1978: Jonestown, Guyana. Over 900 people died, including 87 young children, when they drank Kool-aid laced with cyanide and other drugs upon the advice of Jim Jones, their religious-cult leader.<\/p>\n
Wikipedia defines the expression \u201cdrink the Kool-aid\u201d as meaning accepting belief in a dangerous idea<\/strong> because of perceived high rewards. Such as 900 people killing themselves in a belief this existence is of little value and they will be amply rewarded in an afterlife. Such as suicide bombers who believe though they will die, it is for a cause bigger than their on-earth existence. And, I would argue, very like fossil fuel lobbyists, business moguls, and government leaders who have drunk the Kool-aid regarding the lucrative (so close to typing “ludicrous” there) present and future of fossil fuels even though the actual danger is proven and will affect every person, every species, on the planet, now and foreve<\/strong>r.<\/p>\n So I get a bit frustrated when I speak about integrative design or green building or renewable energy, and someone says \u201coh, I see you\u2019ve drunk the Kool-aid.\u201d No, quite frankly, I\u2019ve switched to tap water, micro brew beer, and my morning coffee, and I see clearly, now. Not a drop of cyanide in sight.<\/p>\n You should try it.<\/p>\n It is an intriguing and deep world of individualism.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n I see the work we have to do and the opportunities in that work. I see the danger of ignorance and of ignoring. I see the power we have as individuals. I am learning about the wisdom of crowds and building on the vast, intricate energies and experiences of engaged people.<\/p>\n I see the magnitude of the inescapable dangers inherent in \u201cdrinking the Kool-aid\u201d of the fossil fuel industry, and wonder how we can let false prophets continue to mislead us specifically for their own personal financial and power gains.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n I see the joy and success at levels including and beyond the mere financial gains in doing well by doing good (Ray Anderson, Interface, 1998) and have come to meet so many amazing people who are informing my ideas, furthering shared discoveries, and changing the world. Many might say that these people are like-minded and have \u201cdrunk the Kool-aid\u201d. The fact is quite the opposite. They have accepted thinking their own thoughts, exploring their own capabilities, and are recognizing how past experiences can inform their new endeavors. They each have skills aligned but vastly different from each other\u2019s. It is an intriguing and deep world of individualism. They do share several traits: curiosity, respect for each other and the planet\u2019s systems, a desire to continually improve, flexibility in learning, a lack of fear of failure, and, often, a joy in collaboration.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n So, ditch the Kool-aid given to you by the fossil fuel industry\u2019s lobbyists and its bought government leaders,\u00a0 <\/span>the drink that you currently hold in your hand, and see clearly the work we have to do to create out future well, by doing good.<\/p>\n I\u2019ll bring the micro-brew…<\/p>\n Jodi<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" 1978: Jonestown, Guyana. Over 900 people died, including 87 young children, when they drank Kool-aid laced with cyanide and other drugs upon the advice of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1303,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[128,12,10,18,149,7],"tags":[21,61,88],"class_list":["post-1302","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-advocacy","category-community","category-critical-commentary","category-inspiration","category-language","category-personal-reflections","tag-change","tag-frustrations","tag-leadership"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/2bgreener.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/1620F348-F72B-4BF8-AA2D-0FC993CE2C86.png","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p40KlT-l0","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":4145,"url":"https:\/\/2bgreener.com\/?p=4145","url_meta":{"origin":1302,"position":0},"title":"What Exactly, is a Futurist? (S2C E61)","author":"greenerjsa","date":"October 28, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Wow. It\u2019s been awhile and how we\u2019ve missed you. YOU being the amazing people we chat with, exploring ideas and learning about journeys. YOU being our subscribers and watchers. And YOU being Lauren (I really miss Lauren).\u00a0 Life gets busy and we often don\u2019t have time to dwell in the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Book Review"","block_context":{"text":"Book Review","link":"https:\/\/2bgreener.com\/?cat=188"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/2bgreener.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/logo.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/2bgreener.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/logo.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/2bgreener.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/logo.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/2bgreener.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/logo.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/2bgreener.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/logo.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/2bgreener.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/logo.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1468,"url":"https:\/\/2bgreener.com\/?p=1468","url_meta":{"origin":1302,"position":1},"title":"we, as Nature","author":"greenerjsa","date":"March 27, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Pondering the false separation of man and nature...","rel":"","context":"In "Bio-synergistic design"","block_context":{"text":"Bio-synergistic design","link":"https:\/\/2bgreener.com\/?cat=14"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/2bgreener.