The Year of a Million Dreams

The Year of a Million Dreams. That was the theme for Disney for 2007, although I was just at Disney World in the first few days of 2008 and the theme line lingers on, which of course got me thinking about dreams, and a year of making them come true. Which leads me to now, today, my first day back, and the dreams I have for FoodShed Planet in 2008, and the turn in the road I'm going to take to try to make these dreams come true.

As I curled up in the back of the car heading south from Atlanta for the easy 8-hour drive to Disney, I read the Disney sustainability report. Many corporations are new to this, to outlining their initiatives in triple-bottom-line sustainability (people, planet and profits), but Disney has had a dedicated "Environmentality" effort for 16 years now, and a rich heritage of conservation for more than 60.

Okay, you can argue that Disney destroyed a lot of land and overused resources and packaging for years, so frankly, it is simply undoing the damage it's done, but my time in Disney World showed me otherwise. And this year, on FoodShed Planet, I want to expand my vision to share with you not just what I find out about eating close to home around the world and other food for thought, but also about those who are nurturing our world's people, planet and profits. The nonprofits, the for-profits and the individuals who are making a measurable difference in top-line environmental improvements as well as bottom-line earnings. Because, frankly, the megacorporations can change the world when they change their operating systems. When they change their transportation or supply chain demand management. Or greenhouse gas emissions. Or product procurement policies, or cradle-to-cradle product design, or even, like Disney, the disposal method of 350 pounds daily of elephant manure from its Animal Kingdom park (it is composted).

You'll find a hint of what's to come on FoodShed Planet each week every Sunday, plus I'm aiming for an editorial calendar that looks something like this:

Monday: Nurturing People
Tuesday: Nurturing Planet
Wednesday: Nurturing Profits
Thursday: Eating Close to Home
Friday: Around the World
Saturday: And Other Food for Thought

And so, today, I choose the Disney Corporation, not only because it recycles 40% of its waste, not only because it helps conserve wildlife and literally save species such as the white rhino, not only because of its brilliant monorail/ferry/bus transport systems that remove literally thousands of cars from the roads each day, and not only because of the use of innovative technology and design that meet environmental standards, but also because of the thing that permeates the entire Disney experience--high quality environmental education.

Disney nurtures people because it touches millions daily with entertaining environmental messages at every stop. From the simple "It's a Small World" that reminds us how much we have in common on this earth, to powerful environmental messages on Epcot's SpaceShip Earth, the Seas with Nemo and Friends, Living with the Land's sustainable agriculture greenhouse and the Circle of Life film, and to almost everything at Animal Kingdom (especially Rafiki's Planet Watch).

Listen, I wasn't such a big Disney fan. I was dreading the lines. I'm not into commercialism. I searched high and wide, in vain, for any food that was local or organic and came up dry (although healthy options like yogurt and fruit abound and I had no trouble at all as a vegetarian). But I had no idea how much of an effort Disney was making on environmental education, and frankly, I was blown away by it. Not just the big things, but the little things, too--the can and bottle recycling bins all over the place, the fact that the hotels don't change sheets daily unless you request it (which we didn't), and even the Mickey Mouse "Recycle It!" sign with a convenient bag that we found in the room.

And so, I invite you to take a look at the Disney annual sustainability report, and to be on the lookout for other companies who are now routinely issuing these reports as well. They are making their environmental efforts more transparent. They are holding themselves accountable. And they are trying to make continual improvements so that they can not only be profitable but prosperous in the riches they preserve and the riches they share. And for those of us interested in nurturing the world not just through food but also through good (that line would work better if food and good actually rhymed, wouldn't it?!)--that's something worth applauding.

So, join me on this ever-evolving journey as we broaden our scope and wrap our arms more fully around the exciting things happening on our shared Planet Earth. Our FoodShed Planet.

And welcome back. I have missed you.

The Year of a Million Dreams