A New Life: John Harrington was an advertising executive but now he tells Sylvia Thompson, he is selling a different kind of existence
John Harrington (33) is a man with a mission. In another time and place, he might have been a preacher, such is the passion and zeal with which he puts across his environmental message. For the last year, he has worked at Cultivate, the sustainability centre and eco-shop in Temple Bar, Dublin.
Following on from a stint of volunteering for the 2003 Convergence Festival, Harrington became one of the core staff of the Sustainable Ireland Cooperative last October.
His main brief is that of communications. "What we're about really is promoting the idea of a new cultural wisdom that recognises and values the balanced, connected and holistic relationship between society, the economy and our environment.
"We believe people's quality of life has deteriorated as economic wealth has increased and we are seeking something more balanced than the conventional wisdom of working every day to pay a mortgage and run a car. It's the new common sense really."
Rather than seeing himself as a convert to eco-principled living, Harrington believes he was always soul-searching in spite of doing a 'right-wing degree' in property economics at DIT Bolton Street, followed by a post-graduate diploma in business studies at the Michael Smurfit School of Business in Carysfort College, Blackrock, Co Dublin.
"For instance, I did my thesis on Dublin's large local authority housing estates including Neilstown in Clondalkin, near where I grew up."
Even at that early stage, Harrington was looking at how infrastructure alone couldn't create a self-respecting environment for people to live in.
However, following his studies, he put his social conscience on hold and went to work as a property appraiser (chartered surveyor) for an estate agent in Chicago. From there, he moved to San Francisco and worked for five years for a advertising agency, as an account manager for pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies.
"Advertising is a dynamic industry and there is a great mix of business and creativity. The work there was all about deadlines and no expense was spared. It really is a rich stimulating environment, says Harrington. "I've read recently that advertising is the preeminent educational vehicle in our society and that people learn more from advertising than from any other source."
Over time, the buzz just simply wasn't enough and he began to question the motivating force behind his work. "I began to think how all this creative input and energy was used to hock stuff - to sell product. It's a very cut-throat business and over time I felt the pharmaceutical companies were more attached to their profits than to healing people."
So in 2002, he moved back to Ireland and then headed off on a six-week trip to Holland, Germany, Poland, Romania and the Czech Republic seeking inspiration for his next step in life. "I felt something was going to hit me while I was travelling around, something like buying a bar in Romania or opening up a hostel in Poland."
Back in Dublin, he was still searching - exploring such business ideas as importing log cabins from Finland and launching Ireland's first blimp - a helium filled airship used to advertise products above large sports venues - when he heard about the Sustainable Ireland Cooperative.
"I really wanted to get my teeth into something I was passionate about. I was looking into setting up my own business when I went along to a volunteers meeting for the Convergence Festival. I felt it had its heart in the right place. I believed in the idea of restoring a balance to society and I thought I could contribute."
And so, that's what he does and true to his job description, he eagerly informs me of the forthcoming Convergence Festival - whose theme this year is "slow down and go further". Now in its fifth year, the festival draws speakers and workshop leaders from international environmental organisations. This year's programme includes an ecumenical gathering to celebrate Earth Day on April 22nd; a forum on genetically modified food policy in Ireland, a slow food banquet, a seminar on socially responsible business practices and a debate on waste.Financially speaking, John Harrington seems to be content at the moment. "I get the minimum wage at this job. There are no perks and no health insurance but I share a rented house with four others in Rathgar. I bike it into work and I have no desire to own a car. I earn enough to keep bread in my mouth and it's grand because I only have myself to support."
However, he adds a note of caution. "I wouldn't be able to continue doing this in the long term. So, it's also part of my job to convince people of the value of the work we do here so that we can start making a decent wage from it."
The 2004 Convergence Festival runs from April 22nd - May 2nd.
Cultivate, the Sustainable Living Centre is at 15 - 19 Essex Street West, Temple Bar, Dublin. Tel: 01 674 6396. See also www.sustainable.ie