Friday, January 09, 2004
Environment:
Reports out today that the worlds consumption levels at an all time high. This applies on a per capita basis, in addition to increases caused by a larger global population. Despite this the general level of satisfaction has decreased.
This seems to be a paradox. Higher personnel consumption, one might think, would lead to a higher quality of life. This doesn't seem to be the case. As well the higher levels of consumption are placing an even greater demand on the environment, to an unsustainable level.
Combine this with the fact that should we reduce our consumption the business class will suffer and a recession may result. What is the solution to the riddle?
On the one hand we must reduce personnel consumption or at least shift its focus to renewable forms. On the other it must be done, within current capitalist structure, in such a manner as to sustain the business environment.
I don't know of any simple solution, and no one fix is going to solve everyone's concerns. There are however some steps that can be taken to help.
Unfortunately governments and business must work together to save the planet and at the same time restore the quality of life for all, rich and poor alike.
Firstly governments must initiate programs that support, assist and take a leading role in developing environmentally friendly programs. Through tax incentives, grant programs and R & D, create a very strong push for things such as fuel cell production, wind energy programs, solar programs and the like. This creates business as well as saving the planet.
Governments must remember that when corporations were first conceived, they were allowed because they had to demonstrate that by their creation they were serving the community in a manner which couldn't be achieved without them. Over the years this has changed. Corporations now exist primarily to increase profits. This is exactly opposite to the reason they were allowed in the first place. They were allowed to make possible the creation of hydro. phone , fuel supply etc. networks which couldn't be achieved without them. This purpose still exists and as such they should be allowed to continue. However we must revert to the founding principles of the whole concept of corporations in that they must demonstrate how the community as a whole will benefit by their creation and not just their shareholders. This would effectively put the power of the corporations back into the hands of the people where it should have always been.
The formation of a corporation should not be an automatic right for an individual. Corporations enjoy a privileged position as their shareholders do not assume liability for their actions. Hence the reason that their formation should be a privilege not a right and they should have to prove their benefits as a whole before they are issued a charter.
Great advances are being achieved along these lines. Corporate directors are coming under increasing scrutiny and are starting to be held accountable for their actions. As well governments are starting to support and thereby advance the formation of more environmentally friendly systems. But it is not enough and not fast enough. Primarily because those same governments receive a great deal of funding by those same corporations, who strongly resist any attempts to undermine their profitability.
We always view our governments as the powers to deal with, but in fact money controls the government. Politicians must walk a fine line between the demands of the people and the demands of the corporations providing the funding. In the end the funding wins. Hence the reason to remove some of the corporate power.
It would be great to live in a world where the will of the people is the most important factor in shaping government policy. If politicians were less restricted by corporate desires they might be more inclined to tell the truth as opposed to keeping us in the dark while meeting with corporate execs who in fact control our world.
Reports out today that the worlds consumption levels at an all time high. This applies on a per capita basis, in addition to increases caused by a larger global population. Despite this the general level of satisfaction has decreased.
This seems to be a paradox. Higher personnel consumption, one might think, would lead to a higher quality of life. This doesn't seem to be the case. As well the higher levels of consumption are placing an even greater demand on the environment, to an unsustainable level.
Combine this with the fact that should we reduce our consumption the business class will suffer and a recession may result. What is the solution to the riddle?
On the one hand we must reduce personnel consumption or at least shift its focus to renewable forms. On the other it must be done, within current capitalist structure, in such a manner as to sustain the business environment.
I don't know of any simple solution, and no one fix is going to solve everyone's concerns. There are however some steps that can be taken to help.
Unfortunately governments and business must work together to save the planet and at the same time restore the quality of life for all, rich and poor alike.
Firstly governments must initiate programs that support, assist and take a leading role in developing environmentally friendly programs. Through tax incentives, grant programs and R & D, create a very strong push for things such as fuel cell production, wind energy programs, solar programs and the like. This creates business as well as saving the planet.
Governments must remember that when corporations were first conceived, they were allowed because they had to demonstrate that by their creation they were serving the community in a manner which couldn't be achieved without them. Over the years this has changed. Corporations now exist primarily to increase profits. This is exactly opposite to the reason they were allowed in the first place. They were allowed to make possible the creation of hydro. phone , fuel supply etc. networks which couldn't be achieved without them. This purpose still exists and as such they should be allowed to continue. However we must revert to the founding principles of the whole concept of corporations in that they must demonstrate how the community as a whole will benefit by their creation and not just their shareholders. This would effectively put the power of the corporations back into the hands of the people where it should have always been.
The formation of a corporation should not be an automatic right for an individual. Corporations enjoy a privileged position as their shareholders do not assume liability for their actions. Hence the reason that their formation should be a privilege not a right and they should have to prove their benefits as a whole before they are issued a charter.
Great advances are being achieved along these lines. Corporate directors are coming under increasing scrutiny and are starting to be held accountable for their actions. As well governments are starting to support and thereby advance the formation of more environmentally friendly systems. But it is not enough and not fast enough. Primarily because those same governments receive a great deal of funding by those same corporations, who strongly resist any attempts to undermine their profitability.
We always view our governments as the powers to deal with, but in fact money controls the government. Politicians must walk a fine line between the demands of the people and the demands of the corporations providing the funding. In the end the funding wins. Hence the reason to remove some of the corporate power.
It would be great to live in a world where the will of the people is the most important factor in shaping government policy. If politicians were less restricted by corporate desires they might be more inclined to tell the truth as opposed to keeping us in the dark while meeting with corporate execs who in fact control our world.
# posted by Wil Smith : 12:36 a.m.
