For those who missed it (and judging by the 700+ posts there, not many did), here's the back story:
princemyshkin and his wife were offered the rare opportunity to quit their jobs for a year (with option to renew) in order to focus on viable, workable solutions to help curb global warming after friends of theirs watched Al Gore's
An Inconvient Truth. He asked us all for advice and ideas on how to get started.
There were hundreds of responses in short order. I know that princemyshkin is probably still mulling over the comments (probably way more interested in going through everything than I was), but a few things were made pretty clear. First, he wants to work with his strengths, but also wants to push forward into new territory:
We've definitely thought about working with youth, as well as focusing on agriculture. Those are two things to which we naturally gravitate, and have the most contacts and experience. We also live in an agricultural community and so there is lots of potential there. One of the things we're trying to avoid, however, is just jumping into to doing what we already know. How often in life are you given a blank canvas to work on? It's most likely and probably prudent to leverage what we do know, but I also want to stay open to new things.
Second, they are still early enough in the process that the final game plan could take any number of forms: lobbying for legislation, working with other established groups, outreach, public relations, or even retail. This is still a blank canvas, and I'm sure there are many more creative and insightful suggestions to be offered. Below are some from the original diary; this is not in any way comprehensive, but after reviewing probably 75% of the suggestions with some care, I think it comes close. I have them grouped by what I see as individual actions (changing light bulbs in your home, while a good idea, is not a plan that deserves a year's salary), meta actions (learning the ins and outs of grant writing, which in itself is not a game plan but would almost certainly help as knowledge for most ventures), and actual concepts for a framework or focus for the project.
Points made in the original diary:
Individual Actions
* vote Democratic
* plant trees (also fruit trees, succulents)
* reduce A/C use
* solar panels on homes
* stop wearing suits/ties to work when it's hot out
* promote and advocate videoconferencing
Meta
* start at the consumer level
* learn to do grant writing
* get in touch with Al Gore
* focus on what you know: agriculture, student/children outreach
* http://www.greenfestivals.org/
Project Ideas
* program where, for every rich person who installs PV system, one goes on low-income housing (see Ed Norton in CA)
* form a guild "for the rapid training of people to design and install alternative energy systems"
* a "green" superstore, or even a regular store (franchise?)
* work with building unions (IBEW) to stop protecting jobs by protecting existing building codes that virtually mandate inefficiency, and instead get out in front of the curve on energy efficiency
* PR stunts via billboards, ad spots (carbon footprint = spilling lots of oil) --Dood Abides
* form a community action group (e.g., http://www.sustainableballard.org/)
* get behind legislation that promotes energy efficiency standards
* school outreach (curriculum development)
* funding for small research projects within schools at all levels with scholarship money for kids moving on into college based on achievement related to these programs (A Siegel)
* work with a school to become Kyoto compliant
* EA2020 - lobby at any/every level of government to get sponsorship
* internet database of tips and current tech developments (along the lines of wikipedia, or IMDB/CDDB)
Please, I encourage everyone to continue this discussion, because this is a rare opportunity for a fellow Kossack to pursue something full-time about which we all care deeply, and we can help to make this a project that really takes off and makes a difference. I'd love to hear whether princemyshkin has narrowed the focus at all.
Here's my suggestion, based on what I know about his strengths, passions, and interests (and those of his wife as well): start with the idea of a co-op garden, organically grown produce. Start a "green" superstore that sells both the produce from the co-op and other green products (CFLs, energy efficient appliances, etc.). Encourage union members from such organizations as IBEW to hold Lowe's-style workshops on site, on anything from installing solar panels to weather insulation. Take part in student outreach by working on curriculum development, maybe a mentoring program with an area school or university. Eventually, create a model of this (assuming it becomes a success) and allow it to become a franchise, with enough flexibility built in to allow it to work in any region of the US (i.e., not just agricultural areas). This is completely pie-in-the-sky, I know, but I was just trying to tie together some of the more intriguing ideas in a way that can make the project self-sustaining, educational, and viral. You could even bring in the internet database on some level.
I still like the idea of lobbying to get elected officials at every level of government to sign on to EA2020, but that may be for a different deal. Another idea would be to create a think tank.
Any other thoughts?
P.S. If there's already something else in the diaries continuing this discussion, let me know and I'll delete. I didn't see any at the time of this writing.