Thanks to all who participated!!!

Mean Joe Green Cartoon Archive

The seasonal weekly farmer’s market at UCSF Mission Bay will be held every Wednesday, from April 22 to November 25, 2009, from 10 a.m.–3 p.m.

Read more of this story »

0 House Republicans voted for the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act last week.

0.

Could it be that if the Democrats fix the amazing mess we are in then the Republican Party–long known for being the party to trust when it came to all-things-money–will be left without a strength???

Consider the gift of a green book this Holiday season.

Ecobrain, a green publishing company offers ebooks, the ideal green reading choice.  Ebooks can be instantly downloaded to your desktop. Ecobrain has a series of ebooks that make ideal reading for Ecopreneurs.

The Next Sustainability Wave: Building Boardroom Buy-in, by Bob Willard ($16.95)

This book provides a compelling business case emphasizing the importance of how sustainability is presented to corporate leaders. It applies effective selling techniques to reposition sustainability strategies as a means to achieving existing corporate ends, rather than as a separate priority to worry about. It sells sustainability as a solution, a business strategy, and a catalyst for business transformation.

Read more of this story »

Frank attributes his revised perspective to his tenure at Innovest.  He found that companies tasked with the holy grail of sustainability usually were able to mitigate no more than 20% of their negative environmental impact before starting to suffer financially. Profits could initially be increased by going green, but then most corporations hit a wall.  Why?

Read more of this story »

In an interview on CBS’ 60 Minutes, his first since the election, President-elect Barack Obama talked about the economy, the housing market and how to create a sustainable auto industry. He said that the $700 billion bailout plan has done little to improve the economy so far, but he credited the Bush administration Sunday for working to address the global financial crisis.

“There’s no doubt that we have not been able yet to reset the confidence in the financial markets and in the consumer markets and among businesses that allow the economy to move forward in a strong way,” Obama said. “And my job as president is going to be to make sure that we restore that confidence. We shouldn’t worry about the deficit next year or even the year after. … The most important thing is that we avoid a deepening recession.”

The president-elect also said that not enough has been done to address bank foreclosures and distressed homeowners.

Read more of this story »

Economic Populism appears to be back in vogue. Given the fall of Lehman Brothers and the Wall Street machine, the economic banter clearly seems to be “the people” versus “the elites.

Economic populism involves an economic philosophy urging social and political system changes. In the current political and economic climate, the public concern over the inequity of wealth appears to be at a peak. There is a growing call by Senator Barack Obama and democrats to raise taxes on the wealthy to shrink the wealth gap. But is it true that the rich are getting richer? Or are the rich actually in danger of losing a significant portion of the nation’s wealth? Are the democrats worried about a problem that’s already being fixed by the markets?

Emmanuel Saez, the income-share expert and economics professor at the University of California, Berkeley told Robert Frank of the Wall Street Journal that during the Great Depression, the income and wealth of the top 1% of society fell drastically. (Read here for the full story). If history is to be believed then this will happen again especially if Obama becomes president.

Read more of this story »

For those of you who do not know already, Green Options Media has added a new blog to its blog network. The Inspired Economist is a business resource for the “New” Economy. It is the perfect read for individuals and companies who are passionate about economic, social, and environmental challenges.

The Inspired Economist was launched in response to the need for a business publication that covered the growing opportunities and issues surrounding sustainable business. The Founder, John-Paul Maxfield, is excited about joining the Green Options Network saying, “A partnership with Green Options is an incredible opportunity for the Inspired Economist and our readers. It will allow us to gain further visibility, as well as leverage a very talented writer base. It will effectively spread our mission to become the authority on a growing new approach to capitalism and the business framework that is sure to follow.”

Read more of this story »

As retail sales decline, manufacturing slows and unemployment benefit claims rise, the economic situation looks more grim by the day. Rises in the stock market that show a glimmer of hope are invariably followed by dips. The housing markets declines steadily and the recession shows signs of lingering well into next year. George Bush has called for a mid November summit to discuss the international economic situation. (Reuters)

With the U.S. Presidential elections less than two weeks away, both candidates are heavily focused upon the economy as their chief task. The declining economic situation propelled by the fall of Lehman Brothers has certainly worked in Obama’s favor. People are associating the bad economy with Republican values. Both candidates have outlined an aggressive economic recovery plan.

Read more of this story »

It is my sincere pleasure to welcome you to The Inspired Economist (IE).  The goal of this blog is to highlight the individuals and companies applying passion and innovation to economic, social, and environmental challenges.   Our intention is to create a resource that serves as a bridge between idealism and capitalism, profit and passion, iconoclast and industrialist, right and left, and all of the other dichotomies that serve as distractions from the serious issues that face the world.  We aim to foster creativity, and to rally both emerging and established business leaders around the goal of creating a more just and sustainable society.

Above all, we want the Inspired Economist to do just that: inspire.  We have no use for “gloom and doom.”  The world needs hope, and the Inspired Economist will profile business leaders who’ve embraced progress and optimism as their primary motivations.

