Responsible Leadership

The third aspect of a sustainable economy is something economists normally steer clear of, namely ethical values. But it has been a mistake to separate morality from economic questions, as demonstrated by much of the banking industry and some other areas of business in the past few years. This is also a lesson we can draw from the achievements of political and business leaders in earlier eras of great change and uncertainty, of social and political tensions. The Victorian age was just as tumultuous as our own, with the late nineteenth century experiencing its own crisis of capitalism. A shared sense of purpose and a keen awareness of the ethical dimension of the economy were essential for navigating through the turbulence.

A common goal of sustainability, investing enough in the future as well as satisfying the ambitions of today, can provide the necessary navigational guidance, at least as long as we measure adequately what we are doing. However, it is not going to be easy to achieve.

via comment.rsablogs.org.uk

Posted by John North

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April 11, 2011

Bolivia enshrines natural world's rights with equal status for Mother Earth | Environment | The Guardian

John Vidal reports from La Paz where Bolivians are living with the effects of climate change every day Link to this video
Bolivia is set to pass the world's first laws granting all nature equal rights to humans. The Law of Mother Earth, now agreed by politicians and grassroots social groups, redefines the country's rich mineral deposits as "blessings" and is expected to lead to radical new conservation and social measures to reduce pollution and control industry.

via guardian.co.uk

Filed under // sustainability video

Posted by John North

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February 15, 2011

Ask Customers to Use Less of Your Product: The Big Heresy - Andrew Winston - Harvard Business Review

http://blogs.hbr.org/winston/2011/02/ask-customers-to-use-less-of-y.html?cm_m...

Sent from my iPhone

Posted by John North

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February 15, 2011

Yvon Chouinard on Sustainable Business "How to simplify your life"

Filed under // video

Posted by John North

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February 9, 2011

Genetic engineering? Over-feeding? Accenture's fat sheep :-(

This is my personal opinion. Because I know that Accenture's Sustainability team is doing great work I was appalled to see this ad displayed at Johannesburg ORT International Airport. To me this ad says: "we'll manupilate or harm nature or the food supply chain in pursuit of your and our financial gain..." Thoughts?

Posted by John North

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December 6, 2010

Update on Responsible Leadership qualities / elements

Since my first post on responsible leadership qualities in March I posted one further reflection in May describing 3 of those qualities. I have been doing a lot of reading (and some writing) to build on this simple theory. This brief update on the Responsible Leadership qualities (or elements) will not contain much detail but I will say that my reading and contemplation suggested important "modifier(s)" to each of the original qualities. In time I will elaborate on each.

The elements / qualities of responsible leadership as it stands: