This book is about is about a new movement rising to tackle this crisis. It uses consumerism in the broad sense of voting, consuming media, exchanging to collective ends. John Grant calls this movement co-operism. It is happening spontaneously and it is getting results. Co-operism has the potential to quite substantially reduce the overshoot of our ecosystem (the carrying capacity of the world). We simply need to turn consumerism on its head making it into a mass co-operative movement, aiming at building a liveable world. This is how it works: It is immediately within our sphere of control what we buy, who we buy from, and how we use the things we buy. As a result, substantial changes are possible fast; reductions of our impact on the world by 25%, 50% even 75% are possible, especially when we work together. The same changes could if we get on with it leave us with a happier, less lonely, more meaningful and democratic society. From lift sharing to carrot-mobbing, we can make the difference. People are very happy to make these sorts of changes if they understand the absolute necessity (they need to be truly informed) and if systems are put in place to support them, to enable them to see many doing the same. Consumerism already secretly runs the world. 70% of growth in the US economy in 2007 was from consumerism. Because of the power of consumerism, business leaders and politicians are terrified of disturbing consumers. They wont tell them anything that might upset them, like they need to make sacrifices or substantially change behaviour. Within a decade or so, as we follow the current trajectory, we could end up with centralization of power, tyranny and a state of emergency. If we decide to turn consumerism to a good end, the results will speak for themselves. So why Co-oportunity and Co-operism? Specifically, it is about co-operative principles being applied in consumerism. This book suggests a shift: not just in values (eg: a move from selfish individualism to collectivism), but a new paradigm, beyond Capitalism. The key shift is towards co-operative systems (which have sustainable goals). We need people to adopt a new kind of common sense, one which sits with their existing ordinary decent values (and allows for considerable diversity on political, religious and ethnic background). For instance, if we all agree that no child goes hungry, and actually followed this through we would see a radical shift in global food politics. We need to be educated for this change. We need to truly understand how the world works now, and the necessity for change. We face a range of options ahead but one of them certainly is not more of the same. We need to know what options are available to us and how, through co-operation, we can make a collective difference. This book endeavours to take a lead on these requirements. This is not a call for panic or fear. Its not just a case of individually reducing our impacts. Turning down your thermostat or cycling to work is good but there are much bigger things we can do collectively. Its about finding systematic ways to act together, to change the bigger systems too. The opportunity in co-opportunity is that in the process of change we might end up with a better world. Co-operism could lead to a better life. Co-opportunity is not just wishful thinking. Its already happening and its gathering pace. Some, like FairTrade, or the Carbon Disclosure Project, or Make Poverty History are already huge. The potential of these examples is not so much their direct effect, but the lessons we get from the experience of our collective power as a force for change. If a few thousand or million of us can change one policy, or market, or corporate leadership why not all the others? If you already agree with all this the biggest thing you can do today is to persuade others.
Book Details:
- Author: John Grant
- ISBN: 9780470662267
- Year Published: 2010
- Pages: 350
- BISAC: BUS000000, BUSINESS & ECONOMICS/General
About the Book and Topic:
This book is about is about a new movement rising to tackle this crisis. It uses consumerism in the broad sense of voting, consuming media, exchanging to collective ends. John Grant calls this movement co-operism. It is happening spontaneously and it is getting results. Co-operism has the potential to quite substantially reduce the overshoot of our ecosystem (the carrying capacity of the world). We simply need to turn consumerism on its head making it into a mass co-operative movement, aiming at building a liveable world. This is how it works: It is immediately within our sphere of control what we buy, who we buy from, and how we use the things we buy. As a result, substantial changes are possible fast; reductions of our impact on the world by 25%, 50% even 75% are possible, especially when we work together. The same changes could if we get on with it leave us with a happier, less lonely, more meaningful and democratic society. From lift sharing to carrot-mobbing, we can make the difference. People are very happy to make these sorts of changes if they understand the absolute necessity (they need to be truly informed) and if systems are put in place to support them, to enable them to see many doing the same. Consumerism already secretly runs the world. 