INVEST IN GREEN AND HEART

Invest in Green and Heart, not Only Profit
It’s time we all started looking at life in a new way, rather than being motivated by what makes more money, profit, etc., imagine if we applied a new principle where we did things based on what made us more content, proud, and would contribute to a greener environment.

Too idealistic? Perhaps, but since we have no control over the future, as evidenced by the recent horrific and lifechanging pandemic, we might as well, live it all up and do some good.

This applies to what we choose to buy, eat, drive, breathe and perhaps even who we love.

Give our children the education that makes them more informed, aware of social justice and the environment, rather than prepare them for a life where we get them into top schools so they can get “the best jobs” so they can make the most money! What if we educated them to be individuals and to drive what they have passion for? Have we not found that most people thrive when they do what they love?

These are just nuggets to make us think about the future generation and how even as I write, it seems most traditional ideas are being scrapped, including college admission tests or scores, which generally not mean much. Wouldn’t it make more sense to rate children and younger people on how much they contribute to society or doing things that improve lives?

Now that we have all realized we cannot be isolated as one nation and that we are all one, how about doing things to care for the well being of poorer countries which will all come back to benefit us all.

Examples to come.

WE START THIS BLOG BY LOOKING INTO RATING TOP COMPANIES, SUCH AS THE AIRLINE INDUSTRY ON THEIR IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT AND WHETHER THEY INVEST IN THEIR EMPLOYEES AND LOCAL COMMUNITIES

U.S. Airlines:

American Airlines: According to Indeed.com, AA has approx. 100,000 employees, with no specific mission statement on the environment. No visible statement on how to reduce carbon emissions or anything in place to improve the impact on the environment. There is a Diversity Advisory Council, supporting “employees and their beliefs, nationalities and backgrounds.” Whilst there is a statement that AA employs approx. 7000 veterans, there is no statement on employee percentages based on diversity (age, gender, disabilities, sexual orientation, race or national origin).

United Airlines: Other than a statement about the word “united” there is nothing on actively committing to diversity, employee support or reduction of emissions. see hub.united.com

British Airways: British Airways is part of IAG, seemingly an impressive group of airlines, including BA, Aer Lingus & Iberia with detailed statement on sustainability, noise control and emissions. Read more here. https://www.iairgroup.com/en/sustainability

Lufthansa, a German based airline is part of the Lufthansa Group with a corporate responsibility statement on environmental protection by “renewal of its fleet, as well as trying to offset CO2 emissions, setting a goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2020.” Lufthansa claims to have programs supporting humanitarian crisis and natural disasters. See link below but I will try to verify these claims.

https://investor-relations.lufthansagroup.com/en/corporate-facts/group-strategy.html

RACE RELATIONS

In light of the recent killings of minorities in the U.S. in police custody or by the police, one can see a glimpse of hope for change this time. Only because heads of cities and police departments are slowly coming forward to say the obvious and denounce the horrible treatment of these men and women of color.

Once it’s acknowledged that racism is prevalent in the U.S. then something can be done about it. It should also be noted that the majority of whites and non-whites have gone out to protest in support of the BLM (Black Lives Matter) so it must be acknowledged that most Americans are not racist. But for too long, it has been ignored that there are racist elements in the police force and government; politicians calling for people to vote to make the change sounds quite ridiculous to me. People cannot vote in or vote out a racist police officer. Racism may be so deep rooted in a community that only prosecution or fear of prosecution can change or deter the behavior. Surely, it shouldn’t take burning cities and days of protests for a city, a state or a country to learn nothing good can come out of racism and police brutality.

I can tell you that this is especially true in the U.S., a litigious nation, where at least in the Los Angeles County endless multi-million dollar verdicts have marred the reputation of the police force as an employer as well as a City. In the end, the judgments or settlements paid out will affect the tax payers in the worst possible way, not the police force itself. To sum up, it benefits society as a whole to improve race relations with respect to law enforcement and how they treat people of color.

