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A Seat at the Table
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By Inspired Protagonist - January 14, 2009

Obama ChangeAfter I was screened for security, I was awarded a tag that read "Escort Required," which meant that I couldn't walk to the bathroom unattended. The last time I was in a federal building, it was a jail, following my arrest for protesting Bush's inaction on global warming. This time, Obama's transition team was soliciting my (and many other's) input on shaping its policies in regard to sustainable business.

Jonathan Greenblatt, who worked in the Clinton White House before he founded Ethos Water and then became president of Good magazine, invited me. A few months ago, Jonathan visited us in Vermont, to discuss business synergies. Now he's pitching in to work with the White House's "Social Innovation Team," which is developing an "innovation agenda" in the areas of science, education, research, health, energy, public/private partnerships, new media, and public service.

Most of the time, I try to avoid government officials. If someone from the federal government showed up at our office, he wasn't there to help. But this time, I had a seat at the proverbial table, with people who wanted to grow the sustainable economy. It certainly feels like the dawning of a new era.

The transition-team members stressed the themes Obama focused on during the campaign: transparency, openness, and being inclusive. When I asked about what they'll do about Exxon's billion-dollar-a-month subsidies, they were a little less than open, as the question went unanswered. But in fairness, they still aren't in office. They're asking questions -- there's still a few more days before they'll have to start providing answers.

Some of the others who joined us at the meeting included Seth Goldman (founder of Honest Tea), Julius Wall (from the Greystone Bakery), Deb Nelson (from the Social Venture Network), and Alisa Gravitz (from Green America, formerly Co-op America). Gary Hirshberg (CEO of Stonyfield Farm) called in on the phone. Around a half dozen administrative staffers sat in on the two-hour dialogue.

Admittedly, this was one of just hundreds of meetings comprised of thousands of people, all of whom are seeking to help and influence the new administration. But we talked about big, awe-inspiring ideas: creating a National Institute of Sustainability; increasing short-term capital gains rates to 90%; eliminating long-term capital gains on small, sustainable businesses; creating a bundle of tax incentives for sustainable businesses -- incentives that would range from tax credits for new, "green" jobs to increased access to low-cost capital.

When it was my turn to present, I focused on four core issues:

  1. Mandatory, GRI-based Corporate Responsibility reporting
  2. Eliminate tax incentives that support environmentally damaging industry (i.e., Exxon)
  3. Reform the metrics we use to evaluate the health of our society & our economy. Replace the GNP with the Gross National Happiness Index.
  4. Develop a road map to transition to full-cost accounting (which will prevent companies from externalizing costs) and level the playing field for responsible businesses

Where will all this lead? It's too early to tell. But it seems like the chance of a lifetime to revolutionize the role that business plays in society. I came away cautiously optimistic.
Other topics I will cover in my follow-up memo to the administration will include:

  1. National health care that's not linked to employment
  2. Publicly financed elections
  3. Incentivize employee ownership through additional tax benefits and ESOP financing
  4. Complete the Attorney General's new environmental marketing guidelines and then ensure compliance
  5. Prevent shareholders who haven't held stock in a company for at least one year from voting their proxy.
  6. Dramatically increasing short-term capital gains rates.
  7. Limit senior management salaries to 50 times that of the average employee in the company
  8. Encourage multi-stakeholder coalitions that bring together business, labor, NGOs, community groups, and religious organizations, and insist they resolve critical issues (i.e., sustainable palm oil, cocoa)
  9. Teach systems thinking in public schools
  10. Invest in education and place economic value in the caring professions: teaching, nursing, homemaking, elder care.

What are your priorities? I'd really welcome your feedback.

EDIT: See Jeffrey's reply to the comments below here.

photo: Shepard Fairy

Comments
Making GRI Mandatory
Posted by mmcelroy | Wed, Jan. 14, 2009

Hi Jeff:

Kudos to you for making the suggestions you did. I also think that GRI-type reporting should be mandatory. But I think GRI-type reporting should be required in ALL of its dimensions, not just some of them. That includes what GRI refers to as 'sustainability context'. Even Seventh Generation should be including such context in its GRI-type reports, which it doesn't. Why not set the example and practice what you're preaching? It would go a long way towards advancing the issue if you did.

