in gravyland » sustainable

worldchanging.com

Gra — Tue, 28 Dec 2004 08:28:30 +0000

While reading blogs last night, I’m delighted I discovered worldchanging.com, blogging and co-ordinating a sustainable future for us all.

From: a worldchanging how-to:

WorldChanging.com works from a simple premise: that the tools, models and ideas for building a better future lie all around us. That plenty of people are working on tools for change, but the fields in which they work remain unconnected. That the motive, means and opportunity for profound positive change are already present. That another world is not just possible, it’s here. We only need to put the pieces together.

So great to see a group of people focussed on the future and the answers, rather than the past and attendant, comfortable recriminations.

Movie: The Corporation

Gra — Sat, 18 Sep 2004 04:36:41 +0000

Libby and I made one of those rare trips into Perth last night to see the documentary The Corporation at Cinema Paradiso.

Fantastic film. Deep and wide with ideas and concepts. Here are a few that struck me:

1. Corporations exist as ‘persons’ under the law. They tend to behave with all the symptoms of a psychotic person, even if most of the individuals in the Corporation are be reasonable, moral, caring people.

2. Some Corporations view illegal behaviour and resulting fines as a cost of doing business and therefore make a habit of breaking the law and paying the fines because it is cheaper than behaving legally.

3. Corporations have got really good at getting themselves out of their expensive impacts on others and the world. These ignored impacts are called externalities. The more stuff that corporations can make somebody else’s problem, the more profit they can make.

4. It is possible for a Corporation to be ‘put to death’ or have its charter removed by government. It rarely, if ever, happens.

There is lots more there. It is sobering and ironic and funny in places. Well worth a look. See William’s review for more.

We stopped in at the Greek Taverna for a bite afterwards. It was crap. Don’t bother.

High fuel prices = alernative energy innovation

Gra — Wed, 02 Jun 2004 02:10:02 +0000

Instability in word oil supplies and higher oil prices, while expensive for people and a threat to our oil-sensitive economy, does have a good impact.

As oil nudges up in price, alternative energy technologies and energy conservation start to look attractive to investors, stimulating innovation where it is needed to help treat our fossil fuel addiction. Which is good, because the oil supply is finite and going cold turkey on oil 50 years from now would be pretty ugly :-)

Wired News: Energy Gets Jolt of Venture Cash.