Some random thoughts on corporate culture / corporatism (~900 words, 4 - 6 min. read)

I have just listened to a video of former US Secretary of Labor Robert  Reich’s full testimony to the US Senate Budget Committee “regarding corporate profits and inflation” (I couldn’t find the date of this). In that, Mr Reich criticised US corporate actions regarding prices and repurchasing shares, and mentions corporate culture a few times.

The focus of Mr Reich’s presentation was on the possible adverse impacts of corporations on consumers, but the issue of the impact of corporate culture on workers was also recently illustrated by the competing comments between two billionaires, with the American billionaire wanting workers back in the office (and making offensive aspersions about people not working when at home) whereas the Australian billionaire offered jobs to the former’s employees on a WFH basis - which has actually been shown to improve productivity and quality of life as compared to cubicle farms.

So what is going to be needed to change possible adverse impacts of corporations on consumers?

Well, for a start, I suggest that people consider cutting down their spending on products made by corporations, in favour of local, probably higher priced, possibly lower quality, products.

The reason people buy products from corporations is not only marketing: my first PC was built by someone locally, but using components that came out of corporate factories. Now, for convenience AND A WARRANTY I use commercial (made in a corporate factory) laptops. For convenience, a warranty & insurance, and SAFETY, I have a corporate made car.

On the other hand, I could use open source software on my laptop (I have, on previous PCs), but collaborating on files where other PCs are using other software packages can then become a problem. I have an excellent mechanic to do work on my car, but the extent of that work can be limited by corporate limitations designed to protect their copyright (my home state has legislated that car manufacturers must make programming accessible).

In those cases, right-to-repair legislation probably represents, in my opinion, a reasonable way to mediate the balance between the point at which a corporation considers it worth pursuing the development of an invention/innovation/idea, and the reasonable expectations of consumers to not be beholden to corporations in way that remove competition.

If we consider developing pharmaceuticals, there are development costs and work that I am of the opinion that governments should be undertaking (and making available on a not for profit basis); as they’re not, corporations step in to the gap - and I am the beneficiary of such work.

Where I become concerned, is when government policies results in access to those products - both within the nation of origin and to less wealthy nations - becoming unfair. The USA’s notorious health system is an example of that, but other nations have their  problems as well.

The pragmatic solution may be for governments to start saying “in the interests of human decency, we’ll start subsidising sales / buying and making medicines available” - as was partly done during the pandemic.

This is where citizens come in, as governments will eventually respond to pressure - especially at the ballot box.

Corporations also respond to consumer pressure - mainly, what is bought and what isn’t. They’ve said so, often enough, and that is why I never used to buy conservative / trashy tabloids (back in the pre-Internet days), which others used to do to “know what the bigots are saying”. From the corporations point of view, EVERY SALE is a sign of approval.

Being a tourist to a despotic nation is too often taken by those despots as a sign of approval, which is why I consider people should think carefully about such consumerism.

What this means is that one of the most important, and underacknowledged, actions of consumer activism is restraint - specifically, refrain from putting money into something you disapprove of, if you can.

That is not always possible – note the examples above, but that is where voter pressure on governments comes in to play.

There is a place for positive activism as well, not only to put pressure on governments, but campaigns aimed at getting corporations to address climate crisis responsibility, human rights and social responsibility, and treating workers better.

The Australian billionaire’s comments were an example of positive activism on the latter topic.

Companies may also respond to reasonable, well-reasoned communication from informed members of the public (aggressive, angry rants often just force “good” people into being defensive, and feed the animosity of any “bad” people – but there is a time and place for protest actions, and the apartheid era was an example of that).

Such pressures have led to things like corporate social responsibility (less of a tick box exercise than some think, not as perfect as others think), certification of social licence, and, in some cases, companies being ahead of governments on things like diversity and inclusion.

Shareholders being activists on these issues is important – especially when selecting senior managers, as it is vital to ensure they are decent human beings first and foremost.

