Eco in Germany: The Econsense Forum , Berlin 2010

"Are you on the guest list?" Nope, I said. But my interest in the green management is so great that I am skipping all traditional tourist shopping just to come here, join you, and communicate back to Norway what is being said and discussed. Yep, I got in. :) The Econsense Forum, all men in suits, and me - a "journalist" slash blogger from Norway, previously being an editor of my own printed magazine by Art Council Norway for three years, though. No writer anymore, no editor anymore. Just me, an environmentalist. A CRAZY such one, and therefor - I GOT IN! Fabtastic, the Econsense! But seriously: Even though my ears only catched 50 percent of the german language all through the seminars, my eyes and their expressions and the logo "im dialog" made me understand maybe a hundered percent of this fantastic opportunity; a dialogue forum! Finally. The germans know, how to bring awareness to an upper management level. The dialogues between the leaders of firms and multinational companies, it all made me gaze and listen like never before, like my german knowledge from high school suddenly all came back to me. Because, they were on it. The leaders were on, discussing enthusiastically about serious mistakes in business and serious solutions. What immediately came to my mind, is that the movement called Corporate Social Responsibility no longer belongs to just a minor sector in business. Now big businesses are discussing it, too, and at this forum - ambassadors of many countries from all over the world entering Econsense. And this is giving what kind of signals? Of course: They know that they have to change for surviving in the turbulence of today's market and social changes. And of course to keep up with the green trends. Making strategies further from the functional management education. The creative education is on. The hybrid organizations are on. And, finally the social leader is on. This is just one more SIGNAL, that the world is aware of the upcoming changes on ALL areas in life; business and personal. It is on topic.

To get into their discussions abit, I would not put a resumé of their endless talks, but rather give a few examples of a common discussion here which is probably everyone's concern.  One is money and strategy. To change in business, there is always risk. What the leaders of Econsense were discussing, was not that their will of change is lower or less than any other environmentalist out there. Because quite surprisingly, everyone seemed to agree on the same thing; they all want to "become greener". But the question is always "how", and always "at what risk". Then first of all we must not forget, the financial and cost-benefit risks. Before entering these rooms, several leading companies of Germany had published a long report from 2009 with aspects and reviews of their implemented green-social sustainability and improving technologies in environmental-friendly, internal managing. These reports showed the balance and the income and the benefits of the 2009 changes. They also gave some future predictions and ambitions. So when entering the conference, none of these firms came with fresh pen and blanc papers. They were all adjusted and "educated" in their own company experiences. The debate further on, was whether or not the balances showed them any "likes" of taking more ambitious risks. The speekers were a couple of scientists, firm leaders with great background on resources, foresighters and reps from the European Union. To lead the debate, I noticed that they questioned other company managers more in depth on behalf of the science of resources and financial crisis. The negative responses always came when the scientists proved them how easy things are in the logic of what we have damaged and what we easily need to do, while the positive responses and raising eyebrows always came when the scientists told them how much other green companies have gained by improving their corporate responsibility. So conclusion on this observation is: They/We, all know the irresponsible style has damaged the flow. And they/we all want to get back the flow we used to have, and the better and greener solution there is - the more positive. So from talks to practice : It is not very far to walk from the table to the backyard and find all what we are looking for. Everyone CAN be happy, the problem is just to turn around the view and see WHERE is the solution, because it is just there in front of every non-creative businessleader who's just not able to see where the road split. And he or she is always happy when served.

Final conclusion of this bubbly meeting, except delicious meals and talks with ambassadors where I felt I could even touch their tie and stretch it a bit ..:)..is that there is no one out there with inhuman ambitions! Even the most conservative can turn into the greenest car driver if he'd only be presented of a few brilliant pitstops where his car can be restored and charged.

Lufthansa is at it.

Volkswagen is at it.



Vodafone is at it.



Deutsche Bahnhof (the Train service)



Market, People, World, Company. What It Tells We Must Do.

Eco in Germany: Diversity and food

Talking about The International Year Of Biodiversity in the previous post ... (http://ecoiselin.blogspot.com/2010/11/eco-in-denmark-art-and-ecology-its.html), I came to think of diversity of other kinds like food, and I found some pictures from my stay in Germany earlier in which they had these huge shops and markets with ecological and raw food, almost as if it was more commercial than Wal*Mart (which in no doubt will happen in few years time), and which probably is the case in Germany. This multiple shop called BioMarkt had the most varied organic food I have ever seen in a big city, even with stairs to second floor, and straight across the street to my hotel even better :)

All organic, two floors, food even in the escalator

Eco in Denmark: Art and ecology (it's the International Year Of Biodiversity!)

When entering the train to say goodbye to Copenhagen some week ago, I passed the ambitious art installation at Kongens Nytorv in the middle of city centre - marking the 2010 International Year Of Biodiversity.


This was yet again an art installation about ecology, and it got to my mind how important ART can play a role for the whole concept of making 'ecology' more public: When there is no words or too much words to describe today's situation for people to get into the real feel of it, or when you feel pushed to understand something you don't and what you've got left is to listen to the heart, art can be the way to give you not the answer, but to inspire your mind to search for your own answer, in the state where you let go of the ego waiste and let yourself into the openness that is of art. The question: What did you feel when looking at this painting or film? Either way it moves you.