Regards,

Mark

mmcelroy@vermontel.net

Reply to Mark
Posted by Inspired Protagonist | Thu, Jan. 15, 2009

Mark, thank you for your thoughts. I know you had a recent discussion with Gregor Barnum about consulting for Seventh Generation. I am sure he and our new head of CSR will continue the dialogue.
Best,
Jeffrey

Thanks
Posted by mmcelroy | Thu, Jan. 15, 2009

Jeffrey:

Great. Looking forward to receiving a response to the substantive issue I raised. It's not about me. Rather, it's about whether or not context-free measurement and reporting can ever tell anyone anything about the true sustainability performance of an organization. Companies that are serious about sustainability should always include context in their reports, as GRI points out. It's just that simple. My motives in raising this issue are no less genuine than yours. Happy to help if I can.

Regards,

Mark

mmcelroy@vermontel.net

Microfinance
Posted by Jeremy L | Wed, Jan. 21, 2009

Jeffrey,

I recently start a company Atayne (www.atayne.com) that makes performance apparel from recycled materials. I have always been frustrated by the financial system in our country. In growing Atayne, I am seeking more innovative funding strategies. I am looking to eschew the current system that is controlled by a select few.

Here is my thought: how can you apply a micro-investment strategy like Kiva or grassroots campaign strategy like Obama to engage the masses (and not the monarchs) in funding a company? How can you raise $25 from 10,000 people instead of $25,000 from 10 people? It seems there are so many regulations and compliance laws that would not make this strategy feasible for a small company.

I dream of a system for funding companies that are for the people in a way that is truly by the people. Our financial system needs help and I hope great leaders like you will blaze the path in democratizing the funding of companies.

If this topic interests you, I wrote a blog entry about it on Just Means.

Thanks for listening.

Jeremy

Reply to Jeremy
Posted by Inspired Protagonist | Thu, Jan. 22, 2009

Jeremy,

Thanks for your question. About 10 years ago several companies including Real Goods (subsequently purchased by Gaiam) did what is called a direct public offering. There were and may still be some special SEC exemptions for this type of offering. Because Real Goods was a mail order catalog company they had a list of customers they could sell the stock to. They did successfully complete the offering. It would require some research into the current SEC regulations.

Inspired Protagonist

Some requests good, some are rather scary!
Posted by Katerina | Wed, Jan. 28, 2009

First of all, that picture of President Obama on this post looks like something from North Korea or Red China. It brings to mind comrades, nationalization and communism.

While I am all for helping the environment there are things on your list of suggestions that have nothing to do with the environment but do have a lot to do with an attack on Capitalism. Like #6, #7 for just an example.

And who is going to pay for #1? Where is this money going to come from?

I buy 7th Generation products but if my buying your products is going to help to promote attacking my way of life and my small business profits, etc, than I may need to find other products that will not be a party to that.

My priority is to make sure my children inherit a free market America based on capitalism and freedom not someone dictating to us what we can and can not do. All I can say is I thank God every day I homeschooled my children so they are thinkers and entrepreneurs.

National Healthcare
Posted by Brit1 | Wed, Jan. 28, 2009

In this country 31% of our healthcare dollar is spent on administration. Compare this to Medicare, which is, in effect, a nationally funded healthcare system for seniors and those with disabilities - it runs pretty efficiently on a mere 3% of the healthcare dollar! And it does so without compromising care. Yes, of course we pay for it over our working lifetime, but so too do we pay high priced premiums IN ADDITION TO this! No system is perfect but other "developed" countries have far healthier populations and pay far less for health than the US. Anyone in the Fairfield County Area of Connecticut can attend a seminar on this subject on Feb 4th at 7pm at the Silver Star Diner in Norwalk (exit 14 off of I-95)

I had no idea I was purchasing products from polictical hacks
Posted by tskdixon | Wed, Jan. 28, 2009

If your point # two were taken Obama would not be in office. The dude you endoresed outspent his opponent in the most disgusting way to buy the presidency.

You are a hypocrite by definition.

Its folks like you who flew enmass in 600 corporate gas guzzling environmently unfriendly jets to watch this guy along with his illegal alien aunt get inagurated.

