Music turns darkness into light

I would like to introduce you, two heroes. Not like Batman or Superman. These ones are for real. They are greatly skilled musicians with big souls and huge hearts. Both of them, Thomas Fridner and Diana Andrén Scarpati, are also my friends and with their new project, that I will tell you more about in this text, they prove to be wonderful world friends as well.

Diana and Thomas walking in a green park

I believe that what Thomas and Diana are doing could inspire other musicians but also all kinds of other people in their everyday lives. Giving is receiving! When you are generous and you do something good for the less fortunate in our society, you will get great payoff. Smiles and gratitude that will warm your heart, not only in the now, but also whenever you recall the memories in the future. So for you who appreciate good music with lyrics actually saying something of importance and for you who want to make the world a little bit better for more people on our planet. Relax in your seat! Let me present Thomas Fridner, Diana Andrén Scarpati with The New String Theory and their great cause.

I met Thomas during the studies on the Environmental Analyst program at Linnaeus University in Kalmar, Sweden. We share many interests such as Urban Farming, Social Responsibility, Renewable Energy etc… Well, pretty much everything when it comes to Sustainable Development. We quickly became good friends and he introduced me to many wonderful and interesting new people that I´m honored to have as my friends today. One of these lovely people is Diana. She plays the violin, has a beautiful voice… and she smiles a lot! Smiles, happiness and laughter. Yes, we all like that, don´t we?!

The New String Theory… on stage

The New String Theory

Diana Andrén Scarpati and Thomas Fridner formed the band called The New String Theory in the summer of 2012 in Gothenburg, Sweden. They started rehearsing immediately and arranged songs that Thomas wrote during the fall. After a few gigs in their hometown and in Malmö they started planning for the release of their first album. The New String Theory aims at mixing different styles of music; rock, pop, soul, blues, funk etc… into an acoustic/organic format; expressing dynamics in both sounds and content. Focus lies in the mixture of rhythmic patterns, melodic clarity and lyrical content to create their own unique sound. Since Thomas had written a song about the negative effects of climate change, and how we humans seem to remain helpless in face of this challenge, they decided to release the song AS WE PRAY as a single and let all the money from downloads go to some kind of a concrete cause for the benefit of the climate. They started to search for good things to support.

RELEASE for THE PLANET!

After doing some research to find a valid cause they have now launched the facebook-event “RELEASE for THE PLANET!” where you get to donate to a swedish company called GIVEWATTS by downloading the single. GIVEWATTS provides clean energy to schools and clinics in developing countries, by exchanging kerosene lamps for solar powered lamps. This will help kids to study in the evening and making indoor environments better besides having health benefits and of course less emissions of dirty fossile fuels. Watch the presentation here below!

After watching this video, don´t you think it´s a great cause Thomas and Diana are working for? I hope more people will consider these kind of alternatives, not only musicians, we can all do something, even small things and favors can mean a lot to someone else out there that is less fortunate. If you don´t feel you have money enough for donations nor any used old stuff you don´t need anymore, give away a smile, a kind word or a compliment. Those are gifts for free that can turn a bad day into a good one for someone. A happy person make others happy. Just get out there and start some positive chain reactions! 😉

What makes me even more inspired about this is when Thomas wrote me and thanked me for inspiring him to take this initiative. Hehe! …and told me to quote him on that… So, here we go:

“…I actually have to thank you, for inspiring me on this idea and please, quote me on that!” -Thomas Fridner

😉

Hehe! I love it! It´s like a meta quote on meta inspiration, but hey, what are good friends for? I´m always super happy whenever I manage to inspire someone to do something smart, good or creative… and to get feedback like this, especially when I didn´t have a clue… but then I remembered our chat a couple of months ago. Anyway, I´m really proud if I can be part of something like this wonderful project. Lets hope it will bring a lot of light in the darkness for many.

Click on pic to download the single: As We Pray… and to bring more light to our world! 😉

Please download the single by clicking on this link here: As We Pray

Join the Facebook event and invite your FB-friends to “RELEASE for THE PLANET!”

By the way, my good friend Paul Nelligan, a very clever Irish expat living in Berlin, developed Audiofu, which is a super smart solution for musicians and DJ:s. It allows them to put all their social medias on one platform, making it really easy for all fans and followers to keep themselves updated with all the latest music, videos, info, blogs, events etc… Check it out and tell all musicians you know about it! It´s a must have, very easy to use… and also for free! 😀 For sure it will revolutionize the way they promote themselves!

The New String Theory has an Audiofu page! They have now added their Facebook page to the platform, their Twitter channel, as well as their Soundcloud where you can listen to some of their songs.

