Regardless of which side of the aisle you sit on, it’s hard not to feel the turbulence of our current socio-political environment.
What happened?
In some ways, it feels like the best of times. Global trends—expansion of the middle class, access to education, reductions in poverty, increasing life expectancy, advances in health, and investments in renewable energy—are generally moving in a positive direction.
And yet, we live in times of acute unrest. Warring nations and visceral human tragedies have shattered my once-naïve belief that global peace might be achievable.
While I think of myself as an educated, informed, rational citizen who believes in the power of moderation to achieve collective wins, the truth couldn’t be further from this self-constructed illusion. The unvarnished reality? I’m incredibly ignorant, highly opinionated, and underpinned by a sense of self-righteousness.
Who will save us?
Is Superman coming? Is there a magic lamp I can dig up to make my one big wish? Does anyone have the Bat-Signal to summon our heroes?
Who will these heroes be?
Will it be the federal government? Entrepreneurs and industrialists? International organizations like the United Nations? Or perhaps grassroots, neighborhood organizations?
While I don’t have the answer, I find some solace in the eastern philosophy of Vedanta. Its core premise is this: do your duty—or Dharma. Deeply introspect and ask yourself: What are you uniquely positioned to do? What are you empowered to do? What skills do you bring? What resources do you have? What is core to your DNA? Find that answer and then crush that lane!
I’m sure Superman will come save us one day, but in the meantime, we might as well get busy tilling the soil beneath our feet.
At Aerozone Alliance, our board leadership has graciously allowed us the space to explore these very questions. I’d like to share one example related to energy and economic sustainability.
Why think about this?
If you look at macro trends—like the expanding need for energy (e.g., data centers, artificial intelligence) and weather-related disruptions to energy distribution—it is clear humanity is in for a rough ride as we strive for energy equilibrium.
Why us?
Surely, there are brilliant minds working on this somewhere. But with the incredible assets of the Aerozone and the region—like NASA scientists researching energy sustainability for the lunar surface—we believe it would be inappropriate for the Alliance to sit on the sidelines.
What can we do?
We can start by identifying the region’s assets and tools. Then, bring together leaders and organizations with both personal and economic stakes in tackling this issue. Convene them, foster collective learning, and help unleash their power.
And then what?
Conversations are great, but without tangible action, we’d be wasting everyone’s time. That’s why we’ve created a basic blueprint to inform, educate, and—most importantly—invite more willing partners to join the effort.
In 2025, look for us to focus on developing strategies to build energy resilience for regional airports, diversify energy generation, and potentially work with NASA to pilot electrification concepts for advanced air mobility.
There’s an endless amount of good work to be done to help bring sustainable prosperity to our communities.
While we don’t have the Bat-Signal yet, perhaps this email can act as a mini-flashlight, assembling local heroes ready to roll up their sleeves and get to work.
Best regards,
Hrishue Mahalaha
Executive Director
Aerozone Alliance
