Ok, Here it is....
I'm calling on all big thinkers to come and argue the random musings of an old guy who is frustrated at the idea that the best ideas the corporate world can come up with to save the planet are contained in such gems as CFL light bulbs and plastic bag tax.
I'm calling on scientists and designers; economists and ecologists; couch potatoes and businessmen.
Really I'm looking for some people who can put some real fact into some of the ideas I've had lately about how one would really go about fixing some of the problems the world faces today.
I'm a designer. A designer by definition is a solution guy. When I see something doesn't work I fix it. But the world is too big; I can't fix it by myself and I need your help.
Now I'm not a scientist or an engineer. I don't have a lot of data but I do know quite a lot and I can tell you from the perspective of an armchair critic that most of the "ecological" solutions we are buying into at the moment are at best "bandaid" solutions and most are totally wrong headed.
So what is the REAL answer? What are some REAL, LONG TERM SUSTAINABLE solutions?
Paying 5¢ at the grocery store to get the same bag you got for free a month ago? I think NOT.
OK I get it that some of this stuff takes money and I actually do understand where the 5¢ goes but really this is not a solution. I also understand that it must be proven the the public at large is willing to pay more for their products to realize real change, but I think over the past TEN YEARS we have proven that already! Isn't it time for some real change?
What are the problems we face? Plastic, fossil fuels, energy prices, depleting resources, pollution.... the list could go on and on.
What are the obstacles we face to real change? Big business, Big Oil companies, economic forces, government indifference and lack of will (or is it just red tape?)...
I invite all big thinkers here to hash it out in a big wrestling match to see what we can come up with.
I thank you all, in advance, for whatever contributions you submit. Please try to keep it sane, polite, focused and respectful to all contributors.
