Alex Steffen: Inspired Ideas for a Sustainable Future

Alex Steffen is a journalist, environmentalist, and cofounder of WorldChanging.com. He talked about the earth's sustainability and said that our ecological footprint has major flaws. This small planet circling around the sun has evolved into a place with too much stuff that is hurting the environment. We don't know if the earth is environmentally sustainable. The world is changing quickly and we need to look for tools, models, and ideas that will change the game. He asked, "What are we looking for?" and answered, "The Bright Green City" which means changing the way we live in cities. He mentioned cities like Vancouver (denser and more livable), and Portland (using growth management where the pastures and trees stay and nothing changes).Mr. Steffen said that people in close proximity need to be Smart Places; they need to know where things are, they need to use car share clubs, information technology to use less stuff. They need to look for low cost technology like cell phones to help people freely work together. He spoke of using new tools for people in developing countries and innovative ideas like refrigerators that don't need electricity, a straw to suck water that makes it drinkable, and a merry-go-round that pumps water as kids play. We need to Leap Frog or use what we all ready know and invent new tools to make A Bright Green Future for the World.
Mr. Steffen's ideas are awesome! He is leading the way in saving our planet. We do have the ability to change our cities through consumer activism, new farming techniques, alternative energy, green building projects, technology globalization, and human rights. I think most people on the earth want to make it a better place and will contribute to new and better ways to improve the environment and totally increase livability for all of us.