I have been reading the Pew Global Attitudes Project report. It is an interesting read and covers a range of topics. The main crux of the report is how the world is changing its view of the US, now that Obama is the president. It addresses extremism, world trade, how people view their own lives, and even swine flu. The most important part to me, was the world’s view of the environment.
Leading the list in concern is Brazil. Ninety percent of those surveyed consider the environment to be a serious issue. The list that had a response rate of 2/3 or more that are concerned about the environment included Argentina, France, South Korea, India, Turkey, Japan and Mexico. Are you curious as to where America falls? Out of 25 countries surveyed, the US tied with Russia to be third from the bottom! The only people who care less are Poland and China. So, it is those of the world who do the most damage who care the least. What does that say about us and our standing in the world? And concern is on the rise in most countries. In the Middle East (like Egypt, Jordan and Lebanon) concern has risen by over 10 percentage points just since last year.
They asked the question as to whether the environment should take precedence over economic growth. The results were truly telling. Those countries whose economy had a good year (Brazil, China, and India) were most like to respond that the environment should be more important than the economy. Those countries who didn’t fare as well this year were far less likely to agree with them.
Nationalism and politics plays into the results of this survey as well. When asked which country was most trusted to figure out a solution to the Global Warming issue, several countries chose themselves as best suited: US, China, India, Brazil, and Germany all think that they are most trusted to find a solution. Kenya, Nigeria, Israel, Indonesia and Canada agree with the US. Most of Western Europe believe in Germany. The rest of the results are across the board.
The survey simply shows the results, and doesn’t give out the commentary. So, naturally I will. As usual, we as people on the planet are more concerned with our economic success than anything else. we say we want to save the planet for our children, but are more concerned with making the money than saving the environment, so the next generation has a planet worth living on. If we spent more time instilling the values that will break this cycle, and less effort on trying to have enough money to buy our way out of it, then the next generation will have more on their side. The one thing that was missing from this report was the ultimate solution. What is economies could expand and grow by saving the environment? The truth is, we can do both. The one thing that I took away from the Sustainability Summit, is that you can do good and make a living. That has to be our goal if any real change is to happen.
The final day, we created prototypes for our ideas. Some were thought out, and ready to go. Our team developed a prototype for a year-round facility where materials could be diverted from landfill and turned into resources for the community. The plan includes job creation, promoting the arts and the local economy, and job and art training. When I sat down on day 3, we seemed to know what to do. We built a prototype. It came together. We thought, this is a great idea. It needs to be done. Let’s do it. I have heard of things like this happening. Great minds come together and a deal is struck, or an idea formulated, or a company formed…all over coffee or a lunch. 
The idea for this summit was to get the juices flowing, to help form public policy, to help figure out how to help fuel this economic engine with renewable resources. How can we get the advanced energy center going? How can we attract the people who assemble wind turbines into the city? Where can we find the capital to get these ideas rolling? Cheer leading and appreciation is not to be discounted, but words mean little without the action. I challenged everyone in the room to figure out how to continue this work, to take their ideas to the next step. Since moving here in 2000, there has always been a lot of talk, but a lot less action. If we want to make big changes, we need to roll up our sleeves and get to work. We need to stop asking the government to bail us out and create our own future. This city is behind us, but the city can’t do it all. Without the true efforts of the business community, then how can we recreate a vibrant economy? It is business that creates jobs, careers, opportunities. This event was about Cleveland’s Green Economy. Don’t get me wrong, the environmental crisis is real. But this summit was not about the feel-good, save the planet. It was about rethinking Cleveland and making a change that can have economic impact as well as an environmental one.
We are still waiting for more comments for the giveaway for a framed print. Go 
We have spent most of the last week visiting various locations in central Ohio. Relatives from Kansas were visiting and we had a grand time showing them various things around Cleveland and Columbus. A lot of things were discussed about this great region that we live in. It was mentioned how lush and green Ohio was. Of all the things that were likely to come up, that is not one I was expecting. It is true, though. Perhaps that is why I find it so easy to live here. Like Portland, Oregon, Ohio is a pretty green state. There are plenty of trees and nice hills and foliage. Growing up in the windswept plains of central Kansas, I love to be near my trees. Another discussion, we had was the rich heritage that Ohio can claim. In the Victorian age, Ohio was a rich and the region very important. Just travel to any small town and see the quality of buildings that are till standing. Every town has a public square and and most a courthouse that rivals Cleveland. Nearly every small town we visited had a row of fine mansions that was the heart of the industrialists of the area. What can we do to bring this type of prosperity back to Ohio? Our attempts to reinvent the region as a new green economy could make all the difference.
