Eco-friendly Hand Up

I do not believe in charity. By that I mean, giving people stuff to help them get by in a permanent state of poverty.... is wrong. Many charities depend on a sustained state of poverty in order to remain in business. If they solve the problem then they are out of a job. While relief organizations are necessary in areas of war or natural disaster, and are needed when people have a sudden unexpected crisis, these groups often continue giving aid for years, even decades without really creating a solution for the problem. It is far better to plan to take people out of poverty permanently and give them the tools and opportunity to move on to a better life.

One such group is Micro Enterprise Solar Harvest. A small grassroots organization in California. MESH was conceived with the idea of meshing, bringing together, solar technology, micro enterprise (very small business), eco-friendly business practices, and buy local programs to develop a way for the working poor and at risk youth to produce their own incomes by creating green businesses.

The benefits of the program are many; for the entrepreneurs, for the environment,for the local economy and for the consumers who have more choices of reasonably priced green products produced locally.

This summer the Teen Eco-Biz Camp produced 32 new businesses that are all eco-friendly and the start up costs for these businesses were all under $1,000 some cost nothing to start up, just the time it takes to put up a web site or place an add on Craig's list or E-Bay. While for most this will not be a full income producing business for many months (maybe years)...it does allow them to earn money that keeps them out of the welfare office and off the streets. You can learn more about MESH at www.meshinc.org and please help us support the program by clicking the link in the side bar to donate. It is a wonderful organization and in just a year and a half it has graduated over 100 new entrepreneurs who are earning their way out of poverty. From custom quilts made out of your old t shirts to custom designed shoes entrepreneurship helps these creative young entrepreneurs to find their eco-entreprenuerial niche. Please support M.E.S.H. today.. Help these kids say..."Yes we can!" Can you really change someones life? Yes you can!

Global Financial Meltdown Good for the Environment

Well, the perfect storm is upon us and it isn't going to be pleasant. Once again the consumer machine has ground to a stand still. The nation may be looking at another 10 year depression and no one is able to keep the financial walls from falling in on us. Simply put, I pity the next president.

But from the green perspective, this may be the best thing since Rachael Carson or Al Gore. As for green industry in general, this will ramp up the demand for sustainable living products, while general wealth-based consumerism, the major cause of human induced global warming, will come to an abrupt halt. At least temporarily.

During our last crash, those who could fend for themselves, who had gardens for food, and had energy from wind mills or water wheels,and were not dependant on society's handouts, fared better than others. Off grid living in the next 10 years is going to be looking better and better. True, it will not be practical for many, but during the second world war there were over 20,000,000 victory gardens and it saved many, during those lean years.

Today the smart ones will invest in off grid solar units, and will fore go water guzzling unproductive grass lawns for beautiful backyard gardens that provide fruits and vegetables. Green entrepreneurs will take advantage of Americans' need to save money to promote and develop new green industries and existing businesses with sharp leaders will minimise their cost through green technology.

It looks like this depression will actually help the environmental movement and ultimately provide a huge boost to the green economy.

Green Business in an Economic Depression

The economic outlook is, without a doubt, gray. The happy days of out-of-control consumerism are temporarily gone and fear has gripped investors who are pulling up stakes. But the ecological results here are fantastic. Global manufacturing has been cut and this may be one of the best possible changes for global warming.

The United States has been consuming up to 50% of all manufactured good in the world and when we no longer purchase goods from China or India then plants will be shut down and many manufacturers who survive will use green business practices to save money! It is definitely a good thing.

Gas consumption has slowed tremendously throughout the world and it is no longer as profitable as before. Venesuela's oil industry is finding itself in serious trouble. If this economic crisis lasts for several years there is a good possibility that the gas industry may, (thats a big may)ramp up its investments in alternative fuels, as the US government pushes to lower greenhouse gases. That remains to be seen. But there are other great possibilities in this dark economy.

Globalization and huge corporations have been dependant on America's rampant consumerism. Without the USA as a major player many global corporations are going to have to cut back. While these cut backs result in unemployment the people that are laid of from these corporations are some of the most talented and well educated. When they are unable to find work many will strike out on their own and will form innovative green businesses.

Depressions and recessions have always been the birthplace of new wealth. Self starters and those with competitive winner attitudes always rise out of the ashes.
A new government focus in the USA that taxes global corporations will generally boost the growth of small business and domestic manufacturing for at least a few years. As new businesses sprout up we will see more of a trend toward local marketing and less international business and that will lead to stronger local economies and greener business. That will bring us back from economic collapse.

You may think I'm crazy...but this terrible economic situation is downright exciting to me!