Three new organizations are beginning to form to facilitate communications between local “stakeholders” who want to work on mitigating climate changes and energy uncertainties, and other environmental problems. They are: “SustainableNether” , which aims to work on programs pertaining specifically to Nether Providence; “SustainableSwarthmorePA”, which would concentrate on programs for Swarthmore Burrough; and “SustainableDelco.org, which will aim to include all residents, businesses, government agents and non-profit organizations throughout all of the towns in Delaware County, and attack issues which are best handled on the county level. These coalitions will need a tremendous amount of energy and commitment from those of us who are striving to make the organizations a real and functional real asset for the area. And the organizations can greatly aid our efforts to share information about problems and possible solutions, and to educate all residents in our respective areas.

While SustainableDelco.org would serve as a means of creating a coalition effort within Delaware County, clearly there could then be a tier above that to create a coalition effort of all of the counties in this region—let’s say “SustainableDelawareValley”—and within the state “SustainablePennsylvania” and a greater reagional cooperative group, say “SustainablePA-NJ-DE” etc., “SustainableMidAtlantic” and/or “SustainableNE.USA”, etc., each grouping moving up to the next tier of “SustainableUSA” and “SustainableNorthAmerica”.

All of these organizations would tackle the problems most relevant to their tier level and could include all other organizations and individuals wishing to participate at that level—regardless of primary affiliation—including existing coalitions and government entities. The point is to be as inclusive as possible and foster cooperative learning and efforts. It is a simple concept, but I think a very workable one, since is really is simply “SustainableGEOGRAPHIC PLACENAME.ORG”, which facilitates instant recognition of the purpose and position of the organization, and keeps the concept of reaching complete sustainability at the forefront of our attention, without detracting from name brand, reputation, specific purpose/work of any member organization.

Each “Sustainable” organization could then use the name to create an internet identity, and means of sharing both outgoing news and incoming comments/questions/information with everyone interested in participating in that organization. Thus exposure to the concept of sustainability and to all the proposals and data would increase at tremendous rate, greatly facilitating our reaching the “critical mass” needed to affect substantive and necessary social change.

There will be a need for “sponsors” at each tier level to foot organizational costs and minimal web-site costs (gmail is free, as are gmail groups, which can serve for a start), and I see no reason why membership for individuals—particularly students and others willing to work in building the organizations—should not be free. Indeed, I would think that some student groups could become “sponsors” by volunteering to put in the time needed to organize, input membership data, build and maintain web sites, etc.

A lot of the organizational work—including recruitment, data organization, and website management can readily be done by enthusiastic students who are willing to help and learn in preparation for their later efforts as adults. Since they will inherit our mess, it is only fair to give them some tools to help themselves in this work.

As you can see, there is a lot of opportunity for students to get involved and help with the tremendous amount of work to be done if we are to turn the present path to total self-destruction around. It can be done if we start now and work together. The good news is that this planetary emergency provides us all with a great opportunity to learn to work well together, with respect for each person/nation’s needs, abilities and dreams—and the right of all persons and all species (flora and fauna) to survive and thrive in peaceful co-existence with Mother Nature and each other. We can no longer afford to merely dream of this; we are now called upon to “make it so” with pragmatic action if we wish to survive as a species.

CREATING “SustainablePLACE-NAME” Organizations November 2007

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