The Power of One!

It has been a misconception that to make change, people need to organize. The recent actions of Greta Thunberg has proved us all wrong in that this lone 16 year old (at the time), took on the controversial subject of climate change all by herself and brought it to the forefront of discussion at world events. Why? Because she believed in her mission and showed her true passion for what she believed in, never doubting it and giving up what most 16 year olds usually do, which is to go to school.

Why aren’t there more Greta’s around to take on a topic of interest that could impact the world in a positive way? And if there are, why are their voices lost in the shuffle of everyday life? We can start by retraining our youth to have a goal in life that’s different from the basic, “What do you want to do in college?” If we as adults or parents cannot think outside the box, nor can our children or the next generation. To begin, we should teach the younger generation to pick a topic of passion or interest outside of school and mainstream education or careers and work on it alongside school. We should support those interests whether at school as a core or elective subject or allow them to get credits for working on those interests outside of school.

Until such time that we start looking at the next generation the right way as we do with Greta like youth, we will be stuck in the same rut as the old days. We are already 20 years into the 21st century with not much having changed, except, in my view, having gone backwards in our values and the way we have treated mother earth.

I’m not promoting anarchy or a revolution but I do think that there is too strong a call for conformity in that younger people are being told or taught to conform and not stand out. This cannot be positive at any level; after all, most innovators and investors were lone rangers who had to do their own thing. And let’s not forget the recent innovators of the facebook and the like were all very smart college drop outs! Next time, someone complains their son or daughter is not into school or isn’t doing well in school, ask them, what their interests are and perhaps, there is a way for us all to shine and make a difference along the way.

MUST CHANGE POST COVID-19

It hasn’t taken a full month since the effects of the pandemic have hit us fully that large companies are considering to continue with remote working plans already in place. Why not?

The three months under lock down have shown a large reduction in pollution levels across the world which affects us all directly and indirectly. What happens in India or China has and will have ripple effects on us all, in the way we consume, trade and travel, so why not take note. It’s no longer, us against them or the rest of the World. No one country can isolate itself from the world, in the hope that it can keep things out, whether it be immigrants or a virus.

Look at the U.K. and it’s recent plans to effectuate Brexit! The U.K. was not following any EU plans to eradicate the virus and found itself alone in trying to hope for herd immunity to kick in. Yet, it ended up with more carnage and death than the rest of the European countries that were hit with the virus first. It is ironic now that the U.K. is now on the receiving end of the Brexit type exclusion in that some countries are not allowing flights from the U.K. My point being that there is no point in trying to build walls of any type around yourself and that globalism is here to stay. It can only be achieved productively if it’s embraced.

Labor Relations

A recent article I read showed some companies received the highest ratings by employees based on investing in their employees’ well being, whether it was valuing their loyalty, investing in training or providing an environment with good work life balance.

A long time ago when I studied management science, a course entitled organizational behavior covered issues related to managing humans which showed people behave how you treat them or how they are expected to behave. For example, the study showed that if you treat people (let’s say employees) with respect and trust them in a way that most people wish to be trusted, most of the time, their behavior will be consistent with how they are treated.

It is not disputed that labor relations in the United States is getting out of hand with conflicts at the work place, through the roof, litigation increasing, whether based on wrongful termination, wages disputes or discrimination related claims. Most of these conflicts can be prevented or at worst resolved long before they reach the court house or even a labor attorney. How?

Any good business is based on having the right people working for it so it is key to have a good fit between labor and management, whether it’s based on having the same values or work ethics, correct pay and benefits. If this relationship starts on the right foot, it can be built on. It is no surprise that the longest running relationships at work are based on people who like each other; those long term working relationships are not built on the best resumes. Of course, a likeable employee should also be able to do the job.

Wouldn’t it be nice if most businesses could have a 30-90 day probationary period for a new employee to work on before there would be a long term commitment to see there would be a good fit for them to proceed to a more long term relationship?

