The concept of duty is defined in the workplace easily enough with a tightly drafted job description. But that covers only my duty to my employer. What of my duty to society, beyond employment? Here there are no bullet-point templates. As for going beyond duty – surely an objective a good society would encourage in its citizens – what might that mean, in today’s world? The Financial Times recently ran a series of articles entitled ‘Capitalism in Crisis’.
Posts by Jeremy Leggett
The Elephant In The Room
Published in
In the world of energy, circumstances are going to be difficult indeed during 2012. 2011 was a year of growing polarisation for those of us who long for a renaissance fuelled by renewables. The Germans announced targets to run their railway system entirely on renewable energy – mostly wind and solar. Yet BP declared it is going to quit solar entirely to pile ever further into tar-sands extraction, unconventional gas and the rest of the carbon-heavy status quo.
Don’t Crack at the Crunch
Published in
If the British Prime Minister were being authentic, he could be leading on an impressive story right now. Those of his core mantras that involve energy, taken together in strategic harness, make for an inspiring vision. Picture the scene. His Big Society concept sees communities taking power for themselves, providing for themselves. In short, Britain could be less centralised, more community-centric, more resilient to economic shocks.
More Bang Than Buck
Published in
In recent years, the public has watched as scandals have arrived, like tsunamis, in huge waves. Economies cannot function without healthy banks, yet in the banking crisis of 2008 many of our financial institutions seemed intent on self-destruction. Governments cannot lead without a basic respect for the political process, yet in the expenses debacle of 2009 many politicians seemed bent on befouling the entire political class.
Rise Of The Radical
Published in
Those who propose alternative ways forward for society often find that if their ideas deviate more than a few degrees from ‘business as usual’, they are dismissed as radical. If the ideas involve u-turns, then they are dubbed dangerous. But I believe that many supposedly radical ideas currently under public debate are coming close to being inescapable outcomes. Let me illustrate my argument with alternatives being proposed first to oil dependency, second to the current banking system and third, to economic growth.
Incredible Me
Published in
A phase of regeneration in society is an entirely feasible prospect in the times ahead. It could be sparked at the intersection of the three great crises of our times: the crises in finance, in climate and in energy. Such a regeneration could be a global renaissance, a road capable of leading to a much better future than the one that looks probable for humankind at present. Sadly, this positive outcome is far from guaranteed.
Hold That Horse
Published in
Here is a naked truth, as many neuroscientists see it, based on their recent research into how the human mind works both individually and collectively. Groups of humans sink too easily into dysfunctional ‘groupthink’, wherein some of us become so blind to rational argument that evidence, even if irrefutable, can actually drive us deeper into our own particular belief system.
Triple Whammy
Published in
The climate theme has involved a dramatic reversal of belief systems on the threat of global warming. A PR campaign of malign brilliance has remoulded US public opinion to such an extent that not a single Republican candidate in the mid-term elections professed to believe there was anything much to worry about in human enhancement of the greenhouse effect.
Dancing On The Ceiling
Published in
Governments and businesses are letting people down left, right and centre. They have brought the world to the brink of utter financial disaster by unleashing virtually unregulated trading powers, motivated by greed, in the false belief that free markets know best.
