7 Billion People in 2011- are we ready?

For Sustainable Seattle's 15th anniversary, Alan AtKisson, one of our founders, sang a song about exponential growth. Today one, tomorrow two, by 2011, 7 billion. Today, the Stranger ran an article about population growth: we are going to hit 7 billion people on this planet this year.

Sustainability at its core is about keeping humans on the planet. When we talk about meeting needs - of today and future generations- we are talking about the needs of humans. This is a human- centric view point, but necessary and understandable. A world without us may be a better place, but more likely much worse because if we do get to the place where the world is without us, it will probably be because of our own doing. This apocalyptic vision is the antitheses of sustainability.

And so a human centric reason for sustainability is necessary. We strive to take care of the planet because we want to take care of each other, and ourselves. With 7 billion people on this planet by the end of the year, what does this mean for us? What decisions should we make today so that the next billion and then the next can enjoy life, and do this in a way future generations can also enjoy life.

Population control seems an easy answer, but one we seem unable to implement. Reducing consumption seems evident, but our consumption continues to climb despite our intentions and actions, and asking those without to reduce or not increase their consumptions smacks of social injustice. Are we to grind this planet into a place where humans cannot survive?

We hope not. This hope drives us to do the work we do. In a sense, it is the only reason for continuing. To live to consume and die (who ever dies with the most toys wins) is no life at all. To live- and work - with hope that all - all 7 billion of us - will enjoy the beauty of nature, the expanse of the human spirit and the joy of becoming makes life worth living.

Journalism that Matters part one

Sustainable Seattle was invited to host a table and participate in Journalism that Matters. We came to learn, to change and to affect change from this un-conference for transforming our world through the communication.

Norm Rice spoke to being a green city council member in 1978. As a grad from the School of Communications, he identifies the importance of effective communications. Norm talked about how he once worked to address the issues of how minorities gain access to electronic media and how access to electronic media transforms lives. He said that while he did not find the solution, seeking for it transformed his life. Civic engagement was and is fundamental: Being heard. Can you frame the question to bring out hopes and dreams so we can articulate and work with strategies for moving forward. Do not frame in the negative, Norm cautions us, ask for a transformation in specifics: What does sustainable transportation look like? Gathering people, facilitating meetings, helping people speak and ensuring people listen creates consensus on issues. When organizations- governmental, non-governmental and others partake in active learning after bringing people together to discourse, people step up to the plate, engage in working together to solve a problem. Accountability and political will on the part of policy makers are key to implementing civic engagement. Communicate the aspirations and goals on a civic engagement process- this process is key – it is a long process, and this process is key in success. The civic engagement process is about life and hope – civic engagement is a process by definition. Life, hope and aspirations are the engine that keeps the process alive. When the task is accomplished, the people will remark- “we have done it ourselves.” This is the mark of success.

Chris Jordan came on and asked us to reach into our hearts, to think with our hearts, to speak from the heart. Allow your heart to be broken, and to be broken again. Speak authentically. Take the templates off. Care. This is the key to transforming space, shifting our world. This is the key to reaching the wisdom we all carry, to reaching those big huge goals we are seeking, and feeling so close and yet, like Tantalus, so far. Chris Jordan is a visual artist who uses consumption products to depict and emphasize the amount of waste in the American culture.

'Celebrate Local' this holiday season

Tell us what you are doing to Celebrate Local!
Report your action today on the pledge form- it will take less than 3 minutes, and you will be eligible for rewards, like a Chinook book, a Celebrate Local book, tickets to local cultural events and more. Help us reach a goal of 300 reported actions!

Get tips from our campaign partners- and see comments added to the blog in these categories:
Celebrate our Community: Healthy People and Communities
Celebrate our Local Economy: Think Local First
Celebrate our Local Environment: Green Your Holidays

Across the country, the holidays have come to be a time of extreme excess and contribute to unsustainable practices that are not healthy for our bodies, our bank accounts, our communities or the environment. Here in King County, for example, we throw away 25% more trash between Thanksgiving and New Year’s. This year, re-think your holidays. Let's Celebrate Local...

Celebrate Local is a community initiative supported by Seattle BALLE, Cascade Harvest Coalition, Celebrate Green, Chinook Book/ecometro.com, Community Alliance for Global Justice, Communities Count, King County EcoConsumer, King County Waste Free Holidays, Puget Sound Community Change Card/The Interra Project, Seattle Free School, SoCoCulture, Puget Sound Fresh, SCALLOPS, Seattle Greendrinks, TeachStreet, and Treeswing. The 2008 Celebrate Local initiative begins NOW (November 2008) and continues through February 2, 2009 tying together the many holidays and special events that occur at this time of year.

"Gnomenclature on Sustainability" by The Hartman Group

---

I recently came across this little application by The Hartman Group, a Bellevue based market research and consumer insight company. I have to say, Gnomenclature on Sustainability: The Consumer Chronicles is one of the most creative tools for sustainability I've come across in a long time. Gnomes + cool technology + sustainability = fun. In Gnomenclature, The Hartman's "little band of consumer sleuths known as Ethgnomes", take you on an A to Z journey to explain where some of The Hartman Group's "mind blowing consumer insights come from". I've actually attended many presentations by The Hartman Group and do have to say they are always a little mind blowing. I don't think anyone else has done the level of analysis on consumer behavior as they have and certainly not with a focus on 'responsible shopping'. So all you corporate cogs out there wanting to sell your sustainable product to conscious consumers...put on your PJs, grab your cup of shade grown coffee or hot chocolate and page - well, click actually - through this bedtime story for the business minded.