Read more about the company GIVEWATTS. They are turning darkness into shining bright, by solar powered light! 😀

The New String Theory, playing a light bringing melody!

So, 5000 downloads of the song will put solar powered lamps in the homes of 200 families or as Thomas said in the mini documentary: “That´s an entire village!” Let´s wish Thomas Fridner and Diana Andrén Scarpati the best of luck from our hearts! I hope that The New String Theory and GIVEWATTS manage to bring a lot of light to the many people that don´t have electricity. Actually, 1.5 billion are living without grid connection. That´s almost 25% of the world population. You and me have great power in this project. Let´s all make our best we can to spread the word about this! Let´s inspire everyone we know to download the song for only 2.50 dollars or about 2 euros… or the price of a cup of coffee around the corner. 😉 We all have a great opportunity now, to promote a cause that can make big positive impact in the everyday life for many people. The money goes to a really good cause and at the same time we can relax in the sofa, having a coffee at home instead 😉 …listening to a greatly composed song, beautiful singing with lyrics that actually have something to say and that alone, is something we can´t take for granted in these times of modern music, produced for the masses.

Thank you very much for reading! …and all you boosters out there, together we will make the world a better place, for all of us, our kids and our grandchildren. Smile and have a wonderful day! 😀

It´s smart, it´s green, it´s Ecosummit! :D

The Crystal by Siemens! A beautiful sustainability center.

Today Ecosummit London 2013 starts. The smart green city conference lasts for two days and is taking place in The Crystal, one of the most sustainable buildings in the world. The Crystal is located on Royal Victoria Dock in East London. It is the sustainability headquarter for Siemens, which is a leader in many technical fields, within sustainable development, for example wind, but they also had an important role during the development of one of my favorite electric cars, the Volvo C30 Electric. Click on the link if you want more info about Siemens and The Crystal. Check out the trailer for Ecosummit London 2013 with Jan Michael Hess!

Sustainable development globally, is what we need! …and this on all levels. Corporations, politics, laws, regulations, nations, regionally, locally, socially and individually. Everything needs to change for the better, habits, patterns of consumption, demands on products and resources, production in circular loops etc… if we want a possible future on our planet. Jan Michael Hess, the smart green entrepreneur and the founder of Ecosummit, is creating a meeting arena and a forum for communication of great importance when it comes to smart green business. During two days representatives for startups, VCs and corporates get a fantastic opportunity to build relations and tie contacts for future business and collaborations. During the event 58 speakers will enter the stage, including 31 startups pitching their ideas and innovations. Each one has the stage for 20 minutes.

Conrad Eß from Green Technology Staffing making a great speech

By the way, if you look for a job within greentech, click on the pic above to connect  on Twitter with great recruiting firm, Green Technology Staffing.

Personally, I would describe the speeches like a great mixture between the TV-show, Dragon´s den and really good Ted-talks. It´s truly interesting if you are into the latest technical, social and smart innovations out there. Sometimes you get surprised by all clever people and the news they come up with. Things we´ll probably take for granted in a near future. What I also enjoy very much, since I spent 18 years trading, following markets and making analysis, fundamental as well as technical, is to hear the startups presenting their ratios, forecasts, aims and size of investment looked for, and then answering questions from the audience. The companies also have the chance to win the awards. On this picture you see the happy winners from the last summit in Berlin!

ECO13 Award Winners in Berlin

I was introduced to Jan by a norwegian friend, two years ago, and joined the team of Ecosummit as an ambassador. I have enjoyed this very much. It has also been very good to see how Jan works. Always happy, in a good mood, social, easygoing and very inspiring. Working as an ambassador on the conferences means that you are one in a team of usually 20 people who alternate on different stations, for example, registration, microphone running, cloakroom, interviewing etc… The schedule is tailored for you individually and you´ll always have plenty of time to see the speeches you want and to meet all interesting people. There´s always an impressive line-up of speakers, the most interesting startups, well known VCs and corporations. What I like most is the mix of people, during the coffee breaks, lunch, dinner and evening parties, you mingle and socialize with all kinds of people, from exciting scientists, caring hippies and strict businessmen. I think I have a little bit of each one of these characters, maybe that´s why I enjoy the interaction so much, they´re all really nice and easy to talk too.

