This is an archived blog from when I ran Conscious Public Relations Inc. from 2008-2018. Excuse the potential outdated-ness!
It’s been one of those weeks. It’s Thursday but I feel like I’ve accomplished the amount I would have up to next Tuesday. Client event after holiday party after meeting after party after coffee chat, and volunteering in between.
Every morning I try and think of one cohesive topic to blog about that I got from a news source, book, or event.
Since this past week has been a bit of a mashup, here is a mashup of ideas that have been going on in my week:
1) The City of Vancouver and province of BC declared this week, Dec 3-9, the first BUY LOCAL WEEK. Great timing, as everyone is getting into the swing of holiday shopping. But, I’ve rarely seen this news – er, in the news – which is sad.
2) Last night was the final ISIS Research Centre’s Ideas for Impact series of the year, featuring Kate Sutherland. What was awesome about this event is how deep Kate went, beyond Social Innovation or Sustainability. To create change, we need to work in groups — and to function well in groups you have to see things and behave in different ways, ways that may seem uncomfortable. I love events like this that start with a small idea of creating change – and then expand your mind by the end of it. I’m looking forward to more of these mind melding moments when I take the ESP Program in February.
3) My mind continues to be blown away by the facts I’m reading in Tzeporah Berman’s This Crazy Time. The chapter I’m on is on the Alberta Tar Sands, and how it’s one of the worst environmental disasters in the history of the planet. The Conservative government is all for it, so there’s almost no hope there. Canada is one of the worst carbon emitting countries on the planet. We are not the most beautiful place on Earth. Awareness of this is so key. An aha moment that Berman had while attending the 2009 Copenhagen Climate Conference is something a former American General said:
Even if you didn’t believe in global warming, you simply can’t have 7 billion people trying to live like 300 million Americans live. There aren’t enough resources on the planet.
On Facebook I heard about more storms hitting the Philippines and other areas of Asia. I feel so helpless, but remember that we all have to do our part in trying to minimize our resources and spreading awareness of climate change.
4) Every day I am learning about more organizations that have already formed to increase awareness of these issues. Two include:
Leadnow.ca: An independent advocacy organization that brings generations of Canadians together to achieve progress through democracy. Leadnow has been the brainchild behind stopping the secret FIPA deal between Canada & China.
SumofUs.org: A movement of consumers, workers, and shareholders speaking with one voice to counterbalance the growing power of large corporations.
