Comments on: Wanted: A cultural revolution http://www.marcgunther.com/2010/01/12/wanted-a-cultural-revolution/ This blog is about the impact of business on society. Thu, 09 Feb 2012 04:08:41 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Bill Baue http://www.marcgunther.com/2010/01/12/wanted-a-cultural-revolution/comment-page-1/#comment-284135 Bill Baue Thu, 14 Jan 2010 19:58:12 +0000 http://www.marcgunther.com/?p=3441#comment-284135 Marc, Thanks for covering what I believe to be an important -- and underappreciated -- leverage point in the shift toward sustainability: namely, culture change. And the fact that the Worldwatch Institute chose to focus its State of the World report on this issue speaks volumes, as SOW is hugely influential worldwide. Folks interested in hearing more about this can check out the interview I just did with Erik Assadourian and fellow Worldwatch researcher Gary Gardner on Sea Change Radio: http://www.cchange.net/2010/01/13/game-changer-shifting-culture-from-consumerism-to-sustainability/ I also point to a panel discussion on "Future Scenarios: Energy & Economy" that Sea Change produced/moderated for Audubon in Sept 09 that came to the same conclusion: that culture change plays a key role in shifting to sustainability. You can check out audio and video here: http://seachangemedia.org/audubon/ Keep up the great work, Marc! Bill Executive Director | Sea Change Media Executive Producer/Host | Sea Change Radio Communications Professor | Marlboro Sustainability MBA Marc,

Thanks for covering what I believe to be an important — and underappreciated — leverage point in the shift toward sustainability: namely, culture change. And the fact that the Worldwatch Institute chose to focus its State of the World report on this issue speaks volumes, as SOW is hugely influential worldwide.

Folks interested in hearing more about this can check out the interview I just did with Erik Assadourian and fellow Worldwatch researcher Gary Gardner on Sea Change Radio:

http://www.cchange.net/2010/01/13/game-changer-shifting-culture-from-consumerism-to-sustainability/

I also point to a panel discussion on “Future Scenarios: Energy & Economy” that Sea Change produced/moderated for Audubon in Sept 09 that came to the same conclusion: that culture change plays a key role in shifting to sustainability. You can check out audio and video here:

http://seachangemedia.org/audubon/

Keep up the great work, Marc!

Bill
Executive Director | Sea Change Media
Executive Producer/Host | Sea Change Radio
Communications Professor | Marlboro Sustainability MBA

]]> By: keinst http://www.marcgunther.com/2010/01/12/wanted-a-cultural-revolution/comment-page-1/#comment-284131 keinst Wed, 13 Jan 2010 20:38:36 +0000 http://www.marcgunther.com/?p=3441#comment-284131 This is such an important topic. Americans consume so much it's ridiculous and it's even more ridiculous for anyone to defend that lifestyle. I believe the trends of consumerism can be fought against, but I don't know how successful they will be. It might be easier to get people to want shiny things, than to get people not to want shiny things after they started to want them. Furthermore, I think it might be easier for people in the developed world to move away from consumerism because we are already familiar with it. We already have experience of owning many things and understand that those things do not give us happiness. This makes me think that it will be difficult for developing countries to not head towards consumerism. I have a gut feeling that they first need to experience it and then move away from it once they've realized how pointless it is. As a result, I'm pessimistic in how successful the world will be considering that most countries are developing. But on the bright side, there's cradle to cradle and I can't wait to see where that will take us. This is such an important topic. Americans consume so much it’s ridiculous and it’s even more ridiculous for anyone to defend that lifestyle.

I believe the trends of consumerism can be fought against, but I don’t know how successful they will be. It might be easier to get people to want shiny things, than to get people not to want shiny things after they started to want them.

Furthermore, I think it might be easier for people in the developed world to move away from consumerism because we are already familiar with it. We already have experience of owning many things and understand that those things do not give us happiness. This makes me think that it will be difficult for developing countries to not head towards consumerism. I have a gut feeling that they first need to experience it and then move away from it once they’ve realized how pointless it is.