Radialsystem is beautifully located by the river Spree in Berlin

Unfortunately I´m not in London and The Crystal for Ecosummit this time, I had too much with my projects and too little time and with the short notice and the stress it was almost a relief when Jan told me the team had great backup by The Crystal staff and all the force that was needed. Now I can focus on this week´s gardening, we´re setting up a new small urban farm of approximately 400 square meters. However, I would love to be in London to see all great people I know from before and to meet new nice friends as well, but at least I can take care of my plants, last time after a week in Berlin all my fresh spices and herbs were dried… spices and herbs. 😉 To all the people on Ecosummit, I wish you two wonderful and interesting days with nice meetings and happy laughs. I´ll try to follow your news on Twitter these days. We´ll hopefully meet in Berlin in June next year instead. 🙂

To all readers who are not in London, I guess that´s the majority of you all, check out these links to see more about Ecosummit and to connect on Social Medias. Follow on Twitter or like on Facebook and you really need to see the Ecosummit TV that now has more than 70.000 views. There you have all wonderful speeches and super interesting presentations! Spread the word about Jan Michael Hess and his Ecosummit to all people you think could be interested. I hope to see you on next Ecosummit. Thanks for reading and have a wonderful day! 🙂

Traveling with the wind and the sun on the sea

Hello all readers out there on our beautiful green and blue planet. This post is mainly about the bigger part of it, the blue one, and how to enjoy it to the max. To get the feeling of oneness, that we are all united parts of the same Universe, to truly feel the nature and inhale the fresh air. Is there a better way than to go sailing? To feel the wind in your hair, the sun warming your skin, onboard a boat sliding through the water, caressing the soft waves. Well, my opinion is that perhaps windsurfing is just as great, but then again, you can´t really bring your best friends on a surfboard. So, I have to say no, there´s not many things beating sailing. Just have a look at this picture below! Imagine the sound from the waves, the wind in the sails. Feel the energy from the sun!

Main sail and genoa set for a great day

I have some tips for you all, no matter if you are sailing often, if you would like to do it more frequently or even for you guys who never even tried it. Because it´s truly recommended, you will love it! A great hobby, that doesn´t need to cost much either.

I love to feel that I´m one with the nature! It´s not important where, if I´m in the forest, on a mountain or on the beach. Well I don´t like desert very much. 😉 …but beautiful views, I love that, and from a boat, the views are beautiful in whatever direction you turn. Another favorite aspect is spending time with my friends, as well as meeting their friends and other people. Whenever I have the chance I go kayaking, canoeing, windsurfing or even swimming. Perhaps I was a fish or maybe a sea bear in a previous life?! I don´t know. I just love being close to water, it has a very calming and relaxing effect on me. What I don´t like so much are powerboats, except for the electric ones, I like those. But most powerboats are too noisy, disturbing the life and the surroundings. Powered on fossil fuels they also have their emissions, leaving oily film on surfaces in every harbor. Of course, for many, they can be convenient as a fast transport, but when I go out on the lake or on the sea, the journey is the goal, not getting to somewhere in a rush. No, if I will get myself a boat in the future it´s definitely going to be a quiet electric boat, or preferably a sailboat.

Here´s a photo from a beautiful morning less than two weeks ago. Some of my friends meditating in the morning sun.

Beautiful morning, meditating on a sailboat

This was a magical day! Me and six friends met up in the harbor of Barceloneta. It was early in the morning and still dark. We wanted to see the sunrise from the boat. There, above the wharf was a big mobile funfair, from a big “fiesta” the days before. Carousels, ghost trains, fun houses, popcorn stands and a huge Ferris wheel, but yet so calm and quiet. I´m sure there were laughter, music, flashing lights and all kind of noisy movements just a few hours before we got there. The air that morning by the sea, was incredibly fresh and the moist the tiny breeze brought in from the sea, tasted like a dream, or at least what I can imagine a dream would taste like. 😉 We slipped quietly through the marina, the water was like a mirror. On the picture below you see the sunrise just before we passed the clock tower. This tower makes out the limit between where you´re allowed to have set sails or just go by engine. (Outside or inside of the marina.) We had to keep the engine running a bit further, but just after the cruise terminal the breeze speeded up.

Sunrise in Port Vell, Barcelona

We set sail and the wind pushed us ahead, towards the horizon. This was such an amazing day and it will always be, in my memories. We joked, we laughed, we sang and we shared tasty fruits, nuts, drinks etc… Whatever we had brought. We also went for a swim, holding on tight to a rope tied to the boat. That was hilarious, with the speed you almost felt like a dolphin. Haha! I´m actually smiling right now, only thinking about it. Here´s a picture of me navigating the boat in full speed.

Steering starboard in the sun with the wind and the compass

I was so happy, especially since it had been a while since my last sail. Wow, almost two years actually, now when I think about it. We cruised and squared, turned larboard and starboard. It was just really great and the city was also beautiful to see from the sea. This is a view of Barcelona from the boat.

