James Russell - Editor of Element Magazine in the NZ Herald

Interviewed by Tim LynchOctober 15, 2014
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It is about our actions and vision as well as long term thinking and we have to engage in this .

Sustainability in an ecological context is doing the same thing in perpetuity, over and over and actually improving the environment in the process, which is what organic gardening does. (Note: where as fishing in the ocean is not the case as there is virtually no putting back and building up of fish stocks and thus replenishing the resource base.)

Listen to how James, being Editor of such a prestigious publication where one moment he may meet an energetic and inspirational person doing something that encouragers other people to follow suit, and the next message may be of an ecological report that is so devastating and disempowering. Yet, as a family man with two young boys, his resolve becomes even stronger to engage in publishing and sharing information and knowledge that can make this world a better place for us all to live.

He also finds that with this publication he doesn't compromise his values so can sleep at night. Yet, with so much content available James often has to leave a huge amount of data, information, and good stories, because of an oversupply of newsy content that flows into his office. For as you browse your way through Element, you can quickly recognise that there is so much opportunity for the Ecology of Commerce to be embedded into the new biospheric understanding of our connection within the web of life.

In this interview James mentions some leading initiatives that he finds inspiring:

www.beyondsustainability.org  = creating a community of leadership on a platform of reverence .

Humanity is on an unsustainable course of growth and material acquisition that will result in our children and grandchildren inheriting a planet unable to nurture their dreams and support their lives. We need to move beyond sustainability, beyond practices that merely do no more harm. We need to foster a culture of leadership that emanates from a sense of deep reverence for the natural world. We believe that something more fundamental needs to take place ... a re-imagining of our relationship with the Earth.

www.cradletocradle.com - As promulgated by William McDonough designer of items that are endlessly and infinitely recycled . and or reused.

That once we design appropriately and consciously, where no planned obsolescence is built into any manufactured item, that it then can be reused, recycled and (or reduced) and that every component is biodegradable. Once we get these ideas deeply embed in societies collective consciousness, products will then either return to the biosphere or the technosphere, to be cycled through once again.

The interview covers growing food, population increases, technical advances in making meat substitutes made from plants, = more vegetarians, due to lack of utilisable world land use for cattle.

www.Carbonscape.com another innovative NZ company that gets discarded slash from pine forests, the thinnings and the lower branches etc and has an agreement with NZ Steel to make green coke, where the waste is microwaved to turn the green branches and pine needles etc into a high quality fuel that is far less polluting than coal. Very innovative, but needs angel investors to get this to market.

Here's the international link www.accoya.com And here's the local one www.accoya-timspec.co.nz

Listen to the challenges dealing in the world of big players of the adroit Government owned Scion, an innovative state owned enterprise here in NZ with the technical ability to fuel the entire NZ fleet of trucks and vehicles with carbon neutral energy.

However, the New Zealand government continues to subsidise the oil and gas exploration industry to the tune of $48m per year.

New Zealands energy needs used to be 90% renewable in the 1970's early 80s, but we slid back to around 75% by opening coal burning at Huntly.

Solar panels on roofs in NZ can cut your power bills by over 50%.

Pegasus Bay school in Christchurch has covered their school roof with solar panels;
http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/pegasus-bay-school-opens-in-christchurch-6001107

Solar King an Element client has put solar panels on Peria school in Northland;
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/element-magazine/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503340&objectid=11285532

Find out that big business pays far cheaper power rates than ordinary homes in Auckland and we find that Northlands power is much more expensive than in Auckland too.

The Get Across group, to get the bicycle and walkway across the Auckland Harbour bridge is going to achieve this in the near future.
http://getacross.org.nz     new site:     www.skypath.org.nz

www.neighbourly.co.nz with around 500 people joining every day giving away old stuff.

About Neighbourly
Neighbourly is a New Zealand owned company founded by a team of individuals passionate about building stronger, safer and more vibrant communities. The Neighbourly team includes some of New Zealand's most experienced internet entrepreneurs and is planning to expand Neighbourly across New Zealand soon.

Neighbourly's mission is to create an easy way for neighbours to talk and share online, creating more real world connections and ultimately growing stronger, safer and friendlier communities

ELEMENT Magazine:

Online: www.elementmagazine.co.nz

Element magazine has a weekly online newsletter that also has Twitter feeds and Facebook.

A very compelling interview with a New Zealander (a young father of two) on the leading edge of ecology, innovation and connectivity.

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Tim Lynch

Tim Lynch, is a New Zealander, who is fortunate in that he has whakapapa, or a bloodline that connects him to the Aotearoan Maori. He has been involved as an activist for over 40 years - within the ecological, educational, holistic, metaphysical, spiritual & nuclear free movements. He sees the urgency of the full spectrum challenges that are coming to meet us, and is putting his whole life into being an advocate for todays and tomorrows children. 'To Mobilise Consciousness.'

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