I spend a lot of professional time reading about the Arctic (for an upcoming WWF report that my firm is developing). Conclusion: the media is practically ignoring one of the biggest stories on the planet. Consider the first graph, and the red line at the bottom, which combines the data for all of 2016 on … Continue reading Melting Polar Sea Ice: A story we ignore at our peril
For 2017: Short video about the long term
For New Year 2017: short video thoughts about the long-term nature of the challenges and opportunities we face. Five minutes, please watch, and feel welcome to comment. It was a pleasure to be interviewed by Natalie & Mikkel of Thought Leader Global. They do an excellent job of bringing out deeper issues in a gentle … Continue reading For 2017: Short video about the long term
Letter to Santa Claus 2002: The 2016 Update
In 2002, before the Age of Social Media, I wrote a regular column called "Find/Replace." The following "Letter to Santa" went sort-of-viral, which means it got copied and sent out on various people's email lists (including science fiction writer Bruce Sterling's list, which was an important list at the time). I thought about that article … Continue reading Letter to Santa Claus 2002: The 2016 Update
An Open Letter to the Sustainability Community
After reflecting on the US presidential election, the Brexit vote and other recent political events, I put my thoughts into an open letter, published on my company website. You can read it here.
To the President-Elect: A Confidential Briefing
To the President-Elect of the United States: Considering who your closest advisors are, it is a fair guess that no one else is going to give you a briefing on sustainability. So I offer you one. I will keep it short, because you have a lot of information to absorb now. (People say that you … Continue reading To the President-Elect: A Confidential Briefing
Post-Election Statement
As a dual citizen of the USA and Sweden, I am determined to keep working for the vision and reality of sustainable development for all, here in my beloved Sweden and Europe where I live, in my beloved USA where I have both family and business ties, and around the world. That imperative does not … Continue reading Post-Election Statement
Launching “Swedified” – a new blog
For years, I have wanted to write about what it is like to come to this small, unusual country — Sweden — and then become part of it. There is a Swedish word used to describe foreign people (or things) that have been absorbed by the unique culture of Sweden, but have been given a … Continue reading Launching “Swedified” – a new blog
Finding Purpose in Bangkok
I just had the pleasure and privilege of doing the opening keynote at Sustainable Brands Bangkok 2016. The "Sustainable Brands" concept has truly spread around the world. What's brilliant about KoAnn Vikoren Skrzyniarz's creation is the way it attracts a broad business audience: not just the "true believers" in sustainability and CSR, but also the … Continue reading Finding Purpose in Bangkok
“Start a New Life in the Colonies …”
I woke up early this morning, pre-dawn. Storm, wind and rain. For some reason, I had a strong urge to watch a bit of the classic film "Blade Runner". I was surprised to note that the future it depicts so compellingly is dated November 2019 -- just around the corner. Fortunately, our world does not … Continue reading “Start a New Life in the Colonies …”
Hillary Clinton for President
"The word 'debate' loses its meaning when one candidate is serious and the other is a vacuous bully." So wrote the New York Times in today's edition, and I could not agree more. I am breaking with my usual habit of staying publicly neutral on US electoral politics and strongly endorsing Hillary Clinton for president. … Continue reading Hillary Clinton for President
Alan AtKisson 