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A change for the better

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Jul change-paul-hassing-sml

Today we have a change of pace.

One of the most frequent accolades this blog receives is that it’s thought provoking.

As I consider this high praise indeed, I’d like to table what gets me thinking.

Happily, it’s a video (see below).

So you can sit back and relax (just like in those old Junior Science classes). :)

The Story of Stuff

If you’ve not met Annie Leonard, I strongly suggest you do so now:

Watch The Story of Stuff.

Annie is one of the world’s true ‘good guys’.

She really is striving to leave the world better than she found it.

She changed my thinking, and may well change yours.

The Story of Change

Yesterday, Annie took things up a notch by releasing her new movie.

The subject?

How to build a more sustainable, just and fulfilling world:

Watch The Story of Change.

Annie’s Project Team asked if I’d spread the word.

Yes or no?

While tweeting the video link to my followers was a no-brainer, I had to think about flagging Annie’s message on this blog.

I figure not every business owner wants to be hassled by greenies.

Then it occurred to me that we’re doubly involved in The Story of Change.

As producers, we’re potentially part of the problem.

But as consumers and citizens, we can be part of the solution.

I realised our dual position had 50+ shades of grey and could therefore make for a fascinating debate.

You decide

Even if you think the world is your personal ashtray, it still makes good business sense to keep tabs on those pesky tree-huggers.

Because with ethical investment rapidly picking up speed, the ferals may end up with more spending power than the rest of us combined!

And so, on balance, I conclude that this post is relevant to our forum.

The question is, what do you think?

:)

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What others are saying

  1. Author

    Paul Hassing Founder & Senior Writer - The Feisty Empire

    July 19, 2012 at 10:57 am

    Big thanks to Nic @vavroom for his kind retweet and astute observation:

    ‘… bonus brownie points to Annie – her videos are captionned :) ’

    I hadn’t spotted that Closed Captioning button. (And I’m sure that’s a big part of the disability access problem!)

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Closed_captioning

    As usual, I’m grateful to Nic for opening my eyes. :)

    Reply

  2. Author

    Paul Hassing Founder & Senior Writer - The Feisty Empire

    July 19, 2012 at 3:02 pm

    I wonder if our readers are too busy running their businesses to be watching videos … ?

    Reply

  3. Author

    Adam Finlay

    July 19, 2012 at 4:37 pm

    The Story of Stuff is an old favourite, so I’ll watch this new ep with great interest. Good on you for shouting it out, Paul.

    Reply

    • Author

      Paul Hassing Founder & Senior Writer - The Feisty Empire

      July 19, 2012 at 4:39 pm

      Thank you for spreading the lerve, Ad! :)

      Reply

  4. Author

    Paul Hassing Founder & Senior Writer - The Feisty Empire

    July 20, 2012 at 8:07 am

    By gum; the winds of change may even blow past my front door soon!

    http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/melbournes-changing-colours-20120719-22cwd.html

    Reply

  5. Author

    Malcolm Owens

    July 20, 2012 at 8:58 am

    The world in harmony is a very good thing. I’m all for leaving the planet better than I found it. Good on you for promting that Paul.

    Reply

    • Author

      Paul Hassing Founder & Senior Writer - The Feisty Empire

      July 20, 2012 at 9:06 am

      Many thanks, Malcolm! I was beginning to worry that this message wasn’t resonating with our readers.

      I’m therefore very pleased to receive your endorsement.

      Best regards and a Great Wheel (with a new Ford Territory on Number 7) P. ;)

      Reply

  6. Author

    Paul Hassing Founder & Senior Writer - The Feisty Empire

    July 20, 2012 at 11:32 am

    Two topical Twitter comments from Margaret Carey @QuickBooksToday

    ‘It’s so hard to be ethical, even a chocolate bar isn’t necessarily innocent.’

    ‘We are campaigning for truth in labelling for free range eggs at the moment.’

    Thank you, Margaret; for responding and letting us cite your words. :)

    Reply

  7. Author

    Margaret Carey

    July 20, 2012 at 11:55 am

    The truth in labelling campaign is to ensure that ‘fre range’ really means free range – the Egg Corporation is trying to incease stocking densities to 20-40000 hens per hectare which will provide conditions much the same as Caged eggs. Check the label on your free range eggs
    http://www.humanechoice.com.au/1500hens
    http://johnkaye.org.au/greens-truth-in-labelling-free-range-eggs-bill-has-successfully-passed-the-nsw-upper-house

    Reply

    • Author

      Paul Hassing Founder & Senior Writer - The Feisty Empire

      July 20, 2012 at 1:55 pm

      Good show, Margaret! Thank you for joining us. I greatly appreciate this extra info. :)

      Reply

  8. Author

    Tash Hughes

    July 20, 2012 at 12:06 pm

    The video isn’t working for me so I won’t comemnt on it, lol!

