The first part of TWC session 3 was about the urgent need to change the existing business model from a linear to a cyclical one. From the readings and class discussion, there was a consensus that a practical methodology for such a cyclical model of marrying business profitability and environmental sustainability needs to be found.
However, as always in reality, it is difficult to apply ideals to practically, often they can even seem mutually exclusive. I would believe that for existing business people in large and established corporations, it might be difficult for them to change things. A lot of the companies initiating a sustainable model of operations are mostly start-ups or a very small percentage who champion pioneering change, even when they come with higher costs and risks. Therefore, unless one has sufficiently large amounts of authority and influence to persuade his/her company to embrace very new business models, the reality is that it is very hard to do so.
One easier way to cultivate the green movement in corporate culture is to nurture the next generation of/ up-and-coming business leaders who are still obtaining their tertiary education (and who will partake in government, investor and corporate strategies and decisions in the near future) - young people like us!
Being a Year 1 student at SMU, I am just beginning to unravel the culture of tertiary education. In a nutshell, SMU students are highly passionate to succeed in all areas of life- academics, sports and recreation, community service etc. Thus it wouldn’t be far-fetched at all to be optimistic and counting on our generation to make far more progress in pushing for environmental issues in the global economy. Of course, education must install a deep and lasting sense of importance and urgency.
On a different note, a case study of the Melting Himalayan Glaciers has led me to gain new insights. See video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wD0IWb2w-jM&p=621C25D465357A6F&playnext=1&index=7
Hundreds of villages dependent upon the Rongbuk glaciers for their very livelihood and survival are suffering under the brunt of environment degradation which they themselves did not cause. They live a rural, agrarian life which is being adversely affected by the callous consumerism of the world’s rich and affluent.
Understanding these villagers’ plight and countless other injustices like it is one way to enable us to be more sympathetic and determined towards making a real change in the way business right now, with a blatant disregard for the ecosystem.
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