The Living Facade

The art project called The Living Facade, illustrates all the diversity of botanity, by installing seasonal plants from Scandinavian nature, directly into a modern, urban city building. This is practically nature and diversity coming to the city again. So back to art and ecology, Denmark here wants the city to bloom, just like Europe is so colorful with all the diversity in both culture and management. We need to picture this, also in nature, and into the architecture of course. Making similar minimalism in Scandinavia all empty of plants, seems unnatural to the different shades of our otherwise attitude.

One of the signs says, and here comes something everyone should absolutely know: "What is biodiversity? Life on earth has unfolded in countless diversity of genes, species, habitats and ecosystems. This biodiversity provides for our basic needs, such as food, water and clean air, but also delivers the resources that drive our economies. On the lighter side of life, biodiversity provides opportunities for recreation and socialising."

And further: "Despite its fundamental importance to human well-being, population growth and unsustainable consumption of natural resources are putting increasing pressure on the richness of life. Biodiversity is being lost at an alarming rate both globally and in Europe.

To raise public awareness about biodiversity, in 1993 the United Nations proclaimed 22 May as the International Day for Biological Diversity. Most recently it designated 2010 as the International Year of Biodiversity."

Eco in Norway: Art and ecology

In Norway, we have loads of ecological innovation in both technology, architecture, recycling and education. But I´d say the position where we have the most universal agreements with the rest of this green world, is in the world of art! At least there is one area where we all agree on what is the most important: Having dreams. This past week, there has been running an exhibition called "Gentle Actions" at the Artist Center. I was there for two days of this week, mainly to get more contacts for my own plans in the collaboration field, but also to view some of its installations and films, like this recommended "Garbage Dreams" about western trash companies recycling 25 perscent destroying a people movement of a genius 80 percent recycling system in the poor areas of Cairo :



The trip to this exhibition was well worth it, as the non-profit Green Drinks-organization made people gather just to talk randomly about environment as we discovered as soon as many people join together, less people are avoiding to not do something. There was a speaker from the University of Oslo, saying something very important to us: When the environment movements fragments into different directions, one of the most common fears is that the future tomorrow might not be here. While she was stating, the future of tomorrow is NOT created yet. We have to remember, that the future is how we DECIDE. We are designing it, every moment.

The future is not built, nor can be predicted in detail, as it depends on how we act , from now ON. And upon action, one can build what is not yet built. So therefor she was calming down a fact we all worry about: The way we destroy our planet or the way we act today. It does not necessarily mean that we can not change it. Because we know our faults. And it is much easier to turn around when you know, than if you don't. We are somewhat lucky, because especially the internet, and the worldwide books and education and knowledge, has taught us something useful. We can design. We often forget that we are creators. Like this artist group. We design, every new change. There is nothing that we can not do.

Today,  I watched an imported popular science-program on national TV about finding intelligent life on other planets (still running with same popularity with the same questionmarks since the first black 'n white-shows about green men in the late 60s), and I payed much attention until the stupid last comment at the end of it: "And when we find Sigma"..finally at the end of planet searches similar to Earth.."..in 2040, we can then send a lazer searching for industrial garbage surrounding its atmosphere...", and listen..this is even more stupid: "..which will give us signs about INTELLIGENT life on another planet maybe highly more developed than what we are today"...... yea. As if industrial garbage in space is what all planet intelligent creatures figure out  is the one way out. The one way to developement, as we have learned from the very start of our western civilization only pushing us further to its limit. Aaargh... Forget it, Earth, you'll never find life on other planets searching like you do.

A quite different kind of intelligence

Event update (norwegian links to follow in Norway)

The homepage for the upcoming, norwegian events: 

http://fornybarfamilien.origo.no/

Upcoming: Event update and The Econsense Forum

I'm having a short break from travelling, returning soon to Sweden and will continue blogging with an update from previous days: The Event Conference 2010 in Copenhagen where I participated as I wanted to be inspired before my upcoming project management, The Econsense Forum in Berlin, and further also more information on my events to come. Stay tuned.

Eco in Germany: Berlinway is bothways.

Me giving it a "push!" :)

Surf the solutions

Berlin Wall painting: See the heart in the hole!

Remember THIS? :) (from ecovillage Odsherred photoalbum.)