My wonderful city from the sea

I really recommend sailing as recreation, it is so relaxing, for both body and soul. If you like boat life, but care for Mother Nature, or simply if you just think motorboats are to noisy, sailing is definitely the way to go. If you want to be even more sustainable and truly are caring for the environment, a tip is to rent your boat, those days you want to get out, or look around for boat sharing concepts that are becoming more popular all around the world. Check out the local sailing club! On the club here you get a monthly membership for €35, and then you have a boat included for one day every month, after that it costs €75 per day to rent a boat. What you can do then if you feel that it´s really a hobby for you, why not get together with a few friends and split the costs?

For example, if you are ten friends that enjoy this, and let´s say four enters the club, that´s €35 x 4, so €140 per month and then you have a boat included four days every month. That´s great don´t you think? €14 per person/month to go on a lovely boat trip every Sunday! In these smart ways you get out more use efficiency in every boat produced and therefore smaller footprints of negative environmental impact, because once it has been manufactured it´s pretty much harmless for the nature, especially with an electric help engine. Of course choosing the right hull paint is important and taking care of your trash and waste! Maintenance is the downside of all boat ownership, really boring and can also be costly, yet another reason to share boats with others in different smart concepts.

So, there you see! Sailing can be a great hobby for all people. A true alternative luxury in our everyday life. Well maybe not if you´re having phobia for water but then you´re not really interested in unsustainable yachting either. 😉 If you never tried sailing, just go and give it a try! First then you´ll know. I bet you will love it! Talk to your friends, post on social medias, maybe there are others interested in this wonderful form of recreation as well. If you already are into sailing, consider sharing boats with others… for the planet and for the future, for our kids and grandchildren!

On the photo below, some beautiful tall ships visiting Barcelona, we saw these on our way back to the marina. We were forced to wait 45 minutes before entering the harbor due to an open water swim contest or Triathlon or something like that. Well, it was ok, circling around this old beauties, I could do forever.

Beautiful classic tall ships visiting Barcelona

For thousands of years sailing was the way to navigate around the world. We have the power by Mother Nature in the wind, we have all the sun we need. Let´s just leave the fossils where they belong, deeply buried in history! Have a great day! 😀 …and if you enjoyed the reading please recommend Sustainaboost to others, spread the word, for a better world! Thanks! Over and out…

Surprise?! Do you like surprises?

Hello everyone! I hope you´re all having a wonderful day!

Many of you have already been reading my blog for a while now, and I´m very happy that the blog´s recently launched Facebook page now has 200 likers. Yes! The Sustainaboost community is growing! Great to have you all onboard. For you who yet don´t now me or the blog. Welcome, great to have you here and that you found Sustainaboost among all millions of blogs out there.

I´m very grateful for the positive feedback I have received on calls, messages, social medias etc… and I think I speak for all bloggers when I say that I truly appreciate engages and interactions on all different platforms, wherever we connect. Every like, comment, share, favor or ReTweet really means a lot to me… and therefore I wanted to show my appreciation. I thought: What can I do? What would I like if I were you and what would make me happy?

A surprise of course! There I had it, a brilliant idea, I love surprises! …and I figured that you guys and people reading my blog, are interested in pretty much the same things I´m in to, and therefore… you also must like surprises! You know like those ones, when you click on a link, to find a page with the hope to read something interesting and there it is… one in bright colors, flashing ad that says: “Congratulations!” You are visitor #1.000.000, just click on the link to cash in 100.000 dollars, or something like that. Don´t you just love that as well?!

The other day when I saw that 183 people, at the time, had pushed the like-button on the Sustainaboost on Facebook, i decided to make something special for the number 200 person to like the page. …but what kind of surprise could I possibly make? Could I send something? …or could I get an online gift-card? Well, I thought: I´ll figure something out when it reaches 200. It said swisch and boom and oops, it happened! 200 likes. I was relieved when I saw that the number 200 sustainabooster lived in Barcelona. Nice, no worries about what to make or buy, what and where to send it or where to search for stuff online.

…so I wrote a surprise message earlier:

“Congratulations! You are liker #200 and therefore you have won an exclusive lunch. Inform me about your favorite vegetarian restaurant, date and time preferable! Have a nice day!”

Aaahaha!! 😀 Well, I did not write exactly like that, but it felt really funny to actually write one of those “you won 100.000 dollars” kind of messages. 😉 …and what happened to the expression: “There ain´t such thing as a free lunch?!”