As a result, I’m pessimistic in how successful the world will be considering that most countries are developing. But on the bright side, there’s cradle to cradle and I can’t wait to see where that will take us.

]]> By: Kathryn Kear http://www.marcgunther.com/2010/01/12/wanted-a-cultural-revolution/comment-page-1/#comment-284130 Kathryn Kear Wed, 13 Jan 2010 19:55:32 +0000 http://www.marcgunther.com/?p=3441#comment-284130 As a dog owner, I am a bit dismayed at the blanket statements people make regarding pet ownership and environmental responsibility. If, instead of having children and contributing to the over-population of the earth by humans, you adopt a cat or dog from a shelter (and are a vegetarian with a home garden), then arguably you are making more sustainable choices than someone who choses to have several biological children. Yes, dogs eat a certain amount of meat (and I understand that current dog food formulations are based on a compromise made during WWII when it was proposed that pets be killed so that there would be more meat available for humans), but they do not own and drive cars, fly in airplanes, engage in strip mining, or eat anything close to the amount of meat that the avergae human consumes in his lifetime. Of course, reproductive rights are Constitutionally protected in the United States and few people, if anyone, are going to suggest that those be curtailed (and we end up with strict 1 child rules like China). However, it seems politically incorrect to even suggest that we discuss changing our tax laws and other government incentives that were designed many years ago to promote continued population growth. If we are going to discuss the value of certain forms of life in our society (pets) then I think we need to talk about human overpopulation as well. As a dog owner, I am a bit dismayed at the blanket statements people make regarding pet ownership and environmental responsibility. If, instead of having children and contributing to the over-population of the earth by humans, you adopt a cat or dog from a shelter (and are a vegetarian with a home garden), then arguably you are making more sustainable choices than someone who choses to have several biological children. Yes, dogs eat a certain amount of meat (and I understand that current dog food formulations are based on a compromise made during WWII when it was proposed that pets be killed so that there would be more meat available for humans), but they do not own and drive cars, fly in airplanes, engage in strip mining, or eat anything close to the amount of meat that the avergae human consumes in his lifetime.

Of course, reproductive rights are Constitutionally protected in the United States and few people, if anyone, are going to suggest that those be curtailed (and we end up with strict 1 child rules like China). However, it seems politically incorrect to even suggest that we discuss changing our tax laws and other government incentives that were designed many years ago to promote continued population growth. If we are going to discuss the value of certain forms of life in our society (pets) then I think we need to talk about human overpopulation as well.

]]> By: Alexis Madrigal http://www.marcgunther.com/2010/01/12/wanted-a-cultural-revolution/comment-page-1/#comment-284129 Alexis Madrigal Wed, 13 Jan 2010 18:38:17 +0000 http://www.marcgunther.com/?p=3441#comment-284129 @Dave: You should check out historian Steven Stoll's work, particularly his book on John Etzler and the utopian origins of our ideas about economic growth. You're going to love it. @Dave: You should check out historian Steven Stoll’s work, particularly his book on John Etzler and the utopian origins of our ideas about economic growth. You’re going to love it.

]]> By: Dave Gardner http://www.marcgunther.com/2010/01/12/wanted-a-cultural-revolution/comment-page-1/#comment-284128 Dave Gardner Wed, 13 Jan 2010 14:32:59 +0000 http://www.marcgunther.com/?p=3441#comment-284128 THAT'S what I'm talkin' about! Thanks for covering this story, Marc. The goals outlined in this report are probably the most important goals on the planet. The cultural imperative to grow and consume is erasing all the progress we make on every other front. Dave Gardner Producing the documentary Hooked on Growth: Our Misguided Quest for Prosperity THAT’S what I’m talkin’ about!

Thanks for covering this story, Marc. The goals outlined in this report are probably the most important goals on the planet. The cultural imperative to grow and consume is erasing all the progress we make on every other front.

Dave Gardner
Producing the documentary
Hooked on Growth: Our Misguided Quest for Prosperity

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