Comments on: Balancing the Commons, the Market and the State http://nooventures.edublogs.org/2008-06-10-balancing-the-commons-the-market-and-the-state/ Mind Ventures in the Quest for a Life-Sustaining Civilization Design Tue, 08 Mar 2011 22:45:52 +0000 hourly 1 http://edublogs.org/?v=3.5.1 By: maya http://nooventures.edublogs.org/2008-06-10-balancing-the-commons-the-market-and-the-state/comment-page-1/#comment-177 maya Mon, 12 Jan 2009 10:49:37 +0000 http://nooventures.edublogs.org/2008-06-10-restoring-balance-nurturing-the-commons-taming-the-market-reorienting-the-state/#comment-177 Hello Bowo,

I stumbled over your profile on WiserEarth, and I thought I send you a Hi email since we’re both also Indonesian. Salam kenal.

I’m basically impressed with your project/s, articles you wrote then shared, and fight/advocacy for sustainability. Right on. I’ve been an expat for almost 15yrs now, which means that most of my adult years/life has been spent outside Indonesia, mostly in the U.S. and France.

Three years ago, I started my own business, SAYA, focused on Indonesian Fair Trade Arts and Crafts. I started my research online, met some Indonesian bloggers and then found some Fair Trade member organisations etc. I did everything alone; I couldn’t find anybody like your profile then, esp. living in Indonesia. I opened a boutique to re-sell those Fair Trade or small/family-owned products in France.

I learned export-import business is another ‘beast’ that I didn’t know much about. I ventured into something totally new to me (neither my educational background), but I wanted to do something good per se and the most importantly I had a chance to do it.

Fast forward, after two years my shop still couldn’t be sustainable as a business due to many factors including high cost of running the business itself, the shop, the charges, the tax, the transport fees, etc. etc. I couldn’t continue on, I decided to close down shop. I was disappointed to say the least and was hit hard by the reality of how tough it was to want to do good.

The WiserEarth didn’t exist then :-) I found it to be a very good platform for people, organizations and businesses who care to connect, to communicate and to help each other. My goal now is to find a new job…something along the line with my philosophies: Local economy, organic, fair trade, food sovereignty, justice, sustainability and of course psychology.

My questions to you…how did you find out about WiserEarth? It’s great that you’re the Chief Editor there now. Congrats. What are you doing presently in Indonesia? (which orgs you’re working on etc.), and last but not least…since the presidential election is coming very soon, who is the candidate you’re supporting that would pay attention to this sustainability you and I are advocating for?

Ah, excuse me for asking too many questions here. I’d like to support you also on your search and fight for similar goals. I hope you don’t mind.

I hope to hear from you soon. Good luck and Best wishes for 2009.

Sincerely,
Maya.

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