EKOS Communications, Inc.

Currently I am reading a book called The Natural Step, The Seeding of a Quiet Revolution. When reading this book I am filled with hope and possibility. The process and origins of this program are as organic as the green peppers in my fridge. It is wonderful reading of large multi-national companies considering the earth as a viable part of the economy. Discovering that Swedish McDonalds took steps to minimize their impact and that IKEA found a way to reduce the lead in fluorescent bulbs is heartening and inspiring. Dr. Karl-Henrik Robert, the creator of the program should be given a Noble Prize in environmentalism. His "Big Mailing" to all the people of Sweden to inform them of the dire straits the earth is in and how much worse it will become if something is not done was unprecedented. HIs dissemination of facts to an understandable level for us mere mortals was extraordinary and them making it available and accessible another small miracle. Swedes took notice and did something. In essence they cared. Caring is not something I see much of in the American, and hence Canadian (to a lesser extent) psyche. I watch TV and I see vehicles that look like war machines out of a video game. I see children that ignore the suffering of their parents so they can watch television, only to be woken from their idiot box stupor by the promise of a processed microwavable snack. I observe patrons of a convenience store asking for a chocolate bar without saying please or thank you. My worst fears are validated by Wendy Mesley when she exposed the carcinogenic chemicals in products we use everyday, and they're killing us. Production costs of a razor commercial could feed a refugee camp for a year and yet another disposable plastic air freshener is on the market that imitates a "forest fresh scent". How can a system such as The Natural Step break through such shameless and obvious commercialism? A few forward looking companies will pick up the environmental torch and run with it. They will speak out about the importance of it, how they feel so much better about it, and that the company's profit margin has increased. A few will take heed of the prophecy of doom that scientists of the world are translating with their experiments, observations and numbers. My hat, heart, and respect go out to these companies. They may not be perfect but at least they are moving in the right direction, not easy in the North American market. Despite all of the positive information I find about The Natural Step I am still finding it hard to be positive. Hopefully it will eventually change, but it may be too late by then.