I have just started reading a very good book by Nic Frances called, The End of Charity. In itself the book is very interesting and Nic sounds like a very cool guy but it was something he said near the begining that got me thinking about this car industry subsidy debate that we are not really having.
How do we create a market for positive change? For a start, we have to price the things we want to achieve according to their value and the cost of not having them. They cannot be priced according to ideology or historic preference. For example, subsidising the cost of electricity generated by brown coal, a major polluter, while not subsidising hydro, solar or wind power or energy efficiency to the same extent forces us to remain polluters and undermines the market’s ability to self-correct.
It is too late in the evening now for me to finish this post with a long winded rant about the rich man smacking you with the ‘market decides’ argument on one hand and asking the government for money on the other hand because the market decide they should fade away.
Anyway, you can check out the book here: The End of Charity and/or thanks to google read the first few chapters here.
Hey all, just a quick note to let you know that we will be closing at 1pm on Saturdays from now on. Um that is all for now unless you want to talk about this.
Just received some great news. One of our first Kiva loans have been paid back in full. How cool is that? You can check out all of the info here. We all made this happen together. Your tips, the staffs volunteering of those tips to Kiva. Give each other a clap. Now I am off to make some more loans. Should be able to make about another 2, but don’t rush to our loans page as it can take about 3 days for the Paypal transaction to go through. So far we have made $125 worth of loans in $25 dollar amounts with one paid back. Thank you everyone. It gives me a real buzz to be able to do this kind of thing.
Want a free double pass to see The Kite Runner this Wednesday night the 16th of January 2008 at 6:30pm. Cinema 9 BCC Indooroopilly?
If so here is what you have to do. Answer a 2 part question.
Some background info.
The Kite Runner was co-financed by Participant Productions and Sidney Kimmel Entertainment.
Using our Contact form I want you to tell me:
Who is the Founder of Participant Productions?
What is the link to his talk on www.ted.com?
I have 2 double passes to give away which can be picked up from Urban Grind before 4pm this Wednesday. Ability to pick up the tickets is a requirement of entry.
Bonus Question for the winners: What is the Ebay item that is mentioned at the end of the talk? (Basically I want you to watch the talk. Give us something very cool to talk about over the free coffee that I am going to give you for answering the bonus question correctly).
And even if you don’t want to or can’t see The Kite Runner on that night please do the exercise anyway. I promise you will be enriched.
