The Capitalist Ethos

This article, which I came across while researching the growth of social media, says something important about the modern capitalist ethos.

In response to declining revenues in the first quarter of 2009, Google has “imposed severe cost controls and slashed expenses”.  These actions are praised as mature and rational.  The very next paragraph then tells us that the clearest sign of change is a reduction in Google’s workforce.  The implication is that reducing the workforce is mature and rational.  Of course, we are in a recession and “no company is recession-proof”.

But hang on, Google isn’t losing money, their rate of growth has simply declined; they are still growing and still making gads of money, netting $1.4 billion in the first three months of this year to be exact.  What’s more, they have roughly $28 billion in cash and other liquid assets and negligible debt.  They are in great shape!

I will grant you that the layoffs were modest but my point is about the underlying ethos at play here: that it is mature and rational to lay people off during a recession, no matter what.  Google can afford those 58 jobs – they cut them because that is what is expected of a mature and rational company.  But in a climate where savings are at an all time low, debt at an all time high and people more vulnerable than ever, the number one priority ought to be maximum employment.  To me, these praiseworthy measures are reactionary and irrational.

Nearer the end of the article an analyst quotes: “Clearly the upside came from severe cost controls.” Clearly continued revenue growth and a hoard of cash are no longer considered upsides – more and more and more is the only goal.

Taking Action: BC’s Universities and Colleges Begin to Become Carbon Neutral

Near the end of 2007 the BC government enacted the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Targets Act which put into law the greenhouse gas reduction commitments made in the province’s Climate Action Plan.  Specifically, the province is now legally committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions:  6% below 2007 emission levels by 2012, 18% by 2016, 33% by 2020, and 80% by 2050.

The Act also requires that all of BC’s public sector organizations be carbon neutral by 2010 – this includes school districts, post-secondary institutions, and hospitals.  Specifically: by the end of 2010, all public sector organizations must have greenhouse gas auditing systems in place and must purchase carbon offsets for their emissions.  In addition, it is expected that public sector organizations will find ways to reduce their total emissions over time.

“I think the offset obligation is definitely something universities have to deal with but it’s not going to be the biggest challenge. I think the biggest challenge is going to be where they try to push their emissions down over time.  We are going to want to keep seeing reductions down the road.”  – Government respondent

This new policy direction will have profound impacts on how colleges and universities operate.

This study was undertaken to find out how post secondary institutions were responding: what actions they have taken and what challenges they are facing.

The primary focus for implementing the Act is on energy management because this represents the largest opportunity to reduce greenhouse gas emissions; but we must remember that climate change is not just about more efficient light bulbs and fewer parking lots, it is about breaking down traditional barriers and disciplinary thinking, it is about new ways of relating to the environment and each other and about reassessing what we value.  Catalyzing these essential cultural changes is where post secondary can make the largest contribution since it is here that each new generation of leaders are trained.  BC’s colleges and universities recognize that they play a critical role in this process and they are all committed to climate action.

Carbon neutrality is not the ultimate goal, but it is a first step which has the capacity to transform higher education in British Columbia which will in turn have profound cultural effects.  Ultimately, this is a grand experiment and people are watching.  What we do here will have an impact globally.

This is a project of the BC Working Group on Sustainability Education, also known as WalkingtheTalk.bc.ca.  Many thank-yous to Janet Moore, professor at the SFU Centre for Dialogue and the driving force behind Walking the Talk, for giving this project life.

Click here to read the full report.

The Vancouver Commons Episode 2: Citizen Engagement

How can we help government become more open and responsive?

How do we as citizens organize to get better outcomes ourselves?

These questions form the basis of a conference called Vancouver ChangeCamp happening on June 20.  A few weeks ago I sat down with Reilly Yeo and Steve Williams, two of the organizers, to talk about the event and public engagement more generally.  I begin this episode with a short reflection on the recent STV referendum because, after all, voting is the predominant form of citizen engagement.

(26 min)

Download the MP3

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Credits: This episode was made using Creative Commons media. Bumper: “Songs of Triumph” by scottaltham, Ocean waves crashing by Luftrum, Urban herring gulls by acclivity, Road construction by Heigh-hoo

Two excellent videos worth watching

1) The Story of Stuff

2) The Crisis of Credit Visualized: Part 1, and Part 2

The Vancouver Commons Episode 1: Busker Idol

The Vancouver Commons -  Podcast Episode 1

(18 minutes)

Download the mp3 file

Have you found yourself listening to a really good busker and wishing there was some way, more than just tossing a loonie, to show your appreciation?  Well Karen Fung has and it led her to conceive of Busker Idol.

“Busker Idol encourages crowds to participate, à la American Idol, to vote for the best buskers in a variety of categories.” What’s more, Karen envisions a highly interactive system that lets street performers share their creations and build a fan base directly. In this way, we, the public, gain a more direct role in promoting art in Vancouver.

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Credits: This episode was made using Creative Commons media. Bumper: “Songs of Triumph” by scottaltham, Ocean waves crashing by Luftrum, Urban herring gulls by acclivity, Road construction by Heigh-hoo, Episode: Market / busker sounds by vedas

Everything that can be recycled in Vancouver – and where to do it.

Information received from an officer at the Recycling Council of BC in response to an email inquiry.  Please help me keep this list up to date by commenting.

Creating a Culture of Prevention

Received by email this morning from the City of Vancouver’s Drug Policy Program.

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Creating a Culture of Prevention

The City of Vancouver’s Drug Policy Program (DPP) invites you to set aside March 25 for a day-long event focusing on prevention of harm from substance use.

The DPP is working with a broad-based coalition to initiate a movement towards creating a culture of prevention in Vancouver. The group is planning a day-long launch of this process on March 25.

Beautiful Fog

Taken Sunday afternoon just before the sun burned the fog away to reveal brilliant blue sky.

From 2009

The International Assembly – a new concept for international relations

On a recent final exam, I was asked the following question:

Assume that you have the power to change the manner in which nations deal with one another. Assume that the United Nations has hired you to propose a new order of international co-operation to reform “world governance” in all areas of international law and diplomacy. Assume that existing concepts of sovereignty and immunity do not exist.

Here is my answer. I would love to hear your thoughts.

A letter to Carole Taylor in support of doing something

Dear Mrs Taylor;

In August of this year, I will be getting married. A few years after that, I plan to have children. Some nights I lie awake and wonder what kind of world they will inherit. For this reason I am strongly in favor of action to reduce carbon emissions and halt the trend of human-induced climate destabilization.

I have followed the debate concerning which is the best strategy: carbon tax or cap and trade. They each have their strengths and weaknesses and, as always, the success of either will come down to the details of implementation. Time is short, we are told, and we must act now – our window is small. 80% by 2050 is the recommended target. Since a cap and trade system is the only option that gives us some certainty we can meet this ambitious timeline, it is my preferred strategy. A carbon tax would, perhaps, be simpler to implement, but there is no way to ensure reduction targets – that part would be left up to the market. Furthermore, taxes are not a permanent structure and are subject to changing politics. Mind you, a cap and trade system as implemented in the EU is an even worse option so let me outline what I believe to be the absolute requirements for an effective cap and trade system.