Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning we get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through our links, at no cost to you. Please read our disclosure for more info.
Last Updated on March 11, 2018 by Work In My Pajamas
This week, we had the pleasure of interviewing Chad Winters, the CEO of the Australian Conservation Monitoring Group.
1. Tell me about yourself.
As a deeply passionate conservationist, I have made it my life’s work to help educate the public — through both local and global efforts — on the importance of adopting an ethical and sustainable lifestyle. In pursuit of this goal, I helped create the Australian Conservation Monitoring Group (more commonly referred to as ACM Group), which is a community-managed operation based in Sydney, Australia. We have already accomplished a great deal through our efforts with ACM Group, and, although we are proud of our work, we still recognize that there is much more that must be done.
2. What lead to the founding of ACM Group?
There are quite a few factors that inspired us to found ACM Group, including a number of troubling developments pertaining to the flora and fauna that have for so long defined Australia and its unique culture. The Great Barrier Reef, for example, has been significantly affected by climate change and other environmental issues, and the damage that has been done over the years may be irreversible. With Australia’s ranking with regard to climate change action being the worst among all developed countries, we felt that something had to be done on an immediate basis to ensure Australians are part of the solution, not the problem.
3. How are you getting the word out about your company?
We have created several programs designed to inform the public about our company and its goals, including educational programs focusing on environmental literacy. We have also released several publications detailing the specific actions ACM Group has already taken to protect Australia’s wonderful environment. These efforts are ongoing, and we have engaged communities throughout the whole of Australia and are quite keen on eventually partnering with similar organization all over the world.
4. Can you give us a tip on how we can adopt an ethical and sustainable lifestyle?
We regularly publish upcoming activities and events that provide a great deal of guidance on specific strategies for adopting an ethical and sustainable lifestyle, so attending any one of these events would be quite helpful. I believe that it is also important to develop a closer relationship with the environment by engaging in activities that promote regular interaction with nature, including anything from gardening to surfing.
5. I presume those suggestions are for Australia. Would your answer be different for the US?
It would only differ slightly, as citizens of the United States living near either coast can interact with the Atlantic Ocean and Pacific Ocean in any number of ways, and even the most densely populated cities feature community gardens. In my mind, close interaction with one’s local environment leads to a deeper and more meaningful appreciation for nature, which in turn inspires a desire to protect the natural environment in any way possible. Ultimately, this local action turns into global action, which is what we are trying to promote through ACM Group.
Thanks for the interview, Chad!
