We have spoken many times about the eight fold path of the Buddha in leading us into this new era of "Enlightened Capitalism" RIGHT ACTION and RIGHT LIVELIHOOD are fundamental as we begin our journey.
Right Action is a direct result of refined ideas. If our words are of the nature of greed, hatred and delusion then must our action be likewise. How different are actions that arise out of their opposites: generosity, compassion, and understanding.
Right Livelihood encourages us to seek a way of sustaining ourselves which minimizes the impact we have on others and the world in general. It encourages us to think differently, to appreciate the interconnectdness of all things and to tread lightly with due care and compassion.
Here are a number of organizations that are committed to these principles, along with corporate governance, ethics and social responsibility. Through their effforts we can hold the business world accountable.
Alliance for Democracy www.thealliancefordemocracy.org
The mission of the Alliance for Democracy is "to free all people from corporate domination of politics, economics, the environment, culture and information; to establish true democracy; and to create a just society with a sustainable, equitable economy." The Alliance is a new Populist movement--not a political party--aiming to end the large corporations' domination.
Corporate Governance www.corpgov.net
Provides news, internet links, a small reference library and a discussion forum and network for stakeholders who believe active participation by shareowners in governing corporations will enhance their ability to create wealth. We believe broad based of systems of accountability must be built into the governance structures of corporations themselves.
Positive Futures Network www.futurenet.org
An independent, nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting people's active engagement in creating a just, sustainable, and compassionate world.
ReclaimDemocracy.org www.reclaimdemocracy.org
Dedicated to restoring democratic authority over corporations, reviving grassroots democracy, and revoking the power of money and corporations to control government and civic society. ReclaimDemocracy.org works proactively for systemic change, rather than react to the agendas of corporate and moneyed interests. They work in both grassroots organizing and public education by introducing models for systemic change into public discussion through mass media, public presentations, editorials, single-issue primers, and skill-building workshops.
Team Production www.teamproduction.us
The Team Production model of corporate governance, a new framework for analyzing corporate law and corporate governance, counters the "shareholder primacy" response to recent corporate fraud and failures. Its authors instead assert that a healthier response acknowledges the many contributors to a corporation. In addition to shareholders, this "team" can include employees, creditors, consumers, and others.
Transparency International www.transparency-USA.org
A non-governmental organization dedicated to increasing government accountability and curbing both international and national corruption. TI's movement has multiple concerns: humanitarian, as corruption undermines and distorts development and leads to increasing levels of human rights abuse; democratic, as corruption undermines democracies and in particular the achievements of many developing countries and countries in transition; ethical, as corruption undermines a society's integrity; and practical, as corruption distorts the operations of markets and deprives ordinary people of the benefits which should flow from them.
Business Ethics Magazine www.business-ethics.com
The premier publication of the movement for greater social responsibility in business.
Caux Roundtable www.cauxroundtable.org
A global network of senior business leaders committed to principled business leadership, who believe that business has a crucial role in developing and promoting equitable solutions to key global issues. CRT's mission is to advocate implementation of the Caux Round Table Principles for Business through which sustainable and socially responsible prosperity can emerge as the foundation for a fair, free and transparent society.
Business for Social Responsibility www.bsr.org
Business for Social Responsibility (BSR) is a global organization that helps member companies achieve success in ways that respect ethical values, people, communities and the environment. BSR provides information, tools, training and advisory services to make corporate social responsibility an integral part of business operations and strategies. A nonprofit organization, BSR promotes cross sector collaborations and contributes to global efforts to advance the field of corporate social responsibility.
Institute of Noetic Sciences www.noetic.org
A nonprofit membership organization that both conducts and sponsors research into the workings and powers of the mind, including perceptions, beliefs, attention, intention, and intuition. Inquires about phenomena that don't fit into the conventional scientific model. IONS sponsors publications, conferences and their website and supports community building by providing ways for members and colleagues to share their experiences and ideas with one another through community groups, online discussion groups, and other networking opportunities.
Robert K. Greenleaf Center for Servant Leadership www.greenleaf.org
Supports those who, through the practice of servant-leadership, seek to create organizations in which individual stakeholders become healthier, wiser, freer, and more autonomous; and in so doing, build a better, more humane society which welcomes the full diversity of the human family. Originally founded in 1964 as the Center for Applied Ethics, Inc., the center was renamed the Robert K Greenleaf Center in 1985.
Social Venture Network www.svn.org
A non-profit organization of entrepreneurs dedicated to changing the way the world does business so as to create a more just, humane and sustainable society. Promotes progressive solutions to social problems. The Network provides opportunities to exchange ideas, share problems and solutions and collaborate on an ad hoc basis with a group of thoughtful peers. Activities include two national conferences a year, regional and local events, bimonthly newsletters, an interactive website, and other services. Founded in 1987, SVN has grown to a community of over 400 business owners, investors and social activists.
World Business Academy www.worldbusiness.org
A global, membership-based, nonprofit, nonpolitical organization centered upon the role and responsibility of business in relation to critical environmental and social dilemmas. They assist business leaders in addressing some of the most serious dilemmas, e.g. unemployment, corruption, ecological abuse, through sustainable business strategies. The Academy provides self-learning educational resources, research results and publications to members; offers forums and seminars in the areas of Corporate Social Responsibility, Leadership, and the Development of Human Potential at Work in virtually every country; and conducts research projects.
Buddha says; "And those in high thought and in deep contemplation, with ever-living power advance on the path, they in the end find nirvana, the supreme peace and infinite joy".
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