Extinction Rebellion

Barberpole Illusion

The Barberpole Illusion is a visual phenomenon where a diagonally moving pattern within a vertically-oriented cylindrical or rectangular shape appears to be moving vertically rather than in its actual direction. This illusion demonstrates the complexity of human visual perception and is a subject of interest in the fields of psychology, neuroscience, and optical illusions. The effect is named after the traditional barberpole, a pole with a helical stripe that appears to be moving upwards when it is actually rotating around the pole's axis.

Mechanism

The Barberpole Illusion occurs due to the way the human visual system interprets motion. The visual system has specialized neurons for detecting motion in different directions. However, when motion occurs within a confined frame, such as the rectangular or cylindrical shapes in the barberpole illusion, the actual direction of motion can be ambiguous. The brain resolves this ambiguity by favoring vertical or horizontal motion, which is more commonly encountered in the natural environment. This preference leads to the perception of vertical motion in the case of the barberpole illusion, even though the true motion is diagonal.

Research and Applications

Research into the Barberpole Illusion helps scientists understand how the brain processes visual information, particularly motion. It has implications for understanding visual processing disorders and developing treatments for them. Additionally, the illusion is of interest in the design of visual displays and in the field of artificial intelligence, where understanding human perception can inform the development of more effective visual recognition algorithms.

See Also

• Optical illusions
• Visual perception
• Motion perception

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Extinction Rebellion

Extinction Rebellion (XR) is a global environmental movement aiming to compel government action on the climate crisis through non-violent direct action and civil disobedience. Founded in the United Kingdom in 2018, Extinction Rebellion has since become an international movement, with groups in numerous countries around the world. The movement is characterized by its distinctive use of dramatic, high-impact protests to draw attention to the urgency of climate change and the need for immediate action to mitigate its effects.

Principles and Values

Extinction Rebellion operates on a set of core principles and values that emphasize non-violence, inclusivity, and the mobilization of mass participation to achieve systemic change. The movement seeks to transcend political, cultural, and national boundaries to unite people in addressing the global climate emergency.

Tactics and Actions

Extinction Rebellion's tactics include road blockades, public demonstrations, acts of civil disobedience, and the creation of temporary camps in public spaces to disrupt the normal flow of life and compel attention to their cause. These actions aim to highlight the inadequacy of current governmental responses to the climate crisis and to push for more radical, immediate action to reduce carbon emissions and protect natural ecosystems.

Impact and Controversy

Extinction Rebellion has succeeded in raising public awareness of climate change and has influenced public discourse on environmental policy. However, the movement has also faced criticism for its disruptive tactics, which some argue alienate the public and detract from its message. Despite this, Extinction Rebellion maintains that urgent and dramatic action is necessary to address the climate emergency effectively.

See Also

• Climate change activism
• Non-violent protest
• Environmental movement

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