I wanted to put a photo on this post with a really tasty looking lunch on it. However I noticed that I hardly had any pictures of food at all. The closest to lunch I could get was this pic below, of a table at one of my favorite restaurants. Notice how the tree is preparing for the winter! 🙂 …and click on pic for link to Sustainaboost on Instagram! Funny though when I think about all delicious looking dishes shown on Facebook and Instagram every day and I don´t have any… Hmmm?! Am I not normal?! …but then again, what is normal in this world… and who says so?! 😉

Keep warm, winter´s approaches! 😉

Thank you all very much for reading, especially big thanks to you, who read all way down to here! 😉 Please, spread the word about Sustainaboost! Smile and keep on having a wonderful day, love to you all!

105.000 people can´t be wrong!

I am amazed! No more being stuck in traffic, no more trying to find a parking spot, no more running after busses, no more time spent on, by tourists and pickpockets crowded metro platforms, no more waiting for the tram or wasting money on expensive taxi fares!

After trying for just a little bit more than a week. I am totally convinced! I love “Bicing” and its great concept of bike sharing here in Barcelona. If I´m alone to see the clever in this? No! Almost 105.000 citizens are using this service and the popularity is growing. In Barcelona bikes are stolen all the time and you´re recommended to invest the same amount of money on your locks, as you did on your bike in the first place. …but, with Bicing, you´ll need no more worries my friend. You don´t need to carry your bike up and down the stairs anymore, and no matter where in the city you are, you can almost be sure to have a Bicing station within two or three blocks from you. Where I live, I have six stations within a distance of 300 meters, the closest one is just a block away.

Click on the pic below to see the map showing the locations of all Bicing stations.

Bicing Station by the beach in Barcelona

Whenever you want to go somewhere in the city, you just catch a bike from nearest Bicing station. Slip your magnetic card, grab the bike suggested on the display and off you go. You have 30 minutes per ride on your annual subscription included. If you´re holding on to the bike longer than that you need to pay an extra fee. About 45 euros is the yearly cost, that´s pretty much what I spent before only on Metro cards every month. You can return your bike at any of the 420 stations around, wherever it is convenient for you. Bicing has 6000 bikes available for its clients and every bike travels an average of more than 550 km per month. That´s pretty impressive.

The photo below is a link to a map of Barcelona with the main bike lanes displayed.

Bike lanes photographed from my balcony

Barcelona is an excellent city for this concept. The weather conditions are great most time of the year. Since the main part of the city is rather flat you don´t need to struggle going uphill all the time. There are also a lot of space, for example if you´re cruising on the beach walk or along the biggest streets and avenues like Diagonal or Gran Via. Usually you just need to go a couple of blocks to find a nice bike lane integrated in the street. It feels very good to cycle through the city, passing car queues and traffic jams smoothly, and it´s so nice to feel the breeze in your hair while moving around downtown in the sunshine instead of sitting or standing in a really warm bus.

Below you have screenshot of the Bicing smartphone app. It´s really useful, showing you where you can find an available bike or a space to park the one you´re already on. If you click on the pic you will see a listing of the largest bike sharing programs around the world. Is there bike sharing in your city? If you have experience or thoughts on the concept, please feel free to comment on the blog post! 🙂

Some of the more than 420 Bicing stations in Barcelona

Unfortunately Bicing is not available for tourists from outside of Catalonia. I now that in Gothenburg for example you can get a three days pass on the bike sharing there for about €1,20 and that´s a good price. Here the many bike rental shops were strictly against these kind of offers. As a tourist you can find so many alternatives to Bicing, but if you´re living here it´s truly recommended. Personally I think it´s the very best way of getting around here, no doubt.

Sustainaboost just registered on Instagram a week ago. If you like the new photos, feel free to follow us there. Just click on the picture for the link so you can like and comment on all future pictures. Come on now, click! …let´s see if you can click on my nose! 😉 Hehe!

Cruising on a mission 😉

Wonderful little movie of a cruise in Barcelona! Looks great don´t you think?!

Anyway folks, I´m so happy that I started to use Bicing. This city changed a lot in my point of view, and it´s all for the better. If you also want to subscribe on this wonderfully clever bike sharing, that saves you money, improves your health and reduce emissions and noise. Just click on the Bicing logo below for the official webpage! …and if your family and friends or anyone you know are tired of the traffic situation, just recommend them bike sharing or share this blog post with them, so they can read a little bit about it as well. You can find similar concepts in many cities.

