Design: This week, we've come across some really good perspectives on design over on Fast Company. Check out the piece featuring Walter Hood on urban invigoration, and Gadi Amit on "What's wrong with green design". Our favourite quote from Amit's interview: "My theory... is that beauty is a very positive, visceral force that we should harness for sustainability." He goes on to outline that designing beautiful objects that people want to hang on to would actually decrease disposability. Good connection made. Also, check out the series about socially and environmentally conscious designers from around the world. Very inspiring!
Biodiversity: Many times the value of biodiversity is overlooked by business, or worse, viewed as something with no value. Did you know, for example, that the death of a certain species of buzzard in India would up costing the country a whopping $24 billion? Or that the humble yew tree would provide solutions to numerous types of cancer? Find out what a species is worth and get a better perspective on just how vital biodiversity is to all of us on Earth-- businesses and individuals alike.
Community Building: Leave it to those kiwis... our friends in New Zealand have produced a database of great solutions to build value in communities. From shared computer centers to time banks, there are some very unique solutions to be found here. Best of all, you can add your own community initiatives to their ever expanding list.
Environmental Accounting: We've often railed on GDP for being an ineffective way of measuring a nation's genuine prosperity. Well, as it turns out India is set to get a "green" accounting system in the coming years to take into consideration environmental impacts and services. Keep an eye on this one folks. Like Bhutan's "Gross National Happiness", this is yet another promising step towards including a wider range of criteria in national decision making.
White House Goes Solar... Again: We have to hand it to Bill McKibben. The solar panels are going back up on the White House again, for the first time since Jimmy Carter. Gee, that only took...30 years? Who says American politics isn't progressive...
GMO Crops: We're thrilled to see that Africans, fed up with being told what's good for them, are now pushing back the arrogant likes of Monsanto and Bill Gates to determine what is appropriate for their own farming and food needs. Fact of the matter: GMO crops do not serve people well, especially in developing countries, they endanger food security and local ecosystems, and are a downright bad idea. Well done people! (In case you think we're joking about how insideous this industry is, check out this other article about how GMO big 5 companies are buying up other seed suppliers in an effort to make GMO seeds the only ones available!)
Oil Crunch: The New Zealand Government (or at least some well-researched members) are sounding the alarm on impending oil/energy issues. Positive to see them putting a research paper forward, but now what will happen in terms of policy?
Modular, eco-hotels: We couldn't resist this. A new chain of energy efficient, modular, design-savvy, automated eco-hotels is planned in Spain.
(( thanks to Ray Skinner and others for links and leads! ))