Dear reader, This post invites you to sign up for my newsletter, Words&Music. Sign up here: http://eepurl.com/duzZz9 Now here's the background: In May 2018, I assumed a new professional position, working as Director of the Department of Partnership & Innovation at Sida, the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency. Becoming a public official in Sweden caused … Continue reading Relaunching “Words&Music” – my personal newsletter
Freedom of Information: You Have Chydenius To Thank for That
This short post was originally published on the now-defunct website Worldchanging.com, in 2007. The story of Chydenius serves as a good reminder of the importance of maintaining a free press and the right of public access to government information — principles that seem increasingly under attack around the world. The text has been slightly updated. … Continue reading Freedom of Information: You Have Chydenius To Thank for That
Letter to Future Generations (2015)
This was originally published in 2015 on my personal Facebook page just before I launched my North Star column on GreenBiz. If anything, the situation I attempted to describe three years ago in this popular-audience piece (written while on a trans-Atlantic flight) has continued to intensify, so I am republishing it again now. Dear Future … Continue reading Letter to Future Generations (2015)
Viridian revisited: An interview with Bruce Sterling
Bruce Sterling made his name in science-fiction, part of the wave of "cyberpunk" writers working in the late 1980s and early ‘90s — other names include William Gibson and Neal Stephenson — whose work seemed more predictive than speculative. I enjoyed his novels (they won a number of awards), but I especially enjoyed being part … Continue reading Viridian revisited: An interview with Bruce Sterling
Save a Woodpecker, Save the Planet, Save Your Soul
I wrote this essay 13 years ago. One change: my daughters are a bit older now. The woodpeckers, however, have not changed a bit. First published 26 September 2005 on Worldchanging.com. Reprinted in Because We Believe in the Future: Collected Essays on Sustainability 1989-2009, by Alan AtKisson. Note: On Amazon.com, this book received a one-star … Continue reading Save a Woodpecker, Save the Planet, Save Your Soul
The ‘big push’ transforming the world’s energy systems
As I’m sure you have noticed, renewable energy is taking the world by storm, driven by rapidly falling prices. Ever wonder how that happened? In 2009, I authored a concept paper for the United Nations Secretariat, for circulation at the Copenhagen Climate Summit. COP15 became infamous because it was deemed a spectacular failure. Heads of … Continue reading The ‘big push’ transforming the world’s energy systems
The Sustainability Change Agent’s Job Description
This year, 2018, marks a decade since I first published The Sustainability Transformation* — the 2nd book in my planned 3-volume "Optimist Trilogy." I'm now working on volume 3. But the "job description" from vol. 2 that appears on the first page of the first chapter is still highly relevant. Enjoy ... and spread. JOB … Continue reading The Sustainability Change Agent’s Job Description
How Oslo launched a new design revolution
Once in a while, a conference actually changes the world. In this case, I refer to a series of conferences in Oslo, sponsored by Norway’s National Center for Design and Architecture (known as DOGA). In 2015, a couple of sustainability visionaries there, Jannicke Hølen and Knut Bang, had the brilliant idea to focus on the … Continue reading How Oslo launched a new design revolution
How universities are using our tools to accelerate sustainability
Above: Masters students at University of Iceland completing an AtKisson "Pyramid" workshop. This article was originally published in my "North Star" column series on Greenbiz.com Just how central are universities to advancing the practice of sustainability? Most professionals would say, "Very." Universities create knowledge relevant to sustainability, they train sustainability practitioners and they often act … Continue reading How universities are using our tools to accelerate sustainability
Instagram Diary from Almedalen 2017
Here are the texts from all my Instagram posts from "Almedalsveckan", the famous Swedish week of political and (increasingly) marketing activity focused on current social issues — a "festival of opinion" as some call it. For the pictures, visit my Instagram page. In fact, Almedalen reminds me of the New Orleans Jazz Festival, with talk … Continue reading Instagram Diary from Almedalen 2017
Alan AtKisson 