In our
tutorial session on Monday, we were split into two groups of four, given one
random object each, and told to reflect on how the inanimate object linked to Geography.
It seemed an interesting task to undertake although our group’s object was a
plastic toy Shire horse that, at first, seemed irrelevant. However, when
thinking in-depth it was clear that there were many links to Geography; past,
present and future.
As a
link to the past some members came up with the concept that the Shire horse was
used as a transportation system before the invention of cars as cart horses,
carrying people and goods around the country.
As a
link to the present it was clear that offshoring had taken place as the toy was
made by a German company in China, giving rise to the political and social
issues surrounding worker exploitation and hence leading to thoughts about the
collapse of Rana Plaza, a fashion factory in the Savar district of Dhaka which
killed approximately 1,129 people and injured 2,515.
As a
link to the future I concocted the idea that as a toy constructed from plastic
it was therefore based from oil, a finite resource and one which is running out
due to civilisation’s rapid consumption of energy and fuel. This then links to
climate change and how in future the Earth’s global temperatures will rise
unless measures are taken to act against global warming. I was pleased that I had
thought of this link, although it took me time to begin thinking of ideas. I was
not overly confident with my ideas either, tending to hold back rather than
speak my mind. This was my weakness in the task but my strengths lie in my
knowledge of Geography and when I create an idea I can expand it to link into
many different fields of Geography because in Geography everything has links to
one another, be it direct or indirect.
I know
that it is necessary for me to improve my confidence since it is one of my
weaknesses, but it will take time and practice. In a few weeks I will have to undertake
a group presentation for the same module but I am with two people who are very
confident, so in order to be heard I must find the confidence deep inside to
contribute to this presentation because this is my degree and in this type of
environment I can only trust myself because we’re all fighting for the same
thing, otherwise it will be no-one’s fault but my own. Therefore, in order to
succeed I must do research and make notes on the articles we have to read so
that I have ideas and reflections to contribute to the presentation while
trying to balance all my other studies.
~ Jones' Journal
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