During a conversation at the Fall 2009 SVN conference over tea, Diana Lee of the Biomimicry Institute added this wisdom to our conversation; “There is no energy crisis in nature.” Waste exists in our minds and in our culture but in the natural world which we are a part of, the outputs of one process become the inputs of another.
The opening night plenary of the SVN Spring Member Gathering delved into this topic with Gunter Pauli, the co-founder of SVN Europe, Ecover, and the Zero Emissions Research & Initiatives (ZERI) took the stage.
Gunter wants you to believe that you can change the rules of the game and throughout the presentation, example after example showed just how much could be done toward preservation and conservation while doing just that. Read the rest of this entry »
What’s behind DEM Collective? What’s the scoop?
This women-owned clothing store in Gothenburg, Sweden is definitely more than meets the eye. While their hot style of simple t-shirts and beautiful dark blue jeans may be appealing, it is the business practices which caught my attention and ultimately earned this business of being worthy of Exposé! Read the rest of this entry »
We all see initiatives and products advertised as being green or sustainable. Whether this is done as a component of corporate strategy or arises from a true belief of inherent ‘goodness’ most of the time on the scale of true worldwide sustainability, they are not without some impact.
My answer is that there is no black and white definition.
Within communities, corporations, small businesses, governments, and families there are different degrees of progress. When a corporation is announcing a greening strategy or movement, good for them. They have made progress. But by no means are they now officially GREEN with nothing left to do.
Think of this situation like being in a dim room. In a room that the occupants are used to they can see and because that is what they know, they accept it as being good, normal or right. There is no questioning whether or not the light can get brighter. They think it’s as bright as it can be perhaps, or they might not even question that more is possible.
If additional lights were added to the room it would be obvious to the occupants that at first the room was dark and now there is more light. Who is to say that it can’t get brighter still? Why settle for what we have if we can have and create a better world and society for ourselves?
It’s obvious when you see a green product. It’s obvious when you see a sustainable community. I think the question that we need to ask is can it get brighter? Can it get greener? And I believe it can.
This year on my wish list for Christmas is for my loved ones to spend less money on me, since buying new gifts can be unnecessarily financially draining.
In order to receive this gift of less waste, I let my family know that used items in good condition would be happily accepted. I find it fascinating what can be found for free if you just ask. On the internet, Freecycle enables people to connect about items they have and need. Taking the initiative to be open with those you know about what your needs are could potentially turn up that perfect gift lightly or entirely unused and in storage.
I think it is great when my family can trade, barter, or find someone giving away what they otherwise would have to buy. This wish of mine also spurred me to look through my own belongings for lightly used items that I no longer or never have used.
Me, a long time ago
Other thoughts on a more sustainable and earth-friendly holiday.
Gift Wrap:
Wrapping gifts in reusable bags which the recipient can either keep, give back or pass along to another person in need
Opting to not wrap gifts at all (can be challenging if you don’t know the person well)
Wrapping in old newspaper or paper bags and then coloring or painting on any additional decoration or adding a simple ribbon.
So let me get this straight: the argument a little while ago was ‘how could humans possibly think we could cause damage to the earth enough to change the climate. We couldn’t possibly have an impact on the earth’
(This from my interpretation of the climate change versus global warming argument.)
Now, it is ‘We have done so much damage that it is not worth it to make changes in our lifestyle’ I hear this as ‘We’re going to die off as a species eventually so why bother changing?’
It reminds me of the argument that people who chain smoke or drink heavily use to justify habits and lifestyles that have been proven to be unhealthy. In this case instead of a label saying ‘Smoking Kills’ maybe we should think that ‘Reckless use of non-renewable energy without a renewable alternative will tank the planet.’ or ‘Irresponsible use of resources = Earth death’ I’m sure there is a a marketing firm out there that could come up with a doozy… Although it is our positive messages that make the greatest impact on change, not the negative…
Back to my main point though which is this-> While we may make decisions individually, because we are a part of nature – which functions as a system – our actions have a global impact. From the policies of global manufacturers that we purchase from to our own household habits, our choices matter.
Paul Erlich said: “The fluttering of a butterfly’s wings can effect climate changes…” That is not to say that we should knock off all the butterflies for fear of a tornado. I think this science based thought supports that small actions can affect change.
Does it really hurt us to take a few seconds to think about what we need to do so that we can combine multiple errands into one trip? Does it drastically decrease our sense of happiness to be less wasteful?
