We have to find more ways to make money SAVING the trees …

Dave was known as a bit of a tree-hugger. Nearly to the point of ridicule would he talk about his love of trees. But no one really made fun of Dave because he was too nice a guy. A teddy bear with his teenaged beard, he didn’t have a mean bone in his body.  Some people would say he didn’t have a backbone either, because he so often gave in to others’ points of view. Not being particularly loud or assertive, he was plagued by the reality that many high school opinions are crafted by whomever is talking the loudest. Or the most derisively.

But ultimately that was merely on the surface, because deep down he was committed to one truth:  We cannot let trees be cut down.

“See there we go again,” he pined in 1997, “another corporation trying to make money cutting down all those trees. The spotted owl is gonna be extinct!”

“Dave, it’s gonna always be that way. Money rules the world. Nothing’s gonna change until we find a way to make more money by not cutting down the trees.”

I still think about that conversation. I may have gotten some of the details wrong, but the gist is there. Our personalities really haven’t changed much since then either. Dave works in conservation biology and I have an MBA. If there’s prophecy in that conversation, Dave has realized his. And the more I think about it, it’s time for me to start finding money in the not cutting down of trees.

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ShoreBank and Van Jones

A little while ago I wrote about national spending priorities and the need for investment in “green collar” jobs and infrastructure designed around energy efficiencies.  That post garnered me some attention in the blogosphere and I was contacted by a representative from the ShoreBank Corporation.

It’s good that more and more people are talking about these ideas (like me), and more and more are taking action on them (ShoreBank).  And this bank has been at it a long time.  ShoreBank is a community development bank out of Chicago with branches and subsidiaries around the country.  It invests in activities designed to spur economic development in low-income areas, and serve communities oft inadequately served by traditional banks.  You may have heard of Grameen Bank in Bangladesh whose founder, Muhammad Yunus, was awarded the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize for the bank’s activities.  Same idea.

The representative that contacted me and I shared a few emails discussing their efforts and their partnership with Van Jones.  The bank has recently committed to donating to Jones’ foundation, Green For All, for every new online high-yield savings account that is opened.  I don’t know if you’ve looked into online banking and high-yield savings accounts, but I’ve found their interest rates are often better than what brick and mortar banks offer.  I also shared my alma mater’s program in environmental policy, many of whose graduates are doing similar good works.  I was also excited to sign up for my first electronic press kit through the bank and receive a complimentary copy of Van Jones’ book, The Green Collar Economy, which I am very much looking forward to read!  (Goodreads listing)

I’m very pleased that this is my first blog post of the new year.  It’s the types of business opportunities that these organizations support that we need to look toward as we rebuild our economies and industries in 2009. According to their website, “ShoreBank Corp. is America’s first community development and environmental bank holding company.  Their tagline is, “Let’s Change the World.”  Sounds good to me.

Here’s Van Jones again:

Monterey Sustainable Business Showcase

Today at the Portola Plaza (map) will be the Monterey Sustainable Business Showcase.  I’ll be headed up there a bit after 3pm.  A buddy of mine is hosting the Marina Technology Cluster booth, as well as presenting his new firm, Ecomentum.

Another very interesting topic will be the Green Dragon Film, which was developed by a grad school colleague and his team.  Very interesting and inspiring presentation of the massive efforts to develop energy-efficient and environmentally-respectful buildings in China.  I also wrote about an earlier screening of the film here.

Here’s a link to the event schedule. (Sorry about the lame GIF file.)

And below is the event flyer.  Click on it to go to the event homepage.

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