An Energy Filled Breakfast
November 21, 2005
This past November 3rd, The Clean Energy Partnership (CEP) and Austin Grill Silver Spring, provided the opportunity for business leaders to learn how to become more energy efficient in their day-to-day operations.
Filling the seats for these events can be a challenge - promises, promises. Breakfast, networking with “like-minded individuals,†and a chance to learn how to conserve energy at the business level. Is that enough to create standing room only?
Happily, I can report that we had 65 people from 35 diverse businesses in attendance. A detailed energy audit was discussed, resources were made available and the breakfast was great!
Now what? How can we entice business owners and decision makers to join hands with us in our efforts to conserve energy, save money and help the environment?
This is how I closed the meeting. I told the story about the old wise man. He is so wise that no matter what the topic and no what the question is, he is NEVER WRONG!
A young upstart, desperate to stump the old man, came up with a question that had the wise man using all of his skill. The young man came forward with his hands cupped together and stated that he had a small bird inside his hands. The question is, is it alive or is it dead?
The old wise man thought to himself. If I say that it is alive, the young man will crush the bird, kill it and I will be wrong. I have never been wrong so that answer is no good. If I tell him that the bird is dead, he will simply let it fly away and I will be wrong, and I’ve never been wrong so that answer does not work either.
After a few minutes, the old man was able to respond. He said, “I have an answer. The answer… is in your hands.â€
Amazon John
November 21, 2005
In 1999 a friend of mine introduced me to a man named John. For 10 years previous to my meeting him, he had been traveling through the Amazon River Basin. John would purchase artifacts and interesting items like pottery and fabric, bring them back to the US to sell and finance his next trip.
On one occasion several years ago, he awoke in a grass hut, literally, deathly ill with malaria. He thought, “This is it, I’m going to die in this village.â€
Luckily for him, he was in a small Shipibo village. The Shipibo tribe consists of around 35,000 people living in over three hundred villages in the Pucallpa region of Peru. The Shipibo people maintain a strong tribal identity and retain many of their ancient traditions and beliefs.
They began to nurse him back to health using traditional herbal teas and various indigenous plants to treat the malaria. In 10 days, John was on his feet and recovered enough to travel again.
John decided to learn more about the healing powers of these herbs and plants. His relationship with this village of 45 people blossomed and their combined efforts have resulted in the preservation of thousands of acres of land surrounding the village and a small sustainable business selling herbal remedies that support the tribe financially.
During one visit, John was inducted as an honorary member of the Shipibo people. At the ensuing celebration that evening, the members of the tribe wanted to know about the United States.
Imagine in your minds eye, this small group of people, in a remote area of the Amazon asking questions about Americans. “What do they hunt?†asked one person. “Well, some Americans hunt but not the way you might think,†said John. “What kind of fish do they catch?†asked another. “Um, they fish, but they don’t fish the way you do,†said John.
“Then what do they do?’ another person asked. “They work†John said. “But why,†was the next question. John thought for a second and replied, “They have bills to pay, credit cards, houses to pay for.â€
At that point, the eldest member of the village stood up and asked, â€How can we help them?â€
There is a moral here. These people do not look at what they do each day as work. It is just how they live. I have tried to feel the same way ever since I heard this story. I am living to create a better place for future generations. That is what ER is to me. It is not work, it’s just how I live. More people should adopt this attitude. That is how the Shipibo can help us!
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