Looking Up

May 01, 2008

There is outstanding work to be done. Polar bears treading melted glacier water, plastic-filled gyres in the ocean, soaring food and fuel prices, global warming, war, poverty, disease—it all demands action.

Fortunately for humankind, enterprising minds are coming up with sustainable technological solutions to the world's most daunting problems. Scientists, artists, entrepreneurs, and technophiles are completing cool sustainable projects. These changes can be as small as cartridge-less ink or as large as changing a global crop.

Whenever the gloomy news of the day stares me down, there are brighter reports that tug on my arm. Today the Canadian Olympic team announced that its athletes will be wearing eco-friendly clothing made from organic (pesticide-free) cotton, bamboo, and coconut shells. Coconut shells? Indeed. Here I was thinking they were just good for a risque costume. Sheila Kennedy's portable lighting project currently on view at the Museum of Modern Art in New York uses semiconductor technology to illuminate places without centralized electricity. (More on this and the exhibit soon).

And just this week, the world's third largest food retailer, the UK-based Tesco, began a carbon footprint labeling trial for its products. One day maybe the carbon footprints for all of our food will come to light. Even though Tesco's initiative is far from perfect--they haven't come up with an accurate footprint for food that is flown around--it is still a noble start.

Photo: Sheila Kennedy (center) demonstrates the current prototype of the portable light product. Credit: Alphachimp Studio Inc.

 

Comments

[Tracy]

Looking forward to reading what you have in store for us!