The Wumps in Us.

Cover of The Wump World by Bill Peet

I am sure you are curious about the name of this blog. A few of you might know the children’s book “The Wump World” by Bill Peet. I was lucky enough to read this book when I was a teenager. I instantly fell in love with it. It quantified my own feelings about environmentalism at the time in a grandiose way. As most teenagers, I was drawn to the dramatic. I now read this book to my kids and they love it.

It tells the story of a small simple planet called Wump World. The only occupants, the Wumps, are a species of hooved and happy animals whose routine consists of eating grass, drinking stream water and experiencing lazy days. The conflict arises when a fleet of space ships touch down. Out step blue aliens that proclaim ownership of the planet. These aliens are the Pollutians. They have lost their own planet to their industrious and destructive nature and had to find a new home.

You can guess where the story goes from here. The Pollutians build their new empire as the Wumps hide underground.  They destroy Wump World and leave after finding another planet to inhabit. The innocent Wumps return to the surface only to be devastated by it’s condition. There is hope in the end. The Wumps discover a small plot of park and the green begins to push through the concrete jungle.

This is a great story on so many great levels. It is told so that even a young child understands it. As humans we are not that far from the self-indulged, industrious and all consuming Pollutians. We can also empathize for the defenseless Wumps and the destruction that has been done to their habitat. In the end it is not as simple to say the Pollutians are evil and the Wumps are good. The Wumps went into hiding before the Pollutians can see them or connect with them. They do not know they are hurting the Wumps at all. Would they care if they knew? Who knows, but both sides could have benefited from the confrontation.

As humanity, we must make decisions that fall between these two extremes. We should not be wasteful consumerists, but also cannot be blanketed in innocent ignorance of righteousness. We have to find ways to be industrious for the benefit of ourselves and our world. Let’s use or industrious nature to create innovation. With better solutions, we build awareness and a belief system supported by our individual communities.

This blog will use Wump World as an inspiration. I will talk about branding and how it relates to developing your business and personal brand. What business are you in and does it fit with your ideals as a person. Does it effect your world and community? I will discuss design and communicating your brand through images and messages in a sustainable way. I will also post on other intriguing news and thoughts about sustainability and social responsibility. I hope you enjoy it and feel free to let me know one way or another.

Corbet