    But I fully agree that we all have a responsibility towards our planet (there is no back up plan after all!) I also agree that busiensses need to udnerstand market sentiment of all types, whether they like it or not, to maintain a good brand and keep customers happy to buy.

    As a consumer, it can be very dificult to live up to your own hopes & standards. As Margaret said – even a chocolate bar can go against an environmental belief but how much time does it take to assess every item in a shopping trolley to ensure the ‘right’ choice is made each time? Two years ago I bought chocolcate witohut knowing about palm oil consequences – who knows what I am buying now that I won’t be so happy with in a year or two?

    Reply

    • Author

      Paul Hassing Founder & Senior Writer - The Feisty Empire

      July 20, 2012 at 12:13 pm

      Hi, Tash. That’s a bugger! If you don’t mind me asking, which video, and what’s happening exactly? I know they take a while to load – and their server may be under pressure with the new launch – but if there’s a glitch, I’m sure Annie’s team would want to know.

      For someone who hasn’t seen the video, you comment is remakably relevant. I imagine many feel like you do: overwhelmed by choice. It’s tricky alright. And yes, many of the ‘nasties’ are well hidden. On purpose.

      That said, we can at least do our best. It’s far better than doing nothing. Light a candle than curse the dark and all that.

      Many thanks for sharing your valuable time and attention with us, Tash. P. :)

      Reply

  9. Author

    Phil Owens

    July 20, 2012 at 12:12 pm

    Hi Paul,

    I like her passion for what she does, and the use of animation. She has a powerful message and it will shout loudly to many of us that care and want to make a difference. Thanks for the shout out.

    This is topical for me as I have just created a couple of videos for my websites.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=MtRG-pnorFg – the ‘corporate’ me helping businesses and coaching

    http://youtu.be/Bse8nJDaPeA – the clinical me helping individuals with hypnotherapy, NLP and coaching.

    Prepping the videos was a process in itself! I hope that, like Annie, it drives response.

    Reply

    • Author

      Paul Hassing Founder & Senior Writer - The Feisty Empire

      July 20, 2012 at 2:00 pm

      Hi, Phil and good for you!

      I’ve been banging on about the power of video for yonks and now you’re set to harness it.

      I can’t wait to hear how you get on and hope you’ll keep us closely posted in here.

      You come across clearly and strongly in both those videos. But what a difference in feel between the two! You truly do have multiple hats. I prefer the second, though I’m not sure why … maybe because it’s calmer?

      With regard to the process, I’m sure many of our readers would LOVE to know what you did (and didn’t) do right along the way.

      Best regards and well done! :P

      Reply

  10. Author

    Tash Hughes

    July 20, 2012 at 12:28 pm

    HI Paul, it eventually did start so I have now seen the video – could well be that their server is getting a lot of traffic :) It was inspiring and I hope it impacts a lot of people to think about real actions – interesting that voting is the first focus.

    Reply

    • Author

      Paul Hassing Founder & Senior Writer - The Feisty Empire

      July 20, 2012 at 12:34 pm

      Ah goodo, Tash. Thanks heaps. Next time I’ll flag any lag. I never stop learning in here … :)

      Great point about voting. I guess that’s what happens when it isn’t compulsory like it is in Australia.

      (And that’s another debate right there!)

      Reply

  11. Author

    Paul Hassing Founder & Senior Writer - The Feisty Empire

    July 20, 2012 at 4:49 pm

    Further listening:

    http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/latenightlive/the-economics-of-happiness/4141602

    Reply

  12. Author

    Paul Hassing Founder & Senior Writer - The Feisty Empire

    July 20, 2012 at 7:00 pm

    An interesting corollary to this discussion is that those who feel strongly about an issue can now summon like-minded souls with unprecedented speed and effectiveness:

    http://www.change.org/en-AU/petitions/tell-zoo-to-apologize-for-exploiting-asylum-seekers?utm_campaign=petition_page&utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=share_petition

    Today’s businesses need to realise that their actions, if found unpopular, can be very swiftly punished.

    Reply

  13. Author

    Paul Hassing Founder & Senior Writer - The Feisty Empire

    July 23, 2012 at 3:52 pm

    6000+ signatures in 48 hours, resulting in an apology:

    http://www.change.org/en-AU/petitions/tell-zoo-to-apologize-for-exploiting-asylum-seekers?utm_campaign=petition_page&utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=share_petition

    That’s fast!

    Reply

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