It's Earth Day and regardless of whether you support or scoff at the idea of global warming, the day is a pretty big deal to a lot of people.
The Earth Day Network estimates that: 500 million people from 4,500 organizations in 180 countries will participate in Earth Day events during April and that for elementary school students, Earth Day is the third most activity-inspiring holiday, after Christmas and Halloween.
Kids intuitively get it - why can't some adults?
It's important that our actions speak as loud as our words. Biosyntrx Inc. pledges to continue considering sustainable design when making science and business decisions.
19 comments:
Why are the cars and houses that are energy efficient so expensive? I would love to drive a hybrid but I can't afford it. You would think these companies would want to protect the earth so they should make their cars more affordable. I know it’s a little off subject but it really makes me mad.
Hi Sally,
It's a matter of supply and demand. As more and more of us absolutely demand energy efficient homes and cars, production costs will go down.
Thanks for caring and don't forget to do something green to celebrate Earth Day.
A San Francisco-based network of over 11,000 MBA students and professionals who want to use business to create a better world sent this email message in response to today's "It's Not Easy Being Green" blog piece.
"Business schools are reacting to this information. Many educators are staying on top of the trend by offering courses designed to make future business leaders more aware and responsible. The people in business today who are trying to grapple with these issues have business degrees that didn't equip them to understand this crisis," said Rick Bunch, executive director of the Bainbridge Graduate Institute, a school on Bainbridge Island In Washington State that offers an MBA in sustainable business.
We can all reduce all personal contribution to global warming and set an example for others by using less gasoline, natural gas, oil, and electricity in our daily life. Our choices about energy and transportation are especially crucial.
The next time you buy a car, choose one that is highly fuel efficient. Our choice of vehicle is probably our single most important environmental decision: for every single gallon of gasoline burned, 20 pounds of carbon dioxide go into the atmosphere. Gas guzzling cars are no longer cool, nor are the people who drive them.
A few of the MBA programs involved in "Net Impact" and Systems Thinking for Sustainable Enterprise include the Darden Business School at University of Virginia, Fuqua Business School at Duke, and the MBA program at the University of North Carolina.
Small companies that refuse to accept corporate responsibility and embrace sustainability issues will not be in business in five years.
As environmental conditions worsen and fuel prices continue to rise, the public will buy from companies that recognize and do their part to address environmental challenges.
I think that this is great that your company is addressing this issue. I have personally started buying household items and even make up that is more environmentally friendly. It does not take alot and if more people begin to take a stand and do their part, then the environment would be safer for generations to come.
Thanks Liz,
In my mind, Earth Day and the proposed ScienceDebate2008 are one issue.
I sincerely believe we have the science and technological talent to dramatically reduce carbon dioxide emissions, but without citizens that care enough to demand change and government funding for research, we might get there too late to save the planet for future generations.
The French, who pay over $8 per gallon of gas, have a new oxygen compression 100 MPG small car coming to market late 2008 - maybe higher gas prices is what it will take to make more people realize we can't afford to blow off science and technology for another administration. Nor can we afford to be sloppy about the individual carbon footprint we make from day to day (112th reminder to self: only turn the task lamp on your desk on when you need it.)
We all have a right to know the candidates policies on these issues, and we have a right to know who will be advising them once they are in office.
Many of us define ourselves, to a certain extent with our stuff, including the cars we own.
I'm starting to notice how many people now think that driving a hybrid is way cooler than driving a Mercedes.
I'm a proud graduate of a university that is going green! The University of South Carolina has been practicing their program, 'Going Green $aves Green'. They have done so by: changing to LCD flat screens, switching to high efficiency front-loading washers & dryers, using electronic vehicles for staff maintenance crews, implementing a ‘Take it or Leave it’ recycling program that donates to charitable organizations in the community, and what I am most proud of is USC’s Green Dorm that holds over 500 students and certified by the US Green Building Council. The university has influenced many people in our community to get out and get green!
Hey Jen,
I LOVE LOVE LOVE knowing this. Go South Carolina!!!
HI,
I did buy all new light bulbs..but, so far - I still have my Mercedes....
We can all go to the grocery store and use re-fillable bags...little things do add up..
Change happens everyday...keep talking!
all of these things hopefully cause us to pause - we must stay awake and participate in being good stewards for our planet.
Marsha
Hey Marsha,
I love your car and I think you should keep it - just start thinking in terms of fuel efficiency next time you buy.
It's not reasonable to think that everyone is going to immediately sell their low mileage cars.
But it is reasonable to expect folks to demand that the automobile industry make fuel efficiency a higher priority.
I like Jennifer's pride in a program that is green; inspiringly so.
If we don't go green - in our personal lives and in our business activities, we all suffer - now and in the future.
But standing on the sidelines is actually counterproductive. We must take responsibility for our earth. Recycling, using less fuel, using less power in our homes and offices, planting trees, and other "little" things, add up.
I am shocked at the number of people who actually believe Rush Limbaugh and his ilk understand more about global warming than the most respected Nobel prize winning climate scientists who are still begging the presidential candidates to show up for ScienceDebate2008.
This debate will give the candidates an opportunity to let the public know what their science policies are, and who their science and technology advisors will be.
One of the most pressing decision facing our next president will be how to accelerate the transition from a fossil-fuel-based energy system to a system based on climate-friendly energy alternatives.
Our economy and our lives may very well depend on this transition, which starts with everyone learning to live with less.
In the area of fuel efficiency we continue to look like "Ugly Americans." Europe and Japan have produced cars that get 50 mpg; we average 25 in SUVs that are still selling well in this country.
The auto companies claim they can deliver fuel efficient cars within a year, once consumers let them know they are ready to buy.
The biggest lie in this country is to say that you care about global warming and advocate for the price of gasoline to go down. If your job or product is dependent on the price of gasoline, raise your prices.
It's the only way the average consumer will ever understand that we are all in this together.
It's nice to see that small companies like Biosyntrx are willing to take a stand on issues that too many people ignore. Fools will try to convince the country that nutrition/food prices increased 5% last year because corn-based ethanol is driving the price of corn through the roof.
Spin, spin, spin!
Corn is not the best choice for alternative fuel. And, shouldn't the powers-that-be start letting people know that corn-based food is partially responsible for the type2 diabetes epidemic?
Barbara, I think you mean corn-based trans-fat junk food.
There are things we all can do to save our natural resources. One big item is for us all to switch to compact fluorescent bulbs in our homes and workplace. If every one of 110 million American households replace one ordinary 60watt bulb it would be the equivalent to taking 1.3 million cars off the road. This could be done today! Go make a difference.
WOW!!!
I had no idea changing a few light bulbs in my house and office could make that much difference. And it's nice to know we use these bulbs in the SC Biosyntrx offices whenever possible.
Thanks Joe.
Should we or shouldn't we further our "greening" and buy a hybrid car? If we can, it would seem the only answer is "yes."
With crude oil predicted to go to$200.00 a barrel by the end of this year, there is certainly a more secure feeling to know that your car can get as high as 48 mpg and in stop-and-go freeway traffic the mpg's can go as high as 99.9. At first I thought these cars were anything but attractive but I took the plunge and bought a Prius. Suddenly, it has become one of
the most beautiful cars on the
road and this beauty comes from
within; roomy, saves on gas consumption and CO2 emissions and
money to fill the gas tank. I would only encourage people who are in question about buying a Prius to
do it. You'll love it.
Post a Comment