Problem or Solution

I have often sat around a dinner table with friends and complained about the state of the Nation! The corruption, the politicians, the insane traffic, the superbly incompetent BMC, the increasing female feoticide, Teenagers who drink & drive etc etc………..

The problems are all out there. The causes are also out there. It is reassuring to talk about how we are not part of the problem! There is an object or person or group of people worthy of our finger pointing!

If only the laws were enforced!
If only corrupt politicians were caught & prosecuted
If only (this one’s my favourite) Vilasrao Deshmukh spent a week in a Dharavi slum
If only Johnny Joseph was made to drive a BEST bus up & down the western express highway…………..the wish list goes on & on

A few weeks ago I had an epiphany!
It struck me that I am not a part of the problem but that does not stop me from being part of the solution! Think about it. Each & every one of us who feels strongly about the mess that we live in can do their bit to set the wrong right by being part of the solution.

I am not a part of the problem but I am definitely part of the solution. That is what helps me look positively on each day. Each one of us has to make a choice. We are either on one side or the other! This is one debate where you cannot be a fence sitter.

So! Which side of the fence are you on? What’s your view?

Laadli- the 1 million signature campaign

Many have asked does Advocacy work? Are signature campaigns for real? Do they work? Does Activism get you anywhere? I am not sure I am equipped to answer that in a simple 'yes' or 'no'

For background lets consider some facts:

a) Govt officials in Punjab discovered dozens of decomposed remains of placentas and fetuses in an unused well. A quack and his wife, were running an illegal maternity clinic 'helping' expectant parents determine the sex of their fetuses and aborted the female ones if the parents so desired.

b) On13^th July 2008, in Lucknow the officials sealed 46 sex determination centers that were arranging for aborting female fetuses during early pregnancy.

c) India witnessing its worst ever gender crisis in history because of merciless killing of female feoticide which is rampant. Today the girls :boys ratio is badly skwed - we have less than 800 girls for every 1000 boys.

d) Over 27 lac crimes have been witnessed last year, and an appaling 9L female foeticide killings cross the country (Bombay or Punjab, Delhi or Rajasthan- all are part of this crime). Police authorities have been lenient, as the number of convictions by authorities are so negligible and shameful in comparison, only 50 over the last 14years!!

e) Despite the PCPNDT Act (an act solely passed to stop sex determination before birth) People bribe the authorities and get away. Malpractices and misuse in terms of number of sonographies reported is abysmally low in our country. There is no mechanism in place to determine the number of sonography tests which takes place which also means no records in place.

WHAT DOES ONE DO? HOW DOES ONE STOP THIS CRIME IN SOCIETY? DOES EVERYONE BELIEVE THIS IS WRONG?

Can a PLEDGE Campaign help?

The widespread abuse of modern technology that was meant to protect the health of mother and baby has instead, become a death sentence for unwanted girls – a gross violation of basic human rights. Despite the existing law - PCPNDT Act (an act solely passed to stop sex determination before birth) - this criminal practice goes on unchallenged in absence of strict enforcement. The numbers of convictions by authorities are so negligible and shameful in comparison to the crime - only 50 over the last 14 years!!

Urgent action is needed to spread awareness of this issue and force stricter enforcement of the law to punish the guilty. We can not just be silent participants of this heinous crime anymore. Some one needs to take the lead.

The Govt needs to be compelled and pressurized to implement the Act and punish the guilty. The PLEDGE campaign, will mobilize and convert one million signature, it will also bring sensitivity amongst people in our society and make it an immediacy issue that people discuss, ask questions, opine on, think about and act , is -my faith

“Many things can wait, but the very right of a LIFE's existence cannot. To them we cannot say TOMORROW because their name is TODAY – reason for mankind’s progressive existence”

Pledge NOW by logging into

www.laadli.org

or

sms and save a life, type "laadli" and send to 575758

Eco-friendly marketing

The increasing rift between the "haves" and the "have-nots," what The NY Times dubbed "the disappearance of the middle class," is putting public pressure on luxury brands to focus on their actions in the marketplace. Those that are insensitive to the political implications (global outsourcing), sociological (impact on people) and ecological (effect on the environment) will face loss of revenue from their best customers.

More and more luxury brands are asking themselves:

• What is our position on the use of renewal energy resources?

• Do we or those we outsource to use harsh chemicals in our manufacturing processes?

• How do we relate to the communities we serve?

• How do we give back?

• How do we promote our role as good corporate citizens?

• What is our position on energy conservation?