We had no idea your politics were so eschewed.

Were done.

John Dixon

LUVBUG WELL, I CAN SEE
Posted by LUVBUG | Wed, Jan. 28, 2009

LUVBUG
WELL, I CAN SEE AMERICANS HAVE NOT CHANGED MUCH. SINCE WHEN IS IT OK TO TELL OUR CHILDREN IT IS OK TO CONTINUE TO TAKE, NO MATTER WHAT IT DOES TO OTHERS AND OUR EARTH. IS BEING RICH, HAVING A ENORMOUS HOUSE, LIVING HIGH ON THE HOG, FAT AND HAPPY THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN LIFE?? NEW FLASH! WHEN YOU ARE ON YOUR DEATH BED, YOU WILL NOT BE SAYING "I WISH I BOUGHT A BIGGER HOUSE, OR I WISH I BOUGHT THAT HUGE GAS GUZZLING PICK-UP. NO, YOU ARE GOING TO BE SAYING "I WISH I WOULD HAVE DONE MORE TO HELP." "I WISH I WOULD HAVE SPENT MORE QUALITY TIME WITH MY FAMILY." I SAY, KUDOS FOR MAKING MUCH NEEDED CHANGES IN THIS COUNTRY. FOR TRYING TO TEACH PEOPLE THAT WE NEED TO BE CONSCIOUS CITIZENS OF THIS EARTH. THAT THEIR IS LIFE BEYOND THE GREAT WHITE AMERICAN BOX. I AM TAKING THE RESPONSIBLITY OF TEACHING MY DAUGHTER TO "LIVE SIMPLY, SO THAT OTHERS CAN SIMPLY LIVE."

Very disappointed
Posted by loefflerw | Wed, Jan. 28, 2009

I always tried to do everything I could to help protect our environment, including purchasing every Seventh Generation product I could find.

We use them in our kitchen, bathroom, and laundry room... but I had no idea I was supporting such a left wing organization.

I feel like I have given hundreds of dollars to MoveOn.org or Al Franken's campaign... What a disappointment.

I am sending this letter to my friends and family as well.

A New World Order
Posted by glory | Wed, Jan. 28, 2009

Hello Jeff, I love that you were invited to sit at the "big kids" table and love your input and follow up ideas - thank you for all you do. What is important to me? That my daughter can grow up and prosper in a country, in a world, that supports and listens to her, where she can live her potential.

I would love to see our country run like a corporation like yours, Whole Foods, Southwest Airlines or Harley Davidson where you build your company success, and strength, around the success and "GNH" of your employees... utilizing Maslow's pyramid concept. Imagine the things our country could accomplish, discover, experience if we built this country from the inside out; the holistic power that our country would run on because each human piston was running on their own holistic power. So much of our solutions today are based on symptomatic relief (from health care to economy), on reacting instead of responding. Grassroots needs to evaporate into A New World Order. Values needs to have a higher ranking in our country versus surviving. And the courage to do the right thing, like so many LOHAS companies, needs to be a way of life... at the cellular level of this country. A shift like this would take a little time and a lot of effort, but it could be driven rather hoped for.

Thank you for asking,
glory Ramsey

A seat at which table?
Posted by Meg Wallace | Wed, Jan. 28, 2009

I used to buy seventh generation products for two primarly reasons. 1) I believe in appropriate use of products for the home that are as eco friendly as possible 2) I try to support vermont business because that's where my family spent nearly thirty years in business. My father owned and operated restuarants that used local produce, local eggs (exclusively to the dismay of the corporation whose franchise he had), local baked goods as indgredients (again exclusively, again to corporate dismay. He used Vermont artists work in his restaurants. He was a pioneer in recycling (we had on site recycling equipment as well as a full time recycling manager and our own truck that picked up recycled materials throughout Upstate NY and Vermont. He mortgaged our home to start the Ronald McDonald House in Burlington and was always a major benefactor to Special Olympics. RMH and other local Charities. He was a main of mixed race raised by a single mother and grew up dealing with that in a time when it wasn't accepted. He WORKED for everything. To suggest that he shouldn't have been given his salary when he earned it is ridiculous. To suggest that Obama's ambiguous CHANGE is good for business is scary. I didn't vote for Bush, nor did I vote for Obama because neither really understands what it means to do the right thing. A person should be rewarded for merit and efforts and NO ONE has the right to limit that. A person who stood up against one of the most powerful corporations in the world, MCDONALD'S, to make sure local people ate the very best Vermont and New York had to offer in a clean place with a good value. and don't come back at me about local meat :)there was no budging on that one. I also want to address the reality of the average Obama supporter - while I parked my vehicle last summer for three weeks and WALKED everywhere, they were all driving off to rallies and meetings and events. I understand the idea behind moving towards a world that spreads love and rejects greed, and I certainly appreciate a man of mixed race being accpeted but I despise ideas that smatter of socialism, communism and entitlement. Work should be rewarded not rhetoric. It's disappointing to see so many people being led into a cult that is claiming change - but for the better? Meg Wallace

