The Good 100: Elizabeth Linthicum

This is my "early November" (aka October) post:

I purchased the fall 2009 issue of Good Magazine includes opportunities to learn more about current world issues this year, avenues for discussing them, and how to contribute to solutions. The magazine lists the Good 100: "a collection of the most important, exciting, and innovative people, ideas, and projects making our world better" (Good Magazine). The magazine states that the members of the Good 100 are changing the way we live. The list reinforces the fact that the public (not necessarily the American majority) is interested in social change and supports businesses that advocate for social change.

Interesting enough, Wal-Mart is is the first entry of the Good 100 and Good states that "it has become arguably the greatest force for green in corporate America...when Wal-Mart talks, 60,000 suppliers listen." Wal-Mart accounts for more than 11% of all U.S. retail sales. As we learned in class, Wal-Mart gave itself three energy-efficiency mandates and has been making progress in all areas. Though I am not a personal fan of Wal-Mart, it is impressive that it is the largest private producer of solar power in the United States. While doing good for the environment, the store is also saving millions of dollars. Since it is so big, how energy efficient can Wal-Mart truly become? I applaud their efforts but I am still weary because changing a few lightbulbs is not nearly as impactful as looking down the entire supply chain and choosing to support ethical companies and workers who have been paid fair wages.

The magazine gives another great example of government innovation in the Interagency Partnership for Sustainable Communities. Ray LaHood, the new transportation secretary, has been working on remaking America's transportation infrastructure (no big deal). He has joined the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Department of Transportation, and the Environmental Protection Agency to work together, and it is an innovative approach to forcing collaboration between huge entities.

The Good 100 is so cool; I could go on and on about the different people, organizations (both for-profit and non-profit) and projects the magazine recognizes. Good magazine represents the public's interest in innovative problem solving and social entrepreneurship. Each recognized entity took on significant financial, social return, and PR risks in order to bring the innovative idea to fruition. For more information, check out the website at www.good.is

Just FYI, here is the Good 100 Hall of Fame: The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Robin Chase at GoLoco, Sustainable South Bronx, Patagonia, Ashoka, Stephen Colbert, Tom's Shoes, President Barack Obama, Pixar, Jon Stewart, Jeffrey Sachs (economist), Twitter, AcumenFund, Etsy, the former Mayor of Bogota, Colombia, Enrique Penalosa, Alice Waters (chef), Creative Commons, and Architecture for Humanity. I'm sure you are familiar with many of these brands, organizations, and people.

Elizabeth Linthicum