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/kayak-e1493403380336.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/2bgreener.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/kayak-e1493403380336.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/2bgreener.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/kayak-e1493403380336.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/2bgreener.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/kayak-e1493403380336.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/2bgreener.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/kayak-e1493403380336.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/2bgreener.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/kayak-e1493403380336.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1181,"url":"https:\/\/2bgreener.com\/?p=1181","url_meta":{"origin":1302,"position":2},"title":"Integrative Process 2: Reciprocity","author":"greenerjsa","date":"April 8, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"I was listening to the soundtrack from \u201cChicago\u201d today, on my way to the NYS Green Building Conference in Syracuse, NY. One of my favorite songs is the Mama Morton intro song, where she talks about the system that works for her...reciprocity. She runs the prison, and provides \"services\" on\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Bio-synergistic design"","block_context":{"text":"Bio-synergistic design","link":"https:\/\/2bgreener.com\/?cat=14"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/img.youtube.com\/vi\/yy6j2LUyh24\/0.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":1535,"url":"https:\/\/2bgreener.com\/?p=1535","url_meta":{"origin":1302,"position":3},"title":"The Fault in Utopia","author":"greenerjsa","date":"April 28, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"The biggest issue with any vision of a future city is that this view of (typically) Utopia makes it look like our only chance for a better future is to destroy all that we know and love.","rel":"","context":"In "community"","block_context":{"text":"community","link":"https:\/\/2bgreener.com\/?cat=12"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/2bgreener.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/topoftherock.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/2bgreener.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/topoftherock.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/2bgreener.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/topoftherock.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/2bgreener.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/topoftherock.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/2bgreener.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/topoftherock.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/2bgreener.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/topoftherock.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":675,"url":"https:\/\/2bgreener.com\/?p=675","url_meta":{"origin":1302,"position":4},"title":"Boys with toys","author":"greenerjsa","date":"August 16, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"I had a great discussion with my brother-in-law while in Rotterdam (Netherlands). \u00a0He is exceptionally intelligent, politically savvy, and knows we need to deal with the changes in climate, but he is exceptionally cynical about the world. It's actually a good counter to my naivet\u00e9 at times. But my rose\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Critical commentary"","block_context":{"text":"Critical commentary","link":"https:\/\/2bgreener.com\/?cat=10"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/img.youtube.com\/vi\/ifrR18dFS9s\/0.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":1325,"url":"https:\/\/2bgreener.com\/?p=1325","url_meta":{"origin":1302,"position":5},"title":"Excellence Begins with Engagement","author":"greenerjsa","date":"October 30, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"I have mentioned, in past posts, the importance of language in our work to engage people, to connect systems to our goals, and to connect solutions to our challenges. I think it is worth going through a few language upgrades, and I ask you to share any you may have\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Advocacy"","block_context":{"text":"Advocacy","link":"https:\/\/2bgreener.com\/?cat=128"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/2bgreener.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/4C13094A-820D-41B6-B512-3B1F68B59A53-300x228.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/2bgreener.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1302","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/2bgreener.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/2bgreener.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/2bgreener.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/2bgreener.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1302"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/2bgreener.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1302\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1720,"href":"https:\/\/2bgreener.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1302\/revisions\/1720"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/2bgreener.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1303"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/2bgreener.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1302"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/2bgreener.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1302"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/2bgreener.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1302"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}