Living unreasonably doesn't mean acting without good sense, yet it means living beyond the limits of acceptability or fairness.  However you interpret the meaning of the word… there are those bold dreamers out there attempting to make a real difference for people.  In a time when our future is uncertain and our present is tense, we can rely on courageous and compassionate entrepreneurs to lead us by living a life... Unreasonable!

A breakthrough, entrepreneurial accelerator called The "Unreasonable Institute" in Boulder, CO recently completed its 2012 selections of global entrepreneurs. The candidates are a diverse passionate group, that are out to create disruptive business models for breakthrough change.  This year the institute decided to crowdsource the votes to help company founders compete.  They must fundraise towards a modest goal of $10,000, serving as their entry into the 6 week summer program.  While 25 amazing startups and entrepreneurs have reached the threshold of capital needed for entry, many wonderful projects will unfortunately not make this years list.  The good news is, you can still help these bold ambassadors for change.   

One such project, I was personally inspired by is "The Green Desert," operating in a contentious and dangerous location better known for battles, prejudices and media storms.  The entrepreneur, Mohammed Salem, was a trained pharmacist in Palestine seeking to use the power of change as his medicine.  He has decided to focus his efforts on the forgotten Bedouin tribes of Palestine and East Jerusalem.  Salem represents the new eco-entrepreneur perfectly by focusing on a truly marginalized community of only 2,300 spread over 20 communities.  He is utilizing the power of positive capital investments for good to benefit people in their native environments.  

The Bedouin's need for energy is all too real.  So, by providing life-saving renewable electricity via solar, wind and biogas units it tackles this issue.  His model for The Green Desert, is to use local experts in renewable energy products to install units and train each community group.  The project even has the potential to use recycled materials to build local wind turbines and solar cookers.  Since over two-thirds of these communities are children, accessibility to cooking resources is crucial for their long term health.

The good news is that this project is already a functioning reality. It has made a great impact to over 500 homes being powered by pollution-free renewables, fueling the local communities.  Although Mohammed was unable to raise the initial $10,000 to enter the Unreasonable Institute this summer, you can still help!  You and other investors can provide helpful resources and connections inside your network to grow this worthy venture.  

In an area of our world rife with frequent battles, regular distrust and great instability it inspires me to know that people like Mohammed are out there living a life truly... Unreasonable!  

For more information about The Green Desert please contact founder Mohammed Salem at b_m_g_b@yahoo.com or click this link below:
https://marketplace.unreasonableinstitute.org/project/green-power

About the author:
Jared Brick is an MBA candidate in Sustainable Management at the Presidio Graduate School in SF, CA.  He is currently developing TraX Actions, a disruptive rewards platform to incentivize consumers and retail businesses to engage in sustainable practices.  Follow him on Twitter @jaredbrick or email him at: jared.brick@presidioedu.org for more details.  

Thanks for sharing!