Breaking the Fever
An article from earlier this year posted on MSN sort of hit a gray area for me. I think it is awesome that huge companies are taking some responsibility and action to stave off global warming, however a particularly telling segment of the report hit a sour note in the prevention opus for me:
The coalition’s diversity could send a signal that businesses want to get ahead of the increasing political momentum for federal emissions controls, in part to protect their long-term interests, the Times said.
How often do we do things these days for the good of humanity? I mean, do we volunteer community service because we feel guilt that we have it better than others, or because we truly want to try to help people who are worse off than ourselves, regardless of our fortune? Do students striving to get into medical school do the community service because they are expected to do it, the expectation being that they enjoy helping others (for what other reason would you want to be a doctor?), or because they actually want to do it?
For these corporations, the pros of helping seem to be, as the article bashfully claims, because they see gain in the future. I guess if that's what it takes to get the help we need, than so be it.
Some of you probably wonder why I advocate for environment and bitch about politics and other pointless troubles we have in the world. Let me lay out the environmental side of me for you. I do my part for this planet, and for all her people, even those whom I despise. I recycle almost everything I can including junk mail, batteries, etc. You wouldn't believe some of the things I recycle, but I don't stop there. I've started green initiatives at work and you wouldn't believe the amount of plastic a biotech company throws away every day. I buy food for the needy and soon, I plan on volunteering time for various community need-based endeavors. When I own a home, I want to install a small windmill to gather wind energy. I bought a fuel-efficient car. I keep my apartment hot in the summer and cold in the winter to reduce energy use and cost. The list goes on. Yes, some of the things I do are for gain (i.e. lower monthly bills), however the corporations listed in that article are, in my eyes, gaining something different. When the shit hits the fan down the road in a few years, and say most/all major corporations are limited for something they want, I'm sure they can yak out the political - we were helping prevent this issue from it's infancy - hairball and leverage something for their own ends. I could be wrong, but I just don't see capitalist corporations genuinely wanting something unless it's to get something else. Show me an example if you know of one.
If I wasn't so pissed about this stuff, I wouldn't point the finger - I wouldn't have to. The world would be a better place than it is now. So until things change, I will advocate for what I think is right.
The coalition’s diversity could send a signal that businesses want to get ahead of the increasing political momentum for federal emissions controls, in part to protect their long-term interests, the Times said.
How often do we do things these days for the good of humanity? I mean, do we volunteer community service because we feel guilt that we have it better than others, or because we truly want to try to help people who are worse off than ourselves, regardless of our fortune? Do students striving to get into medical school do the community service because they are expected to do it, the expectation being that they enjoy helping others (for what other reason would you want to be a doctor?), or because they actually want to do it?
For these corporations, the pros of helping seem to be, as the article bashfully claims, because they see gain in the future. I guess if that's what it takes to get the help we need, than so be it.
Some of you probably wonder why I advocate for environment and bitch about politics and other pointless troubles we have in the world. Let me lay out the environmental side of me for you. I do my part for this planet, and for all her people, even those whom I despise. I recycle almost everything I can including junk mail, batteries, etc. You wouldn't believe some of the things I recycle, but I don't stop there. I've started green initiatives at work and you wouldn't believe the amount of plastic a biotech company throws away every day. I buy food for the needy and soon, I plan on volunteering time for various community need-based endeavors. When I own a home, I want to install a small windmill to gather wind energy. I bought a fuel-efficient car. I keep my apartment hot in the summer and cold in the winter to reduce energy use and cost. The list goes on. Yes, some of the things I do are for gain (i.e. lower monthly bills), however the corporations listed in that article are, in my eyes, gaining something different. When the shit hits the fan down the road in a few years, and say most/all major corporations are limited for something they want, I'm sure they can yak out the political - we were helping prevent this issue from it's infancy - hairball and leverage something for their own ends. I could be wrong, but I just don't see capitalist corporations genuinely wanting something unless it's to get something else. Show me an example if you know of one.
If I wasn't so pissed about this stuff, I wouldn't point the finger - I wouldn't have to. The world would be a better place than it is now. So until things change, I will advocate for what I think is right.
posted by P-Wagz at 9:02 PM
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