by Dan Poresky
Environmental degradation caused by human activity is rapidly rendering the planet uninhabitable. For thousands of generations the planet’s resources were sufficiently plentiful and resilient to withstand our destructive activities. No longer. When Jefferson was president there were less people in the world than now live in India and there were no plastics and no SUVs.
Humanity is at a crossroads. We learn to live in harmony with nature or we perish. Consumers and voters hold the keys to change. Marketplace tools can and should be the engines of change. Here are five business concepts suited for environmentalism
- A full-time Environmental Television Network promoting responsible Earth stewardship,
- A strong umbrella organization (trade association) for connecting and supporting sustainability efforts,
- A Website portal for easy access to all things related to sustainability ,
- A world center for sustainability,
- Adoption of a unifying symbol and slogan.
An Environmental TV channel would have programming similar to that found on PBS, C-SPAN, and Discovery Channel. There would be programs like Sesame Street providing basic environmental education for children. There would be news coverage and analysis of events like those sponsored by UNEP, United Nations Environmental Program.
There could be an ongoing series on chemical-free gardening, environmentalism in religion, gardening, and cooking and cleaning ideas for the home. It could showcase technology, wildlife, farm tours, Earth Day programs, environmental organization activities, science museums, book reviews, and legislation. Imagine a TV program like “This Old House” dedicated to retrofitting homes with all green (environmentally friendly) products and appliances.
Dan Poresky
The television concept and other business models mentioned above are being explored by AGSHEN (pronounce “action”) – Alliance for a Globally Sustainable Healthy Environment, an organization based in Bethlehem and headed by Dan Poresky, founder of Dan’s Camera City. For more information see back cover and visit www.agshen.org.