Let’s earthquake-proof and rebuild our economy with a Triple Bottom Line
source: http://blogs.creativeloafing.com/dailyloaf/2010/04/13/lets-earthquake-proof-and-rebuild-our-...
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Recently, former President Clinton acknowledged that food policies he instituted in Haiti during his terms in office were a colossal failure. Haiti was encouraged to end rice production and outsource their major food staple so they could instead concentrate on building their market economy for the future. But as the January 12th earthquake has shown, this policy has left them completely dependent on foreign aid to sustain them during this crisis. Millions are now faced with severe food shortages. Reversing this policy and correcting this situation will take time as Haitians once again learn to become stewards of their own food system. Without this, they remain at the mercy of others.
But as we watch this human-created catastrophe play out in Haiti, did it ever occur to you that a similar policy has been operating in the US for the last 60 years? Today, just 2% of the population provides the food for 98% of the US. To do this, we have transitioned from thousands of small farms spread throughout the country to a few mega-industrial food producers. We too are now dependent. Any major crisis occur that would disrupt food distribution for several weeks and we will look much like Haiti. Former Homeland Security Director, Tom Ridge, was once quoted as saying he was surprised that terrorists had not attacked our food system—it was by far the easiest system to disrupt because it was so centralized. Once done, it would create havoc.
What were we thinking? All of these actions stem from the conviction of a “Single Bottom Line” economy. That is, making money and profits are the only measure of success. In the last 60 years, the market economy’s importance has come to over-ride everything else. We’ve let ourselves believe that doing everything and anything to foster unlimited growth and production will result in massive profits and that would be all we would need for economic success. As a result, small farms were gobbled up into big conglomerates in order to make ever-more profits. But as we’re beginning to see, this was at the expense of communities, the environment and ultimately, self-sufficiency across this country.
Clinton was blinded by this Single Bottom Line economy zeal when he, with utter conviction, set into motion the policies that have now left Haiti in crisis. This was occurring as well throughout the US. Businessmen, economists, and government policies are all part of this conviction. But as Clinton has now shown that policy has failed tragically in the acute crisis playing out in Haiti. And in our country, it is playing out through a slow and chronic slide into mediocrity. Today, social problems like obesity, Type II Diabetes, addictions, poverty, and environmental problems of clean air and water are the legacies of the Single Bottom Line economy.
Out of tragedy can come blessings: The good news is that there’s another option besides the Single Bottom Line/profits are everything economy. We can choose the Triple Bottom Line economy. This is an economy that measures and monetizes success through three interwoven criteria: social — doing what’s good for people, environmental — doing what’s good for the environment, and business — making choices/making profits in alignment with what works best for all three parts. The result? We end up creating an economy that works for people, the planet and business.
(Read the rest on the original post.)
But as we watch this human-created catastrophe play out in Haiti, did it ever occur to you that a similar policy has been operating in the US for the last 60 years? Today, just 2% of the population provides the food for 98% of the US. To do this, we have transitioned from thousands of small farms spread throughout the country to a few mega-industrial food producers. We too are now dependent. Any major crisis occur that would disrupt food distribution for several weeks and we will look much like Haiti. Former Homeland Security Director, Tom Ridge, was once quoted as saying he was surprised that terrorists had not attacked our food system—it was by far the easiest system to disrupt because it was so centralized. Once done, it would create havoc.
What were we thinking? All of these actions stem from the conviction of a “Single Bottom Line” economy. That is, making money and profits are the only measure of success. In the last 60 years, the market economy’s importance has come to over-ride everything else. We’ve let ourselves believe that doing everything and anything to foster unlimited growth and production will result in massive profits and that would be all we would need for economic success. As a result, small farms were gobbled up into big conglomerates in order to make ever-more profits. But as we’re beginning to see, this was at the expense of communities, the environment and ultimately, self-sufficiency across this country.
Clinton was blinded by this Single Bottom Line economy zeal when he, with utter conviction, set into motion the policies that have now left Haiti in crisis. This was occurring as well throughout the US. Businessmen, economists, and government policies are all part of this conviction. But as Clinton has now shown that policy has failed tragically in the acute crisis playing out in Haiti. And in our country, it is playing out through a slow and chronic slide into mediocrity. Today, social problems like obesity, Type II Diabetes, addictions, poverty, and environmental problems of clean air and water are the legacies of the Single Bottom Line economy.
Out of tragedy can come blessings: The good news is that there’s another option besides the Single Bottom Line/profits are everything economy. We can choose the Triple Bottom Line economy. This is an economy that measures and monetizes success through three interwoven criteria: social — doing what’s good for people, environmental — doing what’s good for the environment, and business — making choices/making profits in alignment with what works best for all three parts. The result? We end up creating an economy that works for people, the planet and business.
(Read the rest on the original post.)