Bike Sharing System of Barcelona

Thank you very much for reading! Have a great day… all boosters out there! Together we´ll make the world better, just keep on smiling! 😀

Heroes, cycling for the world

I´m really happy today! Even if a lot of bad and negative things are going on in this world, there´s also incredibly much love around us to be grateful for. Two true gentlemen took off on an adventure today, they´re now on an airplane somewhere above the Atlantic ocean. Kenneth Wallin and Magnus Hörberg are not only my friends, they´re genuine world friends and the best of heroes. They are very inspiring to me and I´m writing this blog post not only to promote and help them reach out with there wonderful cause, but also because I feel that the world should know about this. If they inspire me, this could also be of great importance for others and hopefully in the long term, taking part of creating possibilities for positive change, such as rethinking values, gaining sustainable awareness about unity and making impact on a humanitarian level, causing better quality of life and happiness for more people. For all of us. We are all the same… we´re children of the world!

AdventureAid, Respect Life

AdventureAid, NPO, founded in 2011

One day in August 2011 Kenneth Wallin, or “Kenta” as he is called by his friends, borrowed his mother´s three speed bicycle and took it for an adventure through Europe. Combining his great passion for sports and his will to do good, helping out in best of charity spirit, he now visited many of the biggest football clubs in Europe, such as Hamburger SV, Paris Saint Germain, FC Barcelona and AC Milan. He returned to Sweden on the bike, that was fully packed with, by world stars signed, football jerseys ready to be auctioned out to fundraise as much as possible. This first trip in the name of AdventureAid contributed with almost 20,000 Euros to rehabilitation programs for former child soldiers in Liberia. Together with The Red Cross he now created a chance for these poor traumatized kids to get back into school and reconnect with there families.

On the picture below you can see Kenta ready to get going on the 2011 adventure trough Europe. 2.600 km in total! That´s amazing! 🙂

Here you have pictures from the first mission of AdventureAid, from the left: Kenta receiving a signed Sweden national squad Ice Hockey jersey from swedish legend Peter “Foppa” Forsberg. Then great collectors items in form of football jerseys signed by Sneijder and Zlatan “Ibra” Ibrahimovic. And on the last image Kenta is happily getting a huge sponsored check before an Ice Hockey game. 😀 Very well done Kenta, so many people are proud of you!

This adventure, autumn 2013

This time, on cycling adventure v. 1.02 😉 Kenneth has a companion by his side, Magnus Hörberg. Just like Kenneth he also originates from the region of Småland in the south of Sweden. (We are a lot of good friendly people from there?! 😉 Perhaps the green forests, the silence, the fresh air and the many beautiful lakes make impact? I don´t know, what do you think?) Anyway, Magnus is a close friend to Kenneth and he supported the last trip very well. He has great experience of surviving in nature, as he has been working as adventure and nature guide both in Sweden and New Zealand, Kayaking, cycling, trekking, rafting etc… You name it, he has done it! He´s also a very skilled photographer and I´m sure that following their blog, we will see beautiful photos of the great variety of nature´s scenery, that they´ll pass through on their trip.

Magnus cooking in the wild. Click the image to see his webpage, a great thing is the “Green pricing” concept, I like that a lot! 😀

From Alaska to Florida

Anyway, this time our friends are setting off for a longer trip! I told you before that they´re on an airplane above the Atlantic ocean. They´re on their way to Anchorage, Alaska. They will ride their bikes for about 100 days, 100 km per day, and after 10,000 km they will reach Miami, Florida. I´m sure they will have a fantastic time, with great experiences and many beautiful sights on the way along coasts, ridges and valleys, passing lakes, mountains and forests. A travel like this needs very well preparation and planning. On the picture here you can see how they checking the new camera equipment 😉 …packaging bikes for the flight and first taking everything by car to the airport in Stockholm, Sweden. Click the picture for link to the AdventureAid Facebook page. Because that is definitely there only for you to like! And spread the word about their great cause!

Media coverage and fundraising

Media are showing great interests in AdventureAid. Kenneth and Magnus have already had meetings with Swedish National Television, about the “Children of the Earth (Världens barn)”-gala broadcasting later on this autumn, but also been interviewed for newspapers and Swedish Radio. The concept for the trip this time is that companies and organizations donate money, buying legs as part of the distance, and Kenneth and Magnus are cycling for them, making commercial and branding the logos of the stretches paid for. They offer different options and packages of distance and days for the sponsors. Click the picture to find out how it works! As a business partner you have the opportunity to be visible on the annual TV-gala by the Swedish National Television on October the 11th as well as coverage by magazines and NPO´s digital media and the AdventureAid blog. If you´re looking for branding your company, giving it an extra boost, here´s your opportunity!

SVT-Swedish National Television, Smålandsposten, SR-Swedish Radio

The AdventureAid Alaska to Florida fundraising is in collaboration with NPO Children of the Earth, (Världens Barn, in Swedish) who successfully raised about 10 million Euros in 2012 for different projects around the world.

