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Burtynsky’s Photos Prove It: Businesses Must Protect the Earth
By Lauren | June 23, 2008
One of my readers (let’s call him Lyle) recently asked me to contribute to a paper he was writing about the impact that our business-as-usual practices are having on the environment. Lyle asked me to visit http://www.ted.com/talks/view/id/56 and watch photographer Edward Burtynsky present a series of his mesmerizing, horrific photographs on how humankind is transforming the globe. Lyle then asked me to respond to three questions:
First, Lyle asked if I believe that business must find a way to preserve the environment for future generations. Burtynsky’s photos left me with no doubt. I was struck repeatedly by the unexpected symmetry of the manufactured environments in his photos, landscapes with the quirky appeal of a Tim Burton movie backdrop, but those scenes were colorless and harsh. Surely, we cannot wish to leave future generations the sterile, poisoned earth Burtynsky captures so compellingly.
Second, Lyle asked if my reaction was a reflection of my personal values ? how could they not be? I have always believed that the Earth is a gift that each generation is obliged to protect for those to come. Human history is rife with examples of behavior that seemed perfectly acceptable to people at the time but horrific to their descendants: slavery, the Holocaust, witch-burning, bear-baiting, and so forth. When wondering what aspects of our lives future generations will condemn, I suspect that our casual attitude toward environmental preservation will top the list.
Third, Lyle asked, if you could have one wish having seen Burtynsky’s photos, what it would be? My answer? I would bring together the political and business leaders of the world in an environmental summit that could meet for as long as necessary to hammer out a genuine accord between nations on how our beautiful Earth can best be preserved. I would create meaningful financial incentives to manufacturers to go “green” in their practices and to restore the land they’ve damaged. I would retool the business schools to make long-term goals and sustainability central to the concept of a successful company. Most of all, I would make a book of Burtynsky’s photos mandatory course material in every MBA program. (Okay, this is more than one wish.)
Business has to learn that destroying the world for future customers to meet the immediate whims of present ones is fundamentally a zero-sum game.
Topics: Business Ethics, Social Ethics, corporate responsibility, ethics |
June 23rd, 2008 at 1:10 pm
Lauren,
Everybody must take responsibility for the health of our earth - governments and business as well as every day people.
As business controls a large portion of society’s productive resources, as well as being primarily responsible operations which have a significant environmental impact, business does have a particular responsibility toward the environment.
That said, it is a responsibility that we all share. As individuals, we must encourage business by rewarding sound corporate behavior at the checkout (which unfortunately is not often the case), as well as ensuring that each of us behaves in a responsible manner toward the environment.
Personally, I will refrain from criticism of large business until I, myself, have done everything I can in order to be an environmentally responsible citizen.
Cheers
Andrew
July 1st, 2008 at 3:59 pm
Hi Andrew,
How could anyone argue with individual citizens doing their part to protect the Earth? I applaud your intentions!
At the same time, companies tend to have much bigger ecological footprints than individuals do. While there are certainly things each of us can and should do to protect the environment, I’ve never strip-mined a mountain myself, and doubt whether many other people have either.
Take a look at Burtynsky’s photos if you have a chance - they’re truly amazing.
Lauren