posted by grannyfiddler at 12:44 PM
Money isn't everything, but it IS SOMETHING. Self-sufficient livng in the bush yielded marginal success. Tried to make it on creative brilliance, but not much lit up. Learned some skills-house painter, rough (read "uses chainsaw")carpenter, etc. Took a 2 year business course at the local college-finance and accounting. And found myself. Numbers are reliable. They always give the same answer-never change their minds, wear out, break, leave or go out of style. If something doesn't add up there's an answer if you patiently look. There is order in the universe! No longer an itinerant fiddler/artist, I'm an accountant with a creative side. Started in a city, moved to a bush cabin, the Yukon, apartment in the city, farm, and back to the city. Through it all yearning for a big yard with trees for the kids to climb, garden, and studio. Bought a run-down, old frame church in a small town, complete with maple trees and raised the last 2 of 4 kids there. The realtor who sold it to me felt guilty selling it to a single mom;he helped renovate. Still one of my best friends. Of course,never finished it while the kids were here - it's nearly complete.
3 Comments:
Resource rich counties like Australia and Canada in the past have had a poor record for emissions with transport systems highly dependant on fossil fuel energy.
But peal oil theory tells us urgent action is required!!
Peak oil theory describes the point in time when oil production declines. Peak oil theory assumes demand will outstrip supply as future deposits become increasingly costly to extract, ensuring price escalation and an end to oil dependant economies with catastrophic results. Nobody can tell reliably when that will happen but a groundswell of current opinion suggests it is already upon us and urgent action is required.
As other bloggers have commented you can only do what you can, within your own control. You feel helpless and I appreciate your concern!!
Recently I was a respondent to a governmental enquiry into Corporate Social responsibility. I made recommendations to change our Laws, independent of my employer’s contribution. I think each of us can influence to some small degree, but I would encourage you to also make your voice known.
I also had a letter published in our largest national financial paper, the Australian financial Review which is published by John Fairfax.
I am including it here. It was published under the heading “CSR must be more than a glint in the eye”.
Bill Beerwoths final conclusion in “Nod to profits, not responsibility” (opinion, December 13) says: “Above all, those who hazard their money to corporations in the expectation that they will be used to increase their wealth as far as possible and not for other social purpose may now sleep more easily”
I think Australian companies should be actively encouraged to adopt socially responsible business practices. In fact this should always have been the case. It is an indictment of our civilised sate to think otherwise.
The alternative is to give no consideration to sustainability and disregard the rights of future generations. My preference is for desciptive provisions to operate by way guiding principles enacted in law and within corporate governance structures. Otherwise I think we are in danger of thinking ethics and environmental sustainability as something only very highly trained people are capable of thinking about. Corporate Social responsibility (CSR) needs to stay in the mainstream of shareholder and stakeholder concerns, acknowledged at every level in the community. As in investor I make particular note of their increased involvement in CSR in Annual reports. I believe CSR leads to increased shareholder returns as it enhances Brand recognition in the market place and improves efficiencies
What of the future? -Maybe there is a window of opportunity over the next 30 years to finally make some headway in reducing our reliance on oil, time for consumers to adjust. The key is to change towards a sustainable pollutant free lifestyle.
Governments will react if there is sufficient voter sentiment.
Best wishes
many blessings for the holiday season and the coming new year!
LL - from where i sit, working for an oil and exploration (aka exploitation) company, i'd say we can't count on the peak oil THEORY to solve the problem. with the huge reserves still in place, that were just on hold till the price went up enough to make yet another fortune on them, not to mention coal, and tar sands, we'll have released enough carbon dioxide into the atmosphere to burn ourselves up before we run out of fuel.
as to corporate responsibility, i'm a cynic. corporations in general are more interested in their financial balance sheets than in any kind of long-term sustainability or global wellness. we can only open their eyes if enough of us stop condoning their behaviour by buying their products and filling their pockets.
in the town where i live, that's going to be a very long, hard, uphill slog. but i do believe little people CAN make a difference, and i also believe that one's best is all one can do, which is all that's required of us, and that it's always enough.
Claire - Happy New Year to you too... things look much greener on your side of the pond. (wistful sigh)
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