SAVE THE PLANET, GO KILL YOURSELF?
Most of us would agree humankind is not taking care of Earth and ourselves the best way we could. Social, environmental and political development show us a possible future no one can avoid to see, nor want.
Economy plays a major role in this situation, both in creating it from the very beginning and taking us from here to the future, really deciding which way to take. Political power is fighting for its influence, but we already know the economy is driven by corporations, or at least the major part of the economy.
Today, many of the world’s largest economies are corporations, not states, and it brings an enormous responsibility to the owners, their boards and their managers. A responsibility that comes with being the dominant institution on the planet. But, in this world of ours, greed, individual ambition and fear are being strongly supported by the system.
There is no way we can continue business as usual.
There is a need to constitutionalize sound values, ethics and sustainability in corporations. There is a need for alternative way to organize, own and share a corporation — still keeping up maximum profits. There is a need for voluntary and expanded good citizenship from companies all over the world, to help society develop in a sustainable way. There is also a fast growing need on the market for this kind of companies and brands, among consumers and employees.
This need of the market creates great commercial possibilities, and of course, threats. But the main thing is that there is money to be made on better behaviour. So, maybe we do not really have to change individuals to find solutions on how to live wiser. Can we change behavior within the system, then getting long term effects changing on our values..?
To quote Karl-Erik Edris, the Swedish author of “The Enlightened Executive”:
“The world as it is today, is uphold by the daily actions of 7 200 000 000 people. There is no one to blame, no one to expect help from. If we managed to get here, we can also manage to get out of here. All that it takes is different action, by the same people, step by step.”
Big changes often start with small ideas. It is not ridiculous to see yourself as a possible piece of the puzzle in this never ending process. That is why the company where I am the CEO, Plantagon, presented “the Companization”, even though we feared being laughed at as being naive dreamers. The problem for our opponents though, is that today we are showing that it works.
Experimenting for 25 years with our own companies, NGO: s and other organisations, thinking, trying, failing and at the end putting it all together, lead us here. We do not claim it is the ultimate answer of anything, but we really think it can be part of the solution. Many other ideas and initiatives are necessary, this is merely our contribution.
This text was put forward to you to help this idea of a hybrid organisation grow. It needs constructive critique , recruitment of more sharp minds on an international level, further studies, financial and political support. Parallel with this effort we invite you to take part in the Swedish field work — Plantagon — first Companization in the world, up and running since January 2008.
Just do it. Become a member.
Join the world’s first companization!
Plantagon is the first companization in the world and the global innovation leader in the sector urban agriculture.
Plantagon’s resilient food systems minimize the need for land, water, energy and pesticides. The environmental impact is very low, and if the products are delivered directly to consumers in the city, the transportation costs are also minimized.
You can join the Plantagon Companization as a member today and be a part of shaping the future. Read more here!
