Non Toxic Vision

Let's tip our hat to: Gene Sharp

 
The writings of Gene Sharp, an 83-year-old former Harvard researcher, include the widely distributed and translated how-to manual "From Dictatorship to Democracy" and have been used to promote nonviolent resistance in countries as different as Serbia and Egypt.

Known as the "Karl Von Clausewitz of nonviolent warfare," Sharp recently spoke with RFE/RL correspondent Courtney Rose Brooks about nonviolent struggle, the Egyptian revolution, and the wave of protests that continue to spread across the Middle East and North Africa.

Read the entire interview right here

Learn more about Gene Sharp (on wikipedia)

A great Read: Consumptionomics by Chandran Nair

Asia's Role in Reshaping Capitalism and Saving the Planet

 
Americans eat an estimated 9 million birds per year. If Asians started eating the same amount, by 2050 they would be eating a mind-boggling 120 billion birds annually. At the moment, the majority of Indians and Chinese follow vegetarian diets. Even so, growing Asian populations will put a massive strain on corn production, resulting, Nair suggests, in an increased reliance on GM. China’s car manufacturing sector has finally surpassed that of the U.S and if consumption patterns continue, by 2020 it’s estimated they will own over 330 million vehicles, putting a massive strain on oil reserves. Only a decade ago, privately owned vehicles in China were virtually unheard of.

Consumptionomics argues that this blinkered view needs to be replaced by a more rational approach to the challenges of the 21st century. If Asians aspire to consumption levels taken for granted in the West the results will be environmentally catastrophic across the globe. Needless to say it will also have significant geopolitical impacts as nations scramble for diminishing resources.

Asian governments and leaders find themselves at a crossroads. They may either continue on the current, unsustainable path of Western-style consumption-led capitalism, disregarding the evidence, or they may realize that they hold the unenviable responsibility of leading the world to a more sustainable path. The solutions will entail making sensitive political choices and adopting certain forms of government to effect such a fundamental change of direction. This will all fly in the face of current ideological beliefs rooted in free market capitalism. But if Asia is willing to take on this responsibility it will help to save the planet whilst reshaping capitalism.

Chandran Nair is the founder of the Global Institute For Tomorrow (GIFT), an independent social venture think tank dedicated to advancing an understanding of the impacts of globalisation through thought leadership and positive action to affect change. Chandran was chairman of Environmental Resources Management (ERM) in Asia Pacific until 2004, establishing the company as Asia's leading environmental consultancy. For more than a decade, Chandran has strongly advocated a more sustainable approach to development in Asia, advising governments and multi-national corporations to instill these principles into their policies and key decision-making processes. He has advised the Hong Kong government to devise a new approach that gives the public a bigger role in key policy making decisions - a first for Asia. In addition to his work with GIFT, Chandran continues to provide strategic management advice and coaching to business leaders. In this regard, he advises current and future leaders on how to meet the challenges of doing business in Asia, and of globalisation, investment geo-politics, leadership development, ethics, sustainability, and corporate social responsibility. 

Olympics going Green

With the United States looking to be a serious contender in capturing the 2022 Winter Olympics, there is also a lot of talk of the ways they are looking to construct an environmentally friendly space for the games to take place in.

The International Olympic Committee is on the same page here. With the partnership between them and DOW Chemical and CEO Andrew Liveris (the official sponsor of the Olympic Games through the decade) shows the IOC's commitment to green sustainability. IOC President, Jacques Rogge believe this partnership shows the Committees commitment to advancement, sustainability and international collaboration.

While the Olympics are an amazing display of athleticism and unification, it is also admittedly a carbon-rich event. Scientists have estimated that more than 2/3 of carbon emissions are produced from the event. This high statistic is a result of the fact that of the 1.5 million Olympic spectators, most travel via airplane.

