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Corporate Social Responsibility - Optimist CSR Blog by Jo Matthews

By Jo Matthews

Last updated 10/08/2009 11:59:05

Jo Matthews - Optimist Blog on Corporate Social Responsibility

Positive Perceptions (10 August 2009)

In the quest to be green and ethical and responsible and all that jazz, sometimes it's too easy to be negative.  In other words, we end up being against just about everything, systematically binding ourselves into hemp infused straight-jackets with restrictions about what we can't do and mustn't buy. 

Against using plastic bags, against disposable fashion, against animal testing.  Anti-corporation, anti-war, anti-fur, anti-Big Mac. Anti-Bush, Anti-Brown, Anti-Kerry Katona.  Where does it all end?

Life just turns into one big rant about what we don't like and who we disagree with.  And if you ask me, all this moral high-ground griping is getting a tad tedious.  It's all very well sitting on our ethically manufactured pedestals eating fairly traded cocoa nibs whilst sermonizing about the state of the world.  But until we actually sit up and decide a few things that we are willing to change for the better in our own lives, however small and insignificant they might seem, the stream of negativity isn't going to do anyone any good.

There's a lot of talk about positive affirmation around at the moment, about how to manifest your desires and wildest dreams; how to ‘Think and Grow Rich' how to use the law of attraction to bring peace and prosperity into you life.  And the key is not to think about what you don't want (BIG mistake) but to focus constantly and consistently on all the things you DO want.  Thinking positively is just about the only way to go about it, so they say.

Ok, so I admit  there's a lot of hot air out there, and some of these life-changing techniques are great to read about but almost impossible to do (speaking from personal experience).  But there is definitely something to be said for focusing your attention toward creating positive change as opposed to leaching all of your attention on the negative in a kind of brick-wall versus head scenario, incessantly battling against the tides. 

And for me it also seems to resonate with my thoughts about the sustainability and environmental change movement.  What got me thinking about all this was ‘The End of the Line', a film about responsible fishing that a friend of mine worked on.  And what is said is that ‘The End of the Line' is not against fishing. It is not against eating fish. But it is for a responsible attitude towards the oceans.'  You can't say fairer than that. 

There's a bright way of looking at just about everything, actually.  (Oh I just love it when I get to be blatantly Optimistic on this blog).

So if I flip my grumblings and think about the things that I'm for as opposed to against.  I'm for taking cotton bags to the supermarket, I'm for Fairtrade and ethical fashion, I'm an advocate of the slow-food movement, I like to know how my clothes are made and where they have come from.  I am a big fan of friends and cake and nice pubs and long baths too come to think of it.  And I'd like to think it is possible to achieve a balance in the world, that climate change might be halted, that peace might be possible, that a fairer and more just society could emerge across the board. 

Naïve, maybe.  But I'm happier, and a little bit more determined, as a result.

More about Jo Matthews

Last week's blog on the next Page >> Water Ripple Across the Pond

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by Charlotte Beckett
405 day(s) 8 hour(s) 13 minute(s) ago
Hi Jo. I'm an Optimist newbie so not when you posted your blog on Fairtrade but just wanted to thank you for such an optimistic view. I've also just read your entry on CSR in times of crunch. I'm volunteering for the Fairtrade Foundation on the communications for the Fairtrade London campaign (having been crunched myself). Meeting with one of our local borough teams a couple of weeks ago to discuss ways to keep up the momentum, the steering group were extremely frustrated by the fact that most of their core contacts in local businesses had been made redundant. A typical tale you may think, but slightly galling when you learn the borough in question was the City of London, and the contacts had been the CSR managers. By a series of flukes I found myself working in communications for an investment bank at one point. I was very pleasantly surprised by their commitment to CSR, to allowing their staff time off to volunteer, to their fund raising. But this was a few years ago.. We know times are hard, and everyone needs to focus on core business - but surely this is core to business? Though having had a few heated debates about how fair trade doesn’t work and just means expensive rubbish (must have been that Campaign Coffee these folk tried all those years ago), I am beginning to think maybe I should become a cynic not an optimist. Do hard times show people’s true colours? I was hoping they’d be brighter than this.
by leehales
442 day(s) 15 hour(s) 44 minute(s) ago
Great post Jo. We have similar issues in New Zealand. As Kiwi's we are rather reticent to talk about our good deeds. Modesty and fear of tall poppy syndrome come into play. I believe it is really important that we celebrate and embrace generosity. Not in a 'look at me, I'm in line to become a saint' way but to encourage actions and share the things we do. Many give in so many ways and many of those who do give are on the bones of their ass. Excluding the high net worth philanthropists many of us give small amounts but when this information is shared across networks a crowdfunding system comes into play and our small donation becomes tangible. With regard to CSR, a company that is honest, open about their level of commitment/activity and encourages dialogue about their CSR initiatives should shout it from the rooftops. Any naysayers will be shot down by their advocates as the proof is publicly available. Open, honest and fair value paid for CSR means = value for all parties. In my line of work I have been horrified to learn of the value some large corporates have received in return for paying small sums to charitable brand for sponsorship rights. Catch 22 for the charities who are desperate for the funds but it really annoys me when these large corporates receive a public perception of their investment that is not accurate. Look forward to reading more of your blog posts.
by Hester
463 day(s) 10 hour(s) ago
Hi Jo, I so agree with you too. There is a need for change in the corporate world as well as the philantropy world. The falling down of the economy is a 'good' sign. A society merely based on one rule: making a profit regardless of the consequenses is sooo outdated. Also a society where organisations are highly depending of govermental funding. Here in the Netherlands several years ago the director of a hospital was voted businesswomen of the year. Why?? Because she was able to make the hospital a profitable organisation, no longer depending on funding from the outside world. Yes a social healthcare unit was able to make a profit so they were able to invest in themselves and provide better healthcare. And like you i'm also doing what i can to support a sustainable world. It takes guts to start something new, whether it's a new lifestyle for an individual or for Big Business. I can only hope we will feel encouraged to make the Bigger Choices and break down the old believe systems. And that we feel the pull to invest in that future. Hester
by Atacama
472 day(s) 2 hour(s) 50 minute(s) ago
Nice one Jo, I agree with you. But as hard as I try not to be, I am angry. In fact I'm fuming. It seems that parts of the corporate world and now worse still, politicians, appear to lack a guiding set of principles - the simple principles that help most of us judge the difference between 'right and wrong' or 'acceptable and not acceptable'. The banking crisis and MP's expense claims have finally brought this into sharp focus - and at last open to public scrutiny. And I have never been more angry. Yet I see an opportunity. How to turn the worst of times into the best of times. It's in the open now and surely this is the time to re-shape the principles that we expect business and government to adhere to. To most of us these are simple and obvious. We were taught this stuff when we were kids - be fair, be honest, and be responsible. Could Optimist World survey their readers and come up with a set of principles that we the people demand that corporations and government adhere to? Millions of people are angry - what are we going to do about it? Michael
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