obama!
Posted by elizabethrhodus | Wed, Jan. 28, 2009

He's gonna give us change alright, ones I do not like - he is not the savior!! Please stick to the great products you make and focus less on politics!

Well ...
Posted by Murrquan | Wed, Jan. 28, 2009

I think this is kind of ironic. Sustainable businesses, that trade in organic, non-toxic and Fair Trade-certified products, are growing rapidly because people voluntarily choose to buy them. But now we're here talking about using the power of government to force people to make decisions they wouldn't have made of their own volition. And I think that it's going to backfire on us.

Like the whole "publicly-funded elections" thing. Big, environmentally-unfriendly businesses have been controlling elections, it's true. But if that's the case, wouldn't making elections publicly funded just give them more power? They've still got the power and influence, whether we like it or not. And the more power we concentrate up there at the top, the easier it is for them to just sweep in and dominate. Because they have to control fewer people that way.

Mr. Hollender, please push to have those businesses' subsidies repealed. Publicize Exxon's record, and our government's record of helping them out. But don't fight for subsidies for our kind of business, or try to introduce new government programs. All that'll do is make it easier for the people in power to take more money for themselves, next election, and make this whole business of rallying the people through new media an uphill process.

If our choices don't matter because the people in government decide for us, then what's the point of helping us make informed choices?

No more seventh generation for me.....
Posted by vanbluemoon | Wed, Jan. 28, 2009

I will not be purchasing any more seventh generation products. I will not be a part of the left wing movement to as they put it "save the country". What a bunch of bull. I will buy my products elsewhere. God bless our country.

energy savings
Posted by christian calemmo | Wed, Jan. 28, 2009

Recently, I have been trying to push 2 issues that I believe can make a difference.

I have been writing the Department of Energy to change the minimum requirements for energy efficiency for residential homes. Currently, new homes (in most jurisdictions) must meet the DOE's energy rating. If the department was to make the minimum requirement stricter, each home in the country would eventually be more energy efficient. Part of the energy modeling deals with the heating and cooling of the home. I believe the current efficiency minimum for boilers and funrnaces is 85 AFUE and a 13 SEER for air conditioners. If we adjust those numbers to be a minimum of 93 AFUE and 14 SEER all homes will have more efficient heating and cooling.

Additionally i have sent an email to Habitat for Humanity with a similar purpose. Below is my plee:

What if Habitat were to allocate its resources to renovating 10 to 15 houses a year in a sustainable way? The rehab may consist of doing an energy audit proceeded by the installation of an energy efficient heating or cooling system, new blown-in insulation (if feasible), new windows, new energy efficient lighting. The caveat would be that the family that receives the energy upgrade would have to go through a sustainable training course, similar to the training course that Habitat requires its current recipients attend but with a green focus. Each renovation should be a fraction of the overall cost of a ground up project, which would allow multiple projects to be completed a year. If every local chapter adopted this new program, I would assume that at least 500 homes could have a sustainable renovation each year.

The incentive would be that each low income family would see a financial savings. Ultimately, the goal of this program would be to educate a demographic that currently has limited exposure to a sustainable lifestyle.

those are my 2 cents!

Keep Your Politics Out of My Home
Posted by ramfans | Wed, Jan. 28, 2009

Why is it that every company and Hollwood actor feels compelled to interject their personal politics into our lives. You should not have used Seventh Generation as a political platform.

