Social Impact and Remote @ Nomad City 2019
Photo by Christopher Sardegna on Unsplash
At #Nomadcity19, I delivered a keynote titled "How the remote working community supports positive social impacts". As a #remotework #advocate, day-to-day I am aware of the benefits of the lifestyle, but increasingly I am aware of the positive environmental benefits and the potential to do even more.
When I agreed to deliver the keynote and travel to Gran Canaria, a story unfolded that started in 1986 with an Irish dairy cow called Paddy with hypnotising eyes, but for the purposes of this post, began with the exploratory interviews I conducted in the run up to the event. A summary of these interviews are below.
So I need to fly to Gran Canaria so, I need to cancel my #carbonemissions, so I spoke to Duarte De Zoeten and joined Mossy Earth, to reduce the impact of those flights
Isabel Ripa, a #sustainability expert expanded my mind on how although there are positive impacts of remote work the changes need to be sustainable and maintainable to both the worker, company and society. We also discussed the benefits of being a registered as a @B Corp and following it's framework to accredit your corporate sustainability efforts
Then the #socioeconomic view, guided by expert Laurel Farrer who outlined all the indirect benefits. Eg, parents getting to spend more time at home (rather than commuting) can improve the quality food and nutrition for their children. Never mind reducing the amount of food packaging waste, and many more
Grow Remote - how this innovative Irish community organisation, is supporting the #ruralregeneration of my home country
Another example of #ruralregeneration is @sende in Spain. Thanks to Edo Sadikovic, who explained how their co-living social enterprise supports the local village, bringing much needed workers to a severely depopulated area of Spain
I discovered Raul Rovira via his fantastic Trainplaceless scholarship and he agreed to be interviewed. He moved me, as he shared his personal story as a disabled US army veteran and how remote work has enabled him to work, live and earn. Changing his life, a true example of #diversity and #inclusion
Then, the admirable Peter Du Toit who is one of the leaders of the crusade on environmental advocacy and remote work online and whose extensive knowledge combined with energy was a marvellous support to my research
Last but not least, the impressive and dynamic Nacho Rodgroguez and all the @NomadCity team, who are leading by example and putting #sustainability at the core of the event
So many people approached me afterwards to express support, so much so, that when I was asked during the closing panel for my response to the event, I responded "I feel validated". Validated that we, the #remotework #community are aware, motivated and taking action.
Let's keep going, together.
Thanks to all those who participated willingly in interviews, your on-going support is appreciated. Please add any suggestions below to how we add to these positive social impacts with our actions