Out of the Blue – a new model for a resilient economy:

Returning to business as usual as soon as possible was the mainstream mantra after September 2008; such was the shock of the collapse. A crash like that is never an easy time for considered reform and few countries had the resources to make any serious attempt in any case, so invested were we all in the good old days of cheap abundant energy and exponential growth. August 2011; here we go again?

In a week where the stock market lemmings are regrouping globally for a fresh tilt at the financial cliff tops it feels like a good time to pause and consider some alternative economic arrangements. Evidently the system we have now is past its ‘best before’ date and looks likely to become toxic at some point in the not too distant future. But what alternatives might there be?
Going green sounded like a good idea, but what is ‘green’ really? For the time being it looks primarily like a lifestyle choice for those with the means to pay a premium for ‘saving the planet’. I don’t argue with the green sentiment, but I have grave reservations about the growing level of green-wash, intentional or merely well intentioned. What then, if not green?

Have you heard of Belgian Gunter Pauli’s idea he calls the ‘Blue Economy’? I think this guy is onto something really worthwhile.

I am on a mission with passion, inspired by wisdom of science, shaped by the beauty of nature and the arts. No one put me in charge, but me. The state of the world and the plight of billions make it impossible to accept a status quo, or simply an improvement. We need to give ourselves the freedom to go beyond the present, and even change the rules of the game without ever saying that one is bad, believing that everyone without any exception can always do better” – Gunter Pauli

If you are keen, as I am, to be part of the solution rather than part of the problem then you will find inspiration from Gunter Pauli.

He has enlisted the help of visual presentation specialists The Simple Show to create a series of short video clips posted on You Tube.

These videos summarise Gunter’s report to the Club of Rome, also published as a book subtitled: 10 Years, 100 Innovations, 100 Million Jobs.

Want more? Visit Zeri.org

Links:

Gunter Pauli

http://www.gunterpauli.com/gunterpauli.com/About_Me.html

Zeri

http://www.zeri.org/ZERI/Home.html

The Simple Show

http://www.simpleshow.de/en/

Gunter Pauli report to the Club of Rome

http://www.clubofrome.at/news/index.html

The Blue Economy
10 Years, 100 Innovations, 100 Million Jobs

http://www.paradigm-pubs.com/catalog/detail/BluEco

Advertisement