I will not suuport this left-wing owned company.

Good bye Seventh Generation.

Great idea!!
Posted by Layla | Wed, Jan. 28, 2009

Well, I am happy that you were given a chance to tell your point of view!! some great points there!! still fairly sceptical of 'will it do any good'... but hope that things will REALLY be taken into consideration...

I would also LOVE to see more transparency: transparency for the consumer on what we are actually buying, ingredients, exact places where ingredients were bought, transport used, everything could be put online these days!!
even some organic companies have poor transparency on individual products..

Would LOVE to see sites like Amazon and other shops or shopping comparison sites having exact info on ingredients and CO2 use and bad chemicals in air, water etc. AND what happens end-of-cycle!! (if burnt as such, if incinerated, if landfilled, if recycled, if...)
For simplicity, companies could have ratings like red (bad), orange (so-so), green (okay) - maybe even different shades of greeen :)

Would LOVE to see stricter laws on environmental pollution - worldwide! (Bush allowed more air pollution etc., this needs to be changed back and improved!)

Would love to see efficient shopping comparison sites - websites like epeat (for greener computers) are a great start, they don't include actual prices or local availability.. & this is something I would like to see..

Yes, do give green businesses & products & really green zero-waste & energy efficient business tax breaks BUT have also VERY strict controls in place.. The 'bad' lobby has tried to usurp the organic market for a while, and make it less organic.. This needs to be prevented..
Oh, and this would be great too: bad penalties for greenwashing and such!! :)

I want to see huge taxes on pesticide-filled bananas and GMO and lead toys from China, and all who do business with them (until they start doing better, not just saying but doing!), and fair-trade control.. I would like to see CHEAP affordable really organic food & eco products!!

I want to see heavily taxed or banned GMO products or food.. Or at the very least CLEAR labelling!! and a ban on GMO firms buying up all seed companies in any country overseas or at home.. If a business (or any of its subsidiaries or business partners) does bad things overseas this must be reported too..

@christian calemmo - love your ideas!!
Do keep an eye on trying to do it in a most zero-waste way... To not just throw out older well-working products but instead add additions to make them greener.. not just energy but toxics and 'zero waste' (minimizing waste) would ideally be important..

Stricter environmental standards and stricter control (not just regarding energy efficiency!), perhaps combined with tax breaks for people doing good might be a good idea..

@all saying they won't buy products just because you're talking to the Obama people: Grow up! Some people didn't like seeing the previous candidate in the office.. Still, he may have done some things okay too.. It would be like foreign people not wanting to talk to anyone from USA just because they had a terrible president?!! You can have different political views but still be good friends and admire someone for the good things in them!!
Fact is Mr O's there for a set amount of years now. Even if you dislike a person or some of their ideas, talking to them on some other issues of concern may prove beneficial.. you can still educate & inspire.. It would be better if you provided clear arguments and suggestions on points important to you if you were kindly enough asked for input!

I love many of Mr Obama's points and am concerned about some things too.. The running away of capital (for fear of taxation) and his not-quite-clear stance on nuclear energy.. (am against nuclear)
So ideally the USA would try to go for worldwide sustainable & transparency treaties and this would also prevent bad things happening abroad! (& help save local jobs and businesses!)

Just a few things from the top of my head.. :)
It is really AWESOME of you to ask & tell us about this!! :)

Thank you for your
Posted by C. Mashburn | Wed, Jan. 28, 2009

Thank you for your exuberant essay and your always refreshing committment to share your values. If I understood everything you spoke of, I might not agree with it all, but I too look forward to the possiblity of more open government that does not look upon the environmental interests in this country as criminal.
Keep sharing your thoughts and I will keep on buying your laundry detergent and dish detergent.

Right vs. Left, Oh My!
Posted by ConsciouslyFrugal | Wed, Jan. 28, 2009

Although I agree with many of your proposed bits of legislation, I find myself concerned with the fact that some of them are deemed necessary. I understand (to some degree) why people would bristle over putting a cap on executive salaries, but what decent person pays his or her employees 500 or 1000 times less?

I don't know that government can effectively legislate ethical behavior, as it's so mired in corruption and ruled by the game of fundraising. What concerns me most is that we have created a culture where the dollar is king and even a simple discussion on placing values before profit in a cultural context creates angry responses of "left wing hack" and other such sweetness.

