Jon et al.,
I do think we need some sensitivity to the concerns of the people directly affected (which is probably many of us) by the BP tragedy. But, I also agree with Jon that concrete, critical analysis, and evaluation with recommendations are necessary. But, even with hard data and evaluation we can still be biased in our interpretations and conclusions.
A general question is how biased or unbiased should we be as academics who carry out research in this area? Should we advocate more for environmental concerns? Should we be non-prejudicial in our research and writings?
Also, the issue of greenwashing by BP and not being the 'citizen' they are meant to be goes back to at least the first time they went to 'Beyond Petroleum' when they were provided a nice little award by Corpwatch in 2000. I think these awards were present at the time of during Johannesburg Conference.
The BP (Beyond Preposterous) award website:
http://www.corpwatch.org/article.php?id=219
Seems obvious to me that if you are in a dirty industry do not sell yourself as a green company, it smells way too much of greenwashing and is bound to backfire (in BP's case, numerous times).
Also, it is scary to think that there are potentially hundreds (if not thousands) more of these potential disasters ready to occur as the infrastructure of these platforms continues to deteriorate. I hope all types of contingency plans exist and are being refined and invested in. The response to this crisis by governments and corporations needs be profound, even more so than the simplistic and relatively ineffectual "Valdez Principles". Makes me wonder who has insured these risks, as well, and the outcomes on the actuarial tables.
-Joe S.
________________________________________
From: Organizations and the Natural Environment Discussion [
ONE-L@AOMLISTS.PACE.EDU] On Behalf Of
jon@JONENTINE.COM [
jon@JONENTINE.COM]
Sent: Monday, June 07, 2010 12:25 AM
To:
ONE-L@AOMLISTS.PACE.EDU
Subject: Re: Short term profit - Re: A Spiritual Disaster: Reflections on the Gulf Coast
I agree.. I don't believe what I wrote was belittling however.. This is meant to be an interactive forum. Hopefully people have more than just feelings; they actually have data to back up impulses,
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-----Original Message-----
From: "Lyon, Thomas" <
tplyon@UMICH.EDU>
Date: Sun, 6 Jun 2010 21:57:33
To: <
ONE-L@AOMLISTS.PACE.EDU>
Subject: Re: Short term profit - Re: A Spiritual Disaster: Reflections on the Gulf Coast
Jon,
There is no need to belittle others who are sharing posts on this listserv. Please try to refrain.
Tom Lyon
Thomas P. Lyon
Director, Erb Institute for Global Sustainable Enterprise
Dow Professor of Sustainable Science, Technology and Commerce
Professor, Business Economics and Public Policy
Professor, Natural Resources and Environment
Room R6368, Ross School of Business
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, MI 48109
734-615-1639
-----Original Message-----
From: Organizations and the Natural Environment Discussion [mailto:
ONE-L@AOMLISTS.PACE.EDU] On Behalf Of
jon@JONENTINE.COM
Sent: Sunday, June 06, 2010 6:04 PM
To:
ONE-L@AOMLISTS.PACE.EDU
Subject: Re: Short term profit - Re: A Spiritual Disaster: Reflections on the Gulf Coast
Having worked with numerous CEOs I can sayl
that your claim while somewhat true as a generalization is like most generalizations useless to guide decisions in the real world. Alas life is more complex then academic clichés allow.
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-----Original Message-----
From: Lionel Boxer <
lionel.boxer@RMIT.EDU.AU>
Date: Mon, 7 Jun 2010 07:43:55
To: <
ONE-L@AOMLISTS.PACE.EDU>
Subject: Short term profit - Re: A Spiritual Disaster: Reflections on the Gulf Coast
No Jean they only care about profit. The only reason that
sustainability and triple bottom line are in the mainstream is that
there is a cost assocated with not including those current buzzwords in
corporate communications. In most cases it is all quite vapid. This is
driven by short term performance indicators that reward CEOs and cascade
throughout the organisation.
My PhD research concludes (although I did not frame it in these terms),
"CEOs do not deal with sustainability or triple bottom line until they
have been caught not dealing with it and then they deal with it a lot."
At one stage I interviewed a petrochemical CEO (not BP), who told me
about cases that the organisation had been caught not dealing with
sustainability or triple bottom line. I asked him (and other CEOs)
about cases not being reported in the public press and he would not even
discuss these in confidence.
See my phd thesis:
http://intergon.net/phd online (appendix A would
interest you -- a 1999 email from the then CEO of Ford discussiing a
meeting between he, John Elkington and the then CEO of BP -- they say
they care about this stuff).
Some increadible things happen in all sorts of business that mostly do
not get reported on, because people do not get caught.
I first wrote about this in 1991:
http://intergon.net/phd/BoxerTQMEnv1991.html
Lionel Boxer CD PhD MBA BTech(IndEng) - 0411267256
Associate of RMIT University -
lionel.boxer@rmit.edu.au
Graduate School of Business
my "Assessment of Quality Systems with Positioning Theory"
now in a googe book - see link at
http://intergon.net
>>> "Stead, Jean Garner" <
STEADJ@MAIL.ETSU.EDU> 06/06/10 2:45 AM >>>
...
The Gulf coast disaster can be easily examined within the framework of
the triple-bottom line.
...
Doesn’t caring for future generations have a larger spiritual dimension
that transcends the basic dimensions of the triple bottom-line? I am
experiencing a spiritual disaster which is not captured within the
traditional dimensions of sustainability. The tears flow freely and my
heart hurts as I see the images of the oil-soaked wildlife, the
oil-polluted wetlands, and the frustrated local business people on the
Gulf coast as they watch their way of life disappear. Spirituality must
be the transcendent dimension for moving mankind toward a more
sustainable world…this disaster is more than just unsustainable.
Would like to hear your thoughts…Jean
Jean Garner Stead, Ph.D.
Professor of Strategic Management
College of Business and Technology
East Tennessee State University
Website:
www.steadandstead.com
Email:
steadj@etsu.edu