Happy Labor Day

It seems to me that GE is sending mixed signals, which in cases like this is usually a very good sign of disintegration of integrity. Shall we think of GE as . . . .

“We bring good things to life”

OR as . . .

“We bring excessive CO2 to good things”

OR as . . .

“Corporate schizophrenia is a good thing” ??

That said, I must admit that GE’s explanation is a good example of “imagination at work”.

Be Well,

Jeff

(PS — Thank you for your comment Robert, 3)

C’mon!

There are, of course, situations where there’s a reasonable chance for an organization to change its tune and where a member organization is genuinely pushing hard for it to do so, with a good chance of success.

But C’mon! There are many other times when an organization is just not going to change, or when the chances are slim, and when a member organization is, in reality, and in effect, just holding on for the benefits of membership . . . selling products to the other companies in the group, avoiding getting on their bad side, and so forth.

The climate issue is a vital one. GE can’t have it both ways. If they don’t leave this group, I’m putting them on my “don’t buy from” list. And to me, they’ll lose the credibility that they’ve had in my view for decades.

GE, sometimes hard choices have to be made. And this is one of those times.

By the way, Alcoa can explain its resignation from the group any way it wants. From the sound of it here, they made the choice based on narrow economics, or at least that’s what they want us to think. But here’s a quote from a year or two ago from Perry Minnis, who was Alcoa’s Global Director, Ethics & Compliance at the time, and (as far as I know) may still be:

“You cannot be considered an ethical company if you do not follow sustainability principles. Nor can you apply sustainability concepts if you do not have a strong foundation of ethical principles. The two are intrinsically intertwined . . . ”

– Perry Minnis, Global Director, Ethics & Compliance, Alcoa

I sometimes use Mr. Minnis’ statement, which I got at an Energy and Ethics conference that he attended at the University of Tennessee, as one of many illustrations of my view on morality. Why do I use it? Because all things considered, in essence, IT’S CORRECT. And I’m “not just saying this”. The statement is correct, and it can be deeply and strongly supported, with roots down to deep bedrock.

For context and fun, I’ll include just a few other illustrative quotes that touch on parts of the matter:

“A thing is right when it tends to preserve the integrity, stability and beauty of the biotic community. It is wrong when it tends otherwise.” (Aldo Leopold)

“Some people would rather die than think; and many do.” (Bertrand Russell)

“Look and listen for the welfare of the whole people and have always in view not only the present but also the coming generations, even those whose faces are yet beneath the surface of the ground — the unborn of the future Nation.” (The Constitution of the Iroquois Nations)

GE should do the right thing and pull out of the ACCCE. And indeed, it should make a clear “statement” when doing so. With power comes responsibility! And going through mental contortions to “explain” and excuse their continuing participation just doesn’t do it.

Jeff Huggins

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