When we consider a partnership related to sacred business, we can recognize that Americans collectively already have a lot of experience in sacred partnership. For example, we co-created over generations what we call the land of the free and the home of the brave. It isn’t by accident—and it isn’t perfect. We know that many freedoms were (and continue to be) hard won.
For example, in the 1850s, after a bloody and horrific Civil War, we outlawed slavery. In the 1920s, after a dedicated suffragette movement, women were finally granted the right to vote. But, progress doesn’t require bloodshed. The collective effort of the country in 1962 meant that we pooled our resources creatively and financially to put a man on the moon.
The solutions to our current challenges lie in our hands. High oil prices? A collective effort to increase commuting by bike and train could impact this dramatically. Thermonuclear meltdown in Fukushima? If everyone cut their energy use by 90%—and even more significantly—invested in powering the grid with renewable energy, we could reduce our reliance on risky nuclear energy. If we compare this effort to landing on the moon, it is certainly easier to power the grid with renewable technology, much of which already exists, than rocketing an astronaut “on an untried mission to an unknown celestial body.”
Here on Planet Earth, we are collectively engaged in a sacred business partnership. It’s time to step up our commitment and courage—to reach beyond personal comforts and ask ourselves the hard questions. What we pray for must be what we do daily. For example, we must co-fund a clean tomorrow rather than allow cronyism economics and destructive businesses to flourish by tapping into the trillions in our retirement plans and 401Ks. We must kick our oil addiction and commit to new habits as a society.
More than money, this requires wisdom and right action. We can all take action now.
Natalie Pace is the author of the Amazon bestsellers, The Gratitude Game, The ABCs of Money and Put Your Money Where Your Heart Is, which are both available now for 99 cents on Amazon. Natalie has been saving homes and nest eggs for 14 years, while at the same time earning the ranking of No. 1 stock picker. Learn more at NataliePace.com.
Supporting Solar
The US Department of Energy’s 2015 Solar Decathlon is being held at the Orange County Great Park. Student teams from around the world participate in a competition to design and build a solar-powered home. Four Orange County universities: University of California Irvine, Saddleback College, Irvine Valley College, and Chapman University have joined together as Team Orange. The competition has begun and houses will be open to the public for viewing in October, 2015. For more information, visit: solardecathlon.gov
Clean LA Solar
The Clean LA Solar Coalition continues to support solar installations on rooftops in Los Angeles. For more information, visit: cleanlasolar.com
Earth Friendly Products Solar
One of the SoCal business committed to solar powered initiatives is Earth Friendly Products. The family-owned Orange County producer of environmentally friendly detergents and cleaners is powered by a solar array on the roof: ecos.com
TreePeople’s Rain Barrel Rebate
Rain barrels allow for reuse of water for landscaping in drought prone Southern California. SoCal’s Water Smart program offers rebates for purchasing up to four barrels. TreePeople organizes truck load sales through Rain Barrels International at below retail prices. The next truck sale is at the Mar Vista Farmer’s Market on February 28. For more information, visit: treepeople.org/rain-barrel-and-tank-information
Natalie Wynne Pace is the co-creator of the Earth Gratitude Project and the author of the Amazon bestsellers The Gratitude Game, The ABCs of Money and Put Your Money Where Your Heart Is. Since 2002, Natalie Pace has been touring the world and featuring the most sustainable businesses, farms, individuals, restaurants and homes. Download your free Earth Gratitude mini ebooks, featuring The Dalai Lama, H.R.H. The Prince of Wales, Elon Musk, The Duchess of Northumberland, Deepak Chopra, Life is Good, the Earth Day Network, Global Green USA, Arianna Huffington, Lynne Twist, Ron Finley and more, at http://earthgratitude.org/. Learn more about Natalie Pace at http://www.nataliepace.com/.