Great response. The BC government is lucky to have such considered input to its questions. I hope that this kind of expansive thinking - about what forms of productivity we should value, and what systemic changes should be considered to enable that - is met with the critical thought and patience required to embark on the level of change that required to address the present overlapped crises. I am drawn most particularly by your observation of how far much of BC’s current economy - as characterized by rent-seeking and value-destroying resource extraction - is from Mazzucato’s description of true value creation. I applaud their desire to engage this expertise and wish them courage when realizing the implications for an economy that has historically struggled to create value (even as measured by employment, profit, or growth) outside of the resource and real estate sectors. Companies that can offer real solutions to the current problems while operating in non-destructive ways require an active state able to set clear rules and incentives for competition that can benefit the world, not merely a handful of shareholders. I hope BC takes on this challenge of setting an effective playing field with the boldness required.
[This is me standing and cheering - this was very well done and well writtn.]
You wrote: "If we recognize that an organization is only sustainable if 1) they are solving problems of people and/or planet, 2) while not harming either, we can begin to envision a richer ecosystem of contributions that support a healthy economy. This may serve as a first law, or guiding principle as you look to fund organizations and catalyze various missions. " Mac Macartney in his book The Children's Fire, talks about the Native American traditional dictum that no rule shall be made, and no activity shall be pursued that could harm the children. Our friend Elliot Hoffman commented that we might amplify that to "only rules shall be made or actions taken that ensure that the children thrive." I submit this may be a better first law or guiding principle, though harder to put in business-speak. Mac had at least one CEO and Chairwoman of the Board adopt the Children's Fire as their guiding corporate principle, so we know it is possible.
Wonderful to read your admonition that the Minister look into the work of Dr. Julia Kim and Gross National Happiness. I would recommend her outstanding Club of Rome presentation to anyone seeking to understand the absolute relevance of this work to our current time and challenges: Beyond GDP, Beyond Numbers https://usaclubofrome.org/videos-of-our-meetings/
Monbiot wrote: "The global emergency requires a new politics, but it is nowhere in sight. Governments still fear lobby groups more than they fear the collapse of our living systems..." As I have mentioned, it may well be that such governments will fall to overwhelming public pressure and the weight of natural and related disasters and mass migrations before we see action. I should hope not. The times call for a new generation of leaders who get all of these issues and lead from a place of embodied and centered connection to the Earth. To get there we need positive visions of the future, such as Benyus' breathtaking description -- for which I thank you.
Great response. The BC government is lucky to have such considered input to its questions. I hope that this kind of expansive thinking - about what forms of productivity we should value, and what systemic changes should be considered to enable that - is met with the critical thought and patience required to embark on the level of change that required to address the present overlapped crises. I am drawn most particularly by your observation of how far much of BC’s current economy - as characterized by rent-seeking and value-destroying resource extraction - is from Mazzucato’s description of true value creation. I applaud their desire to engage this expertise and wish them courage when realizing the implications for an economy that has historically struggled to create value (even as measured by employment, profit, or growth) outside of the resource and real estate sectors. Companies that can offer real solutions to the current problems while operating in non-destructive ways require an active state able to set clear rules and incentives for competition that can benefit the world, not merely a handful of shareholders. I hope BC takes on this challenge of setting an effective playing field with the boldness required.
[This is me standing and cheering - this was very well done and well writtn.]
You wrote: "If we recognize that an organization is only sustainable if 1) they are solving problems of people and/or planet, 2) while not harming either, we can begin to envision a richer ecosystem of contributions that support a healthy economy. This may serve as a first law, or guiding principle as you look to fund organizations and catalyze various missions. " Mac Macartney in his book The Children's Fire, talks about the Native American traditional dictum that no rule shall be made, and no activity shall be pursued that could harm the children. Our friend Elliot Hoffman commented that we might amplify that to "only rules shall be made or actions taken that ensure that the children thrive." I submit this may be a better first law or guiding principle, though harder to put in business-speak. Mac had at least one CEO and Chairwoman of the Board adopt the Children's Fire as their guiding corporate principle, so we know it is possible.
Wonderful to read your admonition that the Minister look into the work of Dr. Julia Kim and Gross National Happiness. I would recommend her outstanding Club of Rome presentation to anyone seeking to understand the absolute relevance of this work to our current time and challenges: Beyond GDP, Beyond Numbers https://usaclubofrome.org/videos-of-our-meetings/
Monbiot wrote: "The global emergency requires a new politics, but it is nowhere in sight. Governments still fear lobby groups more than they fear the collapse of our living systems..." As I have mentioned, it may well be that such governments will fall to overwhelming public pressure and the weight of natural and related disasters and mass migrations before we see action. I should hope not. The times call for a new generation of leaders who get all of these issues and lead from a place of embodied and centered connection to the Earth. To get there we need positive visions of the future, such as Benyus' breathtaking description -- for which I thank you.