By Bert Zethof

If you want to get a taste of the innovations hatching right now to create a more sustainable way of life, go to a Green Drinks event in your community.

Green Drinks, a global phenomenon, is a casual monthly gathering for anyone interested in sustainability. The drinks aren’t green but the members’ interests are. Green Drinks Victoria has over 500 members and meets every second Tuesday of the month at the Belfry Theatre.

http://greendrinksvictoria.ning.com/
http://greendrinksvictoria.ca/gd/gdnop.htm

At last night’s gathering, I met several local heroes:

• A retired accountant now operating an HIV clinic in South Africa with his wife
• A young entrepreneur establishing a wind energy farm
• A manufacturer of solar powered hot water heaters
• A builder of co-housing for intentional communities
• A climate change activist
• An architect of sustainable homes

These individuals are engaged, enthusiastic, committed, dedicated, resourceful and persistent. They have to be to succeed because they face strong resistance to change by our governments and institutions. Virtually every one of the change agents I meet has a story to tell about key decisions makers or influencers resisting change.

Imagine how much sooner we could create a more compassionate and sustainable world if the gate keepers in our society took the long view and became more supportive partners of these innovators.

Here’s to partnerships for change!