by Darrell Nelson
It’s no surprise that as the environment creeps more and more prominently into all sectors of work and society, there are plenty of new groups popping up around Tokyo with the goal of bringing together like-minded professionals and thinkers. Today as much as in the past many new networks have sprung from the participation in such groups, giving those involved a chance to nurture ideas, discuss new business plans, or just hear the latest news from those in the know. So in this edition of Sustainable Business I wanted to highlight just a few of the groups worth getting involved with around Tokyo, with the only qualification to join being an interest in the environment and our future.
Name: Green Mondays
Green Mondays is a monthly event for those interested in any type of ‘green’ business and sustainability issues. Featuring speakers on CleanTech and alternative energy, the environment and climate change, green business and sustainability, Green Mondays are targeted at managers and practitioners implementing sustainability in organizations, GreenTech entrepreneurs, and anyone else interested in climate change and environmental issues.The speakers share their latest thinking, new inventions, and best practices, followed by a question and answer session and networking.
Name: Net Impact, Tokyo Chapter
The mission of the Tokyo Professional Chapter, an affiliate of Net Impact, is to improve the world by growing and strengthening a network of local and international professionals in the Tokyo region who use the power of business to make a positive net social, environmental and economic impact. Net Impact’s membership makes up one of the most influential networks of MBAs, graduate students, and professionals in existence today. Meetings range form informal gatherings over a few drinks to seminars and environmentally themed movie nights with post-film discussions
Name: Green Drinks Tokyo (Greenz)
Green Drinks Tokyo is a monthly social event for Environmental professionals, social entrepreneurs, NGO activists, journalists, designers and anyone who is interested in ‘green’ and sustainability. If you want to find out more about green projects happening in Tokyo or want to make friends, socialize and get connected, then this is the group for you. In fact, Green Drinks is an international gathering held in over 600 cities around the world. In the past the group has had visitors from London, Paris, Toronto, San Francisco, Chicago, Mexico, Hamburg, Hong Kong and more. The staff are bilingual and there is always a great atmosphere at each meeting. The Greenz site itself (http://greenz.jp/en) is also a great place to learn about some of the latest sustainable and environmental news.
Name: People For Social Change, Tokyo (Skylines)
People for Social Change facilitates people moving beyond issue awareness to actualize social change. The group does this through forums for skills development, networking events, and projects aimed at linking people to social change programs. The organization’s goal is for people to be aware of their own power and be actively involved in their own communities. The philosophy is simple: get involved—your actions count! This is by no means a definitive list of the activities currently going on in and around Tokyo, and a quick internet search will certainly bring up many more. If you are involved in any other environmental or sustainable networks or groups then feel free to get in touch, and for those who have been looking to get more involved, now you have no excuse!