• Are we a leader sensitive to the range of human resources issues and practices in the communities in which we have a presence?

• Are we part of the solution or part of the problem?

• Do we educate our employees?

Recent research has shown that the way luxury brands address these issues has a direct impact on their reputations, revenues and that the negative consequence of ignoring them will be considerable.

A 2007 survey by Jem Bendell and Anthony Kleanhous, "A Deeper Luxury: Quality and Style When the World Matters," shows that those with the most wealth and education purchase, recommend brands and choose products or services on the basis of a company's reputation, and they avoid products or services they feel guilty about "unethically purchasing" and have actively campaigned for brands on environment and social issues. In short, people want to feel good about what they buy and the companies that sell to them.

Example: At Home Depot, there were two bins of firewood, same wood, same price. One was labeled "Forest Stewardship Council"; the other was not labeled. The Forest Stewardship Council sold more than two times more successfully. When the price was raised on the "branded" wood, it still realized a 37% increase in sales.

Signs of the times:

• 75 celebrities arrive at the Oscars in hybrids or zero-emission, hydrogen-powered vehicles

• The smartest luxury brands are consolidating their corporate focus; focusing on one good cause and promoting their involvement.

• Luxury brands increasingly are "going green" in the production of promotional and marketing materials as more find their customers asking for "carbon neutrality."

• More companies are micro-managing the outsourcing of their manufacturing abroad to ensue ethical treatment of the workforce.

• What many refer to, as "social equity" is becoming one of the most important drivers of brand value. Studies have shown a 77% correlation between "social equity" or esteem, and brand value as consumers demand a more ethical level of play.

The following are aspects of "social equity" influence brand value:

• ethical practice: honest, fair, financially reliable employment ethos: a good employer

• social engagement: responsive to local community

• service orientation: care about customers, reliable

• social responsibility: good corporate citizens and intelligently promote their good works so people know

• emotional proximity: "my kind of brand or company"

• social utility: provide value products and services -- well worth the price

• the public and socially conscious buyer is most discerning and expects substance in corporate citizenship programs. Beware: "green-washing" won't work.

• in hard times as in this recession the corporate "voice," positioning and messaging must resonate with what best customers are feeling

• the best customer won't pay a premium for green alone

• more corporations are looking to the not-for-profits (see Robert Frank's book, Richistan) to create self-funding "businesses" with use of original corporate contributions -- a radical departure from expectations of patrons/corporate sponsors up 'til now.

Indeed, as pertains to corporate citizenship, especially in this recessionary window, the times are "a-changing." Those brands that are sensitive to these changes will win the continuing loyalty of their best customers in ways that those that ignore these "early warnings" will not. Reproduced from an article by Gregory Furman

Emergency Climate Mobilization

We are in the midst of a climate impasse. The Developed world wants to address Climate Challenge and the Developing world does not want to give up on progress & enhancement of life. The Developed world has inflicted damage mercilessly, so when it takes on a holier than thou attitude on climate challenge and carbon mitigation then the Developing nations bristle with resentment. And to my simplistic mind this is exactly where the problem lies. The friction today is delicately poised and requires an urgent attitudinal shift in both Developed and Developing economies, where both need to agree, to a common agenda to curb mitigation and harness this fast spiraling, all consuming climate change.

It is necessary to secure significant cuts in emissions in the growing nations of the Developing world. And yet, nobody dare tell the Developing nations to stop progress because it costs heavy damage to the climate! What is also very surprising is all these negotiations and talks taking place at international summits and conferences, don't get one thing straight!

i.e. "Change or Perish" has got to be mantra

Isn't that alarming? Shouldn't it scare all of of us into action and mobilization? Should this not bring the decision makers to the table to agree on a common minimum prog agenda? To be sensible and courageous and collaborate with each other rather than play stereotypical roles of yore??

The way forward out of this macabre dance is to recognize that the right of development adheres not to nations but to people. This development must be sustainable and cannot ever be the right of the already rich and powerful!

All communication can reflect this mindset and insight and pave the way through interesting stories to take pride in a tomorrow which can be a bright future, if, and only if, this Climate challenge is licked by immediate corrective action by individuals and nations rather than be in its current debacle viewed with cynicism and inaction

Youth leading the change

Never has one seen such hype and hoopla around the elections than the 2009 general elections has generated. It’s unprecedented. The upcoming elections have generated tremendous enthusiasm among the nation, especially the youth, who seem to show an overt curiosity to be participative than be mere observers like in the past.

