This blog has now been in operation for almost three years, and I decided it was time that I update the ‘About’ section. When I first started this site I really had no idea how to operate a blog, nor did I realise the dedication that it required to last as long as it has. Looking back at some of my early posts and the original ‘About’ section (which I am keeping for posterity) I find myself cringing a little. I realise I still have quite alot still to learn, and I am enjoying the friendly competition I have with other blogs. I hope to continue improving this site, in both form and content, for some time to come.
Who am I?
My name is Jonathan Starling, and I was born and grew up in the British Overseas Territory of Bermuda thirty years ago. My family were Scottish expatriates who have since returned to Scotland. Academically, I went to Saltus Grammar School, and from there I studied at Trent University in Ontario, Canada. From Trent University I hold a B.Sc (Honours) in Anthropology and Biology. I have recently completed a M.Sc (Distinction) in Ecological Economics from the University of Edinburgh in Scotland.
Before going back to school for this Masters degree I worked at the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum & Zoo, part of the Ministry of Environment’s Department of Conservation. I was an Aquarist there, and my work involved looking after various exhibits in the main hall, the seals and wildlife rehabilitation, mainly involving seabirds, turtles and even the occassional beached whale!
What is ‘Ecological Economics’?
When I left for Edinburgh in August 2008 alot of people had no idea what Ecological Economics was. In all honesty, defining what exactly Ecological Economics is can be very difficult. This is because of the trans-disciplinary nature of the field, merging in particular the fields of economics, ecology and ethics. I generally describe Ecological Economics as the economics of sustainable development. There is a Wikipedia entry which has a pretty thorough introduction to the field, and the website for the International Society for Ecological Economics is also useful, should readers be interested in learning more. I will be more than happy to answer any questions that readers may have about the field.
What is this blog all about?
Primarily this blog is a place for me to reflect and clarify my thoughts on various issues, both through the act of writing them down, but also through interaction with readers. I post on a wide variety of issues, although the focus of the blog is undeniably politics. The bulk of the political writings here concern Bermuda, although I also write on British and International politics and news.
In Bermuda I am supportive of the PLP, however this blog is an independent site, and should be viewed as pro-PLP but not necessarily PLP. I have many issues with the PLP as it is, just as I have issues with the ‘New’ Labour of the UK Labour Party. In general I attempt to criticise the PLP from the left, from a democratic socialist perspective.
I consider myself a Marxist; in particular I consider myself a libertarian socialist, and draw insight from the works of Rosa Luxembourg, Anton Pannekoek, Maurice Brinton, and Murray Bookchin (council communism and social ecology). I also draw inspiration from the works of Erich Fromm, CLR James and Paulo Friere.
Why the name ‘Catch-A-Fire‘ with the tagline ‘For Worker’s Power‘?
The name comes from a homage to the album of the same name by Bob Marley & the Wailers, which attempted to fuse radical social criticism with the popular artform of culture reggae. I also try to blend such criticism with an easy to digest form – even if my writing leaves something to be desired! The tagline is also a homage, this time for the UK libertarian socialist group associated with Maurice Brinton, ‘Solidarity – for worker’s power‘.
Anything else?
In addition to this blog I am an co-administrator over at Bermuda JEWEL, which itself is a descendant of the now defunct Progressive Minds site. I also post on the internet forum ‘Bermuda Is Another World’ where I post under the name ‘Crimson Dynamo‘. I adopted that name as a result of the Iron Man film; Crimson Dynamo is a character from the original Iron Man comics, kind of a communist rival to the capitalist Iron Man. I adopted that name more by accident than anything else, and it just stuck from there.
If anyone has any additional questions, I invite you to ask them below, and I will do my best to answer them here.
