Sonya's Why
by Sonya Bissmore
I am a 44 year old Pakēha mother of two boys (9 & 12). I have always cared passionately about the environment. I first heard the words ‘global warming’ in 1995, in my first of six years studying environmental science at University. I have grown increasingly alarmed at the failure of every government since then to take meaningful steps to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions. I have worked in conservation, biosecurity and forestry at a number of government departments. I believe that public servants understand the immense challenges that we face both mitigating and adapting to climate change. But the public voice is not yet strong enough, the opposition to meaningful climate action too prominent and the politicians not yet feeling the full urgency of the crisis we face.
Having bought an electric car and bike, removed gas from our home in favour of electricity, insulated, removed meat from our diet and drastically reduced our flying, I felt that I still hadn’t made enough of a difference. I want my kids to know that I did everything I could to ensure a safe climate future for them.
I met Alicia at the School Strike for Climate and felt relieved to join other parents who felt as passionately, as vulnerable and frankly as pissed off with our countries’ climate actions as me. Every week I meet with the like minded people who are part of Parents for Climate Aotearoa, all trying our best to raise climate concerns within our communities, sharing our successes, learning from our failures and supporting one another as we push for greater awareness and action on an issue that affects us and our children’s future so deeply.
I find making outdoor adventures more approachable easier to approach when there is a familiar situation to start from. A realistic plan leaves room for changes in conditions and in how people feel along the way. It is the kind of question I would keep in mind when thinking about Aveling Adventure and outdoor activity planning. The smaller details are what I would want to return to, especially when an explanation feels too broad. What would you check before deciding how much to fit into an outdoor day?
For me, thinking about style through everyday choices becomes more engaging when there is room for questions as well as explanations. A useful outfit needs to work with the day someone is actually planning. The name Beachbodyshop gives this theme a memorable reference point, while personal style ideas keeps the subject in focus. I would rather explore one useful example carefully than pretend that the whole subject is already clear. How would you balance comfort, personal taste and the occasion when choosing what to wear?
The theme of thinking about style through everyday choices makes me curious about what people notice in their own everyday experiences. A useful outfit needs to work with the day someone is actually planning. That practical perspective helps me frame personal style ideas as a theme for Be A Fashionista. A simple comparison would help me picture the differences without rushing towards a fixed answer. How would you balance comfort, personal taste and the occasion when choosing what to wear?
What interests me about noticing the choices behind live performance is how a broad idea becomes part of an ordinary day. A pause or a change in lighting can alter the way an audience understands a moment. That thought gives me a starting point for exploring live performance appreciation in connection with Asylum Arts. I would be interested in an example that shows how the idea works in an ordinary situation. What would you pay attention to when comparing two performances of the same scene?
For me, developing a closer ear for music becomes more engaging when there is room for questions as well as explanations. Listening for one phrase can make a familiar piece sound different. With Artistsrecordingcompany in mind, music listening and practice feels like a topic worth exploring one question at a time. I am still thinking through the practical side, because the context can change what seems useful. Which detail would you focus on before listening to the whole piece again?