I am not a proponent of Global Warming or Climate Change because to many people that topic is still up for debate. I choose, instead to bring up irresponsible global actions surrounding resources, which are destroying our environment. The very same Earth that we rely upon to provide us with our basic needs of food, water, and shelter. We can not listen to the political and media babble which distracts from this fundamental issue and encourages us to be recklessly inactive. Because of this, whether for reasons tied to climate change or not, we need to be responsible with our use of our planet.
Big Bucks advertising and marketing have got it down. They know how to begin marketing to someone at a very early age. They know that the wording of a slogan matters. They know that how you phrase an ad changes people perception. They know the colors and symbols used evoke emotion and connection. We should be using the same effective principles when we’re trying to help people to understand the new ideas and creativity we need to see in our world.
Too much of the green movement and those driving sustainability have been operating by making documentaries, writing books and doing talks. If that were the best way to get a product or concept to be purchased and believed in, well you’d have tons of pro-Wal-Mart documentaries. The bookshelves would be lined with books about Target being the solution. Scientific conference sessions would be dedicated to Nikes conforming perfectly to the feet of most humans. But you don’t see that. My intuition tells me that one of the reasons those tactics are not primary to corporations is because they don’t create a big demand in a short period of time.
We need to learn from this. We, as in those of us who are interested in the sustainability of the planet. We need to take a lesson from the corporations who have been so effective in getting their goods and products into our minds. We need to market positivity and transformation in a way to generate ‘fanatic evangelists’ for these life sustaining practices. Gloom and doom, end of the world, ‘you need to change’, and non-interactive mediums will not create vibrantly alive communities. Interactive, hands-on, culturally aware, co-created approaches will.
‘How?’ You ask. Well that’s something for me to continue writing about, and for you to hire me to implement. Check back in as these ideas unfold through my writing and feel free to share your thoughts via commenting.
Friends of Slow Money recently challenged themselves to raise $25,000 in increments of $5. This means that a mere 5000 people needed to make a donation.
While it would be great if 1 person donated $5000, and I doubt they would turn it down, I think there is another point to the exercise. The challenge gave the group an opportunity to show a few things.
1) That there are at least 5000 people invested in the idea of Slow Money.
2) Just a little bit of money when combined with others in the community can accomplish great things.
3) With a 7 day time limit, this has the urgency and potential to build momentum. Something which can be a struggle.
While they did not achieve their goal in terms of numbers I think that the push for members and outreach was positive because for very little effort and resources on the part of the organization they got the word out to more people about Slow Money.
For those who are not familiar with the concepts championed by the Slow Money Alliance, the most complete description can be found in Woody Tasch’s book Inquiries into the Nature of Slow Money. (Follow this link to find a locally owned bookseller in your community if you are interested in picking up the book.)
For those who are interested in the short version I think this sentence from the principles sums it up the best
“In order to enhance food safety and food security; promote cultural and ecological health and diversity; and, accelerate the transition from an economy based on extraction and consumption to an economy based on preservation and restoration…” For more, you should certainly check out the Slow Money Alliance website.
While I like the idea of Slow Money, have donated and become a member, the one thing I wish were more clear on the website and in the presentation of the concepts is how to do this and what it really means. Is my membership money going to eventually go to giving out loans or just general support of the organization? I get most of it, and like what I see so far, but the nerd in me want to see more information on the website in a digestible form before I buy the book or run around wall street with a cardboard sign.
Randy Paynter of Care 2 brings up a good point when he says that businesses no longer controls their brand or marketing. This is because of the increasing interactions and communications in the digital world which are not controllable by an organization. He points out that today’s purchasing habits allow consumers to access reviews and alternative products with just a few clicks. In the past glossy advertising guided the public perception of a product, but today consumers are no longer limited to canned marketing campaigns medium to inform their opinions.
Randy maintains that this massive shift in power from the seller to the buyer comes in part from the plethora of choices, thereby creating a commodity of any product. In order to achieve brand success he touts the importance of differentiating a product as well as influencing the conversations surrounding it. He suggests that we need to create and engage ‘fanatical evangelists’ to build and communicate brands online. Listen to the full session here
Steve Newcomb has high aspirations. His company, “Virgance, is a startup incubator that finds great ideas and turns them into companies that change the world. Steve wondered if he could “break the rules and build companies that do good.” His commitment to 100% transparency puts him in front of the public so that they can ask any question about how business is conducted.
