Creative Times

Dear Editor,

Reading the article ‘The Business of Going Green’ I was drawn to reflect on personal experiences of the benefits of thinking and acting green.

In the mid-nineties I took something of a career detour from the environmental world and found myself being interviewed for a post within television production.

After acquitting myself pretty well in terms of evidencing the ability to drive, add-up, read and write, I remarked on the T-shirt of one of the company directors - which featured a picture of planet earth with the word ‘Gaia’ written beneath.

“So are you a fan of Lovelock?” I asked. (James Lovelock being the acclaimed environmentalist and author of The Gaia Hypothesis)

“Oh yes,” she said, “Do you know him?”

“Err, no…” came my fresh-out-of-college response.

“He’s wonderful,” she responded, “last month we talked of the wonder of life whilst warming our toes in front of an open fire”.

Clearly I didn’t operate in the circles of my soon-to-be new employer! However applying a little environmental knowledge had reaped dividends; the job was mine.

In the years since, through a environmental career spanning countryside management,travel planning, environmental policy co-ordination and now climate change programme-management, I’ve been heartened and inspired by the tremendous efforts of enlightened and driven individuals who seek to improve the environmental credentials of their organisation.

Businesses at the forefront of positive environmental change such as Creative Concern and Carbon Creative (as featured in your article) are to be applauded for their efforts, and their good practice replicated and improved upon.

The benefits for these organisations often include reduced costs, enhanced reputation, reduced risk, legislative compliance as well as meeting the demands of ever more discerning consumers.

It is through harnessing our energy and creativity, combined with the environmental knowledge and practical support from Environment Connect and others, that we can set our organisations on a cleaner, greener and more profitable path.

Simon Robinson
Programme Manager
Manchester is my Planet
W: www.manchesterismyplanet.com