70% of growth in the US economy in 2007 was from consumerism. Because of the power of consumerism, business leaders and politicians are terrified of disturbing consumers. They wont tell them anything that might upset them, like they need to make sacrifices or substantially change behaviour. Within a decade or so, as we follow the current trajectory, we could end up with centralization of power, tyranny and a state of emergency. If we decide to turn consumerism to a good end, the results will speak for themselves. So why Co-oportunity and Co-operism? Specifically, it is about co-operative principles being applied in consumerism. This book suggests a shift: not just in values (eg: a move from selfish individualism to collectivism), but a new paradigm, beyond Capitalism. The key shift is towards co-operative systems (which have sustainable goals). We need people to adopt a new kind of common sense, one which sits with their existing ordinary decent values (and allows for considerable diversity on political, religious and ethnic background). For instance, if we all agree that no child goes hungry, and actually followed this through we would see a radical shift in global food politics. We need to be educated for this change. We need to truly understand how the world works now, and the necessity for change. We face a range of options ahead but one of them certainly is not more of the same. We need to know what options are available to us and how, through co-operation, we can make a collective difference. This book endeavours to take a lead on these requirements. This is not a call for panic or fear. Its not just a case of individually reducing our impacts. Turning down your thermostat or cycling to work is good but there are much bigger things we can do collectively. Its about finding systematic ways to act together, to change the bigger systems too. The opportunity in co-opportunity is that in the process of change we might end up with a better world. Co-operism could lead to a better life. Co-opportunity is not just wishful thinking. Its already happening and its gathering pace. Some, like FairTrade, or the Carbon Disclosure Project, or Make Poverty History are already huge. The potential of these examples is not so much their direct effect, but the lessons we get from the experience of our collective power as a force for change. If a few thousand or million of us can change one policy, or market, or corporate leadership why not all the others? If you already agree with all this the biggest thing you can do today is to persuade others.
There is a secret power that (through hidden discussions and subtle but unmistakable signals to leaders) directs every aspect of global business and society. That power is us: the public will (our decisions as consumers and voters and investors plus public opinion, word of mouth) However, there are relatively few instances when we have realised, en masse, that we do hold this power. Meanwhile the world is falling down around our ears not just via the current financial crisis: real world crises are taking place: global warming; the food crisis; the dwindling supplies of oil and water; the loss of biodiversity; the population explosion; the gap between rich and poor. Governments, businesses and other institutions seem powerless to stop this. These problems are coming to a head and, if we arent already facing a global catastrophe, we soon could be.
TIMELY: From his excellent platform as a Green Business Guru, John Grant moves the debate further with a very positive view of how we, when we join forces through co-operative initiatives, can really make changes and work towards a sustainable future. CASE MATERIAL AND EXAMPLES FROM AROUND THE WORLD: Examples, from social networks to social ventures, Carrot Mobbing to the Carbon Disclosure Project how a move to greater co-operation via what he calls Co-operative Networks can be a way forwards for all of us to increase the common well-being. PRACTICAL ADVICE FOR CHANGING OUR MINDSETS: John demonstrates ways in which a way a climate for change can be created via engaging rather than alienating people, and ways of relocating dreams that allow us to reassess our desires and priorities. Whether you are a business leader, politician, armchair economist, environmentalist or general interest reader, the inspiration and ideas John Grant provides here encourage us all to think again about our individual behaviour and our actions our ideas of what it is to be human – and to get co-creating to build a better world for all. Sit back and watch, or become part of this grass roots new movement.
About the Author
John Grant is an independent brand strategy consultant whose clients have included the BBC, IKEA, Diageo, Coca-Cola, IMB, the Co-operative Bank, Napster and Sony Ericsson. While at BMP DDB Needham, he won the coveted IPA Effectiveness Grand Prix. He then become head of planning at Chiat/Day London, from where in 1995 he co-founded St. Lukes, UK Agency of the Year in 1997, and probably one of the only commune-style businesses to be profiled in the Harvard Business Review. In the course of his work John has gained significant international and board level experience, in a non-executive director of the Ministry of Sound and has sat on many government and industry committees. He is a frequent media commentator on marketing and in a recent RAB poll was voted the most in-demand event speaker in London. He is the author of four previous books: The New Marketing Manifesto (1999), After Image (2002) and more recently, The Brand Innovation Manifesto (2006) and, most significantly, the best-selling The Green Marketing Manifesto.(Oct 07)