The article in the url below contains the commencement address by Paul Hawken to the University of Portland graduating class in 2009. I had not heard of Hawken before, but his bio at the end of the address describes him as “a renowned entrepreneur, visionary activist, and author of many books.”
The commencement address is worth reading. It is concise, powerfully written and, hopefully, made an impact on the graduating students at which it was aimed. A couple of quotes that give a sense of the content:
“Hey, Class of 2009: you are going to have to figure out what it means to be a human being on earth at a time when every living system is declining, and the rate of decline is accelerating. … Basically, the earth needs a new operating system, you are the programmers, and we need it within a few decades.”
“Forget that this task of planet-saving is not possible in the time required. Don’t be put off by people who know what is not possible. Do what needs to be done, and check to see if it was impossible only after you are done.”
“Think about this: we are the only species on this planet without full employment. Brilliant. We have an economy that tells us that it is cheaper to destroy earth in real time than to renew, restore, and sustain it. … At present we are stealing the future, selling it in the present, and calling it gross domestic product. We can just as easily have an economy that is based on healing the future instead of stealing it.”
“Ralph Waldo Emerson once asked what we would do if the stars only came out once every thousand years. No one would sleep that night, of course. … Instead the stars come out every night, and we watch television.”
Have a good weekend.
David
Bill Werther & David Chandler
Strategic Corporate Social Responsibility
© Sage Publications, 2006
The Unforgettable Commencement Address by Paul Hawken to the Class of 2009 University of Portland
May 3, 2009
http://globalmindshift.wordpress.com/2009/05/21/
