[SustainableTompkins] Notes from SoL Forum in Atlanta

[John Miller]

Some short notes/impressions from the plenary sessions to pass along.
Happy to follow up with you on specifics as best I can.
 
Society for Organizational Learning Forum on Business Innovation for
Sustainability   March 27-30
 
I participated as part of the US Partnership team that organized a Youth
Leadership Forum within the main forum and was not able to attend any
specific workshops. I worked with some amazing next generation leaders
from around the country, New Zealand and India whose energy and
commitment  give us lots of hope (best hope?) for a better future.
 
Many at the forum commented on the rapid movement of mainstream towards
Sustainability in last 2 months.  May have reached the approx 30% point
that accompanies a tipping point.  But so much to do.  Have to increase
efforts on the solutions- less exciting but crucial- side of the
equation.
 
Moving Outside the Industrial Age “Bubble” Peter Senge.
*	Bubble metaphor used to compare our industrial age take/throw
away culture with shorter term familiar bubbles-dot com, real estate-
where people are living in denial of impending collapse.
*	Outside the bubble is the reality (answers) of the natural world
*	Senge talked about the parallels to the scenario work in South
Africa- that people don’t change behavior until they realize there is no
future if the current systems and processes are retained.  So, we don’t
have to have to wait for a crisis to change if the scenarios are
constructed and well communicated.  On reflection, would seem to be and
urgent need for the equivalent of SA’s  Low Road, High Road
scenarios/stories out there globally instead of fragmentation by NGOs,
countries, etc.  We don’t need more stories, just simpler and consistent
ones to change mindset. Maybe a UN activity?  As in SA, change requires
patience and persistence (again, increased emphasis on grinding on with
solutions now that activism has created awareness).
*	Factoids (I thought useful- others may have more to add):
*	90% waste from resource extraction to “stuff” we consume (vs 0%
for nature).  Individuals in US generate approx 1 ton waste per day
*	The current plant, ocean CO2 sequestration capacity of 2-3
billion tons was only 0.5 billion tons not that long ago- I wrote down
50 years  
 
Building a Foundation/Persistence and Other Tips for Change Leaders
*	Roger Saillant     CEO of Plug Power spoke about the long term,
careful work we have ahead. Think of what we are doing now as building
the foundation for a cathedral- “know that you are growing sequoias not
radishes”   He should know- the fuel cell business requires extreme
patience (unless you are in Japan with heavy government subsidies).
For autos, Roger (I sat with him at lunch) thinks 2025.  Also, plug-ins
need breakthrough in battery technology to have acceptable economics
(battery life)
*	The older generation- heavily represented at the forum- must
think of themselves as elders in training   Need to be tough on
yourself, tell the truth about how far we have to go on this journey.
*	John Adams http://www.eartheart-ent.com/   presented a
Successful Change Tracking Grid- assessment/checklist of which the
following stand out and complemented by his observation that facts don’t
change minds- stories do (see scenarios above) :  
*	Acceptance that change is needed
*	Change is both desirable and possible 
*	Sufficient passionate commitment
*	Mechanisms for repetition of new positive patterns of behavior
*	Patience and perseverance
*	Clear accountability -be visible, vocal, consistent and
persistent
*	Rewards for new behavior and withdrawal for old behavior
*	David Gershon (Low Carbon Diet) presented (I caught only short
piece of it) on continuing success with focused, well organized, fun
Global Warming Café, Cool Communities  teletraining:
http://www.empowermentinstitute.net/lcd/lcd_files/LCD_Tele_Training.html
, Cool Corporate Citizen programs
 
Intergenerational  Conversations
*	SoL plans to make youth centerpiece/theme of next such forum
*	In our group, Glen from New Zealand defined Sustainability as an
intergenerational conversation about the future/conversation with the
next generation.  Isabelle added that we need to include past
generations for full wisdom- “we can let those that came before us hold
our worries and fears as we move into difficult work”
*	Our 14 year olds- James and Madeline from Brewster NY and
DoRight Enterprise (middle schoolers doing energy consulting,
sustainability PR and lobbying- were a big hit with the full forum and
both of them gained great confidence and commitment over the three days
of the conference http://scottbeall.com/doright.htm
*	Raffi focused on honoring/respecting the child in two ways:  1)
rights of children to a better future and 2) how we might emulate how
they learn- inquiry, playfulness- as we create a new society.   See his
covenant for honoring children
http://www.raffinews.com/child_honouring/covenant_principles 
 
Business Realities
            John Krenicki from GE power and Vivian Cox  from BP talked
about their sustainability activities.  Clearly business needs
push/help/partnership from citizens and government to move more quickly
but they are investing heavily in sustainable technology for next 100
years.
*	GE pursuing retrofitting of power generation aggressively which
will have more short term carbon release impact than alternative/wind
*	BP moving from largely PR campaign of past to hard projects-
seems mostly because of Vivian’s persistence, leadership
Inspirational Presentations
*         Jeff Brown- SoL regular and minister in Cambridge Mass- spoke
about his work in reducing black youth homicides by simply keep stepping
into it    After preaching to the community and seeing the failed
attempts to “take back the neighborhood” by force (the gangs simply
moved to nearby streets), Jeff and a few others just showed up in the
bad areas after 1 am and eventually the youth reached out to them for
help.  Again, learning, patience and persistence.
*         Janine Benyus updated on many new developments in biomimicry.
We need to quiet human cleverness and listen to nature and  echo what
you hear and give thanks
o        CO2 as feedstocks for
*         Bicarbonate for structural material
http://www.co2solution.com/a-tech01.html
*         Biodegradable plastic
o        Low energy fans, pumps using natural logarithmic screw shapes-
50% less energy and 75% quieter- for things like computer fans in the
short term. http://www.paxscientific.com/technology.html