Journal

Across to Nesta last night to speak at the first in a series of events co-hosted with the Universal Commons Project. The focus: how we measure social and natural capital. The focus on air quality reflects the Universal Commons Measurement Challenge; a new challenge prize to develop innovative metrics that address social and environmental externalities. Then this evening Elaine and I followed up by having dinner with Alan Schwartz and Simon Longstaff, the brains behind the Universal Commons Project, plus two of their colleagues.

As I have raced around town and the planet in recent weeks, I have been keeping a weather eye open for the signs of Spring – which are uncomfortably abundant.

Hania sent a link to the most extraordinary free diving film this morning. Watching it reminded me of my sometime semi-lucid dreams – and the time I would listen to Roger Payne’s remarkable whale song albums back in the 1980s, with the girls probably both under 10, sitting in the dark. It was as if the whales were nosing all around us. Extraordinary.

Here is the background:

In the film by Guillaume Néry, “the world champion free diver swims across the world in one breath, or at least creative editing and camera tricks present the illusion of this great feat. One Breath Around the World follows Néry to the spectacular scenes he explores without a snorkel or air tank, like a variety of underwater caves or a pod of clustered whales. The film is shot by his wife Julie Gautier who was also free diving as she filmed Néry throughout France, Finland, Mexico, Japan, the Philippines, and other oceanic destinations.

Came across to Exeter yesterday by train for an MBA Speaker Series session last night, open to public, and capacity audience. Hosted by the Exeter University Business School. Spoke on a title picked by Exeter U, “Capitalism: Does It Have A Future In A Challenging World”. My answer: Yes, but …

Dinner later with Adam Lusby and Stuart Robinson of the Business School. Then this morning I had breakfast with Tim Lenton of the new Global Systems Institute – and then went on to judge MBA student pitches, before doing one myself to them for support on our Tomorrow’s Capitalism Inquiry.

Graffiti can blight, but done well street art can enhance. That was my thinking as I walked past this wall across from Amnesty’s HQ, after a breakfast meeting today convened by the London International Development Centre (LIDC).