Click the image below to see where the money goes!

I hope that all of you, Sustainaboost readers out there, appreciate this post! Even if you don´t want to donate or sponsor AdventureAid on the mission I still hope that you support the good cause of Kenneth and Magnus. Spread the word, follow, like and share on all social medias. Giving is receiving, the more positive output you give to this world, the more love will find back to you. The children are the future and of course our heroes Kenta and Mange are well worth to have the best adventure possible out there pedaling, I´m sure they´d appreciate feedback and response… even though I don´t think their huge smiles, as well as their hearts, can ever get any bigger!

To Kenta and Mange! Sustainaboost wish you the best of luck, keep up the incredible work making this planet a better place… and never stop to inspire the rest of us to be a little bit better as well! Big hugs and love to you both! 😀

…by the way, I´m ready to join you next time! If you want proof?! …here´s a picture for you:

Football, cycling, enjoying nature?! I can live with that! 😉

About… facebook.com/Sustainaboost ;)

Hello! I hope you´re all having a great day! 🙂 It feels really good to see that so many liked the page on Facebook, that was just published yesterday on the afternoon. Like, comment and share however you want to! Spread the word to family, friends and everybody else! Boost Sustainaboost for sustainable future, happier life and healthier planet! Yes! Let´s all go Sustainaboost!! 😀

Sustainaboost! 😀

Sustainaboost, now on Facebook! :D

I´m very happy to announce that Sustainaboost now has got a page on Facebook! Not only posts from the blog will be shared there, but also videos, pictures, articles and texts from other sources dealing with topics of interests for Sustainaboost and its readers. I would also like to present the new Sustainaboost mascot to you all. Meet Susty the dragonfly! 😀

Dragonfly

The dragonfly symbolizes attributes like dreams, change, speed, action as well as the ability to see the truth. These skills make Susty the dragonfly perfect for Sustainaboost. 😉 A big welcome now everybody to join us on Facebook. Just click on the photo above and you´ll get to the page, like it and share it among your friends. For a better world with more love and happiness, here we go! Have a great evening! 😀 …by the way, here you have 14 fun facts about dragonflies, that could be news for you!

A spin down Electric Avenue?!

Last week I signed up. I´m so excited! I signed up for a test drive of the new BMW i3. It´s not only the first all-electric car by BMW, but also the first all-electric serial produced car that I have the pleasure to drive. I´ve always liked driving these cars from the Bayern brand, the sensation you get there behind the wheel is great. The steering is just so exact synchronized and the comfort you feel in that perfectly molded seat is fantastic. Of course with the performance on the road, with acceleration for safe overtakings and the way these cars go through the curves, sure make one fine example of German engineering at its best.

Click on the photo to read about the philosophy behind BMW i – The City Mobility Project

I like that more and more manufacturers are beginning to produce electric cars at last. We, the market, have been waiting for this. More brands to choose from, bigger series, better infrastructure when it comes to charging stations with better technology, cheaper purchase etc… Mobility is finally ready to take one more step in evolution. The concept of BMW i, stands for sustainable mobility. Innovative electric vehicles with great design and best of service. Please click on the logo above to read more about the philosophy behind their concept! Below, you have the trailer for BMW i3, the car I signed up for, to take on a test drive. It´ll be great! I can´t wait! 😉

For the moment, I don´t have a car, but I know that I will pretty soon need one again. Of course it should be electric. The dream, for long now, has been a white beauty with the name Tesla Model S, but now I´m not so certain. Perhaps I´m going to like the “Bimmer” that much I actually change my mind. Also interesting is the hybrid Opel Ampera, that already has been around now for a while, which makes it possible to actually find a used one, for a better price. The same with Nissan Leaf. It´s a pity that Volvo C30 Electric is made in a limited serie of only 100 cars this year, and that these cars will be leased exclusively to special clients of theirs for testing. Hmm… perhaps Sustainaboost could become a special client?! 😉 I like Volvo a lot and I have been driving many in the past. It is a very safe car Volvo, it saves lives. I know that from experience. 😀 Anyway, I´m looking forward to try the new all-electric BMW and I´m sharing the opportunity with you, here below.

Click on the picture to sign up for a BMW i3 test drive!