It is my genuine hope that the Inspired Economist will continue to grow and become a leading resource for the New Economy.   Thank you for stopping by and we look forward to seeing you often.

(PLEASE NOTE THAT MY OLD POSTS WERE MERGED WITH THE CURRENT FORMAT.  THE OLD IE SITE SERVED AS A RESOURCE FOR THOSE INTERESTED IN SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS AND AN AGGREGATOR OF INFORMATION, INCLUDING INTERESTING SITES, PRESS RELEASES, ETC.  THE OLD POSTS WERE NOT WRITTEN FROM MY PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE, RATHER, MY ROLE WAS THAT OF A CONNECTOR BETWEEN IE READERS AND IMPORTANT INFORMATION.  THIS IS ALL TO SAY THAT THE OLD POSTS IN THIS NEW FORMAT SHOW MY PICTURE AND SAY “BY JOHN-PAUL MAXFIELD”, BUT THIS IS MISLEADING AS THEY MAY BE PRESS RELEASES OR LINKS TO SITES THAT ARE PROPERLY CITED, BUT NOT WRITTEN BY ME.)

For the most part, the muscle power that comes with large-volume merchandising has belonged to big corporations–Wal-Mart is by far the best example. When these megabusinesses flex that muscle, they often put the squeeze on more than just merchandise manufacturers; they also can squeeze out smaller, local businesses. After all, why would shoppers pay more for products at small pharmacy, grocery, and appliance stores when they can go to a single SUPERSTORE and buy everything they need at one place for a lower price? As these superplexes mushroom in size and number, the local “little guy” may quickly get strangled and suffocate.

In contrast, Earth Aid’s Group Buys puts the power back in the hands of consumers. As far as I can see, this is a great potential resource for consumers who are looking for ways to go green without spending all their hard-earned green. That is, Earth Aid allows consumers to wield the same power as large corporations–and so get those same big-purchase discounts from the manufacturers. Or, as Earth Aid puts it:

This process allows all of us to band our purchasing power together into a formidable force–which we use to drive prices down. And it works because of a very simple proposition–manufacturers can cut prices progressively for larger and larger bulk orders.

Read more of this story »

The American Public Transportation Authority reports 35% more travelers will use public transportation this summer. They provide this list of the country’s top ten summer city destinations and their expected use of public transportation:

New York City (53 percent - up 5 percent)
Washington, DC (47 percent - up 1 percent)
Boston (48 percent - up 5 percent)
San Francisco (40 percent – remained constant)
Philadelphia (38 percent - up 4 percent)
Chicago (35 percent - up 4 percent)
Seattle (32 percent – up 2 percent)
Las Vegas (30 percent – up 4 percent)
Los Angeles (31 percent – up 5 percent)
Atlanta (25 percent – up 3 percent)

Needless to say in a country where each household owns an average of 2.28 vehicles, this surge in use of public transportation is coming with growing pains. The increase in gas prices is effecting public transportation providers, which will be reflected in the expected increase in fares. Many companies are finding it necessary to increase their fleets and routes. The cost of expanding their operations coupled with the high fuel prices are a concern. Some companies that provide public transportation are making cut backs while others are pressing forward. Overall, it seems those involved in the public transit industry are looking at this increased need for their services as positive.

One of the benefits of living in a free capitalist society is the ability to choose where we spend our money. As Americans we know, money talks! Bus, train, subway or bike….as a society we are joining together and saying no to the rising cost of fuel. There is excitement in the air (and less CO2) as we join together this summer either by choice or forced compliance. I welcome the change!

Other related posts: Public Transit is for Lovers; Why I Sold My Car, or How I Learned to Stop Driving and Love the Bus

Photo Credit: http2007 via Flickr, Creative Commons License

Today on our green books series, we’re talking radical. “Something has gone terribly wrong in the relations between humanity and nature.” Joel Kovel believes he knows what’s the reason for that. Hint? it starts with a Capital C.

Our book for today is:

The Enemy of Nature: The End of Capitalism or the End of the World? , Second Edition.

Author: Joel Kovel

Joel Kovel is Distinguished Professor of Social Studies at Bard College. He has written ten books, including the first edition of The Enemy of Nature which appeared in 2002, and Overcoming Zionism (2007). He has edited the journal of radical ecology, Capitalism Nature Socialism, since 2003 and has been active in Green politics, running for the US Senate in 1998, and seeking the party’s presidential nomination in 2000.

Publisher: Zed Books

Published in: December 2007 (second edition)

Read more of this story »

What’s the truth about Santa Claus? Who is this large, jovial fellow with flying reindeer and hordes of merry elves? If the truth about Saint Nicholas can lay the commercial icon to rest, maybe it can also restore the true meaning of Christmas as a time of peace on Earth, love and goodwill toward all.

Santa as a commercial icon undercuts the ideology of benevolence and humble giving. See this video on the chain of consumption for an idea of who gets left out when Santa goes corporate. A truer idea of the real Saint Nicholas and his current image around the world might reconnect us with the greater feelings of compassion and caring that should symbolize this (and every) season.

Read more of this story »