Starting With Respect


March, 2021


I started writing this short essay some days ago without knowing where it would lead. To begin I wrote out two lists, one concerning causes of climate change / global warming and the other identifying some consequences. Try it. It is revealing and I know your list will be different to mine. At the risk of influencing your thinking my two lists included in part:


Causes

  • Values, attitudes and beliefs we adhere to;

  • Growth in our economies, technologies and populations;

  • Green House Gas increases; and

  • Ignoring or denying signals.


Consequences

  • Temperatures rising;

  • Weather events more extreme and frequent;

  • Polar and glacial ice melt; and

  • Crises on the rise.


This morning I read an article by Heather Scoffield concerning a book (“Value(s): Building a Better World for All”) written by Mark Carney. (I plan to read it in the near future.) As a sidebar to the article Scoffield listed “seven common values underpinning a successful economy” along with some specific proposals from Carney. The article got me thinking about the two lists I had started days ago and suggested a direction for this essay.


Initially I was attracted to the article because of the book title and wondered what Carney thought was important. I was not surprised to read his focus of concern involves recovery post-Covid for Canada’s economy. Some of the suggestions Scoffield plucked from the book make sense, but without more explanation and context concerning his start point, “Value(s)”, I began revisiting one of my principle concerns in turn leading to the subjects discussed in the remainder of this short essay.


Start points and adjustment points, of a cerebral type, are so very important in our journeys and to a large extent they are principle drivers determining where we go individually, as a society and indeed globally. The adopted troika of values, attitudes and beliefs is such a point. This troika does not stand alone independent of influences. Another threesome plays a big part in shaping the first and is composed of memory, experience and knowledge. All together these influences upon our behaviour and choices/decisions play a huge role in our relations with others and environments, our actions, the directions we go in and the parts we play in society.


Carney’s seven key value words / sentiments underpinning recovery and longer-term prosperity after Covid include: dynamism, resilience, sustainability, fairness, responsibility, solidarity and humility. Those are all fine, but I can’t help thinking something is missing and that for me is the start point. While an economy is incredibly important it is part of the greater societal and environmental contexts. An economy serves and must fit with the greater context and to do that we must know how it will fit in. An economy requires guidance to achieve good fit. 


My start point begins with respect for humanity in the environment from which we cannot be divorced. 


In the 80’s and 90’s there was a push for “healthy communities”. One does not hear or read that phrase much anymore although in this pandemic many issues associated with unhealthy communities have been identified as contributing to higher rates of infection such as over-crowding, poverty and poor work conditions. These issues are symptomatic of long-term conditions and decisions lacking in support for the disadvantaged and that arises because of a real lack of respect, among other reasons. Clearly though with genuine respect for the disadvantaged their plight of low wages, health issues and housing concerns could be avoided and repaired. 


If Covid has taught us anything it is that everyone is important in the effort to keep our societies functioning well. Yes we need management, but where would they be with no one to manage? It is not surprising to find the top wage earners are the ones making the decisions about what to pay whom. Maybe we should reverse the rolls or at least make our decisions in that regard with everyone’s involvement.


Then there is the environment. We have known for a long time the earth has limits concerning what it has to offer in resources and in regard to its capacity to heal from a variety of injuries brought on by humanity. Here again due respect is called for to ensure a liveable planet for generations to come. I really do not understand why we consistently trash the only place we have to live on. Earth is a gem and all of life is spectacular and yet knowingly we poison it and ask, no, demand too much from it. 


Respect is about having high regard for others and our surroundings. As we emerge from the pandemic, eventually, sliding back to our old ways will be a grave disappointment, will be risky for all and will confirm our lack of foresight through lost opportunities to adjust our values and behaviours toward others and our environments. With applied respect the many crises stretching out in front of us can be avoided. With respect we can do better.