green tech

Part of the answer is highly dependent on how people in the US react and take action under a new government. There are several unprecedented transformations ahead of us that will require both incredible governmental leadership and public support and action. The first of these is the fundamental re-building of the United States operating infrastructure. Our underlying infrastructure systems are all aging, out of date or in need of massive upgrades. From roads, to electrical generation and distribution, to water and sewage, to air traffic control, cellular, television, etc. You name an infrastructure and we are either in dire need of building or upgrading it, or have already decided to do so and are trying to find the funds, engineers and resources to do so. This will require governmental priority. It will not only require citizens to vote for change, but to act on that need with their personal sweat and focus. It will require new technologies and new approaches. Never before have we had to “rewire” the country in such a dramatic way. Most of our prior infrastructure build-outs were new, without a need to navigate the replacement of something aging – or they were the equivalent of “paving the cow paths”.

The revamp of the air traffic control system will not proceed in this fashion. We have to keep 8000 planes flying on radar and radio towers each day while launching GPS-based systems that can take advantage of safer, more efficient routes. New regional, hub-based systems will increase the number of planes, reducing costs, increasing efficiency - but also complicating the overall situation.

The revamp of our electrical systems means finding new ways to clean our coal-fired generation plants immediately, while we find the next best solutions for powering our country in the fastest way possible (solar, hydro, nuclear, etc.). This will require new technologies in generation and in environmentally sound cleaning. It will require that we look at where the generation is and where the people are and build or revamp transmission facilities in an economical, safe and environmentally sound way. The full solution for a more efficient and stable electrical infrastructure will require the use of “Smart” metering at the home for instantaneous monitoring of our electrical use. These meters will give consumers the ability to see the direct effect of their usage immediately and will allow them to buy the cheapest, greenest energy and use it wisely. It will involve exploring nano-technologies for more efficient solar power. And it will require a country-wide focus on conservation and awareness of our energy use.

With the US drinking more bottled water per capita than most of the rest of the world, (according to www.worldwater.org) the most “developed” country in the world has a water crisis. Whether this is just a social/cultural issue or an issue of real health concern seems to depend on your economic status or daily consumption of self-help literature, but either way we have work to be done to make our water sources safe, to communicate this and to eliminate our addiction to this irresponsible environmental irrationality.

The ever marching “advances” of cellular (now going open source, multi-network and exclusively digital – making obsolete any remaining analog handsets) and television, (also going “open” at the set-top and shutting down all analog transmissions) will create a wave of new technologies and new interaction models that will open yet another flood of communications channels for us to figure out, to exploit, and to manage.

The second family of transformations center around taking action against climate change – the “green revolution”. There have been few issues that are in so much need for endemic change across all political boundaries as does the need to combat climate change. No matter what your proof that it is happening or your conclusion as to why, the reality that we have to learn to manage our environment better, waste less and preserve more is clear and it is a national and global concern. The need for innovation in this space is awesome: from new ways to carry our groceries, to packaging, building materials, lighting, clothing, production, transportation and farming. You name it and it can probably be created, used, re-used and recycled cheaper, faster and with a smaller carbon footprint than it is now. With additional motivation from prizes such as the Ansari X-prizes and research and government grants, this will be a hotbed of innovation over the coming years at a time when we need it most.

So, we could be entering an era reminiscent of the golden infrastructure days of railroad, telephone, interstate highways, and moon shots with jobs-a-plenty and innovations everywhere. Or, we could slumber and stumble into a spiral of international alienation and forgotten technologies akin to east Germany in the height of the cold war.

Oh, and mentioning war, if you are wondering where some of the funding for these monumental efforts might come, consider the fact that we are spending somewhere around $1 Billion per DAY on military activities at the moment.

There are many clouds over the US at the moment but as is evident from this simple discourse, there is also incredible hope for the US economy and for technology as a fuel for recovery. Success will only come if each and every one of us takes action and commits to working toward a more responsible, more tolerant and more sustainable future. Each in our own way, to the best of our abilities.

Now.

As we enter the final two weeks of the Presidential campaign, I find myself asking what is truly needed to push the ball over the finish line. And what is it that can make a huge difference. And it seems to me there are three main things that need to happen:

1) Supporters need to vote.

2) Supporters need to help convert non-supporters into supporters

3) Supporters need to make sure that as many other supporters as possible also vote.

As I spoke to my children recently about their thoughts about the election, they saw the election as good and bad, right or wrong. Only when pressed would they spout the details behind the issues that were a more substantive argument for their opinions. Their first comments were very condescending. This may seem like the juvenile mistakes of inexperienced debaters, but I have heard many Obama supporters lash out with rhetoric that served more to invigorate the opposition as opposed to sway their conversion.

I realized that the key thing for me to remember in talking to undecided voters is to sit in their seat, to listen from the audience’s perspective. To speak in rah-rah rally talk, or to just slander the other side does not offer substance for them to create conviction and commitment.