More and more employers are hiring problem solvers and people with “personalities” than graduates of top schools! See recent comment by Elon Musk on how he looks to hire people who can articulate how they solved problems.

CONFLICT PREVENTION AND RESOLUTION

Once employed, there is no guarantee everyone will get along or everyone would do their job well. So when it comes to conflict, why not prevent conflict than wait to resolve it once it’s too late?

It is highly recommended to consult or hire an inhouse labor dispute resolution person or an outside mediator before things get out of hand. For decades the U.S. companies have relied on HR “human resources,” an oxymoron. First off, HR never taps into human resources. If anything they are usually trained to document a “trouble employee” with the goal to terminate with the lowest chance of a lawsuit in the horizon or a high chance of success if one is ever filed. For more information see www.employment-adr.com

With multi million dollar verdicts being common place in liberal leaning U.S. states, especially California, a little investment ahead of time would provide both peace of mind and a lock on endless legal fees. California Labor and employment defense attorneys bill at rates close to $600 per hour for garden variety labor disputes , not to mention the cost of liability insurance for coverage and defense.

Consume Less to Survive

Have you ever wondered why we are where we are with the recent environmental problems?

For a start, it is not helpful to bury our heads in sand and think little recycling helps. It does not. Evidence shows that only 8-9% of plastic is actually recycled. While plastic is one problem, the overall issue is over consumption of everything, not just products that use plastic.

Example, ladies, how many pairs of jeans does one need? Same goes with make up, hair products, etc. Not singling out women, but if you have a walk in closet or walk in pantries bigger than a dorm room, that’s the first sign of over consumption.

Things we can ALL do to reduce consumption:

  1. Just buy less and buy what you need. This goes for food, toiletries, cleaning supplies, clothing, gas and environmentally harmful products;
  2. Recycle and support companies that are committed to these efforts. There are cosmetics companies that recycle items, such as lipstick containers in return for a free new one. Say Yes to those companies, and NO to ones who do nothing to improve the dire conditions we are in. Example, make a statement to businesses that use too much plastic or other harmful products and/or pollute the environment. This can be done by a simple post on line or actively boycotting their business group by group. Remember, business listen when something hurts their pocket book.
  3. Reduce your carbon footprint, fly less. Easier said, than done? Not really, When I had enough with airlines some three four years ago, being jerked around with flight delays and cancellations two three times in a row, and having spent over $5k in flights, I decided to ban flying for a year. Instead, I vowed to only travel for leisure with road trips. All over the world, there are national parks and resorts we can all visit and enjoy while also saving money and the planet. Try it. The statement you will be making to the airlines is: Improve the conditions and your emissions or we will not support you. The BBC “future” just ran a piece called “How big is your food print”? It covers a test where you can test your consumption of various food types to see how much land is used to cultivate them. While I doubt I would ever give up coffee, I could commit to drink less of it if it would help reduce my food print, same with eating beef, etc. The message is do your part to help ease the burden.
  4. Drive less and where possible invest in an electric car: Driving less can be achieved in may ways, car pooling, reducing your commute or working from home a few days a week. These are just a few examples, while you turn in your gas guzzling SUV or big car for an electric one. Why do you all drive SUV’s anyway? Unless you have more than two kids and two dogs, there is no reason whatsoever that you should be driving a gas guzzling SUV. I am amazed at the huge increase in the number of SUV’s I see even 10-15 years after it became common knowledge that we have an environmental pollution issue. Are we not caring? It can only be the explanation. I say, those who do not care and flash their fancy SUV’s around for no reason at all, should make a pledge to reduce emissions, buy electric or drive less!! At least in the U.K, there are people who actively pursue SUV owners by placing stickers or flyers on the cars, shaming them for the active polluting. This may encourage some change in behavior. I’m all for it. After all, some people may not be aware of their actions or inactions and may STOP the damage.