There is a legal fiction that a corporation is the equivalent of an individual. A corporation is, however, made up of many humans – individuals, responding to life pressures such as paying the rent and buying food.

When corporate culture looks after those people well, they are more productive and have a better quality of life.

In turn, that corporate culture is amenable to human influence – both from within the companies, and without.

A problem: aspirational leadership without commensurate resource base

A friend made a comment this week which I consider applies to many situations: 

Aspirational leadership without commensurate resource base 

Something to consider over the weekend . . .

Some human rights and other news links and thoughts

Black Lives Matter! Be Anti-Racist, Anti-Sexist, and Actively Inclusive in ALL Areas.
The Climate Crisis is real, urgent and existential!

The Pandemic is Real, and Vaccinations save lives. Stay safe - wash your hands, practice social distancing and wear a face mask in public, and follow informed medical advice - and be considerate towards those at risk or in situations of vulnerability (including economic) while the COVID-19 pandemic is a problem.

Some mostly human rights (including significant, relevant links in other fields - such as geopolitics, democracy, or authoritarianism) links: 

• on the CLIMATE CRISIS (noting the UNFCCC) and ENVIRONMENT (noting multiple  international agreements): 
• a “former oil chief is now championing green energy as an investor – and also backing a windfall tax on his old industry”;   “private water donations may help restore Australian wetlands – and prove collaboration possible”;   the human cost of India’s push for hydropower as Cameroon shifts from hydropower to solar by offering tax breaks;   another development aimed at breaking down plastics;   Indigenous fire management and modern technology are being combined in northern Queensland;   a call for more battery storage;   staggering incompetence and arrogance around community consultation in my home state;   “global warming is causing an increase in the frequency and intensity of storms in Africa, which are exacerbating other socioeconomic stressors across the continent”;   just transition in Nepal and the Philippines;   “nearly half of planet’s land in need of ‘conservation attention’ to halt biodiversity crisis”;   shipping emissions;   a call to include mental health in planning for the climate crisis;   regenerative farming;  
   
• on the COVID-19 PANDEMIC (noting WHO advice, Article 12 of the ICESCR, and public emergency provisions of the ICCPR and the ICESCR) and other health matters: 
• as quickly and wilfully forget, her immunity is now IMPOSSIBLE - see also this;   the seeds of truth behind some social media rumours;   “we’re turning American, inured to mass deaths” - but from COVID;  
   
  
• on Rashist  Putin and his cronies’ ILLEGAL (it is contrary to Chapters VI and VII of the UN Charter  and international law [and the 1928 Pact of Paris which was successfully used in post-WW2 trials], and possibly includes conduct contrary to the "laws" of war and international humanitarian law (IHL)) INVASION of UKRAINE: 
• on military matters:   Russia is learning from its mistakes and adapting in eastern Ukraine (where it also has shorter supply lines, some local support, and eight years of preparation and experience) - which has led the USA to promise (in small numbers and some months from now) an advanced medium range  missile system to Ukraine;   more concerns over Russia’s ongoing nuclear threats - and the possibility of escalation after the war in Ukraine;   a warning against onlookers thinking they could do better than Russia;   a 100 day review;  
  
• on human rights in the region and globally:  a fact check confirms that Russia has weaponised  food / hunger;   a suggestion to use naval-escorted convoys to overcome Russia’s blockade (I think that involves a serious risk of military escalation);   in response to Russia’s invasion, some Russian speakers in Ukraine are learning Ukrainian;   Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has sparked hate crimes elsewhere;   LGBTIQA+ Ukrainian soldiers;  
  
• inside Russia:  
  
• internationally:   the EU will implement a partial ban on Russian oil;   five global impacts of Putin’s illegal invasion of Ukraine;  
   
