Industrial Revolutions

Ellen MacArthur – Our Next Annie Leonard?

I’m a big fan of the Ellen McArthur Foundation. They’re one of the few organisations who bring a real understanding of systems-thinking to their work on sustainability. The ‘circular economy’ is a current theme (cradle to cradle design, to you and me) for which they have produced this video.

It’s a good attempt to capture what made Annie Leonard’s similar ‘Story of Stuff‘ so successful – though it misses the vital ingredient, a friendly face to talk us through the complex nature of systems. Ellen would have been the perfect ‘host’ for this – trusted, engaging, inspiring. Perhaps she’s just too British to want to step into this limelight?

The animation falls foul of a number of linguistic hurdles – notably some jargon (‘polymer’) and obscure sayings – and is unclear about who should be watching it. Is this for businesses? (In which case, where is the call to action?), or is it for students?

Thought Leadership – The Picture’s Changed, Al

This is a remarkable piece on the sustainability crisis in the US by Natalya Sverjensky. Published in Ethical Corporation, she nails the reasons why Al Gore’s latest efforts are unfulfilling.

1. Leadership is not limited to US presidents
2. Climate change is a symptom
3. Reducing your impact is yesterday’s task
4. “Unknowledge” is power

Enjoy.

They Belong To Everyone

“Storytelling awakens us to that which is real. It is basic to who we are. A story is a composite personality which grows out of its community. These stories become the conscience of the group. They belong to everyone.”

Terry Tempest Williams

Good Question

How can we inspire people to care about social change and feel good about themselves in the process?

This great article by Michael Bader that tries to answer exactly that question.

Beautifully Equipped

“In times of change, the learners will inherit the earth, while the knowers will find themselves beautifully equipped to deal with a world that no longer exists.”

Eric Hoffer

Stretching To Mend What Is In Reach

“Ours is not the task of fixing the entire all at once, but of stretching out to mend the part of the world that is within our reach. What is needed for dramatic change is an accumulation of acts: adding, adding to, adding more, continuing.”

Clarissa Pinkola Estés

Poetic Justice – Young Deacon

I can’t justify the burning
Of buildings and businesses
That sort of attitude there
Is inexcusable
But what niggles on my mind
As I’m looking and the cinders is
This what the future holds?

On The Road – USA

For the next month I’ll be on the road in the USA. Planned stops include Washington DC, New York, New Haven, the Hudson Valley, and Marshfield, VT.

I’ll be writing intermittently, but won’t be doing a daily round-up of interesting links.

Link Loving 13.08.11

• Wonderful piece on Lucretius and his poem “On the Nature of Things”. Stephen Greenblatt.
• PR created consumerism – what can it do for sustainability? Stephanie Draper.
• The moral decay of our society is as bad at the top as the bottom. Peter Oborne.
• From powerpoint to permaculture, from me to we. John Thackera.