Go on! Be one of the first people in the world to try this new car of great innovations, click now! Drive safe, all of you out there! 🙂

By the way, feel free to like, share and comment and please, if you know people who could be interested in the topics I write about, spread the word! Thanks for reading! …and have a great day! 😀

Tobias Jansson, Circular Economy Guru :)

Sustainaboost proudly introduce you to world friend and green warrior Tobias Jansson. He is dedicated to work and to inspire, to make Earth a better place, more sustainable through adapting a Circular Economy. For some of you, perhaps the concept of Circular Economy is new. Here is a little bit of explanation about the general ideas. Enjoy!

Circular Economy is a win-win situation for business and environment.

Why do people have problems with waste and environmentally harmful emissions, while ants do not, despite living in advanced societies? As a matter of fact, the total biomass of ants on earth exceed that of humans, but they still do not cause any harm, like people do. Why is this? People do have a design problem. Nature doesn’t.

If we re-think and re-design products and business models and get it right from the beginning, we’re able to create a solution that is sustainable over the long term and works exactly as good as natural systems. It’s about using materials which can flow as nutrients in technical and biological closed, cradle to cradle loops, and the development of innovative business models that supports these material flows. Then we can save a lot of money and resources for the economy and the society as a whole. We can create business benefits while using resources more wisely.

The concept, which is called Circular Economy, is a new, positive and solutions-oriented way of dealing with our resource challenges. The idea is that we need to turn today’s linear economy, which implies taking out resources, making products, consuming and finally disposing them, into an economy that works according to circular principles.

http://c2ccertified.org/

Here´s an example of a Cradle to Cradle-certified product. The park bench, NeoRomántico Liviano 100% aluminio, on Barceloneta Plaza from the Barcelona based company Santa & Cole. They produce urban furnitures and lampposts etc… Mainly for the markets of the Iberian peninsula, France and Latin America. Please check out the movie clip on the link below. In this case aluminum works as the “technical nutrient”.

http://www.santacole.com/en/catalogo/bancos/neoromantico-liviano-aluminio/

Right now there’s a lot of things going on in this field, i e thanks to The Ellen MacArthur Foundation, founded by sailing-around-the-world-recordist Ellen MacArthur in 2010. The foundation asked management firm McKinsey & Company to do research in what economic value a transition to a circular economy might bring about. The answer McKinsey came up with in the report “Towards The Circular Economy vol 1” (2012) was USD630 billion per annum, looking only at a subset of EU manufacturing sectors. The Ellen MacArthur foundation has also launched The Circular Economy 100, a business coaching initiative in which the foundation works with companies such as Coca-Cola, Ikea, Marks & Spencer and Ricoh to accelerate their transition to circular business models.

http://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/

http://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/business/reports

Tobias Jansson, a writer and lecturer who co-founded Scandinavia´s leading sustainable lifestyle magazine Camino in 2006 is now one of the front figures in Sweden trying to spread the word about the Circular Economy concept. On his blog CircularEconomy.se and in an upcoming book he writes about entrepreneurs and visionaries working to form a circular future. With departure in his interviews he gives lectures on Circular Economy and also holds workshops where participants are given the challenge to transform business cases with linear business models into circular ones. The lectures and workshops are available in Swedish and English, and right now Tobias Jansson is looking for opportunities to speak more internationally, not just in Europe, but anywhere an interested audience awaits him. Main target is business developers, science parks, educations in business, technology and design, as well as municipalities.

Tobias is always traveling by the best alternative of transports. If train is not an option to his destination, sometimes you can see him like this. Happy behind the steering wheel of an electric car. 😀

This is what a lecture could look like.

On the picture below Tobias explains the difference between traditional sustainability work, when you try to minimize damage, less emissions, less impact etc… and the circular point of view, that says: “Being less bad is no good”. Cradle to cradle is about starting from zero emission and then being 100% good, or more. If you´re going in the opposite direction instead of the way towards your goal, you need to turn around to get to your goal. You are not going to get there simply by breaking and slowing down you speed.

Here are some pictures from a workshop in Circular Business Models with Business Region Gothenburg.

If you want to book lectures or workshops with very inspiring green warrior Tobias Jansson, you can write him an e-mail in English, Swedish or Spanish. Would you like to have a 15% discount on his price? Your discount key is: Sustainaboost! Tell him that you read about him here! 😉

Contact and connect with Tobias Jansson on: tobias@circulareconomy.se

His blog and webpage: http://circulareconomy.se/

Follow Tobias on Twitter: https://twitter.com/tojler

Workshop: http://circulareconomy.se/cirkulara-affarsmodeller-hos-business-region-goteborg/

I want to say thank you Tobias for all inspiration and great things you are doing! I wish you best of luck with your future work, the book, the blog, lectures and workshops! Also the best of luck to all other green warriors of this beautiful planet. Together, we will make it better! Over and out… Thank you! 😀