Last week's issue started to talk about "storytelling to build a movement". Let's stay on that topic for two more rounds.
A "definition" isn't the same as a "story" but stories without clear definitions can meander and go off-course. So, last week I asked colleagues in the Regenerative Economy Facebook group for their definition of "regeneration". I got great responses. Here are some:
a regenerative action is one that gives back more life to the planet than it takes. We then defined "more life" as being that which increases connectivity and diversity. Clare Finlator
think about our multi capital economy. How do we generate more social and natural capital to create prosperity for all living things? Flora Moon
Nancy Zamierowski explains it as: Extractive --> Sustainable --> Regenerative. Regenerative is when you are building and nurturing life, not just neutralizing your impact. ht: Magenta Ceiba
"Regeneration refers to the self-feeding, self-renewing processes that natural systems use to nourish their capacity to thrive for long periods of time and their ability to adapt to unexpected, sometimes threatening circumstances. No system can sustain itself over the long-term, if it is not designed to continuously regenerate. Regenerative development uses the universal laws of systemic health and self-renewal to show how we can develop durably vibrant socio-economic systems as well." - Sally J. Goerner (pdf) ht: Curtis Ogden
I've got to give love to the David Hodgson-inspired community in the invitation-only "Regenerative Economy" Facebook group. It numbers over 700 helpful, encouraging, and knowledgeable members now. If you aren't in the group, but would like to be send me your email address and I'll send you an invite.
The way forward is to simply recognize the fundamental value of life, and by doing so create a ‘regenerative economy’ – one in which businesses are orientated towards giving back MORE, to the life of the planet than they take.
The cost of thrown-away plastic packaging that isn’t recycled is “conservatively estimated” at $40 billion a year, which exceeds “the plastic packaging industry’s profit pool.”
That tradition has been in decline for decades, but now the eagles's keen eyesight, powerful talons and lethal hunting instincts are being used to take out a new kind of 21st-century vermin: drones.
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Microsoft officials announced the winners of the USDA-Microsoft Innovation Challenge. Contestants used USDA agriculture production open data to develop online tools to make the American food supply more resilient in the face of climate change.
Humans have been tweaking the genetics of our favorite produce for millennia.
And, in closing
We are very early in the process of defining what it means to build a regenerative economy. While the terminology will continue to evolve, we're convinced the ideas are directionally correct. Now we are studying, testing, plotting, and building interest, support, and resources.
Thus this newsletter, which will come out about weekly with brief observations and links to related materials exploring innovation and the regenerative economy. With effort, and a bit of luck, we hope support for these concepts becomes a wave sweeping the world!
If you find this email valuable, please share with a friend. If you don't, please unsubscribe (link at the bottom.) We also much appreciate comments, advice, and suggestions for links to highlight.
Thanks.
Dave
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