• on INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS (noting the UN Charter [particularly Chapters VI and VII] and numerous  international  treaties): 
• Greece has accused Iran of piracy for seizing two of its oil tankers;   a criticism of Western nations’ inconsistency and hypocrisy regarding international law;   concerns about another Chinese military base in Africa - and the adverse impact of a potential Russian-shaped international order;   Australia has regained some lost ground in the Pacific - but see also this cautionary note, and this, suggesting our possible support of female police could be a positive differentiator;  
  
• noting particularly Chapters VI and VII of the UN Charter, the 1928 Pact of Paris used in post-WW2 trials, the "laws" of war and IHL and Article 20 of the ICCPR on WAR / CONFLICT:   the Yemen truce has been renewed for two months;  
   
  
•  on CORRUPTION (noting international  agreements and monitoring) and misgovernance: 
• a “contractor suspected of illegally sending classified documents to an unsecured location was allowed to continue working in the public service”;   a joint investigation by Queensland police and the crime watchdog have charged a former officer with hacking and disclosing official secrets (it is important to remember: innocent until proven guilty);   fights broke out as the “top down” approach of an unknown disaster agency completely and utterly failed during recent floods in NSW;  
   
• on DEMOCRACY AND GOVERNANCE (noting Article 25 of the ICCPR and monitoring  projects): 
• “deliberate ploy: whistleblowers reveal why [a social media platform’s] news ban included non-news sites”;   “Libya faces a serious security threat from foreign fighters and private military companies, especially Russia’s Wagner Group which they say has violated international law”;   an Indian politician has been assassinated;   another criticism of GDP;   efforts to try to remedy the lack of diversity in Australia's leadership roles;   a revelation the US Secret Service knew of #45’s threat to former vice president Pence the day before the attempted insurrection;  
  
  
• a powerful critique and criticism of Australia’s mainstream media during the recent election campaign - I consider “The Conversation” and “The Guardian” to be NOTABLE EXCEPTIONS;   “Albanese should adopt a collaborative, European approach to governing – not the take-it-or-leave-it Anglo style we’re used to”;   an assessment of lessons for the Albanese government;   “election discussions of an anti-corruption commission have largely focused on domestic concerns. But a national integrity body can become a valuable tool of statecraft, enabling Australia to work with countries in Asia and the Pacific to build more effective and inclusive governance”;   rising prices benefitted Australian businesses, but not workers;   a warning not to underestimate right wing extremism;   the now former “Morrison government failed to show cashless debit card scheme works, auditor general says”;  
  
  
• suppression of dissent / media in Vic & Tas,   Russia,   Rwandans outside of Rwanda,   Guinea;
  democracy is also at risk in CAR,   Tunisia,   Australia; 
  
  
• on HUMAN RIGHTS (noting the various rights and treaties summarised here, IHL, Article 5 of the Rome Statute founding the ICC): 
• a comment following the USA’s 138^th school shooting this year:  “Something I don't see being discussed: how a whole industry emerged around school shootings, an industry of consultants and experts that have fueled nightmarish, abusive drills around the country, terrorizing students -- and to what end, exactly? What have these people given us?” - see also this (on the gross distortion of the USA’s 2^nd Amendment that came into vogue in the late 20^th Century, after the formerly responsible NRA was co-opted),   this (police did not follow their guidelines - and have created an impression of being cowards), this, this (Canada will cap the total number of handguns),   this (staggering medical procedures in the USA),   this,   this,   this (the door was NOT propped open),   here,   here (an apparent prevention),   this (appalling behaviour),   THIS (another mass shooting!!!);   this (what other nations have done that the USA has not),   here,   and   here, on what the police’s duty is, rather than what it should be under US law;   a facial recognition company “was fined for using internet-sourced images of UK residents in its database [WITHOUT PERMISSION!!!] – but not before police forces used its service”;   criticism of the UN’s High Commissioner for Human Rights’ visit to China;   my state’s mental health regulator has been criticised for inaction;   disturbing racism and violence in a march by some Israelis in Jerusalem;   the US Supreme Court is now threatening to trample on the privacy of its staff as it investigates who leaked the news that the US Supreme Court was going to deny women their medical privacy;   another article on the too-often ignored and/or denied problem of classism;   a call to rethink human rights in corporate boardrooms;   Australia may improve its response to the junta and other abuses in Burma;   “the UN has taken a significant step towards ending the shameful trade in tools of torture”;   “rising consumer prices are aggravating food shortages around the globe, and investors looking to make a buck off food commodities could be making matters worse”;   the international impact if the USA overturns Roe vs Wade;  
   