Can we legislate ethical behavior in business? I don't know. It's rather saddening that there exists cause for the question in the first place and such rage in response to simply posing it.

A left wing agenda disguised as a good product.
Posted by slvsamuel | Wed, Jan. 28, 2009

Those who are environmentally conscious are on both sides of the political line. In these tough economic times, it is important to keep your customers. So why would you mix your good product with politics? What is more important, your goal for a cleaner environment through safe products or a political party / politician? This was a bad business decision. With one e-mail, you have lost customers.

Luvbug
Posted by Katerina | Wed, Jan. 28, 2009

Well, then I feel sorry for you and your daughter. That means you have a scarcity mentality. There is abundance. God is smarter than all of us combined and in his wisdom has put great wealth and abundance upon the earth. So you want your daughter to live simply so that others may starve to death? So that others die from AIDS? So that homeless stay homeless? It is the private sector, the money people, the RICH people that support all your welfare programs. It is the RICH people of AMERICA that give more in Charity than all others in the world! It is GATES and BUFFET and BUSH who do more for the people of Africa than anyone else EVER in the history of the world!
Yes, I am rich and I like being rich. I like drive my Mercedes. And I like giving of my substance to the poor of my own free will and choosing to my church. My church owns the largest private sector welfare farms, factories and ranches that even presidents from all over the world come and see how is that we are always the first ones there, the first ones after Hurrican Katrina, The first ones after the Tsunami, the first ones every time there is a disaster! That could not happen if we were all poor and not pushing ourselves to be our best.
There is nothing wrong with being RICH. It is what you do with your money. Keeping everyone down and out like you suggest creates victims and mediocrity.
And then there is President Obama who did not tithe or give to the poor at all until such time as he began to run for office. He then began giving a whopping 3% to charity!!!!!
Look who's talking. Typical liberal backtalk, take from others but don't take from yourself. He and his wife make 2 million dollars a year, I don't think that is anything to sneeze at! At least walk the talk!
I am glad that my children aspire to greatness so that when my son joins the peace corps he also has additional money to help those he will be serving and my daughter who is working with special needs children has a side business that makes money so that she can help those special needs children more than the government can ever help them.
If you like to live simply that is your decision but don't judge those of us who enjoy our money for all that it does do for our family and others.
I provide jobs to people because I have the money to do so.
Rich people provide jobs to others. Think about it.

So disappointed.
Posted by C. P. | Thu, Jan. 29, 2009

I had no idea I was supporting a company with such left leaning political beliefs. And to think of all the people I've told about your products over the past several years. I guess I need to right that wrong. You clearly are only interested in customers with the same political views as yourself. What a slap in the face.

Systems Thinking?
Posted by dogloverx2 | Thu, Jan. 29, 2009

Could you please elaborate on "Teach systems thinking in public school." I'm not quite sure what you mean by systems thinking.

Wow. I only thought I was
Posted by charlesbtemple | Thu, Jan. 29, 2009

Wow. I only thought I was cleaning my house. I don't appreciate having your liberal politics shoved down my throat. I am thinking Clorox Green and Ecover have the same products you do and within easy reach while I am shopping. See ya!

One of the great things
Posted by The Dean | Thu, Jan. 29, 2009

One of the great things about free speech (to the extent we stll have it) is that it allows everyone- knowlegable or not- to express opinions. Everyone from Sean Penn, Kanye West, Barbra Steisand and- NOW a guy who sells socially responsible soap gets a chance to mount the podium and spew. The result is predictable when such people get in over their heads.

Unfortunately, it appears that Mr. Hollander's agenda of Change and Responsibility (for others) is vapid, derivative, contradictory and dedicated to the proposition that no government is too big, too powerful or too intrusive. The collectivist mentality sweeping the nation relies on ideas DAMAGE our psyche and will sow nothing but misery if this goes much farther.

I am trained as a political linguist and writer and I recognize BS when I read it. Mr. Hollander's ideas are BS and his self-satisfied sanctimonius tone are not to be taken seriously by adults. No more Seventh Generation in our house. Stick to soap, Jeffrey.

