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Setting the world alight: Ideas for Social Change
Eds Nick Temple, Johanna Taylor
The Institute of Social Inventions, London
Price : £ 15
Year : 2003
Published by the Institute of Social Inventions, London, the book Setting the world alight: Ideas for Social Change is a compilation of the ‘brightest and best social innovations’ submitted to it during July 2002 to June 2003. The outstanding entries that received the Social Inventions Awards given by the institute are featured. These and the other entries that are presented cover a broad spectrum of topics ranging from children and education to spirituality and old age. While many of these are ideas, others are projects that have been implemented. But what is common to them all is that they highlight the power of imagination. They become, as Dame Anita Roddick says in her foreword, a “manifesto for creativity”. Here, we focus on some of the ideas related to environment and sustainable development.
The entry ‘Earthships made of tyres provide a housing future’ shows how tyres and other waste materials can be utilized. With features like catchment systems for storing rainwater and recycling grey water (from baths, washing machines), the solar powered earthship is a model for sustainable living. Such earthships have been constructed and tested in various countries including USA, Mexico, Japan and Scotland.
The same principle of utilizing waste materials in housing finds application on a less grand scale in the Phoenix Commotion project in Texas. Philips and his wife Marsha (they run the project) have constructed two houses from recycled building materials. Philip uses unskilled labour force. He trains them and pays them minimum wages. The project thus helps solve environmental, housing and employment problems at one go! The Phoenix Commotion project got the Housing Social Innovations Award 2003.
Waste materials could even become alternative bus fares! This is what the Mayor of Chiang Mai, Thailand, plans to do. Students would be asked to use old newspapers, used water bottles and soft drink cans as fares for their tram cum school buses. They were earlier allowed to travel free of cost. The Mayor, Boonlert Buranupakorn, hopes that this would get students interested in recycling. The waste material collected would be sold to recycling firms. The money earned would be used in maintaining the transit system and anything left would be given to a free lunch scheme in disadvantaged schools.
The Sustainability Street scheme in Australia is another innovative idea that has shown good results. The scheme makes the concept of sustainability understandable, achievable and fun. It involves planting indigenous plants, installing shared rainwater collection systems, community car-pooling and esta-blishing a community garden. Street parties are held to celebrate achievements. Developed by Vox Bandicoot, an environmental design agency in Melbourne, the scheme is supported by the Moreland City Council where two such Sustainability Streets have been established.
ZERI Foundation in New Mexico has been involved in a unique attempt aimed at regenerating forest ecosystem. Usually, trees need to be cut to contain forest fires. The wood and other debris are collected and placed in landfill sites where they decompose. Significantly, this process contributes to global warming. The Foundation started lubricating chainsaws which are used to fell trees with a liquid containing mushroom spores. The result: the spores mixed with the wood debris and created mulch which became a source of food for the sheep. There was no need to place the debris in landfill sites. The pastures around the forest also got a chance to recover. The solution was truly ingenious as it “transforms a seemingly destructive (if necessary) act into one that helps regenerate the forest ecosystem”.
Another remarkable entry comes from a Globalisation Study Group in Indiana, USA. It has suggested an innovative ‘procott’ movement. A procott, as opposed to a boycott, aims at supporting those providing ethical products and services. The movement would start with community groups who would collect and share information regarding retailers and service providers. The groups would spend a certain percent-age each month on ethical goods.
As such groups network and grow (it could have a website, catalogue of products and services), their collective voice would increase. It would not only be able to sensitize consumers but also become a formidable force that the business sector would have to reckon with. The study group received the Activism Social Innovations Award 2003.
Poet and playwright Scott Stanley presents another innovative idea – focusing on ‘local’ warming rather than global warming. Thus, commu-nities could study city temperature records. The specific reasons for local warming could be identified and dealt with through legislations and other means. Stanley received the Environmental Social Innovations Award 2003 for this entry.
For all the entries, websites and other sources of information are mentioned. The simple and lucid writing style and use of cartoons make the book very reader friendly. It is a must read for anyone who believes in the power of imagination. For those who are less optimistic, the book holds out the promise that all is still not lost. Creative and innovative individuals and communities have been able to
bring about change within a single lifetime. |
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| Volume No. |
Honey Bee, 15(3):19, 2004 |
