Considering the terror of the current California wildfires, forward thinking minds cannot help but consider how to prevent a repeat disaster. With regard to entrepreneurs, there is a collective responsibility to ensure that affected communities like Los Angeles in the wake of these wildfires, or North Carolina in the wake of Hurricane Helene, are safe and provided for. There are no better minds or wells of financial power more equipped to attempt to resolve the issue of climate change.
When writing about entrepreneurship, it is sadly far too easy to focus solely on independent growth, on maximizing opportunity for oneself. This article will function as a call to action, a call to alter the state of modern affairs with regards to entrepreneurship in order to enact real change within affected communities. The call to action will be accompanied by a demonstration of musical entrepreneurs making the most of their platforms, which entrepreneurs should absolutely follow suit in.
Musicians Come Together to Support Those in Need
Thankfully, there are already examples of communities coming together to speak out about the growing climate crisis. One moving and meaningful example of this is found within the indie rock band, Pinegrove’s most recent album: 11:11, with the song Orange. The song’s lyrics discuss the climate crisis in detail, in the wake of the Oregon wildfires of 2021, hence the title Orange. In a statement surrounding the song, lead singer Evan Stephens Hall states the need for “people with a microphone to start shouting.” On a macro-level, Stephens Hall is trying to generate political action that is currently starting to alleviate some of the pain from the wildfires in California.
In many ways, communities of musicians appear and act similarly to communities of entrepreneurs, regardless of their financial standing as individuals. One example of this was demonstrated by MJ Lenderman, Waxahatchee, REM, and other’s activism in the wake of Hurricane Helene, participating in a benefit concert titled Cardinals at the Window, which raised money for North Carolina in the wake of the ecological disaster.
Individual Impact
In the wake of the disaster in California, which has killed 11 people, decisions are being made on how to treat the worsening climate. While California, as a more liberal state, has made some strides in recent years in its’ treatment of the climate, obviously, further changes must be made to ensure the health and safety of the states’ people, and habitat. Governor Gavin Newsom, for example, is conducting an inquiry into Los Angeles’ use of water and water pressure when fighting fires. Newsom is doing exactly what Stephens Hall and the state of California request of him, enacting change from his platform of power.
Whilst individuals certainly possess power, there remain specific ways that communities can come together to call for action. These calls to action can arise especially within the entrepreneurial field with the establishment of foundations and the subsequent raising of money. There are some well-known examples of this, such as the Melinda and Bill Gates’ Foundation.
Fabulous Foundations
It is absolutely unacceptable that uber-wealthy individuals and communities are not contributing money or any forms of aid to groups in need. The Gates’ Foundation is a wonderful model to base new foundations off. Constantly, there need to be new examples of environmental stewardship driven by financial backing. One exceptional example of this is the Environmental Defense Fund, which is a non-profit organization which takes donations for the explicit purpose of bringing about vital “environmental progress.” A subsequent specific example of environmental activism going hand-in-hand with political activism is the Citizens’ Climate Lobby, which works to empower groups within communities and its’ individuals. This group has chapters all over the country, with its specific influences pertaining to government lobbying. These are merely some of the ways individuals can get involved, regardless of if they consider themselves an entrepreneur or not.
Entrepreneurial Edge
Entrepreneurs absolutely have a responsibility and the knowledge to maximize resources, a trick which is beneficial in times of crisis. Taking these resources and ensuring that they are being used for the betterment and well-being of others is critical. These foundations all have entrepreneurs or entrepreneurial minds at their forefront, ideally making sure that the foundation is using their resources wisely and for the benefit of the most people possible.
A perception of the selfish entrepreneur absolutely exists. This perception may be accurate, and there has to be work done to change that, to encourage more people to get involved in the environmental entrepreneurial field themselves. At the very least, entrepreneurs need to be far less selfish than they are at times perceived to be. One way to eradicate this harmful perception is by getting involved in environmental issues, which inevitably will effect all of us.