LUVBUG I FIND IT SO AMAZING
Posted by LUVBUG | Fri, Jan. 30, 2009

LUVBUG
I FIND IT SO AMAZING THAT "RICH" PEOPLE GET SO DEFENSIVE ABOUT THEIR MONEY. LIVING SIMPLY IS NOT DEPRIVATION, OR NOT LIVING TO YOUR FULL POTENTIAL. IT JUST MEANS THAT YOU THINK ABOUT HOW "MUCH" YOU REALLY NEED IN ORDER TO LIVE. I WORK HARD, I HAVE SINCE I WAS 15, AND ONE THING I WAS TAUGHT WAS TO THINK OF OTHERS. WHEN I GO TO PURCHASE SOMETHING I THINK LONG AND HARD ON IF I REALLY TRUELY "NEED" IT. SEE, THE PROBLEM IS THAT OUR SOCIETY DOESN'T THINK. WE PUT ROSE COLORED GLASSES ON THINKING THAT "GOD IS GOING TO PROVIDE WITH UNLIMITED RESCOURCES." OUR EARTH IS NOT KEEPING UP WITH THE PARASITES!!!!!!!!! YES, OUR EARTH IS A MIRACLE!!! UNFORTUNATLY WE ARE TAKING MORE AND MORE AND SHE JUST CAN'T KEEP UP. GOD PUT US HERE FOR A REASON, GOD EXPECTS US TO USE OUR BRAIN, GOD EXPECTS US NOT TO BE GREEDY AND TAKE CARE OF THE GIFT THAT WAS GIVEN.

clean coal
Posted by stealmyemail | Fri, Jan. 30, 2009

you all must be super excited about the 4.6 billion from the stimulus package going to fund clan coal, right? Here are some calculations you might fine interesting (I didn't do them though, they're from a different site):

"According to windindustry.com, “most of the commercial-scale turbines installed today are 2 MW in size and cost roughly $3.5 million.” That price includes everything: studies, permitting, construction, land purchasing, utility upgrades, etc.
If my calculations are correct, this money could have been used to build 1,437wind turbines with 2 million dollars left over!
And according to Rory Mcllmoil with Coal River Mountain Watch, this translates to:
2,874 Megawatts
7,552,872 Megawatt-hours (at 30% capacity factor)
Enough power for 572,187 homes (at 13,200 kWh/home/year)
3,021,148 tons of coal left in the ground
8,308,159 tons of CO2 prevented each year
and you would only need about 1,500 acres (2.34 square miles) max. to place those 1,437 turbines."

setting priorities
Posted by nwad | Sun, Feb. 1, 2009

Wow. This is hot one.
So you buy seventh generation products, but you are not politically motivated? Your purchasing power is a political statement. You are saying, I care that my family is not consistently exposed to toxins so, hopefully, they don't develop cancer later in life. . . so toxins aren't being put into our drinking water or poisoning the planet for all non-human life. But that's not political?
It's interesting that many folks can't see the interconnections between their lifestyles and the health of every living thing on this planet, including our children.
The choice of your car, its mpg's, how much you drive it, how fast you drive it, how much you break, how you maintain your car, and what kid of fuel you put in it, ALL affect someone living on an island that is disappearing beneath rising ocean levels in Bangladesh. Massive groups of people are being dislocated NOW because of the planetary effects of our excessive lifestyles.
There are consequences to our actions or inaction.
Greed is NOT good. (Sorry)
Our planet is finite, God( in whatever context) may not be, but our planet is a closed system.
If you take more than your share, someone (or thing) suffers for your greed.
If you take a lot more that your share, someone else may perish.
Eventually, our excessive lifestyle will cause resource and energy crises that affect even US, the perpetrators (see current economic crisis).
Just because you refuse to take enough responsibility for your planet, does not mean you or your children won't be held accountable.
You will eventually be forced to change your lifestyle dramatically and perhaps even violently if you you don't voluntarily move to sustainability and equity now.

