You might have noticed that all of my recent posts, including my adidas blogs, have had a sustainability theme. You might have also noticed a few references to something that I’ve been working on. While there is still much to build, I guess Earth Day is the perfect day to share what I’ve been up to, where we are at, and what we need to do to keep moving forward.
Over a year ago I had an idea. Since then, I have been working hard to scope out and agree partnerships for One Sky Collaborative , a groundbreaking Community Interest Company that unites art, sport, technology, and charity fundraising to tackle plastic pollution and climate change. One that will help create a cleaner and healthier world for all.
By leveraging NFTs, blockchain, Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence, and the power of global partnerships, we’re setting out to educate, empower, excite and enable individuals and communities to lead more sustainable lives. We can help protect the planet and recognise and reward those adopting sustainable practices and taking positive action. And I hope you will join us and support our efforts. Together we can collaborate, have fun, and do good. But how did One Sky Collaborative begin?
NFT Skepticism to a Force for Good
The seed for the idea of One Sky Collaborative began in 2021 when I entered the world of NFTs. I loved collecting art, joining online communities (hey, we were all locked in the house), and even playing NFT games. I didn’t make a lot of money, but I do now own some fabulous pieces of art by artists such as Remo Camero and it has led me here.
I’ve also had a lot of fun and have met a lot of wonderful people. And despite the negative stereotypes and concerns about the environmental impact, scams, and low-quality and stolen art, I recognized the potential for NFTs to create meaningful change. That’s when the idea for the One Sky Collaborative project was born – a purpose-driven NFT initiative designed to challenge these negative perceptions and showcase the power of NFTs to make a genuine difference in the world. To show that NFTs can be a force for good, and that we can all take steps to improve the world we live in.
One Step at a Time
Long (suffering) time readers of How Many Miles will recall that I do like my sports gear. I used to be that “all the gear, no idea” guy, hoarding running shoes, training equipment, and buying every gadget that caught my eye.
Over the past few years, and after my first beach clean with the Marine Conservation Society, I have slowly changed my own behaviors by reducing what I buy, repairing items (ok, others do the actual repairing) and donating more to charity. I even use Vinted to sell some of the unworn sporting gear that I’ve been telling myself that I’ll fit into one day. I still will but until I do, I’ll also make my wardrobe a bit lighter, and I’ll stop buying clothes based on who makes them and instead on how they are made.
I cannot look at what we are doing to the planet and not act. While my actions alone will make little difference and probably not make up for all of my life’s long haul flights, I realisd that if we all could make small changes and take small steps, then we could collectively make an impact. That we could all come together and collaborate; work together, have fun together, and change the world together. We just need some tools to do so and with, as I often lamented in my Faculty of Sport and Exercise Medicine blogs, a different approach.
Is it Time for a Different Approach?
Too often those passionate about the fate of the planet and indeed humanity can be a little brutal in their assessment of what we face. That’s not to say that they are wrong, but instead that they are, in my honest opinion, using the wrong approach.
When people read about rising sea levels, rising temperatures, and end of world scenarios it can trigger psychological defense mechanisms, such as denial, fear, and helplessness. This emotional response can lead to inaction or resistance, rather than motivating positive change. With One Sky Collaborative, we intend to focus on using empowering messages and highlighting achievable and sustainable solutions that are more effective in promoting behavioral change, as it taps into people’s intrinsic motivation and creates a sense of agency.
One of our central objectives is to empower and reward positive behavior change and actions. Through our unique platform, we aim to inspire individuals and communities to make environmentally conscious decisions and take part in activities that benefit the planet. By recognizing and valuing these positive actions, we hope to create a global movement that prioritizes the greater good and celebrates doing good.
NFTs are Scams
We also designed the One Sky Collaborative project to challenge the negative perceptions of NFTs and showcase their potential to create meaningful change. By using an environmentally friendly blockchain like Polygon and collaborating with talented artists to create inspiring NFTs, we will demonstrate that NFTs can be a powerful force for good and also show that the NFT community is indeed one that cares about the planet.
Collaboration is Key
We are proud to collaborate with exceptional organizations dedicated to ocean conservation and community empowerment. Our ocean cleaning partner, Ocean Integrity, operates in Indonesia to address the plastic pollution crisis. The Oceanic Society, our first charity partner, has been advocating for ocean protection for over 50 years. Additionally, we are supporting Ocean Sole, a Kenyan-based organization that turns discarded flip-flops into stunning art pieces while providing employment opportunities for coastal communities.
If that’s not enough, we have over 50 artists committed to providing art to auction and to use as rewards and badges in the platform.
While I have worked tirelessly to build partnerships, design the platform, and scope out the business, this is too big for one man (one woman might have coped). I have reached out and managed to convince some of my friends to join the team. One such friend is Brendan Cosso, CEO of the World Calisthenics Organization. He brings a wealth of experience in sports and community engagement, management skills, and in launching projects and products. Together, our talented team is dedicated to creating a unique platform that encourages, recognizes, and rewards good acts, promoting environmental stewardship and positive change.
Work with One Sky Collaborative
We are currently looking for funding (aren’t we all?) to build the platform and recruiting artists, brands and partners, but you can support us and join us in our mission to create a lasting, positive impact on our world. Simply follow @oneskycollab on Twitter, and One Sky Collaborative on Facebook and share our story. And if you happen to own a sustainable business looking to expand your reach (and sales) please get in touch.
More importantly, if you are or know a developer with time on their hands and a passion for the planet who might help us build our MVP, please reach out.
Together, we can create a better future the planet and humanity. One fueled by good deeds, innovation, and the belief that we can make a difference by empowering and rewarding positive behavior change and actions.