Lawry, Practically every concern I buy from will instantly take back without argument something that doesn't meet my approval. That's the "normal requirement". So normal that I expect it when I buy.
When I lived in Canada, Eatons was noted for its instant return policy across the Dominion (is that word OK now?) We would hear that young ladies in remote parts of (say) Alberta would buy a prom dress - wear it - then return it to Eatons for a full refund. Maybe that policy was a reason why Eatons became so large and profitable. Henry George's 'Law of Human Progress' suggested that civilizations survived only when they enjoyed 'association in equality'. Insomuch as barriers were erected between people or justice (equality) was diminished, so would civilizations die. Perhaps societies don't so much evolve as devolve as their changed "operating rules" fail. Harry ********************************* Henry George School of Los Angeles Box 655 Tujunga CA 91042 818 352-4141 ********************************* -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Lawrence de Bivort Sent: Wednesday, April 12, 2006 3:54 PM To: [email protected] Subject: RE: [Futurework] Coffee anyone? Harry, your notion of a 'normal requirement' is no longer adequate for our society. You have to look beyond the assumptions you grew up with and now so take for granted. Societies evolve; so must their 'operating rules.' Lawry -----Original Message----- From: Harry Pollard [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Wednesday, April 12, 2006 6:05 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; 'Christoph Reuss'; [email protected] Subject: RE: [Futurework] Coffee anyone? Lawry, In a free society with a free market, if Whole Foods are producing fungus with their cakes, people will stop buying them and they'll go broke. However, it's a non-issue. We buy our cakes from Ruby's in Eagle Rock (about 12niles from us) and have done so for years. Made on the premises and delightful - haven't noticed any fungus. What on earth is this 'moral responsibility' that producers need rather than the normal requirement to provide what they say they are providing? Harry ********************************* Henry George School of Los Angeles Box 655 Tujunga CA 91042 818 352-4141 ********************************* -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Lawrence de Bivort Sent: Wednesday, April 05, 2006 10:22 AM To: 'Christoph Reuss'; [email protected] Subject: RE: [Futurework] Coffee anyone? Yes, this notion of Fair Trade is growing here in the US, too. There is a chain of stores, "Ten Thousand Villages" that sells crafts on this basis. And then there is Putumayo's CDs, too. Better quality crafts and music from these sources than the conventional commercial outlets. We had Fresh Fields/Whole Foods stores which seemed to have embraced some social consciousness, but then, if I remember correctly, they were bought up by a conventional chain and their quality has deteriorated (e.g. mold inside their layered cakes, because their cakes are made in New York, frozen and shipped to the Washington area, and sold in their store bakeries as if made fresh). Thinking back to Arthur's coffee VP, it may be that social consciousness has to be embedded in new types of organizations -- where the whole organization is designed with that kind of moral responsibility in mind, rather than hoping that heroic individuals within conventional organizations will be able to flourish. So perhaps part of a social consciousness initiative might focus on whole organizations that are designed and operate around such a principle. Cheers, Lawry -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Christoph Reuss Sent: Wednesday, April 05, 2006 1:10 PM To: [email protected] Subject: RE: [Futurework] Coffee anyone? Lawry asked: > I wonder if it might be possible to launch a corporate-responsibility > consciousness initiative. I do not mean legislation and regulated > protectionism, but a genuine moral initiative that included specific looks > at specific executive actions and policies, and recognized and morally > rewarded those who reflected that consciousness of responsibility? For coffee, sugar, chocolate, bananas etc. there already is one: The Fair Trade network ( http://www.fairtrade.net ), in N.America known as TransFair ( transfairusa.org , transfair.ca ). They pay much higher prices to the growers and guarantee good labor conditions and democratic participation rights in small-farmer coops. The high revenue for growers is often used for local educational and health projects, and the organic production methods avoid health hazards from pesticides to the growers. So it's up to the consumer to vote with their feet. In Switzerland, Fair Trade products (known here as "Max Havelaar" brand) have a high market share and can be found in regular store chains. Chris _______________________________________________ Futurework mailing list [email protected] http://fes.uwaterloo.ca/mailman/listinfo/futurework _______________________________________________ Futurework mailing list [email protected] http://fes.uwaterloo.ca/mailman/listinfo/futurework _______________________________________________ Futurework mailing list [email protected] http://fes.uwaterloo.ca/mailman/listinfo/futurework _______________________________________________ Futurework mailing list [email protected] http://fes.uwaterloo.ca/mailman/listinfo/futurework