I know this is a scary thing for some, as we all want to live the way we've become accustomed to. Consuming is fun! Being frugal is not, so much. Neither is sharing. Really sharing. In the United States alone, the gap between the rich and poor is IMMORAL and unethical, and no amount of what you think you are entitled to, will change that. You are not entitled to be rich. Many poor working people work much, much harder than the upper half of our society and still despair on how to make ends meet. Society, to this point, has allowed you to live like kings(think French Revolution)
If you don't WANT to understand how economic disparity and out-of-control consumption of our resources are destroying the planet and our local and global societies, how can anyone possibly teach it to you?

We are not talking communism, socialism, or lefty weirdness. We are talking "hey, everything is going all to crud, what are we going to do as a collective?" Because . . . all that separates me from you is where the sensations on my skin separate from yours. We are one. Ya, uh-huh, really.

I am not a mean bean, just a yin to your yang.

I will continue to buy Seventh Generation products and promote them to my friends and family. Although I have had different opinions than Jeffrey in the past, my choice matters more for our planet than does the difference of our opinions.

Open your Mind
Posted by Dollbert | Mon, Feb. 2, 2009

Most of the time you admit to avoiding the government... why is that? Because as we All should know the government can not be trusted!! If you look throughout history, when was it ever a good time to trust in your government? NEVER! Look what Hitler and other dictators have done to its people! You have got to be kidding me if you support this NEW WORLD ORDER of a government especially this puppet Obama. Read into some alternative media where you can learn the truth of this administration and its many abuses. I am sick of you all brainwashed individuals that want to believe change is in the air due to a new president. It would be nice if change was possible but it is not. Inspired antagonist if you are smart you would have hid your political associations because all us people who see the real reality of the world and its affairs will not be supporting your company anymore. Many already agree with dropping the support of your products and have done so. I suggest you show fake support for the president in order to not be labeled as a terrorist. You have been arrested for protesting, what does that tell you about your government? Say goodbye to free speech, please think of what you are doing for the sake of all Americans. If you have your doubts, which im sure you do, and do not want to believe me, I would like you to do your own background research from using alternative media sources. Look it up yourself and open your mind please.

Obama Poster Artist
Posted by kb0tnv | Sun, Feb. 8, 2009

Check out this link to a story on the artist who created the Obama Poster.

Socialism is NOT the answer
Posted by craiginws | Sun, Feb. 15, 2009

First off, I would like to comment on your poster of BO with Change underneath. Change let's see...tax evaders Geitner and Daschle, Richardson and his problems, not supporting his promises such as no lobbyist in his administration and transparency of the process (stimulus package passed within hours after its release). Sounds like change to me...for the worse.

I have to agree with alot of posts here. I am all about helping and protecting our beauthiful Earth but I also want to protect our beloved Constitution and Republic. Groups such as this are doing everything to undo what our founding Fathers put into motion.

We purchase many items from "smaller" businesses because we think that companies such as Wal*Mart, P & G, etc. are too big and do everything to squelch competition. Our dollars are spent to support local and smaller businesses when possible.

My wife and I will not be purchasing your products (dishwashing, laundry and cleaners) anymore. We will cetainly let our family, friends and whoever we run into know of your socialist leanings.

Yours in liberty,
Craig

First off, I don't
Posted by muddygeek | Sun, Feb. 15, 2009

First off, I don't understand how someone couldn't see an environmentally conscious company being fairly liberal. Conservatives only began talking about the environment when it became a popular agenda with the public.

And since when has being liberal been a bad thing? Liberals have brought about almost every major change in society that you currently enjoy. Try cleaner air, clean drinking water, safer working standards, minimum wage laws.

As for who you buy from... Buy green and buy local. Who cares if its Seventh Generation or otherwise (which I'm sure 7Gen would disagree with me).

There is no such thing as clean coal. There's slightly less dirty coal though. That doesn't take much though. Have you ever played with coal?

Someone mentioned that the rich don't seem to understand that someone can live on very little but still be very comfortable. I work a low end job in a hospital and my wife works very basic tech support for a cell phone company. As we eat out very little and will be starting a very nice garden this year, we can save money and live even a bit better. I never feel want. I don't feel like I'm missing out. Its not out of ignorance either. I have travelled the world. I have seen some of the most beautiful cities in it. I have watched opera in Budapest. I have seen the Louvre. I visited Hollow Touth in Berlin. And yet I live humbly and comfortably now. Its just about appreciating what you have.