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John Elkington

John Elkington

A world authority on corporate responsibility and sustainable development.

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All at Sea with Jan-Olaf

John Elkington · 29 August 2009 · Leave a Comment

Windowsill Windowsill Breakfast Breakfast Implements Implements Deck of the Inspired Deck of the Inspired Elaine Elaine Oslo Opera House Oslo Opera House

Elaine and I arrived yesterday in Oslo, to stay with Jan-Olaf Williums and, a few days later, to attend the Oslo Sustainability Summit – where I was was due to speak on the second day. Today, Jan-Olaf took us out on his yacht, Inspired, sailing around Oslo Fjord. Our first glimpse of the extraordinarily beautiful Oslo Opera House. Afterwards, we visited the Folk Museum, which was fascinating. Rain played across the landscape, cross-cut by sunshine. During one downpour, we sampled pancakes made by a couple of young women, later we sampled fresh-made soup in a small cottage: only when Jan-Olaf had seconds and the pot was stirred did I realised that this wasn’t entirely vegetarian. The girl cooking and entertaining mentioned that she was studying architecture – and deeply embroiled in … sustainable development.

Inspired's bottom, or stern Inspired’s bottom, or stern Stave church Stave church Stave church, 2 Stave church, 2 Pancake baking Pancake baking Scarecrow Scarecrow Window and churns Window and churns It's got legs It’s got legs Early variant of the horse Early variant of the horse Still life Still life Window display Window display Study in black Study in black Old gas station Old gas station They're everywhere: the Buddy electric car They’re everywhere: the Buddy electric car

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Introduction

I began this blog with an entry reporting on a visit to the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution on Cape Cod, on 30 September 2003. The blog element of the website has gone through several iterations since, with much of the older material still available.

Like so many things in my life, blog entries blur the boundaries between the personal and the professional. As explained on this site’s Home Page, the website and the blog are part platform for ongoing projects, part autobiography, and part accountability mechanism.

In addition, my blogs have appeared on many sites such as: Chinadialogue, CSRWire, Fast Company, GreenBiz, Guardian Sustainable Business, and the Harvard Business Review.

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About

John Elkington is a world authority on corporate responsibility and sustainable development. He is currently Founding Partner and Executive Chairman of Volans, a future-focused business working at the intersection of the sustainability, entrepreneurship and innovation movements.

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john@johnelkington.com  |  +44 203 701 7550 | Twitter: @volansjohn

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