Reflections of a Kiwi ET

Introduction What is an artificial construct? “Artificial Constructs, within a sustainability discourse, denotes human-designed systems or entities - ranging from engineered materials to complex socio-technical arrangements - that intentionally alter natural processes or replace natural functions. These creations are evaluated based on their lifecycle impacts, resource dependencies, and contributions to ecological and social well-being, representing a departure from purely natural systems. Understanding their implications is crucial for assessing long-term viability” (Sustainability Directory, 2024). I was simply going to define it as ‘something created by humans, that is not natural.’ So what are some artificial constructs? Money, perfect markets, race, qualification, gross domestic product, profit, ... . You might be getting the idea that there are many things that are artificial constructs that we treat as natural phenomenon so why do we allow these phenomenon to rule our lives. I...

In 2010 when the UK was going through austerity under a Conservative government, I worked with a group that was loosely associated with the UK Labour Party to look at alternative principles to the Neo-liberal principles that were being used by the government. Although the principles that we developed never gained any traction at the time, I have not thrown away what we developed. Instead, I have revised as my own thinking has changed and the political environment has changed. Now, I write stories to try and communicate my ideas. What follows is a section from one of the stories that I am writing.