I haven't had a chance to post anything new in a while (my "blogging ideas" bookmark is overflowing), but this article from today's Sunday Times (I think it's the Magazine cover story, but it's hard to tell online) is a must-read. Thomas L. Friedman brings together many of the ideas that Mark Holland talks about - making sustainability mainstream - and he offers some new language to get away from the "tree-hugger" image. Finding new language around sustainability has been one of our biggest challenges.
The article is very American-centred (which makes sense); it essentially positions "geostrategic" (what a great new word for "green") thinking as the new patriotism for both Democrats and Republicans.
In a recent session, Mark told us that a study showed the emotional space occupied by the concept of sustainability was "hope". Another presenter at the same session discussed how Americans were becoming more and more pessimistic about the country and its future. What better way to rebrand the United States than as leaders in the "geostrategic" movement - and inspire hope among its citizens? This is, of course, an enormous undertaking, especially given the worldwide perception of the United States at the moment. But it's a cool idea.
Here's an excerpt:
Well, I want to rename “green.” I want to rename it geostrategic, geoeconomic, capitalistic and patriotic. I want to do that because I think that living, working, designing, manufacturing and projecting America in a green way can be the basis of a new unifying political movement for the 21st century. A redefined, broader and more muscular green ideology is not meant to trump the traditional Republican and Democratic agendas but rather to bridge them when it comes to addressing the three major issues facing every American today: jobs, temperature and terrorism.
Now, go read the whole article.
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