Taking the Pledge
“I pledge to explore and take into account the social and environmental consequences of any job I consider and will try to improve these aspects of any organizations for which I work.”
This is the pledge I took when I graduated from university and I was reminded the other day that I will get another opportunity to affirm this pledge when I gradate in May with my MBA. As part of the pledge there is an opportunity to wear a green ribbon during the graduation events signifying that you have signed the pledge. Since 1987, the Graduation Pledge of Social and Environmental Responsibility is offered at colleges and universities throughout the world. The Graduation Pledge Alliance states,
Instituting the Graduation Pledge gets at the heart of a good education and a good educational institution; Not only does it remind students of the ethical implications of the knowledge and training they received, but it can help lead to a socially conscious citizenry and a better world. In a sense then, the Graduation Pledge operates at three levels: students making choices about their employment; schools educating about values and citizenship, rather than only knowledge and skills; and the workplace and society being concerned about more than just the bottom line.
Where it’s all going and whether it will make a difference is anybody’s guess – I guess it is up to those who participate to make that decision. At Pathway Leadership Group I want to live the business out of my values so I am super excited that I have created a Learning Opportunity during reading week to spend time in Costa Rica at Nacientes Palmichal. The community of Palmichal and the surrounding communities have developed sustainable local policies to put sustainable development into action. This has enabled the water surrounding Palmichal and the communities beyond to also be protected. The springs have recovered thanks to natural regeneration and the planting of trees. This has turned the water basin into an open environmental classroom where students and neighbors can learn about sustainable natural resources, get to know conservation practices and share those resources with the wider community.
The Learning Journey will provide an opportunity to see firsthand: (a) the importance of satisfying the needs of one community before being able to look outside to others; (b) that environmental sustainability often starts with just one person, with one idea and can spread and (c) that children can become a catalyst for others in the community.
What I know without a doubt…anything of significance often starts with the idea of one or two people. I suspect there are ways that you are already being socially conscious as you live out your values of social or environmental awareness at your school, in your community or where you work.