Democracy Expressed in Organics to Energy

I'd like to discuss the importance of Organics to Energy O2E) by focusing on it's potential impact on democracy.

We are currently in an age of disempowerment for a vast portion of the population.  All around the world the promise of prosperity according to our concept of a 'free market' has not born fruit for most citizens. Folks representing all stripes find themselves feeling disempowered by a system that has cast them from their job while narrowing future opportunity in a number of strategic ways.  We seem to consistently ignore the fact that the intent of industrialization, an important factor of current global markets is to replace human labor with technology.  What to do with those lives 'freed' from the 'drudgery' of their own labor?  We haven't answered that question.

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The disempowerment I describe is exacerbated by the severe lack of capital to start or grow one's own small business.  No jobs available?  No problem for those of us willing to take risk and grow a new enterprise....unless one does not have access to the resources necessary for self-starting.  Then the medical and education bills pile up.  And the energy bills.  And supposedly it is our patriotic duty to consume more?


In an age when one has no control over their career, no control over most social problems, no control over major systems or even their very own food supply a feeling of helplessness ensues.  I am here to tell you WE ARE MORE THAN MERE CONSUMERS.

Our position as Organics to Energy Developers came about for a number of factors.

•  A sincere interest in working towards a more diversified and democratic agriculture and general business community.
•  To solve several environmental and social problems with one simple process.
• A desire to work with large and small investors, local banks and vendors with a business model that encourages local control over energy, finance and business.
• A complete focus on long-term goals.  Our strategic planning and project development purposefully avoids short-term thinking.  Long-term planning is community building by design. 

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Nobody desires to be forced to reinvent themselves faster than they could ever realize a goal to fruition.  A short-term approach to business is also a reductive approach to business.  Reducing the number of gainfully employed career oriented people.  Reducing the number of farmers and the capacity of farmers to work as stewards of the land.  Reducing the typical person's ability to realize personal goals in line with and not in spite of  the interests of their greater community.  This type of mindset takes local control away, decimating small communities and their people.  In our mind this is not only unsustainable.  It is also not a 'free' market. It is simply undemocratic.

A network of diversified communities with a vibrant business sector breeds a sense of community.  A Sense of Empowerment.  A sense of Creativity.

Organics to Energy projects, when coupled with the right long-term economic development policy can play a prime role in supporting entrepreneurship and local control.

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Scott Graves and SMGraves Associates is responsible for the business model behind the Solaya O2E Advantage.  Tune in to his podcast series 'No Boundaries Radio' on the No Boundaries Radio Network.  Meet him at the crossroads between strategy and innovation at [email protected] or twitter @smgcreative.

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