Tomorrow on the World Environmental day 5.6. - the world is in need of not only climate heroes, but also exceptional individuals advocating solutions for all environmental issues. We are all challenged to change our habits and make a difference. For this plenty of events are organized around the globe.
But where are the heroes that have true solutions in their pockets? We have gone through many proposals for the programme of the Solutions local, together Conference. Everyone has their own idea of what is a solution and this makes the selection of the presentations even harder. It is our utmost aim to be solution focused and require more than before. We need to be able to reach another level of discussion and be very practical. I am sure we are ready for that in the Baltic Sea Region.
Very soon we are able to reveal some of the side events of our conference. So stay tuned - meanwhile look for the solution hero inside yourself!
Friday, June 4, 2010
Friday, May 28, 2010
Wanted: New Fresh Ideas & Ways
Wood, metal, paper - or maybe something softer? All would allow the use of recycled material and they would also be further recyclable. On the course they had spent days on thinking and calculating what would be lucrative business to start. They had visited several fairs to get ideas but somehow most of the stalls sold the same ideas. Lucas has discussed the issue also at home and with friends, and they had given valuable comments. Hmm...
At the end it wasn't too hard to make the decision. Lucas knew what he wanted to do, and more importantly what he didn't. He also remembered the lady with inner spirit.
"We have never done anything like that before.", "It is going to cost you a lot.", "We are not interested as the amount is so small." Lucas was getting frustrated - where are all the innovative ways of thinking that our country is famous for? Do you know?
At the end it wasn't too hard to make the decision. Lucas knew what he wanted to do, and more importantly what he didn't. He also remembered the lady with inner spirit.
"We have never done anything like that before.", "It is going to cost you a lot.", "We are not interested as the amount is so small." Lucas was getting frustrated - where are all the innovative ways of thinking that our country is famous for? Do you know?
Friday, May 21, 2010
Speed dating of local authorities
Conferences offer a good platform for speed dating, that is for quickly creating a network of people that can be then further improved. The continuation of the "dating" depends then on both of the parties and their interests. Very often, the connections done create a spin that will have real results only after some time has passed.
Different declarations, such as now the latest declaration that has come out of the Sustainable cities and towns conference in Dunkerque, France stress the need of innovative, sustainable and inclusive communities. The unifying of the message that comes from the local authorities is a challenging task, as we need a permanent speed dating of local authorities on different levels. This means that we should be focused on our efforts when we try to influence on legislations, EU programmes etc. Lobbying is to be done by all of us!
Solutions local, together - conference offers an excellent speed dating spot for the Baltic Sea Region to get our actions together and have a direct discussion between the different levels, as all of the levels will be there. We can take the talk to the actions and show that if we look on the actions together - we are all winners.
Different declarations, such as now the latest declaration that has come out of the Sustainable cities and towns conference in Dunkerque, France stress the need of innovative, sustainable and inclusive communities. The unifying of the message that comes from the local authorities is a challenging task, as we need a permanent speed dating of local authorities on different levels. This means that we should be focused on our efforts when we try to influence on legislations, EU programmes etc. Lobbying is to be done by all of us!
Solutions local, together - conference offers an excellent speed dating spot for the Baltic Sea Region to get our actions together and have a direct discussion between the different levels, as all of the levels will be there. We can take the talk to the actions and show that if we look on the actions together - we are all winners.
Friday, May 14, 2010
A solution for everyone
Over 70 proposals for the solutions to be presented at the conference were received during the open call for solutions. This is more then we dared to expect! The results are now being evaluated and the Nordic group of the Conference is adding more good examples from their respective countries. The mixture that will be offered during the conference will be great.
The topics of education and climate change processes were the most popular out of the 12 different topics under Earth, Water, Air and Fire. It reflects well that the focus in Finland has been on those topics for the past years. The proposals received are all approaching the sustainable solutions from very interesting perspectives. I am sure everyone attending the conference will find something for their own use.
If you feel that you have still a solution that should be share to others - contact us!
The topics of education and climate change processes were the most popular out of the 12 different topics under Earth, Water, Air and Fire. It reflects well that the focus in Finland has been on those topics for the past years. The proposals received are all approaching the sustainable solutions from very interesting perspectives. I am sure everyone attending the conference will find something for their own use.
If you feel that you have still a solution that should be share to others - contact us!