• human rights abuses have occurred in:   Türkeye,   Mali - see also here,   Libya,   El Salvador,   Iraq,   Israel;
  
  
• violence in:   DRC -  see also this,   Burma (risk of renewed violence in Rakhine state),   Burma (collective punishment in the east),   Mozambique,   Mali - and again,   Kashmir;
  
  
• noting the Yogyakarta Principles on LGBTIQ+ PEOPLE:   a push for restoration of LGBTIQA+ rights in Poland;   LGBTQI Pacific Islanders are “overcoming a “colonial mindset” and “narrative of shame” to embrace their true selves”;   ten years of enabling TGD people to change ID on demand in Argentina have shown violence against women has NOT risen, and abuses of the law have been very few;   a notoriously LGBTIQ-phobic school is being sued by parents of some of its students;   identification of the economic cost of bigotry;   the ACT will ban non-consensual surgeries on intersex infants;   a memorial to victims of anti-gay anti-trans hate will be unveiled;   LGBTIQA+phobia in Indonesia;   a US judge has allowed gay/trans panic defence to be used acquit a violent bashing killing;   transphobia in the Qld government;  
  
  
• noting the conventions and the Global Compact on REFUGEES:  the USA is breaching the non-refoulement principle and being LGBT-phobic by sending asylum seekers and refugees back to Mexico;   an appeal for Australia to stop politicising asylum;  
  
  
• noting ICERD and DRIP on RACISM:  a legal case to lower the age for Indigenous people to access the old age pension as they have shorter lives is continuing;   a major science fiction series has called out racist fans;   “Australia needs to decolonise its mental health system and empower more Indigenous psychologists”;   some of the past abuses of slaves forcibly taken to Australia - and past abuses and deaths in Canada;   “thirty years after Mabo, First Nations people are on the verge of true self-determination. We hope not to be disappointed”;   a call for a crackdown on online trolls;   racism is making Indigenous people homeless in the current overheated rental market;  
  
  
• noting CEDAW on SEXISM:   a defamation case between two celebrities “could have a chilling effect on domestic violence survivors”;   a “leading journal will make sex and gender reporting mandatory in research”;   after initially opposing an enquiry into internal culture and subsequently saying they have been wanting reform all along, the head of Qld’s police union has threatened legal action against a domestic violence expert - see also this;   the real outcomes of banning abortions;   “as US states restrict abortion access, Mexican states expand it”;   “submissions to the Women's Safety and Justice Taskforce have revealed a system and community that is failing abused women”;   “hundreds protest in Türkeye against attempt to close anti-femicide group”;   “a call for menstrual leave and more”;  
  
  
• noting the CRPD on PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES:   the “NDIS agency [will] spend $50 million on lawyers to fight people with disability who appealed funding cuts” - see also this;  
  
  
• noting the CRC on CHILDREN:  thousands of victims of child abuse have not yet received their promised (by the former neolib government) redress;   child protection workers are quitting because of excessive workload;  
  
  
• noting Articles 6 (1), 7, and 8 (see here) of the ICESCR,   Article 5 (e) (i) (ii) (see here and here) of the ICERD,   Article 11 (1) (a - c) of the CEDAW,   and   Article 27 (1) of the CRPD on WORK and FAVOURABLE WORK CONDITIONS:  an international lingerie company has paid “sacked Thai workers $8.3m in ‘wage theft’ settlement”;   a US billionaire's order for his workers to stop WFH has been met by an Australian billionaire's offer to employ those workers on a WFH basis;  
  