Steve has approached the idea of sustainability as he would any market sector and he sees the market opportunity as enormous. The change needed will require not a single Apollo-sized project by hundreds. Seeking to change the very nature of capitalism, Virgance companies adhere to five tenets:
“Cause as much direct and measurable change as possible.”
“Always use the carrot and never use the stick.”
“Use technology and the powers of social networks to get the job done.”
“Have business models that allow these businesses to be self-sustaining.”
“Try to involve and empower people to make the change.”
But the plenary wouldn’t have been complete without Malika Chopra, who began the session by guiding the SVN community in a beautiful mediation of gratitude, showing her heritage as the daughter of internationally renowned, Deepak Chopra. While her childhood exposure to the self-help arena and her presence around people who were on a journey of self-exploration, Malika’s early interests steered her to work for MTV initially. But it was while in Bombay that she had a change of heart after seeing a group of barefoot children huddled around a TV watching MTV. “Oh my God, what am I doing?” was all she could think and she decided to quit MTV the next day.
Today, Malika spends her time building a community on Intent, a sanctuary on the web for users to share their intentions and dreams with each other. Malika, a self-proclaimed “social media maven,” has a unique perspective on things because she is coming at it from the perspective of a mother and a woman.
Both Malika and Steve remind us that powerful movements and changes have been created through the use of blogs, Facebook and Twitter. Activities like ‘flash mobs,’ ‘tweet storms,’ and ‘carrot mobs’ can or have been used to create positive social change. The energy generated by this group’s discussion seemed to electrify the air, and that crackling interest will likely lead many of the participants to delve further into their own use of social media in order to create change.
Dealing with the Tough Stuff, the latest in the SVN book series by Margot Fraser and Lisa Lorimer, was the topic of Friday afternoon’s plenary where the authors talked about their own struggles in their businesses and helped lead “feedback circles” for participants to get support with their own challenges.
Lisa Lorimer, former President and owner of Vermont Bread Company in Brattleboro, Vt., spoke with passion about what it’s like to be in challenging situations as a business owner. Her great empathy comes from her own vast experience. She knows what it’s like to have to decide what to do when payroll is due and there is no money in the account. Lisa stressed that business owners need to have a place where they are able to talk about the realities of the business, something which was practiced later in the session in an exercise.
Although Birkenstocks are now a ubiquitous sight on college campuses all over the country, Margot Fraser, founder of Birkenstock USA, did not find the U.S. to initially be a receptive market for the cork-souled sandals. Her first distribution deal with the manufacturer was based on a “handshake” and her narrow focus on selling only one product made others call her crazy, but Margot admits she would have liked some seasoned advice when she was first starting out. Both Margot and Lisa agreed that creating a competent and skilled advisory board can be a lifesaver for a struggling entrepreneur.
The session wrapped up with a half an hour exercise with the participants shared their own challenges and offered advice to each other in small groups. This exercise not only got me much needed assistance, but it also demonstrated just how helpful it is to have a sounding board for not only idea but also troubles. I look forward to reading the book, which was included in each participant’s bag, and gaining even more insight of these two women.
Evan Shapiro, president of IFC tv and the Sundance Channel, kicked off the Fall 2009 Social Ventures Network Conference with an entertaining, insightful and frequently funny talk on the challenges and necessity of building a diverse business.
Evan likened the strengths of a diverse culture and workforce to the importance of planting a diversity of crops in agriculture. By encouraging diversity within our ranks and rows we will be able to reap a far richer crop. Throughout his talk, Evan wove statistics and anecdotes together to illustrate the concept of how diversity is necessary in order to achieve success.
Evan stressed that in order to find that “qualified, diverse candidate” we need to start looking long before we post a job opening. Business must provide opportunities to access so that both the employer and potential employee gain exposure. These opportunities can simply be inviting students in to see how an office environment operates or setting up an internship program. Success in piercing the glass ceiling hinges upon such interactions.
Evan is working with educational institutions in order to reach a more diverse population before that population is out of the running. Building that “pipeline” early is critical for both the future job seeker and the business. Returning to his farming analogy, Evan said “when you are hungry you can’t go plant a seed.” The key is to make the connection before a job is needed.
Evan points out that although “we are a more diverse culture every single day” we are still likely to look within our own social circles to fill positions. We’ve got to break these walls down when we endeavor to create and encourage diversity within the sustainability movement.
**Check out Brick City on Sundance, the five part documentary trailer Evan mentioned
***One resource suggested by a participant regarding diversity and providing the necessary education to break through the glass ceiling was the The Providence Effect
Friends of Slow Money