Eco in Germany: 10/10/10

I am in Berlin, folks! And I found out I must be alittle crazy, as when I entered Alexanderplatz at last after gardening at Pricessgarden in a completely other part of the city, (though I`ll have to thank the very extrordinary good subway-system here!), I came an hour late to join the Silent Climate Parade (http://www.climateparade.de/), and the organizers asked me to leave my passport in order to get headphones for the concept which I did not have right there by hand, and said I just arrived by bus from Copenhagen some hours ago and all the way from Norway- and they all looked surprised "aah.. well, you are very welcome!" Probably the only foreigner there, as every one was Berliner citizens!..surprising, as I now see myself as worldcitizen I actually felt kind of out-of-place, still. So I told them I came all the way from Norway JUST to join this event, and I did not need any other proof to make them believe I was gonna play safely at their event. :) Ah. I understand my purpose better now. I am wildly joining events in the world, and every map is a web for my sences to explore and to live. And last but not least, to make good traces - and bring this forward (like here in blogs or everywhere communicative!). The Silent Climate Parade was getting attention, even though the noise was as low as any blowing leaf. I would like there to be more people joining this parade, but even more surprisingly the Princessgarden and its low-profile marketing housed even just the same amount of energetic people!..hmm. The size doesn`t matter in this case. The concept of bringing locals in to participate in local green activites, seem to attract the people nearby just from the method of understanding the purpose of greening your neighbourhood. Inspiring, that is. Bring your local neighbour in for a coffee drink and a nice dig to harvest potatoes for a common dish. :) The great Silent Climate Parade was named "silent" because onlookers did not hear music, as the music came from headphones worn by the participants. And the wireless music again came from a storage of solar-energy captured by the dj-set. Remarkable and creative idea!

A nice cafè in the Princessgarden

Me dancing

The Broadcast Tower absorbing signals from space and the tree absorbing Co2 from air

Photo album from island Oroe is up

Iselin's Eco Blog: Island Oroe

Eco in Denmark: From island to mainland to foreign land

I just came back to Copenhagen for a night. Tomorrow is very exciting, I'll be going to Berlin in Germany for Global Action Day, and stay there for a couple days. I just came from another island, hopping from Aeroe to Oroe suddenly for five days! I met some nice people at island Aeroe, called Hanne and Jens Johan, a couple living on island Oroe further north in Zealand, Denmark! So I took the ride with two cats they adopted from Aeroe, and met Hanne at the ferry to Oroe. Here I stayed until today, and my trip there was way too fast as it was so much to learn there and discover among plants and herbs. This was a herbal garden, a healing garden and Hanne educates in this. She is very experienced, and they run a Bed and Breakfast for visitors. I got lots of reflections while digging the earth there, and really I think human beings are way too comfortable indoors and should get out alot more! That was my first impression from there. Oroe taught me alot, but mostly to be respectful for what is so gently growing and we are simply just overseeing it all that happens around us. These plants they had, was very taken care of. You can sure tell when the earth is willing or not, and when the plants are taken care of. They respond by gathering more Co2, or getting fresh blooming flowers. Some herbs are treatments, learned by for instance the indians or the asian people using it almost daily. We're still very "new" at discovering all the possibilities of herbs, and after becoming more on my "veggie diet" I have discovered that the balance in the body is most important, and some herbs are used as instruments for when you are overweight in one component than the other, and cleanses your stomach and regains the immune system. Some herbs are particulary good for women, and I'll get back to more details later. I have to get some rest and sleep after a day of walking in a thousandsomething-crowded hall in Copenhagen with the title "Healthy Lifestyle Exhibition 25 Years of Celebration". You can tell, PEOPLE are HUNGRY!;)

Photo album from island Aeroe is up

Iselin's Eco Blog: Island Aeroe

Eco in Denmark: World's largest solar district heating plant

Yesterday I went for a daytrip to city Marstal (on island Aeroe/ Aero), mostly famous for its sailor history and where the very last transport by sailboat happened. "Farewell To Sails" had its exhibition when I went there, restoring an old ship that drowned and I went for a museum ride. Apart from my enthusiasm for boats and everything that floats, I went to see another tale - how the trial supplement of a solar collector plant for the city's single swimmingpool became the world's largest district heating plant to cover 30 percent of whole Marstal's requirements for heating! I think it is so nice when a little try-out turns into something expansive and re-used, like this one!:)

The plant in whole, 18,354m2. The markers are pointing at the different producers of solar panels and collectors delivered to the plant (four), also the tank for storage, as well as the circulating system and the pit heat store.

Budget of such a project. Supported by EU and Danish Energy Authority

Originally, the story begins with Marstal wanting their swimmingpool to be heated from "alternative energy" because the oil heating had a way too expensive bill. This was in 1993, and economy pushed the island into thinking differently and it was after several meetings an idea of a solar heating system. At the same time Marstal District Heating was interested in replacing some of their waste oil consumption by more eco-friendly fuel. With alittle midwifery from the Danish Association of Consulting Engineers, it resulted in a solar collector on the swimmingpool roof in 1994. The 75m2 solar collectors were to heat the pool only. However, the system also served another purpose: It was a test system to show if solar heating on a major scale was worth staking on. And it was. After six months, the results on paying the heating bill looked so promising that they decided to develope 8,000m2 of solar panels on the field behind the heating plant - and connect them to the district heating network. This was the beginning of the great success! From May till October, Marstal's consumption is 100% covered by solar heating. Source: http://www.solarmarstal.dk/

In danish: A district heating storage, to store heat from solar panels.

Sailor city Marstal. Collecting muliple creativities from all over the world when travelling by the sea.

the restoration of an old sunken ship.