Edenbee
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Welcome to Planet Green's series about Change Makers. This regular column features everyday people who have made a commitment, through their work, to creating a more sustainable world for us all to live in.
We're quite used to seeing celebrities take time out from their day jobs to support one environmental issue or another. We think it's great that they use their high profiles for the cause, but we also want to show you guys out there that it is possible to work towards being green in your day jobs, as well.
Everyone has the power to make positive change, whether it's in the job you already have, changing to new employment or even starting a business of your own. Today, we're going to meet Peter O'Brien and David Hayes from Dublin, Ireland. They have recently launched a new social-networking site called Edenbee, which encourages people to work together to take action against climate change. A combination of informative blogging, carbon calculating tools and community discussions makes Edenbee a busy hive of activity. But before you get networking, let's find out how Peter and David became Change Makers.
Our names are: Peter O'Brien and David Hayes
We live in: Dublin, Ireland
We work at: Edenbee
I used to work in: Peter: Professional golf followed by the music business and then event management for seminars and conferences related to the areas of social change.
David: Various jobs in the creative field, but my background is in the visual arts and film making.
The reason I changed my profession/business is: Peter: I was always very aware and concerned about the issues behind this grand structure that we call society. I had enough of the sporting arena and the music business didn't really do it for me, so I decided to get out of there and start to spread some awareness about these concerns. First I set up a company called Visionaries to bring visionary thinkers to Ireland to give talks. Then, seeing that as a little too high level, I set up another company called Energy Futures to give public conferences about Ireland's fossil-fuel dependency, peak oil, and climate change. Dave Hayes started working with me at this point and is now my business partner, together we have been developing Edenbee from April 2006.
With our business we are aiming to: Peter: Edenbee is designed to be a place where people can get help from others in their quest to engage with the issue of climate change and as we evolve, the deeper reasons on how we got into this bind in the first place.
David: At Edenbee, we wish to raise people's awareness of the issues not just with climate change, but how to live a more sustainable life. With social networking tools, we want to increase people's effectiveness in making a difference in their community and the world.
The most important eco aspect of my work is: Peter: The message now is that conservation and efficiency are the routes we must take. Edenbee is set up for users to do just that.
David: Sustainability, for me means bringing human culture and the living world into a healthy relationship. The environment is one aspect of this, the other three being social, cultural, and economic. Its important not to focus too much on one area they all must be viewed in a holistic manner.
I am excited by what I am doing now because: Peter: For me, working on this are is a delight and it makes sense. I feel like I am part of the solution and not the problem. Also the power of the Internet, when it comes to effective change, is soon to be realized, that's very exciting.
The most challenging part of my work is: David: There are many challenging aspects in the work, from working on a small budget to the working collaboratively with others. But I guess it's keeping abreast of all the change that are happening on the Web and continually having to evolve and respond with them.
The most rewarding part of my work is: Peter: Meeting people and networking with a concept that could make a difference. At a time when solutions are needed, it is very rewarding to have an Internet application that people can respond to these issues.
David: The most rewarding part is the collaborative process, working with great designers and developers to collectively deliver a tool or application that people like and that will hopefully make people think.
The results I really want to see are: Peter: I would like to see Edenbee grow into a space where people collaborate, and for it to become a movement with power to change peoples personal relationship to their environment
We work with colleagues and collaborators: We work with Ken Kinsella in Edenbee. Our designers (Clearleft) and developers (New Bamboo) are very involved in the process. All the grassroots organisations, the music business and many more to help build community.
I was first made aware of environmental issues: Peter: I have been aware of environmental issues for many years, and I lived with Davie Philip of Cultivate and Sustainable Ireland 10 years ago. He educated me greatly, and, since then, I have been very involved in the area.
David: I have always been aware of environmental issues from quite a young age, working with Greenpeace in the early '80s as a volunteer in London. The environment is at the heart of what I do, but I try to balance this with social, cultural, and economic concerns, too.
One thing I do everyday is: Peter: I talk to people in this arena and beyond about ways to get Edenbee into people's lives, and I swim!
David: Scour the Web looking for great green stories to share.
One thing I do every week is: Peter: I plan the week's proceedings on a Monday with the team at Edenbee.
I wish I could: Peter: Create a space where people can influence change in there own lives, and, in years to come, be happy in the knowledge that Edenbee has become everything it had the potential to become.
David: Look back in years to come and be happy knowing that I contributed something to people, something of real value and worth. That would be a nice feeling.
I think everyone can: Peter: And would like to play their part. Some people need to provide those vehicles and others need to ride in them, but ultimately, it is the movement from me to we that I believe we can all be a part of.
David: Can do their bit. I believe we can all move from being consumers to citizens, I'm not saying its easy, but with small steps and working together we really cam make some big changes.
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