By Alejandra Fuentes, SE Forum/Sprong kommunikation

Lately, through work, I’ve had reason to think about what we are taught going through the school system. For decades young people have studied roughly the same subjects, taught roughly in the same way. Moreover, the underlying logic of the importance of learning from history turns the pupils eyes to the past, rather than opening them up to the future. This creates an illusion that development has runned it’s course and society has reached it’s final shape.

Still, the Swedish curriculum aims at creating good citizens with democratic values capable of questioning the current state of things, but does it provide the necessary tools? Considering the above the answer would be no.

What is it then, that we should teach future generations? Probably the same subjects but from different perspectives and partly another purpose. Young people need to realize that all great thoughts have not been thought, history has not ended, the choice is not between our ways and the ways of the past – but between different possible future paths. Some of these paths might be mergings of seemingly contradictory ideas that in fact benefit from each other, one such example being social entrepreneurship.

So, let’s promote an education that inspires to new ways of thinking, that respects the past but always looks forward and lets us fully explore what possibilities lay ahead of us that can lead us to a better future.

Here is a quote worth considering on the subject: ”There is an old joke about a drunkard who explains that although he lost his keys in the park down the street he is looking for them here under the lamppost because the light is so much better. A lot of our theoretical and empirical work has a taste of this logic and it’s not entirely crazy because our toy models do give us useful insights and the empirical work gives us some views of the data that might surprise and so inspire us. We hope, though, that we have made the case that in this untidy world of ours it might make sense to spend some time in the dark, on our knees, groping for the keys.” From Globalization and Poverty, edited by Ann Harrison

PeePoople 

SE Forum’s monthly meeting continues, this time with speakers from the fascinating and inspiring companies PeePoople, the developers behind the PeePoo-bag.

Wednesday 28 January, 5.30-7.00pm at restaurant Publik (top floor PUB-huset) in Stockholm. (SE-Bars are monthly, every last Wednesday)

About PeePooble:
Peepoople AB is formed to develop, produce and distribute the Peepoo-bag. The mission of Peepoople is that all people who so desire shall have access to dignified and hygienic sanitation. The company was formed in 2006 and based in Stockholm Sweden. The research has been conducted in cooperation with SLU Swedish University of Agricultural Science and KTH Royal College of Technology. The Peepoo bag is scheduled to ready for production summer 2009.

As always, you will meet other people interested in Social Entrepreneurship. As always, you will meet people from SE Forum and discuss ways to get engaged in social entrepreneurship.

Welcome!

SE Forum introduces a new service to all Social Entrepreneurs:

– The Social Entrepreneurship Support

Within SE Forum there is vast competence of business developers, management consultants, CSR-experts, PR-consultants, lawyers, etc. We have a large network and contact to philanthropies and social investors as well as people running inspiring office hotels.

We want you to succeed!

Welcome to contact us to discuss what you are in need of and what kind of support we can offer you. Free of charge! Contact Harry McNeil for more information. harry [at] se-forum.se +46 (0) 733-312211

More information here.

By Svenne Junker (eco wannabe), SE Forum

Taking responsibility is hip. It fits well with the notion of a trendy person to buy organic food, eco cloths, be vegetarian, ride a bike to work, do yoga, buy organic sun trips etc.

But no matter how trendy it may sound – it is not sustainable consumption.

New research shows that people, who seem to live a ‘good life’ in the modern society, who are complying with the social norms of environmental friendliness, are even worse to the nature than lower class people, who don’t eat ecological food and don’t use garbage disposal.

Hence, it is once more clear: much less consumption and travel is the only sustainable action. There is no compromise.

Cool does not equal good.

References:
SR P1, Vetenskapsradion

By Svenne Junker, SE Forum

Climate change can only be reversed through national and intergovernmental regulations. At least, that is the opinion of Christian Azar, Professor of Physics and leading climate change ambassador, also former member of the IPCC. The key point in his statement is that it cannot be an individual responsibility to fly less, not drive cars, not eat meat etc. First it has to become profitable to act sustainable.

The point is: Human people need to be regulated. Think about all systematic standards that regulate our lives: work time, property rights, time, money, pension, education etc. Socially constructed life standards are the nuts and bolts of modern life. Conclusion: humans are regulated from tip to toe. This is a way of normalizing specific behavior, while excluding other type of behavior.

For me, social entrepreneurship is a way of running profitable business that puts a strong focus on sustainability and solving societal issues, e.g. climate change. The only way to normalize this type of entrepreneurship is to create legislation that removes incentives for non-sustainable business. One suggestion is to construct economic measurements that hold bad business accountable. Another is approving green tax-switching policies.

With this type of regulation we would have a new dichotomy.
Not: Entrepreneurship vs. Social entrepreneurship
But: Entrepreneurship vs. Bad entrepreneurship

Keep on fighting for a better world!

Svenne Junker, green lobbyist

By Harry McNeil, SE Forum

Final notes, a number of positive conclusions on India – or more precise Bangalore.

The free press

The lively debate and the sharp criticism put forth in the free press was impressive. At the time for my visit there was much debate over the management of the Mumbai-bombings, and on many everyday matters such as corruption and environmental degradation.

The fact that everyone I spoke to could – and did – express their views so critically and freely is fundamental for dealing with the democratic challenges the country is facing. It was an entirely different atmosphere from when I lived in Beijing. There: a strong national pride and no criticism what so ever. In Bangalore: doubt over the way the nation was going and the way things were done – but free thinking and free speech.

Action at community level

As mentioned earlier: the level for change and action will most probably come at community level. Where villages, groups and companies can make change. On the national level the system is so huge, so complex.

