly these solutions. If you want to read more about these, check out this report

www.ostaracollective.org/wp-content/u...

3. Change the narrative.

Stop misinformation. Stop disinformation. Spread awareness about *TRUTHFUL* healthy eating information.

2. Tackling corporate power.

Tough one. Not going to be politically sexy. Will require brave decisions and collective effort.

What changes are needed?

1. Subsidies.

For instance, $7 TRILLION/year goes into funding climate, biodiversity and land destruction, far surpassing the funding going to tackle these issues.

THIS. IS. ABSURD.

3. Insufficient demand for change.

Consumers are being hoodwinked by corporate actors. Think about this stupid protein craze. Most of the Global North eats TOO MUCH protein and there are health risks to doing so.

2. Corporate power - this is a BIG one.

There is SO MUCH money and power going into sustaining the status quo - keeping us unhealthy, continuing to destroy the planet.

We MUST tackle this head on.

Main barriers:

1. Governments scared to change, in part because a healthy, sustainable diet is more expensive - this is something that needs tackling if we are to create a just food system

And here's the numbers for non-ruminant meat and fish - basically we need less non-ruminant meat but more fish

This is what it looks like in terms of number of livestock animals now compared with 2050 from BAU and the EAT Lancet Planetary Health diet