Hence noticeable is their involvement in voicing opinion across platforms and issues. For many of us this is a welcome change. It is indeed encouraging for a nation like India whose future will be youth dependant, to see this awakening, in its one third large constituency i.e. the youth.

The recent past witnessed a slew of incidents that rocked India. Insurgency, J&K unrest, national security concerns, more importantly the many disturbing incidences that took place within India itself- viz. The Jessica Lal case, the BMW accident, the new year eve incident outside the JW Marriot Hotel, Mumbai where young women were molested by a mob, the multiple blasts that rocked Bangalore, the brutal murder of a young TV journalist in Delhi, the Nithari exposés, the Mangalore pub incidence, the beating up of nuns and women in Kandhamal in the name of religion - have shook the youth. These incidences have compelled many young people to realize their own collective power, and also realize that if change has to be brought about in the nation then they need to move off the fence and join hands to generate one voice - one goal.

Timely was the 26/11 Mumbai attack. It not only galvanized the young in Mumbai but rage and horror of that incidence rippled through the entire country, with one sentiment echoing loud and clear- “ no more can we be a silent spectator”.

These incidents have definitely touched the chords, made the young of our nation aware and conscious to realize their true potential.

The more I speak to the young across cities, the more they replay their frustration at the inability of the government to tackle national civic and social issues. This has got them collectively thinking of action, to make a perceptible difference in the country. Couple this with the fact that there are many young people who went abroad for higher studies, it’s a welcome movement one sees today with many in their mid twenties and late 20’s returning to India to start their own ngo’s or work at grassroots with skills, expertise and in depth use of technology to bring upliftment in the lower cities/rural India
Celebrities have always played a big persuasive role within India. Today it is encouraging to see them willingly engaged with the social movement in India. Youth icons like Aamir Khan, Ranbir Kapoor, Sonam Kapoor, Deepika Padukone…have taken the lead to get youngsters to exercise their right to vote. Many young people have volunteered to get their friends registered for voting, many have led from the front to see their vision of involving the youth to exercise their ballot come true with the persuasive power of Ideas and advertising, many young people have in their small but meaningful ways overcome all hurdles in their path registered for the first time to vote.
The people’s movement has truly begun and it’s all about sustaining the momentum. Walking shoulder to shoulder and communicating to the world, that We are here to change!!! We are the Change!!!

How socially conscious are we?

Large Indian cities define the rich and poor rather starkly. Sleek sedans, good living, wining- dining- gaming-partying-working hard and being fiercely ambitious are some qualities that define The Upper Cities. Inhuman conditions where people live on the streets, undernourished, lack of hygiene and health, water deprived defines The Lower Cities. In many ways our large megapolis’s are representative of this great divide in our nation. The Upper City needs the Lower City to thrive and get richer, and the Lower City feeds off the Upper City to develop, grow and sustain itself.

While viewing the James Bond movie Quantum of Solace I learned about a place called Cochabamba in Bolivia. In 1999 the Bolivian government sold Cochabamba's water rights to Bechtel Corporation in San Fransisco, (USA). There was a massive uprising, and after much violence, including the loss of human life, the people succeeded in stopping the privatization of their water rights. This story brought a stark reality to me viz. there can be no social transformation without a personal transformation. People must join hands to make a difference.

Do you see a perceptible difference in our world today? Is the old mindset of apathy giving way to a rising sensitivity amongst people in our nation, our cities, our communities? Do we understand our social duties and responsibilities any better today?

The number of blogs have multiplied manifold in the online world, initiating new conversations and activism. A tv channel (the source of information and a vehicle that sways public sentiments) aired a 24 hour live megathon to awaken consciousness amongst its viewers to go solar and green! At an individual level some labour over beautifying their building block localities with green saplings and some work hard to keep the area clean. Some co-workers cycle to work, pool car to offices and some prefer to run in the gardens rather than use the tread mills! Some segregate wet and dry waste, composite waste, and recycle waste, while some others have started saying no to plastic bags and instead use cloth carry bags. Some prefer to conduct meetings over conference calls instead of flying miles and some march to candle light to mobilize opinions on issues!

There definitely is purpose to today’s social agenda. There is more sensitivity than the past. Apathy is slowly giving way to responsibility. There are definitely more questions being asked aloud!

An added weapon in this armoury, is the power of conversations generated by communications. Creative ideas lend movement and ferocity and energy to such mobilization. Communication provokes people to think, ask questions, wonder, be alert, be empathetic and above all be more sensitive to one’s role in society. Let’s use the power of communications and the right vehicles for dissemination, to guarantee a social revolution in India.