  
• noting Article 6 (1) of the ICCPR,   Article 11 of the ICESCR,   Article 5 (e) (iii) (see here and here) of the ICERD,   Article 14 (2) (h) of the CEDAW,   Article 27 (3) of the CRC,   Article 28 of the CRPD,   and   Article 20 of the DRIP on FOOD, CLOTHING, and HOUSING:    the egregious extremes of tenant vetting in some states;  
   
• on NATURAL and OTHER DISASTERS (noting Article 1(3) of the UN Charter): 
• heat wave fatalities in the USA, health impacts in South Asia,and a call for better preparation in Canada;   stampede at a charity event in Nigeria;   a ferry has sunk in Indonesia;   landslides and floods caused by rain have killed dozens in Brazil;   missing plane in Nepal;   cyclone in Mexico;   growing risk of starvation in East Africa;   a building collapse in Iran;   2011 flood compensation will be paid by 2023 - 12 years after the event;   a food emergency in Chad;   “don’t saddle Pacific Islands with disaster debt”;  
   
• concerns about a US tractor company having kill switches in it’s equipment AT ALL - even if they were used against Russia;  
  

(Should you elect to write to your elected representatives or others on these matters, it may be useful to familiarise yourself with the links shown in blue - or to at least refer to them. Don't forget to CHECK whether your nation has RATIFIED the treaty concerned.)

How does the war in Ukraine end? (2 - 4 min. read)

If the world was a perfectly just place, the war in Ukraine would end with Russian and Russian-backed forces all withdrawing out of Ukrainian territory and paying reparations for the damage done. 

If the world is not a perfectly just place, so that won't happen. 

Although Ukrainian forces have done well against Russian forces, Russia is clearly adapting in eastern Ukraine, and Ukraine's forces are smaller - thus it can't sustain a longer war (see here for a good assessment of such issues), and Putin won't stop until he has a way to save face. 

Thus, I consider much of eastern Ukraine will be lost to Russia. 

I am actually more concerned about southern Ukraine: losing that is a blow to Ukraine's grain-export industry, a major component of its economy, as well as a devastating blow to the global food industry. 

However, just as Putin has invested himself in a win of some sort, Ukraine's President Zelensky appears to have invested himself in nothing less than total victory, and thus I suspect shifting to defence in the east and recovery in the south is something Ukraine won't do. 

The worst of outcomes would be a ceasefire-of-exhaustion at or near current "Lines of Control". That would be a situation favouring Russia in the next round of this conflict.

Ukraine must recover a port, and trading a ceasefire for recovery of access to the Black Sea would give Ukraine a chance to outlast Putin (literally - he has shown signs of wanting to leave power, but is possibly trapped by all the power brokers he is indebted to until he has something impressive enough to justify leaving . . . nevertheless, opposition is growing, and Putin may eventually be forced out of power [the rumours of Putin being ill are, IMO, nonsense - as is the prospect of anything as stupid, immoral and wrong as an assassination] ) while it rebuilds for the next phase of this war - and that would happen whether Ukraine regains all of its sovereign territory or not. If it does recover the territory in the east, separatists would resume the war - or fight a guerilla campaign, much as happened for decades in Northern Ireland, in my opinion.

In the long term, a peace process akin to that used to end the Northern Ireland conflict is needed, but that won't start while war continues, and the war reaching a ceasefire is a Catch 22 type situation: Putin won't stop without some sort of win, and Ukraine doesn't want to stop until it has what it views as total victory (which makes a peace agreement or ceasefire moot).

Zelensky has already acknowledged a political process will be needed, but that was followed by the contradictory insistence on total victory, so I suspect other players are having an influence there. 

There is no easy or good end to this, I fear.