Power, Love and Money
First posted in the Guardian, December 6th, 2013 As an environmentalist, producer and businesswoman, I have always thought that moving anyone to action takes either power (or money) or love (or sex). Sometimes it takes
Courage and the modern business
First posted on the 2degreesNetwork on November 28th, 2013. The laws of nature and the rules of business are currently in direct collision. Today, the biggest polluter makes the biggest profit. Short-term earnings govern financial analysts’ worldview, and
Addicted to cars: why can’t New York City break its bad transit habit?
First published in The Guardian, October 7th, 2013 Photo: Several high-volume roadways cut through Central Park. Photograph: Murdo Macleod/Murdo Macleod Last week, on my way to Newark Airport from Manhattan, I looked across the highway to
The Carbon Diaries
First published in the Huffington Post, October 8th, 2013 I just finished reading a fantastic novel, The Carbon Diaries, by Saci Lloyd (2010). It has tons of music and sex, so of course it's riveting, but
New Business Alternatives for Obama’s Climate Change Program
First published in the Huffington Post, September 9, 2013 President Obama's emphatic stances on climate change during his inaugural address were indeed welcome words. Most analysts are focusing on the administration's ability to use new
What’s Going On. Business and History
Businesses' power to impact society extends beyond their carbon footprints and working conditions. What companies have fundamentally changed the world? Motown is not only a delight (of course, it's playing now to inspire me), but also showcases the power of business to change culture. And it's not alone. Other businesses also altered the zeitgeist and, in turn, history.
Seven lessons on sustainability from Star Trek
First published in The Guardian, August 28th 2013 Captain Jean-Luc Picard: You know, Geordi, I spent the better part of my life exploring space. I have charted new worlds, I've met dozens of new species. And
How West’s throwaway culture destroys basic freedoms in China
First published in The Guardian, August 23rd, 2013 Photo: People walk on Tiananmen Square as heavy pollution lingers in the air. Photograph: Diego Azubel/EPA I recently had the good fortune to meet a Chinese student, Wei
The new financial ledger
First published in The Guardian, July 10, 2013 We all know about the two sides of the financial ledger – profit and loss corresponding to cost and expense. But there is a basic piece of
Crisis Joe Woes: The Coffee Industry Promotes Excess and Waste
First published on CSRWire, June 7, 2013 I have a coffee jones. I follow all things caffeinated and java-like and I am crestfallen and furious that the newest coffee trend is to use single-serve pods.