Pointing fingers is always easier than taking an introspective glance on how one contributes to a given problem, but it is something we all need to do more of, especially when it comes to sustainability. Throwing the spotlight on large offenses of environmental degradation is part of the discussion and pressing for their solutions is equally valuable, but there should be more conversations happening on a smaller scale that assess what we consider to be the mundane aspects of our daily lives. Despite growing verbal support for sustainability in polling numbers and cocktail conversations, Americans have countless ways to alter their own actions knowing full well that we control the marketplace for an economy that hangs on consumer spending. Continue Reading…
Archives For June 2010
There is a crucial pivot point when something changes from a passing fad to a cultural trend. Be it a product, a practice or a belief, its time in a small select group ends and matures into the minds of enough people to elevate it to “the mainstream.” For Americans, sustainability has yet to make this leap, remaining in the forefront of a small group of hardcore proponents that champion its cause. In order for it to gain hold on the national level, sustainability must achieve a key percentage jump of support known as “The Chasm.” Instead of trying to appeal to the entirety of the nation, sustainability advocates may be better off trying to gather the most likely candidates to achieve the force needed for broader endeavors. Continue Reading…
Proponents of an economic migration towards sustainability often tote “Green Jobs” as one of the reasons for pressing and supporting a societal shift. The pitch is often given in hopes of securing funding and government legislation that would steer the U.S. towards new standards of efficiency or implementing renewable energy. We can see a common tactic: throw out large, nondescript numbers as vague promises for new employment opportunities, but few actually walk through an explanation of where these new jobs will actually occur. Companies would do better to take the extra step and show people that a new workforce would not just be found in constructing wind turbines and solar panels, but that these changes permeate through the veins of the economy that connect our industries to offer jobs at numerous venues.