In the next several days, we need to be talking to those who are undecided and giving them respectful, thoughtful reasons to consider and commit to Obama. Here are four reasons I have heard people cite who were either direct McCain supporters or undecided, but now have switched to support Obama (you may not agree with their logic - but these real quotes and real sentiments):

• Judgment: “If Sarah Palin is John McCain’s assessment of the BEST REPUBLICAN available for the top ranking role in the United States (next to his), then I have to question his judgment. She is not qualified to be VP – let alone President and it is an insult to the many experienced, distinguished and competent republicans who could bring real substance to the campaign. Not to mention the fact that it is irresponsible and divisive.”
• Negative campaign: “I just get turned off by the constant negative attack in his campaign – why can’t he say something positive about what he is going to do instead of trying to trick us with twisted, irrelevant issues that insult our intellect. Obama is not a terrorist and we know that. And it seems to me Obama is actually going to lower my taxes more than McCain will, regardless of what McCain says. What is he thinking about?”
• Financial recovery: “Everything went to hell in a hand-basket for our economy over the past few years. Things were better under the Clinton administration – by a LONG shot. Obama has said some good things about what he is going to do to help the average US family and we need it now. In addition, I trust Biden a lot more than I trust Palin to be fiscally conservative as a side kick to the president. I am willing to give the Democrats a shot at trying to fix the mess we are in.”
• Cross-party unity: “When it comes right down to it, the two candidates are both strong candidates. It is hard for me to really decide on line-by-line differences. So, then I think about who seems to have the real ability to bring the country together across party lines. McCain certainly failed doing that for the $700B bailout plan, both the President and the congress went against him.  Obama seems to be gathering new unity from all corners.”

So, speak to facts and respect the starting points of others, but get out and talk.

Help others get to the polls. Vote.

I am supporting Obama in the upcoming election. But whomever you support, you should demand that they embrace your values. With trillions of dollars of debt, billions being spent on military activities, the worst education rating in our history, the highest rate of murder, rape and drug crimes in any developed or under-developed nation, the lowest rate of engineer graduates in decades and the highest dependency on foreign energy, foreign science and foreign labor - it is time to take back our country from the domestic axis-of-evil we have fallen victim to. We must embrace the work ethic, the values and the practices that made us an international beacon and re-enter the international discourse as a viable leader once again.

To this end, I am excited to have joined the National Steering Committee of the CleanTech & Green Business Leaders for Obama (“CT4O”) group. CT4O is a newly-formed national constituency group within the Obama campaign that is spearheading fundraising, organizing, and outreach in this community. Our collective efforts will not only help to elect Barack Obama, but they will demonstrate the ability of this new economic sector to influence the political dialogue,

As much as I am disenchanted with politics, I feel so strongly about the need for change that I agreed to help recruit more like-minded catalysts. The goal of the group is to make sure that Obama wins, and to make sure he has the best advice on energy, environment and technology issues. What that means is we are trying to recruit brains and donors to be a part of the effort. I am not a natural fund-raiser, but I have learned that money is a top priority in ensuring that people are aware of their choices. So, if you are a supporter, the time is now to give to the campaign.

As you know, energy security, climate change, and a struggling economy have emerged as critical issues dominating the 2008 presidential race.

For those of us in the technology and green business sector, this presents us with a truly unique opportunity to address these issues facing our country — by putting the spotlight on important solutions emerging from our sector, and by helping to elect Barack Obama.

In addition to raising at least $1 million in contributions to the Obama campaign and the DNC through CT4O events and online fundraising, we will also:

· Secure the public endorsements of key leaders in the clean technology and green business community.

· Identify media and visibility opportunities that highlight the positive economy and jobs potential of Obama’s energy and environment policies

· Recruit and organize thousands people from around the country to help with all these and other activities

Here is how you can help – Pick what is best for you:

· Join me on the Steering Committee - Make the maximum allowable personal contribution directly to the Obama campaign ($2300 primary; $2300 general) and recruit at least 10 Clean Tech “Leaders” or, in lieu of this, make the maximum allowable contribution to the DNC (an additional $28,500). The Steering Committee is the governing and coordinating body of CT4O and members will have the opportunity to assume a variety of additional leadership roles within the group. In addition, Steering Committee members will participate in weekly conference calls that will frequently feature presentations from influential campaign and community leaders, will be named on collateral and marketing materials, and attend special CT4O events throughout the course of the campaign.

· Be a Clean Tech/Green Business “Leader” - Donate or raise at least $15,000 for Obama or the DNC by recruiting people to attend CT4O fundraisers or through on-line donations. Alternatively, organize at least two grassroots organizing events with at least 50 people. These include things such as house parties, phone banking, or trips to battleground states. You will be named on collateral and marketing materials, have the opportunity to attend certain special events, and be on monthly calls.

· Immediately become a Clean Tech/Green Business “Member” - Become a CT4O member by simply going to our website (www.cleantechforobama.com), click on “Join”, and then complete the form. No minimum donation is required, but any amount would be greatly appreciated. Once you have completed the form, you will be added to the CT4O distribution list and receive periodic updates on the campaign and CT4O activities and events. Also, after you have joined, we strongly encourage you to encourage other people to do the same.

Regardless at which level you decide to participate, I strongly encourage you to take a moment to make an immediate contribution. To demonstrate the effectiveness of this newly formed group, we have set a goal of raising at least $100,000 in the first week of operation. I am happy to report that, within 72 hours of our launch, we have already raised over $40,000!!!

Please take a moment to go to www.cleantechforobama.com and make a donation of any amount. While the website is still being developed, it is able to accept your donation.

If you would like to get involved, or require further information, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Thanks!

-gregor

Nicaragua Trip Report

Banker to the Poor, Muhammad Yunus

Inspirational recount of Yunus’ creation of the Grameen Bank and Grameen Foundation. Through his 40 years of field work in microlending, Yunus clearly demonstrates the power of enabling people to help themselves rather than merely supporting them through welfare. A must read for everyone looking for ways to make their impact more meaningful in creating a more sustainable future.