2007 According to Hank Green: Small Groups Changing the World
by Team Treehugger, Worldwide on 01. 3.07
The other posts in this series can be found here. The first one with an explanation of what this is about is here.
Hank Green, Missoula, Montana, USA
Small groups of people change the world. Usually, that kind of sentiment is spoken to activists and underdogs who don't know quite what they need to do to make that change happen. But the small groups of '07 are well informed and well funded. They're going to change the world and they're gonna do it fast.
Probably the most important small group in the world right now are the folks who are researching, funding, and publicizing green technology. 2006 showed us that people can and do care about the environment, and they will do what they can, within reason. Clean technologies will let people do their part without lowering their standard of living.
These small groups are working on things like ultra-efficient micro-power plants for everyone, cheap and attractive solar panels, and innovative methods of storing power. These groups are in basements, at universities, and even hiding out in some of the world's biggest corporations. In 2007, they will change the world. It may at first seem mundane, a new type of light bulb, a long-lasting laptop. But soon we'll see the effects: a house that can power itself, a car that goes a hundred miles before it burns a drop of gas.
And, before long, these small groups will have met goals that governments and corporations long since wrote off as foolish musings. Right now, the venture capitalists and the activists agree. With the force of those two powers combined behind them, how could those small groups not change the world? Keep your eyes open, it's gonna be a fun year.
2007 According to Timothy McGee: Changing Systems
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2007 According to Sami Grover: Community Solutions to Global Problems
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Another kind of small group that is making a big difference and will likely have an even bigger impact in the near future is the kind that is focusing on a broader goal of bringing the idea of sustainability into trafitional and modern morality. These groups range from religious leaders, to science and philosophy academics, to artists and entertainers.
We need the collaboration of both the left brain groups who deal with the technology and practical application of sustainable products and services and the right brain groups who deal with the more ethereal belief systems and emotions that guide our core values and lead us to make sustainability a moral and humane priority. With both kinds of groups working along side oneaother, we'll have a vastly more sustainable society in no time!
Wow, thank you Hank! That is a fantastic quote, and a refreshing viewpoint. I am glad you are so optimistic about activists and businesspeople having similar interests these days! That is what I am so excited about--once we can show the benefits of green technology for business, I think it will become much more widespread! And I'm excited to help stir this grassroots movement with my blog Thrilling Heroics.
Thank you!
Hank,
You have a brilliant outlook on the new enviroment friendly technologies. I look forward to going to any step it up rallys. I really think what you said there really sums it up. Great job!
Your loyal Nerd Fighter,
Steph (Luna)
woot... birthday in ONE day. sorry that was competely irrelerant.