Friday, May 7, 2010
Inner spirit
Weeks had gone really quickly since the course had started. Many new issues have been thought and now it was time to transfer the new knowledge to actual work - Lucas had started his internship at the local enterprise.
The owner was a lady with a long background of working and who had seen many changes in attitudes and ways of behavior over the years. Sometimes it had been really hard to make a living and she had been near to closing down. But somehow she had kept the spirit going on and had managed to get by.
The lady told Lucas that the thing that keeps her going is the inner spirit she has for the work. This Lucas has seen many times in her when she was talking to the customers or was wondering how to solve a problem caused by an assignment. Love for the work, told the lady, was the secret. Lucas wanted to have that too in his future job what ever that was going to be, but how to get it?
The owner was a lady with a long background of working and who had seen many changes in attitudes and ways of behavior over the years. Sometimes it had been really hard to make a living and she had been near to closing down. But somehow she had kept the spirit going on and had managed to get by.
The lady told Lucas that the thing that keeps her going is the inner spirit she has for the work. This Lucas has seen many times in her when she was talking to the customers or was wondering how to solve a problem caused by an assignment. Love for the work, told the lady, was the secret. Lucas wanted to have that too in his future job what ever that was going to be, but how to get it?
Friday, April 30, 2010
Couple more days to go!
First of May with Spring celebrations are just around the corner. My best early flowers of the Spring are the proposals coming in to my mailbox for the Call for Solutions. Several have noticed the open call, but still more are welcome. I have slightly extended the time till 5.5. - so you have still some days to submit your solution.
It is really fascinating to see how the message of the Call goes around and finds the right persons. For many it is about right timing, suitable content and the possibility to see the potentiality in it. This has made so to many wake up and take part in submitting a proposal or wanting to be part of side events etc of the Solutions local, together Conference. The role of the social media in that can not be ignored.
The Conference is about creating something bigger together, it is not meant for an exclusive club or forum but for us all. This is what makes the entire difference!
Enjoy the first of May!
It is really fascinating to see how the message of the Call goes around and finds the right persons. For many it is about right timing, suitable content and the possibility to see the potentiality in it. This has made so to many wake up and take part in submitting a proposal or wanting to be part of side events etc of the Solutions local, together Conference. The role of the social media in that can not be ignored.
The Conference is about creating something bigger together, it is not meant for an exclusive club or forum but for us all. This is what makes the entire difference!
Enjoy the first of May!
Friday, April 23, 2010
Celebration every day!
Have you noticed that nearly every day of the year has a certain meaning to part of the people on the planet. Weather we are discussing about a specific year, week or day that is dedicated to raising awareness on various topics. This week has been focused in Finland on the consumption with a topic of "Consume less - live more" by several organizations. I took part on the week by recycling books and baby cloths and doing my food shopping in shop selling only local products.
Yesterday was the Earth Day on 22nd of April and this made me think how to illustrate the different topics. Excellent and cleaver comics for the variety of our celebrations can be found from Seppo Leinonen´s blog. He is a very well known Finnish cartoonist and illustrator. One of my absolute favorite one that makes you think is the one were the father of the family is taking the coins out of his child´s piggy bank. This being the natural resources of our planet Earth. If this does not wake people up - what does?
The entire year 2010 is dedicated to Biodiversity by the United Nations. One of the interesting topics on the Solutions local, together is biodiversity and how do we incorporate that into urban planning. Now is still some time left to submit your solutions on this and several other topics on the website - have a look and create the added synergy with the conference.
And of course, happy St George´s day - I greet you with left hand!
Yesterday was the Earth Day on 22nd of April and this made me think how to illustrate the different topics. Excellent and cleaver comics for the variety of our celebrations can be found from Seppo Leinonen´s blog. He is a very well known Finnish cartoonist and illustrator. One of my absolute favorite one that makes you think is the one were the father of the family is taking the coins out of his child´s piggy bank. This being the natural resources of our planet Earth. If this does not wake people up - what does?
The entire year 2010 is dedicated to Biodiversity by the United Nations. One of the interesting topics on the Solutions local, together is biodiversity and how do we incorporate that into urban planning. Now is still some time left to submit your solutions on this and several other topics on the website - have a look and create the added synergy with the conference.
And of course, happy St George´s day - I greet you with left hand!
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