Journal

Following today’s zouk ventures AGM at The Lanesborough, I walked up to the US Embassy in a slight drizzle this evening to see the film Frogs: The Thin Green Line, with Sam (Lakha) and YingLi (Guo). Met the director, Allison Argo of ArgoFilms, before the film began, and asked the first question from the audience when the discussion began.  A very powerful account of the plight of amphibians worldwide, with a particular focus on the chytrid fungus, which I covered in a blog entry on 4 February 2006 and again on 1 January 2008. Made eating the popcorn they served a little harder than usual.

Capybara Nick and Charmian

Started the day in Docklands, at HSBC, with Charmian and Nick Robins, who I first worked with way back in 1994.  He heads the HSBC Centre of Excellence on Climate Change.  Was very much struck to see a giant capybara on the wall of the room where we met. Fascinating, provocative discussion of various aspects of climate change, including the extent to which it is usefully tackled in the current round of government stimulus packages.

Image wall in HSBC reception Image wall 2 Image wall, 3

Rose and clematis in our garden Cycladic head Front door, detail Tree on Common

As I have cycled and walked around the city, the plane tree seeds have been ubiquitous, getting into the yes – so that often I found myself cycling with me eyes shut.  Hardly recommended.  But I love these trees – so am happy to endure a week or two of grief each year.

Idaho Quartz Circle, 1992

A week or two back, Tell Muenzing sent me this photograph of a Richard Long sculpture at the offices of Value Partners in Milano – entitled ‘Idaho Quartz Circle’, dated 1992 and using 54 stone slabs.

Astonishingly similar to the device on the front cover of our just-launched report, The Phoenix Economy.

Was particularly interested to read the profile of Long in today’s Observer Magazine.  Particularly liked the spirit of the quotation at the end of the piece, that begins: “I guess I’m an opportunist, really. I go out into the world with an open mind, and I rely to a degree on intuition and chance.”  Pretty much exactly my approach.  

And that’s what we’re planning with the next round of our Phoenix work, this time working much more closely with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The fact that there are 54 elements in Long’s CIrcle suggests the next steps for us: building out our Phoenix 50 to a series of longer lists of innovators and entrepreneurs.  More anon.