Since I started this blog a year and a half ago, many things have changed for the better. Once, some car manufacturers have decided to scrap the old gas guzzling cars and invest in electric cars only. See GM, BMW news.

A Fresh Slate

This is a forum to educate the public about current issues that affect the environment, our future well being as citizens of the world, while using the knowledge we all share to change corporate behavior, not through hate but by inducing them one at a time to do the right thing.

Snow in the California Desert

One of the ways, this blog proposes to change corporate behavior in the right way, is by featuring companies “with a heart” so to speak, companies which put the environment and people ahead of their profits and balance sheets. Every week or perhaps more often if possible, we will feature one such company and ask how they propose to reach their stated goals. Check out Emirates Airline President praising Greta Thunberg for “having brought a real focus to the issue.” https://www.bbc.com/news/business-50481107

When will flying turn green? https://amp.dw.com/en/when-will-flying-turn-green/a-49462189 https://qz.com/1671617/how-much-does-your-flight-actually-hurt-the-planet/

Once we verify their stated green and humane goal is real and verified, we will promote them by inviting our audience to join them in their endeavors and subscribe to them by buying or engaging with them. Soon enough more companies will join the challenge! Let us know what you think.

The Evidence is Here

We can either ignore what is happening or take part in doing something to alleviate the problem. Example, snow in Palm Springs surrounding areas (a famous desert area in California) happened some 45 years prior but recently, it is happening within five year gaps. See photo above Nov. 2019.

THE END AS WE KNOW IT

THE CORONA VIRUS, THE GLOBAL ECONOMY AND A CALL FOR RACIAL & SOCIAL EQUALITY

Sometimes the end is a new beginning! I’d been telling my daughter the past six months, even before the COVID-19 pandemic that “It’s the end of the world!” Coming from the most optimistic person, it’s quite alarming! Nature is responding to our abuses and recklessness, corporate greed and lack of compassion for the human race and what really matters. Call me idealistic.

I recall when arriving in the U.K. for school and later college when apartheid was slowly being condemned, I walked into my local branch of Barclays Bank where I had a whole $60 in deposit. I asked to see the manager so I could tell him in person that I had decided to take my money out of the bank because Barclays had investments in South Africa that promoted and supported apartheid. I still remember the look on the manager’s face who may have thought I was joking. Change comes from little acts and it’s incremental.

Unfortunately, in the case of the world in the 21st Century, the pandemic came with little or no warning and so well timed so as to hit us in the hardest possible way. The much needed jolt can and must be used to change the way we have squandered our gifts and blessings. Even the Pope sees it that way during his Easter message noting that “The Corona virus has revealed the extent to which modern life is organized around money rather than people, the crisis is driving world leaders to rush to try to save lives, even as they keep building massive arsenals.”

The Pope urged people to embrace new ways of living, noting that “It’s time for inventing, for creativity.” See full interview with Commonwealth magazine.

he ways, this blog proposes to change corporate behavior in the right way, is by fSome toimeaturing Sooncompanies “with a heart” so to speak, companies which put the environment and peoDo ple ahead of their profits and balance sheets. Every week or perhaps more often if possible, we will feature one such company and ask how they propose to reach their stated goals. Once we verify their stated green and humane goal is real and verified, we will promote them by inviting our audience to join them in their endeavors and subscribe to them by buying or negating with them. Soon enough more companies will join the challenge! Let us know what you think. this may be a slow process, it is the right one. This is a “no politics, no hate” zone so that we can promote a healthy environment for sharing green and conflict free ideas. After all, most people share the same human needs and most believe in living a conflict free, full and healthy lives, not just for themselves but for o come. If this concept appeals to you, please join us to bring the community together in moving forward on the right path. It should be noted that us as individuals are also responsible for the state of affairs, whether it be the environment or other aspects of the human suffering. We, as individuals must also change ourd hbits to contribute to the change for the better. Example, why do more people own SUV’s now in 2019 than 10-15 years ago? Ask yourself why you make the choices you make that contribute to further decline?