GUY TALK
DISRUPTING FOR GOOD In May, I was invited by Virgin Unite to give a presentation to a
Swedish Professor Johan Rockstrom, director of the Stockholm
group of supporters of Sir Richard Branson’s allies in business,
Resilience Centre at Stockholm University.
education and outreach. My part was two-fold involving a
In a talk called Big World, Small Planet; Abundance Within
presentation about research, management and sustainable
Planetary Boundaries, Johan asked the question how the
use of coral reef and pelagic fishery resources followed by a
planet responds to the pressures of increased agriculture,
snorkeling tour of some reefs around Necker Island, BVI. In the
atmospheric warming, acidosis in the oceans and what are
context of “Disrupting for Good,” leaders of different businesses
the tipping points beyond which the planet may not recover?
and action groups talked about their experiences in an
Given all the scientific research currently in place, we are the
informal setting, and I was one of only two scientific presenters.
first generation to measure this disruption of the planet and
Other fascinating topics included legalizing marijuana and
to have the ability to fix it. Despite the exponential increase in
decriminalizing drugs, reducing the U.S. prison population, a
pressure from an expanding human population, there is still
texting crisis center, leadership in various contexts and real life
enough forgiveness in the atmosphere and ocean to dampen
GUY HARVEY, PhD
experiences by innovative entrepreneurs. The Virgin Unite team
our current level of abuse. But the current risk we are taking
is an internationally-acclaimed
has the ability to pull together some of the world’s best leaders
would be unacceptable in any business or how we organize our
artist, fisherman, scientist, and
and thinkers for events like this, including former president of
private lives. We need immediate action in terms of reducing
world traveler, who devotes
Mexico, Ernesto Zedillo, who made impressive contributions to
carbon emissions, more efficient agriculture, conservation of
much of his time and money
various debates. One of the most impactful was a presentation
ocean resources and maintaining marine biodiversity, which
toward ocean conservation.
on population growth, industrialization and climate change by
are all goals that we can collectively achieve.
14 | www.GuyHarveyMagazine.com
