Ci traveled to the city of Las Vegas, Nevada this week to facilitate a sustainability workshop with a major live entertainment event. They are scheduled to start touring North America early next year so soon we will be able to say more and let you all know when it comes to your city! What I can say though is that everyone present learned a great deal about an expanded view of sustainability and social responsibility. More than a recycling workshop (which is what they thought they were getting), we worked with them to ensure every category and touch point was put through our filter of the 4 pillars of sustainability (personal, social, spiritual and environmental) and the 4 barriers to conscious consumption (price, time, knowledge, pressure).  

After two days of solid work, we had the evening free to explore the strip and take in a show. Cirque de Soleil was truly mind blowing. I can hardly believe what human beings are capable of doing when given the opportunity. After stepping back out into the Casino floor, the experience felt entirely like a dream. Did that really happen?  

We did of course laugh at the irony of why we were there, in the city of over consumption and excess. I can see though, why so many conferences and off-sites happen in Vegas. It is a city where everything seems possible, even if it is somewhat of an illusion.

A few other highlights of the trip were conversations we had with people living in Vegas – taxi drivers and neighbors at the restaurant table talking about changes they are seeing and have seen recently – things like how the economic situation in the states has been effecting the city and also what kinds of sustainability initiatives they are seeing spurt up. To sum it up, what goes up must eventually come down, and then back up again.

May we live in interesting times.