Biopsychology

Just got back from the second module of the biopsychology course with Susan Andrews in her ecovila Visão Futuro. Super interesting how she brings together Eastern and Western science, not just medicine, but also many other sciences... all that mixed with music, arts, theatre ... I'm excited to learn.

22nd of September - World's Carfree Day

Today is the World's Carfree Day. Yeap, 22nd of September. Nevertheless, the traffic in Sao Paulo is as intense as usually. For today being Monday, it actually seems even heavier than normally in the beginning of the week.
I know that because I take a bus every day for at least 45 minutes to work and depending on traffic, minimum 1 hour, maximum 2 to get home. My work is about 40 km from home.
Well ... at least it's a bus of about 50 people in it, not a car, right? and runs on biodiesel, not petroleum. So a bit better? And the company neutralizes carbon emissions. Should be alright then?

Yeah, I guess that's a pretty good option for commuting. Just that ... there's NO MORE SPACE on the streets! And even if someone wanted to choose a public transport or a bicycle, then ... the public transport is crowded, and for the second option - you'd be suicidal, if you wanted to bicycle in SP!
Quick fact: in a city of 13 million (with Grange Sao Paulo about 18 million) there's about 4,5 km bicycle roads outside of parks.

AND...here come some Sao Paulo traffic stats:
- more than 6 million cars on the streets, which, when lined up would almost reach around the world (40 000 km)
- 48 571 new cars in March alone (64% increase compared to the previous year)
- in 12 month period the number of cars increased 6,7% compared to the year before, which is 16 times more than the rate of population growth in Sao Paulo (0,41%)
- Daily, 1000 new cars are bought, in March the number grew up to 1500
- Average speed at the peak hour is 27 km per hour for cars and 12 km/h for public bus

One of the strategies the city implements is "rodizio": depending on your plate number, you are not allowed on the streets on certain days or hours (to alleviate the burden on the streets to accommodate the cars).

When I asked my friend, what would he do if the "rodizio" became tougher, he simply said, he'd get a second car.
Well, can't really blame him. Depending on a route, to cover a distance of 1 hr car ride, it could sometimes take up to 3 hours by public transport!!

They say, the metro system has been under financed for the last 28 years... as well as the bicycle roads ... and I think, there's quite a work to be done for responsible consumerism as well.
I wonder how much would the mainsteam ways of working change in the future due to traffic conditions (home office, flexible working hours etc.). It is already happening, I am just wondering about the mainstreaming effect...

I am curious about the future of our Sao Paulo.

Wordle

Banco Real receives 2 FT Sustainable Banking awards!

This week, The Financial Times and IFC, a member of the World Bank Group announced the winners of the 2008 FT Sustainable Banking Awards, with Banco Real of Brazil named as Sustainable Bank of the Year and also taking the overall Emerging Markets prize.

Now in their third year, the awards recognise banks and other financial institutions that have shown leadership and innovation in integrating social, environmental and corporate governance considerations into their operations.The programme has grown in popularity and this year’s winners were selected from a record 182 entries from 129 institutions across 54 countries.

***

Just really proud of Banco Real and its team (congrats to all!!!), and happy for having had a chance to work there!
The experience was beyond enlightening, encouraging, inspiring!

I remember a comment from an international consultant that worked with the sustainability team of Banco Real (ABN at that time), saying that Banco Real is of its own league, thus it's hard to even benchmark it against anyone else as its being benchmark for others!
Of course its not perfect, but the scale of changes made, the challenges taken up and the extent of trying to integrate sustainability into the core business was very encouraging to witness.

Thinking about moving a city?

Thinking about relocating to another city?
How about Masdar - Abu Dhabi's £12 billion city, first eco-designed city in the world (actually Dongtan in China was first, but looks like Masdar is taking a leap ahead).

The city's vision includes principles of a zero-carbon, zero-waste and car-free. Masdar has been designed to be powered by wind energy and solar power from photovoltaic farms. Now that building work is underway, and solar testing facilities have begun to feed the city’s grid, the developers hope that Masdar’s example can persuade other parts of the United Arab Emirates to follow suit.


Sustainable citizen by choice

I like the comment of Masdar's city development unit director Khaled Awad. He hopes that once the wider community has a better understanding of their own environmental footprint they will change the way they consume, making it “unnecessary for Masdar to have rules for behaviour that is not sustainable or even warranted”.

