Opening event for Australia Connects series.
North Sydney
Oct 13th 1999
We were delighted to welcome a number of new
participants to this, the first of the Australia Connects events.
The conversation for the evening centred around two
major themes.
-
That our evolution by pursuing our own interests
must come to an end. There is a deep need for us to experience ourselves as an
integral part of a larger community and to reflect on what it would mean to lead a
meaningful life.
-
Concern that the pursuit only for the bottom
line denudes both the organisations and the people in them of heart and soul.
Quality of life requires a balance with heart and spirit and most workplaces are hostile
to the liberation of the human spirit.
Changes in either of these areas will not be brought
about by the imposition of guilt or laws. Making money for the shareholders is what
companies are about and we should not lose sight of that. Our purposes will be
better served if we aim to help them become better corporate citizens and to
emphasise another duty of directors and executives which is about the environment and the
community.
Fairly simple? To understand, yes, but
maybe not so easy to affect in the larger world. Some conversation continued
as to how we might have an impact and I expect that we will report more fully on that at a
later date.
One emphasis was on the need to engage young people in
the conversation and a specific purpose group has been organised to meet with a group of
young people to find out how we might encourage them into our reflections.
The enthusiasm of this evenings participation was
inspiring and many thanks to both participants and the commentators on the evening.
The next meeting at this venue in North Sydney will be
on November 17th 1999.
The Special Interest Group on the engagement of young people will be Oct 27th
Call Noel on 9819 7914 if you're interested in this group. |