USOC members and Andrew Liveris DOW CEO continue to prove that they are committed to finding ways to continue the environmentally conscious ideas. Here are a few examples shown in Beijing that the IOC is looking to further:

• Solar power - Solar power lit up lawns, streets, courtyards, and several venues, including some within the Olympic Village. A 130 KW photovoltaic lighting system illuminated the city's National Stadium,
the main venue for the football competition.

• Water Conservation - Waste water was collected from the Qinghe sewage treatment plant and filtered back to be used by the village and other grounds various heating and cooling requirements. This water
conservation measure saved 60% in electricity. Rainwater was also collected from the site grounds. In summary, over 75,000 gallons of water was collected via porous bricks, road pipes and wells installed on
roofs.

• Natural Light - Remember the 'Water Cube' where the aquatic events were held? The walls of the National Aquatics Centre provided natural light, 'beam-pipes' moved sunlight through corridors, toilets, and car parks at many of the venues, including the Olympic Green.

• Recycling - The 2008 Olympic hosts set a goal of 50% recycling of waste paper, metals, and plastics.
While the Olympics in 2008 had great new ways to use filtration and insulation for the events, the IOC as well as the USOC is hoping to progress that vision to include many other products that will help reduce waste and promote conservation. You can expect these products to appear all over the market in the next year.

Written by Nerissa Barry

Food prices rising to record highs

 

This is an interesting video found on YouTube. To listen to the video in English simply click in the upper right hand corner - English VO button.

5 Basic Sustainable Practices for a Business by Louise Baker

I recently received a request for a guest posting by Louise Baker. Louise is a freelance blogger and journalist who writes for Zen College Life, the directory of higher education, distance learning, and online degrees. She most recently wrote about where to get the best online psychology degree.

In modern days we recognize the damage that is done to the environment with our everyday routine. Many people are taking the necessary steps to reduce this damage by increasing sustainability in our daily lives. In today's market, many businesses are recognizing the need to also scale back the carbon footprint and bring more sustainability to their practices. Of course there are many things a business can do to make themselves a little more environmentally friendly and many of them are simple and cost near nothing.

1. Reducing Paper Usage.

A very easy sustainable practice for any business is to reduce the amount of paper being used. Paper, as most know, come from trees and uses a lot of energy to both produce and transport the paper to the office. To reduce the amount of paper being used a business should encourage double-sided printing and copying, using paperless methods where possible and using paper with a high recycled content.

2. Recycling

Another very easy sustainable practice for any business is to promote recycling amongst their employees. Many businesses have something they can recycle. Whether it be the paper waste, cardboard, or simply the cans, bottles and plastic containers from employee lunch breaks. Recycling reduces the amount of garbage that fills the landfills and will allow valuable resources to be reused, reducing the mark on the planet.

3. Reduce Energy

Reducing energy is the third basic sustainable practice a business can do. Reducing energy can be as simple as insuring that everything that can be turned off is turned off before the last person leaves the building and replacing defective appliances with more energy-efficient options. However, if a business would like to receive maximum energy savings, replacing all appliances and goods which require the least amount of energy to run. Reducing energy consumption is important because most energy runs off of non-renewable sources, often which harm the planet through greenhouse gasses. Not to mention, it saves a bit of money to use less.

4. If possible, use Renewable Energy

Renewable energy is on the rise in today's marketplace. Common sources today are wind and solar. A solar panel on the roof of a business, even if it is only able to power the business' lights, is a sure sustainable practice for a business. Renewable energy, unlike non-renewable energy, does not produce greenhouse gases and occurs naturally in the environment so there is no middle man making renewable energy a perfect practice for any business wanting to leave a smaller mark on the environment

5. Promote Carpooling

A business promoting carpooling with perks such as a parking spot closer to the door will not only save on the greenhouse gases cars produce, but will help employees to overall save money on the gas required to go back and forth to work. While this might not directly affect the company's sustainability, it promotes sustainability among those who work at the company which has a positive effect on the planet.