Week 2 - 3/3 to 3/7

Robin and I decided focus my internship on introducing 1% For The Planet to businesses and grassroots environmental activists around Taiwan. I would talk to small groups about Patagonia and it's philosophy, corporate culture, environmental activism, and link to 1% FTP. Our goal is to help a select group of five environmental organizations with their application to become part of the 1% FTP nonprofit network so they may be eligible to receive funding from the businesses in the alliance.

For those of you who are not familiar with 1% For the Planet, it is a nonprofit that Yvon Chouinard, founder of Patagonia, and Craig Mathews, owner of Blue Ribbon Flies, established to encourage more businesses to donate 1% of sales to environmental groups. Some of the reasons for a business to join include opportunities to network with hundreds of like-minded companies, as well as a positive corporate image as consumers equate the 1% FTP logo with environmental responsibility.

My task for the past week was to gather information about the application process. This is made easier as Wild at Heart and Robin and his partners, Winkler Partners, recently joined 1% FTP.

The first of the environmental groups I am slated to work with is Green Formosa Front. I met with Tung-Jye Wu and Roanne Chen on Wednesday. They filled me in on the group's mission to advocate social and corporate responsibility by introducing environmentally friendly legislation. Right now, they are working with a group of organic farmers to provide an organic agriculture lesson and lunch and each week at three elementary schools.

On Friday, Wild at Heart was invited to a tea party, celebrating the establishment of the Taiwan Association for Corporate Social Responsibility. Robin was invited to give a talk so he brought up 1% FTP and my reason for being in Taiwan. Several people came up to me afterwards, wanting to find out more about Patagonia.