Our planet is in danger, we all know it. Even if we all agree about that "fact", what can we do as individuals to help or influence a positive change? The PICNIC Green Challenge is launching a contest to help fight climate change. They challenge creative thinkers and innovators, to come up with an original idea for a product or service that could reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
They also require from the participants that they present a concrete plan of action to launch their idea within 2 years. The price/help to market the idea is 500.000 Euros, coaching from business leaders and a list of potential clients. The president of the jury is fantastic-Richard Branson, entrepreneur incroyable, chairman of the Virgin Group and the Galactic space project. "This contest is going to help people to realize how much they are capable of,” he says. “Great things really do come out of simple ideas.”.
Richard Branson together with former vice President Al Gore are also behind a wider project -launched in February 2007- linked to the reduction of the greenhouse effect, the Virgin Earth Challenge. Contest will award $25 million to the individual or group who are able to demonstrate a commercially viable design which will result in the net removal of anthropogenic, atmospheric greenhouse gases each year for at least ten years without countervailing harmful effects. This removal must have long term effects and contribute materially to the stability of the Earth’s climate. See them on the CBS "Eye-to-eye" TV show here, talking about the reason why of the project.
I take a moment here to point the axis we discussed in the previous post. It seems that more and more companies develop green policies to link their businesses to positive intentions for the planet. Well, if the intentions are shared, supported, and driven into reality, then some positive actions could (really) follow. But, at this stage thinking about this process, it appears to me to be more like a talent search/call, than a real collaborative work using the brain/linking power of the internet. Food for thoughts (yeah, again!) - (to be continued...)
SHARED IDEA(S) - DRIVER- POSITIVE ACTION
Do you have an idea that could help?
Luc,
Here's my idea: Kill a car, save a tree.
Posted by: Lewis Green | August 13, 2007 at 07:16 PM
Lewis,
Yes... and I'm wondering : "who killed the electric car?"
Posted by: mindblob | August 15, 2007 at 11:48 PM
I have one!
Maybe we should stop fueling, wearing, building with, smearing, drinking (and even eating) petroleum! ;)
Call me crazy. ;)
Posted by: Sean Howard | August 18, 2007 at 07:24 PM
Turn off all the power to your house, walk to work in the field (manual labor only) and bury your energy hog of a computer. It's a start.
Posted by: Janessa | September 03, 2007 at 06:12 AM
Janessa,
I agree about lowering power usage of our houses, work in the fields (manual labor)... well, why not. But I'm afraid that at this stage we should consider "connections" more than ever (and so computers and internet). This, to link our ideas and find positive solutions to help the planet.
Posted by: mindblob | September 03, 2007 at 11:46 AM