Corporations can be incredibly innovative, writes Paul Levy. But it's not always in good ways. Think of VW's clever device for fooling emissions tests, social media software that's way too intrusive for its own good, or sugary drinks marketed as 'healthy' when they're no such thing. Sadly, there's a lot of it about!
… Toxic innovation: Volkswagen is the tip of a … reveal similar antics in other corporations . Innovation takes new ideas and creatively … is negative? The VW story points towards innovation that is toxic - either to …
The idea that our profit-oriented, growth-driven economic system can deliver a sustainable society is a beguiling one, write Lili Fuhr, Thomas Fatheuer & Barbara Unmüßig. But it is doomed to failure. The changes we need are in the first place political, and will be driven by a new democratic will to put people and planet before money.
… The most powerful talisman is technological innovation, which justifies simply waiting for … to come along. But though new ideas and innovations are obviously vital to address … they are neither automatic nor inevitable. Innovation, particularly technological …
We owe a deep debt of gratitude to Dr Frances Kelsey, write Helena Paul & Philip Bereano. In 1960, she defied her bosses at the FDA to prevent the licensing of thalidomide in the USA, saving thousands from being born with serious deformities. Her tough approach to minimising the risk from new drugs contains lessons we ignore at our peril.
… under attack in Europe, accused of hampering innovation in science. Given this clear … Precaution does not stifle but stimulates innovation Since the Reagan administration … or be hurried into premature approvals of innovations, with serious and often …
Interface's sustainability model shows how large industrial companies can slash their carbon emissions and other environmental impacts without compromising profitability, reports Sophie Morlin-Yron. The key is to aim high!
… Agency Sustainable Pioneer Awards 2010. Innovation is key Innovation has been the driving force … in the first place." And there is proof of innovation for sure. Some of the things that …
If you are one of the many millions of people who rely on vitamins and supplements to maintain their health and conquer illness, it’s time for you to get active. The Ecologist explains why
… those currently sold in the UK. Suppressing innovation Any vitamin that is not on the … net effect of all this will be to kill future innovation. ‘The positive list locks us into …
Britain has a huge role in effecting the global energy transition to renewables, new shadow energy secretary Lisa Nandy told the Labour Party Conference. But that will mean a complete reversal of Tory policies to attack wind and solar, lock us into polluting fossil fuels and overpriced nuclear power, and maintain 'big six' profits at consumers' expense.
… It demands that we draw on the creativity, innovation and talent that Britain has to … the government is pioneering clean tech innovation using solar energy to connect …
The UK Government plans to lock consumers into a 2.5bn a year, 15-year spend to support peak-time fossil power generation - while undermining energy demand savings capable of achieving the same purpose more cleanly and cheaply. But today the 'unlawful' system has been hit by an ECJ lawsuit.
… secure." "Instead, the lack of commitment to innovation from the Government will stymie … The Ecologist. The lack of commitment to innovation from the Government will stymie …
The new Commission may have dropped environmental protection from its 2015 work plan - but it's pressing ahead with a new Directive to protect corporate secrecy, threatening consumers, journalists, whistleblowers, researchers and workers.
… information sharing - possibly even innovation - in the EU. Specifically, we share … a 'magic bullet' that will keep Europe in the innovation game, closed-door trade secret … In the EU, a so-called Trade Secrets & Innovation Coalition is pushing for this …
In the run up to the British general election, Pat Thomas says the various party manifestos are starved of sound policies on food security and sustainability
… At that time the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills finally accepted this …
You've read about the Occupy Wall Street and London protests and you know about corporate greed (and the banking bail-out) but how can you do something about it?
… think about approaching forums the Finance Innovation Lab , run jointly by WWF and ICAEW, …
As the bluetongue virus sinks its teeth into British livestock, there is one appalling certainty: like the outbreaks of Mad Cow Disease and foot-and-mouth before it, some farmers will see no way out, and take their own lives. Farmers in Britain are the profession second most likely to commit suicide (after, bizarrely, dentistry).
Farming despair Raj Patel | 1st November 2007 News India Suicides Poverty Debt World Bank Agriculture Farming Agribusiness Farming Urban Farming Famine Local Food Production Food Security Indigenous …
World leaders must act. We are drowning in promises.
