Day: October 28, 2010
More from Suzuki: Think locally, act locally
Thoughts from David Suzuki speaking at the Sydney Opera House continue to resonate through this week.
He challenged one of his earlier assumptions in the talk. The previous cry of “Think global, act local” he suggested was well-intended but ultimately ineffective.
To be effective on a global level, he suggested the power of collective action when we “think locally and act locally”.
An important part of this is not being deluded by large brands, government and the allure of the economy. He summed it up this way:
Politicians work within a political cycle. People don’t.
Dissonance in Community Wellbeing
Reading a number of corporate website over the last few weeks I sense an incongruous use of the terms ‘Community Wellbeing’ and ‘Sustainability’. Have a look yourself. Visit four or five large corporate brands and see if you agree.
‘Greenwashing’ is a term used for the promotion of sustainable strategy with no real substance, or concern for brand and reputation above impact. I would argue there is a similar trend with respect to corporate social responsibility in general.
Who decides on the boundaries for defining community? Where does our responsibility begin and end? Granted that we can’t be respond to every problem or need, and have our own concerns to address.
We live in an connected world. Is there a point of decency as humans where for humanitarian reasons alone we will not allow unthinkable suffering to occur? Or is it just not our problem? Should we just look to the wellbeing of our own community?
What will Africa look like in 2050? How does this question challenge your understanding of the term ‘community wellbeing’?
Building Bridges 