For example, there will be no limits on individual energy consumption and residents will be able to drive cars, as long as they are parked outside the city’s boundaries at all times.

Read the whole article in Ethical Corporation here.

BBC World Debate - is business accountable?

How Accountable is Business?
Can openness and profitability go hand in hand?

This BBC World Debate took place at the GRI Annual Conf in the beginning of May. Take a look, it's worth it.
Check it out, featuring also my boss-to-be (if I get this looong waited visa, of course) Alessandro Carlucci from Natura.

My work: introduction

A snapshot, really.

Today me and my colleague were putting together an overview of sustainability (socio-evironmental) products the bank offers to its clients: investments into environmentally friendly technology, into working capital, mobility and education related products etc.

While doing that we had a meeting with a guy from products department, he's responsible for sustainability products and here's something I wanted to share.

Earlier today, a representative of a company had come to him to know more about what the bank can offer for his business. And that company itself is whom I wanted to introduce you.

A company called GOOC, a Brazilian one, founded by a Vietnamese businessman who immigrated to Brazil about 30 years ago or so. Do check out the web site as well. What was amazing is that all he produces is made of recycled materials: sandals, clothes, bags, wallets etc etc etc.
Very very nice things.
He has 500 manual workers here in Sao Paulo, offering employment for the underprivileged and less educated groups in society.

A business like that amazes me with how they see their role in society, the way they do business, understand the life cycle of products and resources etc etc. It's seems like such a sophisticated way of doing business, especially compared to the lectures I remember from uni highlighting the "obvious" role of business - to make as much money as possible.

"The objective of business is to maximize its profits" drums in my head from uni.
Luckily I have come a long way since then, and maybe see a bit bigger picture. Longer term at least.

In this new context of doing business, the role of banks is definitely changing. "I hate banking" said another great person I encountered today "in its traditional sense, like it was 10 years ago or so". Today surely the business is changing.

What's the economic, social and environmental impact of each dollar invested, we ask today.

Guys, I am sooooo excited being part of the process of asking and trying to answer these questions.

How to change the world?

How to change the world?
It´s a book that tells the stories of people around the globe who are solving many of the world's most intractable problems. Full of hope and energy, exciting solutions and compelling characters, this book shows how a growing wave of "social entrepreneurs"- individuals with initiative, creativity, savvy and determination- are reshaping the world for the better.

Amazing things related to social entrepreneurship are happening all around the world, in Brazil, Estonia etc etc.

Yesterday I had an opportunity to go to an event held by Artemisia foundation, a platform for social entrepreneurs. It was one of many activities that they run withing their young entrepreneurs program. Exciting exciting stuffs!! Hub of amazing people and mindblowing ideas and actions. Felt very much like back home where people with similar thoughts, passions and drive were around me! Pirru, Kairi, Artur, Margo and others, I need to get back to you related to that!!

PS. the book How to Change the World by David Bornstein is available in English, Spanish, Estonian (!!), Portugese and probably many other languages! Do check it out if you haven´t yet!!

Clothing brands

In the morning I took a tram to work. Like most of the other mornings, as I like to sleep until the last minute...hmm...and then a few more minutes :P.
Anyhow I was sitting in the tram and there was a girl in front of me wearing kinda dressy looking bag with a big logo (well huge actually!!...like half of the bag was covered with it). Nike or Puma or smth...

I started to wonder why would one want to wear a nice bag with such a huge robust logo on it!!! It doesn't even look nice!!
I do understand that some people need labels to be someone (I think). (I guess I don't - at least not the label)

Others consume brands for quality assuarance...that's actually a valid point, although not always true, considering the effect of globalization and the fact either brand or not could be produced in the same factory in China...

Just a thought in a tram this morning while going to work and observing people.

In the light of this would recommend you to see the movie "The Corporation".
I know I know...it's basically impossible to find in Estonia, so before you go rushing through all the video rentals & any possible store (you wouldnt find it anyways), just ask me!
I'll borrow you the movie :), had it specially delivered from the UK!

Main message - know what you wear (I know it's quite a difficult task!!), an easy one to begin with is to start questioning!