… has taught us that extraordinary progress and innovation can emerge from human tragedy and … has taught us that extraordinary progress and innovation can emerge from human tragedy and …
There's still money to be had for good environmental projects, but it's a fraction of what's being spent in other areas, says Harriet Williams
… sustainability blog WorldChanging , 'funds innovation that would otherwise never emerge, … Risk culture Good philanthropy is about innovation, creativity and taking risks – …
New research indicates that agricultural policies aimed at alleviating poverty in Africa are making things worse, writes Lawrence Woodward. Backed by 'development' aid, big business is forcing modern farming practices on unwilling rural communities. Only the rich benefit, while the poor carry the burden of landlessness and debt.
… Sub-Saharan Africa: Implications of Imposed Innovation for the Wellbeing of Rural …
Private water companies have never been more aggressive in their sabotaging of efforts to 'make water public', writes Satoko Kishimoto, with legal threats and challenges launched under 'free trade' agreements. But as citizens worldwide reject corporate water profiteering, the trend of water re-municipalisation has gathered unstoppable momentum.
Our public water future - closing out the corporate profiteers Satoko Kishimoto | 17th April 2015 News Water Corporations Commons Trade paris-fountain-cut.jpg Paris-based Veolia and Suez are …
More than seven out of ten edible marine species in the EU are over-fished and coastal communities are dying. So you might think new draft reforms would help reverse this trend. Not so, says Victor Paul Borg, who investigates the impact of changes that the community fishermen themselves do not want
… catch quotas as a market mechanism to trigger innovation), achieving Maximum Sustainable … as a smart tool that would give impetus to innovation, and reduce catch-overcapacity and …
Ahead of the latest UN climate conference, leading academic Anthony Giddens explains why it's time to switch to smaller agreements between major world powers
… the issues without a fairly heavy dose of innovation. Both globally and nationally we should be spending to try and produce such innovation and even though you can't predict … we need to support hundreds of bottom-up innovations that are going on around the world …
Monsanto’s global website says: ‘Imagine innovative agriculture that creates "incredible" things today.’ Actually, I think most of us are more interested in ‘credible’ things when it comes to agriculture. Like food that people can trust is safe. And crops that meet the needs of the farmers that grow them. The Monsanto slogan used to be ‘food, health, hope’. As if this wasn’t absurd enough, it has now been changed to ‘Imagine™’. John Lennon must be turning in his grave.
Imagine…food without pesticides …seeds without patents …a future without Monsanto John Hepburn | 1st September 2004 Comment Monsanto In-built Pesticides Bacteria Genetical Monsanto Agribusiness …
The Ecologist Film Unit (EFU) is a unique new collaboration between The Ecologist magazine and Ecostorm, the world's leading ethical investigative agency. Specialising in innovative, hard-hitting documentaries and news investigations, the EFU makes films for online, television and film festival output.<br/><br/>Building on the Ecologist's reputation for agenda setting reporting on environmental issues and Ecostorm’s investigative film production skills, the EFU aims to lift the lid on a host of unreported environmental scandals, as well as spark debate and nurture original thinking.
The Ecologist Film Unit 30th November 1999 Other EFU Politics And Economics Pollution Society EFULogo_article_1.jpg The Ecologist Film Unit (EFU) is a unique new collaboration between The Ecologist …
The outgoing chief of the Government's independent sustainability watchdog, Jonathon Porritt, has criticised the Treasury and Department for Business for a failure to advance the sustainable development agenda
… the Treasury and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS, formerly BERR) for …
Self-builders are no longer a niche segment of society: they are industrious, skilled, innovative individuals who should be helped to create vital, sustainable communities
We need a citizens' housing revolution Stephen Hill | 13th January 2010 Comment Green Living Politics And Economics Housing Building Construction Sustainability hardhat.jpg Self-builders are no …
A farming revolution is under way in Africa, pushed by giant corporations and the UK's aid budget. It will surely be good for the global economy, writes Sophie Morlin-Yron, but will Africa's small farmers see the benefit?
… to attend, industry leaders spoke of new innovations and initiatives which would help …