There is no business to be done on a dead planet. -David Brower
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Daily Archives: February 21, 2007
Turning the Ship – Week 2 – Sustainable Purchasing
Purchasing function of various companies (profit, not-for-profit and government) around the world have a lot of clout. In my current role, I have been trying to develop sustainable purchasing practices to improve the environmental performance of the organization.
The Turning the Ship Online Dialogue last week concentrated on Sustainable Purchasing. About Turning the Ship click here and for Week 1 here.
Michelle Wyman, Executive Director of the International Council of Local Environmental Initiatives, USA (ICLEI-USA) writes about the power of local government dollars.
U.S. cites large and small can exercise their significant buying power to have both a direct impact on the market because of the volume of products and services they procure and an indirect impact by spurring similar action across the private sector. They do so while also increasing their bottom line. The growing emphasis on green purchasing presents unprecedented opportunity for the business community.
Think about all the local government facilities in your city: courtrooms, city halls, office buildings, police and fire stations, recreational facilities, parking lots, and libraries. Consider their computers, photocopiers, refrigerators, fax machines and lighting, heating and cooling needs. Cities also deal in landscaping, catering, conferences and meetings as well as vehicle fleets.
Of course, making sustainable purchasing choices also enhances the sheer quality of life in communities. It provides direct health benefits for city employees as well as less global warming and air pollution, all of which makes these cities cleaner and safer places to live, work and raise families.
Arthur B. Weissman, Ph.D., President and CEO, Green Seal, Inc.. The discussion is based on the different ways governments have used tools like environment standards to create a market for green products and services. The Global Ecolabeling Network and Green Seal in the US is examined. Continue reading
India Rising
The BBC Documentary has a 5 part series on India Rising. In this program, “George Arney looks at the effects of globalisation and discovers what economic reforms have done to India and the way it sees itself.”
I have lived all my life in India except the last two years where I am in Adelaide, Australia. Ev
ery report from friends returning from India to Australia, my discussions with friends and family in India inform me that India is changing faster than before. I am waiting to visit India this year and see this change for myself. My mother tells me I will not be able to recognize Hyderabad; my home town; when I visit this year.
How much of this is beneficial is debatable and its distribution across the country is something to worried about.
This series provides a good look at what has happened in the past few years across India.
The first part is about the new India. It takes you through Gurgaon near New Delhi in Northern India, Bangalore and Mysore in Southern India and looking at the new malls, spending culture and the possible future of India.
[Odeo=http://odeo.com/audio/7892483/view]
The second part goes to the biggest dissapointment in India, the state of Bihar. The most moving part is about a women, Sukumari Devi, part of people who are called the “rat eaters”; people who actually eat rats; where she collected grains found in rat holes to feed her kids. And also, the second part on the education in Bihar.
[odeo=http://odeo.com/audio/7981063/view]
The third part is about the effect of Television, Bollywood, and Music on India. The Family Soaps like “Kyu Ki…” are frankly comparable to the worst soap operas you can watch anywhere. In my work at Deeshaa, I learned an important aspect about TV. It is increasing the aspiration of Indians in the smaller cities and the rural parts. This feeling of aspiration is important however, if development does not come soon in these areas these aspirations can move in the wrong direction.
This part tries to understand the culture of India through the ‘idiot box’ and youth culture concentrating on what is called the “pan-India” culture.
[odeo=http://odeo.com/audio/8101563/view]
Part Four is about understanding ‘oppression’ in the lives of everyday Indians. What is the
impact of economic expansion of India on its environment, health of people from pollution, effect on jobs and rights of poor people & tribals. For more on this read the blog of my friend Shekar – Fractured Earth especially the India section.
[odeo=http://odeo.com/audio/8194193/view]
Part Five is a discussion between people who have been guides to George Arney throughout the series.
[odeo=http://odeo.com/audio/8326933/view]
Cross posted on WorldisGreen.com
Australia to ban incandescent bulbs
Australia became the world’s first country to ban the use of incandescent bulbs within the next 3 years.
By 2009, Environment Minister Malcolm Turnbull told local radio, “you simply won’t be able to buy incandescent lightbulbs, because they won’t meet the energy standard.”
Legislation to gradually restrict the sale of the old-style bulbs could reduce Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions by 4 million tons by 2012 and cut household power bills by up to 66 percent, said Environment Minister Malcolm Turnbull.
Australia is not the only place looking to replace them with fluorescent lighting, which is more efficient and longer lasting.
Last month, a California assemblyman announced he would propose a bill to ban the use of incandescent bulbs in his state. And a New Jersey lawmaker has called for the state to switch to fluorescent lighting in government buildings within three years.
Cuba’s Fidel Castro launched a similar program two years ago, sending youth brigades into homes and switching out regular bulbs for energy-saving ones to help battle electrical blackouts around the island.
“It is a good, positive step. But it is a very small step. It needs to be followed through with a lot of different measures,” Australian Conservation Foundation spokesman Josh Meadows told Australian Broadcasting Corp. radio.
