Enough?

I have been reading the interesting book “Enough” by John Naish. Very fascinating book which strikingly describes the social race for ever more possessions in the society (by quantity or price).

I encourage all men and women to read it…

It is sad when you realize (once again) that the world is built on consumption and the human urge to always want more.

I will try to practice John’s advice – Enoughism

Photographs: Mi Casa, Malmö

Creating Attention

Found this brilliant clip on The Guardian Sustainable Business Page created by Greenpeace UK

That I have missed it before is totally unacceptable

Enjoy

What Happens in Vegas Stays in Vegas (Except the Photographs)

Probably the most popular destination from Calgary (and not because of the quality but because of the price) is Las Vegas. I made my way to Las Vegas, via a detour to Grand Canyon and had the opportunity to celebrate Christmas in the most sinful way. Reflecting over the days in Vegas I can come to the conclusion that I was more interested in the hot tub in our room in combination with the bath bombs from Lush than exploring the Casinos.

I applaud the American for their creativity (I mean what else can you do in the desert anyway), and I look forward to see the whole mess being powered by solar energy in the near future.

Veja

In my class ”Business Strategies for Sustainability” I came across a company called Veja, a pioneer in producing sustainable sneakers and accessories. The company was founded by two business students from Paris. Reading through the case I felt a stitch of envy – those people really do something they believe in, and one day I hope I will be in their position. Fantastic and inspiring company and I hope every man out there who needs new sneakers will take a look at their web-shop – Veja Store.

Truly inspiring words from their homepage:

Veja is just a drop in the ocean

5 years on - The world understands that social issues and environmental crisis are now matters of urgency.

Day after day, prophets of all kind are pulling the emergency cord, the entire economy is turning green and sustainable-developementising speeches are spreading around.

Actions remain scarce but words abound.

Beyond movies about the environment, beyond multinational companies building green windows to hide disasters, beyond the Copenhagen speeches filled with words and political promise….

Action.

And despite this green-fronted economy, let's try to offer a different vision which combines fair trade and ecology and links together economy, social initiatives and the environment.

A vision that proposes cultural change.

Transparency.

Interesting Article on DN

IPCC is preparing a new report and it does not look promising. Read it here and realize what really matters in life.

Exam Procrastination

I am sitting in the library (luckily the fire alarm has not gone off yet). Tomorrow I have my first exam in “Business Strategies for sustainability” and the day after an exam in “Sustainability and Carbon Finance” – although I love both courses I find it very hard to actually study for the exams…

Anyway so today I started thinking about my upcoming birthday in less than one and half month and what I potentially wished as birthday presents (less peace on earth, more rainforest and less carbon dioxide emissions). However lost the thought of birthday presents after reading one of the papers for my class in business sustainability:

“ That… consumptions is no longer restricted to the necessities but, on the contrary, mainly concentrates on the superfluities of life… harbors the grave danger that eventually no object of the world will be safe from consumption and annihilation through consumption” (Arendt 1958)

And since I am planning to be on the top of Maslow’s pyramid…

“The need for self-actualization, according to Maslow, becomes preeminent after the other four more basic needs are satisfied. It would seem that of the needs, self-actualization has he least predictable impact on consumer behavior. A person driven to achieve personal growth is more likely to spend a frugal life, perhaps retire to an ashram or monastery, than invest heavily in goods. The kind of persons Maslow used as models for self-actualization – Thomas Jefferson, Eleanor Roosevelt, Albert Einstein, Albert Schweizer – were not big spenders and in many ways strove to become independent of the market”

Clearly it is on the top of the pyramid the big thinkers and genies are. Forget designer bags as symbols for indicating your superior and social worth and enhance your self-esteem. The real players strive for self-actualization – which actually requires less goods.

In sum – I need nothing for my birthday (except a greeting card I can recycleJ)

“Several researchers have shown that excessive concern with financial success and material values is associated with lower levels of life satisfaction and self-esteem, presumably because such concerns reflect of “contingent worth” predicted on having rather than being”

I hope I inspire

Quotes from the great article “The cost and benefit of consuming” by Mihly Csikszentmihalyi in the Journal of Consumer Research

Saturday Evening Entertainment

Spent part of my evening reading this fantastic article on National Geographic's about biofuels. The world is truly an interesting place.

Good night!

Things We Do In School

"We are living in exceptional times. Scientists tell us that we have 10 years to change the way we live, avert the depletion of natural resources and the catastrophic evolution of the Earth's climate" (Sustainability and Carbon Finance)

The Home Movie