Friendliness, hospitality and safety

Everywhere, hospitality and politeness. With an eager to do business – selling – in the street.

The intellectual city-based middle-class

With Western eyes, the cast system is a system with absurd consequences. How it still shapes relationships, friendship and careers is surprising. At the same time one sees a strong movement against this ancient system: with well-educated people marrying cross-casts and out of love. With companies forming where competence is what counts.

Family commitment

Family and relationships among relatives were strong and inspiring. The love to children was beautiful. Long live love!

And hopefully, soon India will speed up it’s environmental work. Because the air in Bangalore, one could basically not breath … And then still Bangalore is supposed to be one of the cleaner cities.

Finally -THANK YOU Raj and Antara for everything! You are great.

In 2007 SE Forum conducted the project “Learning Journey: Social Entrepreneurship” in cooperation with Pioneers of Change (PoC) in South Africa.

In March 2007 eight members from SE Forum and seven participants from PoC visited social entrepreneurs – individuals, companies and organisations in Johannesburg and Cape Town. In August 2007 the South African PoC-group came to Stockholm to explore social entrepreneurship in Sweden.

The results from the Learning Journey was put together in a report and presented at a large public seminar at “Street” in Stockholm.

For more information contact Jakob Sundberg at SE Forum through email; create [a] se-forum.se.

In 2006 SE Forum founded the think tank ”The role of the Private sector in Global Development” in cooperation with the Swedish Institute of International Affairs.

The think tank consisted of business leaders from large Swedish corporations such as ABB, H&M and Ericsson, executives from small businesses, researchers and representatives from the Confederation of Swedish Enterprise.

The think tank arranged ten meetings, wrote articles, gave input to Swedish International Cooperation Agency and arranged a large seminar with key note speaker Kemal Dervis, head of UNDP. The think tank  ended in June 2007, with the OUTREACH project as follow-up.

For more information contact Eliza Kucukaslan or Harry McNeil at SE Forum, or Jan Joel Andersson, Programme Director at the Swedish Institute of International Affairs.

By Harry McNeil, SE Forum

The reasons for exploring India are numerous. The huge country has thousands years of wisdom spread around the vast countries, it’s cultures and religions.

My main reason had to do with my belief that private owned business – large corporations as well as small firms – in our world today, must do business in a different way.

Companies must - to start with – look into the wider picture of the effects of their businesses: environmentally, socially and economically.

But I also mean that companies should look even wider and take into their scope: how to do good.

If companies ask “how can we contribute to the making of a better world”, they will start exploring values, ethics and moral issues. The answer to the questions will differ depending on the type, scale, location, etc. of business.

Value-driven business will have to encourage and facilitate discussions that they are used to ignoring. The challenge for the business leaders will be greater. But the benefits will also be there. Most importantly – these changes have to be done because there is no alternative: the future will demand companies to take the responsibility that follows with their power. At the same time they will also get more motivated staff, creativity and satisfied customers.

An important question is to what extent these issues should be regulated. Companies usually want as much deregulation as possible, giving them freedom. But in that case the responsibility falls even more heavily on the companies to follow code of conducts and ethical principals.

So here to the reason for exploring India: By traditionally being such a rich philosophical and spiritual country. By being the country were Buddha was born, where Dalai Lama resides, Mahatma Gandhi “fought” and ordinary people usually have an alter at home. I wanted to know: how does this influence business? What happens in the meeting between western IT companies and Indian workers? And what role does the public sector play, especially in the important task of combating poverty?

After talking with numerous IT-consultants, engineers, head of IT, etc. in Bangalore I was surprised. Why? Because the conclusions were so unison on a number of questions.

 “We have no problem separating business from ethics”

The people I spoke to couldn’t see that Indian philosophy influenced the way they did business. On the contrary, some of them believed that since Indian families raise their children with lots of love and as being “princesses and princes”, Indians do not question their values and what they are worth. I find no examples of “future businesses”, on the contrary, the culture seemed to foster the winner takes it all, without care for side effects.

2. “Our security net consists of our family”

There is no social security in India. If you get ill you have to pay for your hospital bill. There are some charity hospitals, often founded by “Gurus”, but where standard are low. So Indians find security in their families, and take care of their families. This influence everything they do. So when an IT-consultant work 24/7 it is not only for himself, but for his entire family’s sake.

3. “The political system is corrupt, and there is nothing we can do about it”

On many of the challenges in India we spoke of: environment, corruption, infrastructure, health care, poverty – the people I met had resigned and were cynical. Why? – because of this “entropy” in the system. Because they thought all the politicians were corrupt. And the corrupt politicians did not focus on solving India’s problem, but on enriching themselves. And if they weren’t corrupt when they entered politics, the system would make them. The main reason for this are the big inequalities. Many people make around 2000 rupies per day, while in the IT-business you can make tenfold. The politicians are at the lower range, but feel that they deserve more.

4. “We are exploited, and we know it”

“Large western IT-companies come to India, and we are not even allowed to join the union”. Me, I thought the UN’s Global Compact was standard. It might be on paper. But the people in the booming IT business of Bangalore were certain, if you protest against the working condition, if you in any way undermined your boss or if you tried to form a union, you would lose your job.

So, basically everyone I spoke to was cynical about the development of the country. Even though they all had increased their material standard immensely, and the number of starving people in India had decreased with approximately 100 million the last 30 years. They were pessimists. One person said “Real innovation is not taking place in India, we are not thinking creatively”.

Me, I was surprised. I had this idea of visiting the optimistic and prosperous “future”. But of course, the picture is much more complex.