Friends and readers,
Due to my past experiences in climate mobilization, I end up giving speeches now and again about youth leadership in sustainability - about the role my generation has assumed in reaching the balance we seek between ecological integrity, human dignity, and happiness. Influenced by the wisdom of visionaries like Bill McKibben, Paul Hawken, David Suzuki, Rachel Botsman, Mike Nickerson and Chris Turner, my words usually conclude with a call to action that sounds something like this:
We need a vision and a movement working in chorus. The movement is already expanding and pulsing to the likes of 350.org and Avaaz.org. The vision is something that we have to grow on our own. We need to be making the changes today that we want to see legislated tomorrow. The future that we want and need will inevitably require us to look to our communities once again. We need to relearn what it is to be a neighbour and regear our minds to think ‘glocally.‘ It’s just way smarter to make use of and strengthen the resources that are available within 100 kilometers of your doorstep. This is not to say that we should return to the stone age - technology and communication will be essential to our success. However, building a fabric of resilient and happy communities is the key to reaching that global balance we need.
Tangibly, what I mean by this is local food, landsharing and urban farming, better urban design, local electricity generation, carsharing, teaching each other the skills of our grandparents that we’ve all but forgotten, etc. Personally, I’ve been searching for my role in this transition for a while. It’s one thing to say but another entirely to DO. Well homies, I’ve found it in a surprising place indeed - entrepreneurship bootcamp.
Due to my past experiences in climate mobilization, I end up giving speeches now and again about youth leadership in sustainability - about the role my generation has assumed in reaching the balance we seek between ecological integrity, human dignity, and happiness. Influenced by the wisdom of visionaries like Bill McKibben, Paul Hawken, David Suzuki, Rachel Botsman, Mike Nickerson and Chris Turner, my words usually conclude with a call to action that sounds something like this:
We need a vision and a movement working in chorus. The movement is already expanding and pulsing to the likes of 350.org and Avaaz.org. The vision is something that we have to grow on our own. We need to be making the changes today that we want to see legislated tomorrow. The future that we want and need will inevitably require us to look to our communities once again. We need to relearn what it is to be a neighbour and regear our minds to think ‘glocally.‘ It’s just way smarter to make use of and strengthen the resources that are available within 100 kilometers of your doorstep. This is not to say that we should return to the stone age - technology and communication will be essential to our success. However, building a fabric of resilient and happy communities is the key to reaching that global balance we need.
Tangibly, what I mean by this is local food, landsharing and urban farming, better urban design, local electricity generation, carsharing, teaching each other the skills of our grandparents that we’ve all but forgotten, etc. Personally, I’ve been searching for my role in this transition for a while. It’s one thing to say but another entirely to DO. Well homies, I’ve found it in a surprising place indeed - entrepreneurship bootcamp.
Since December, I’ve been developing a mobile app with the coolest team in the Next 36. I’m thrilled to introduce you to Tradyo, now available free for iPhone, which takes the best of modern technology, applies it to a huge problem and solves it in a very fun way. Too good to be true? No, just proof that balance doesn’t require you to hate life, it requires us to be clever and innovative.
Let’s get down to it then, shall we?
I’m pretty enthused by this new activity. Goodbye guilt, hellooo neighbours! How perfect would this be for your campus in September/April when everyone is buying or throwing out the exact same stuff!? How perfect would this be as a hobbyist or someone who makes handicrafts? Tradyo can be your Etsy-live.
Let’s get down to it then, shall we?
- You like getting new things. Admit it. I beg my family not to give me Christmas gifts and even I like getting new things - I just feel really guilty about it. Don’t worry, it’s human nature.
- You also have a ton of stuff in your life gathering dust. This is stuff that you care enough about that you don’t feel comfortable giving up for free, but you can’t be bothered to put on Craigslist or eBay (especially not as individual items - that would take forever). However, it still has significant value that no one is benefiting from.
- Your neighbours are in the exact same position.
- Tradyo is going to make it very simple and easy to either trade, buy or sell this stuff on a very local level using the magic tied up in a smartphone.
- Voilà. Reduce your consumption impact by reusing cool things that someone forgot they even owned, and revaluing the stuff that’s gathering dust in your room or kitchen or cupboard.
- Build a trade network of the coolest people with the coolest stuff.
- So my friends, this is the new way to satisfy your curiosity, shop super-duper locally (and pay with stuff or cash), and finally meet people in your community!
I’m pretty enthused by this new activity. Goodbye guilt, hellooo neighbours! How perfect would this be for your campus in September/April when everyone is buying or throwing out the exact same stuff!? How perfect would this be as a hobbyist or someone who makes handicrafts? Tradyo can be your Etsy-live.
I love my people.
I’m far too independent a woman to ask for favours unless I think they are for everyone’s good. I asked you to demand climate action; we were loud and clear in Ottawa and beyond - some of you even stripped! I asked you to vote; we changed the entire dialogue of the election and sparked a national movement. I now ask you to help me spread a consumer revolution. I hope that you will feel inclined to share this post far and wide and get a network of neighbours excited to Tradyo to your heart’s content. It’ll only work if you’ve got local people to trade with, so invite your friends (and their closets) and recycle the love! I thank you dearly. You never let me down which is why I know this is going to be big big big.
Let’s talk! I’m so excited! Post below if you can help me bring this to your campus, community, or even outer space. Maybe we can pawn a new moon off of Saturn! Give me feedback, suggestions, or high-fives. Keep in mind that this is our version 1.0 app, so I’m counting on you to help us make it better. Don’t be shy.
Let’s talk! I’m so excited! Post below if you can help me bring this to your campus, community, or even outer space. Maybe we can pawn a new moon off of Saturn! Give me feedback, suggestions, or high-fives. Keep in mind that this is our version 1.0 app, so I’m counting on you to help us make it better. Don’t be shy.
