After thirty five years, I am back, full circle. I saw this T-Shirt last week, worn by a worker on a Fair Trade certified Banana Plantation, employing 700 workers on a permanent full time basis in Ghana. I was deeply moved by the T-shirt. Here is the story…
Forty year ago when working for De Beers Mines, just before the end of Apartheid, we formed the Limes Acres Discussion group, a partnership between Mine Management and the National Union of Mine workers to explore post Apartheid South Africa. It was part of the mine’s Strategic Five Year plan to empower and develop workers.
The Lime Acres discussion group were my first steps in discovering the power of people and what is possible through genuine collaboration, inclusion and focused dialogue. Well done Robin Mills, Rudolf De Beer, Godfrey Oliphant, Rupert Besent (deceased), Jeremy Wyeth and Archie Luhlabo.
As part of the Strategic Plan we started looking for leadership potential among workers. The idea of finding potential in youngsters led to a venture much later in Australia aimed at identifying and developing young high potential individuals at risk youngsters. Thanks Kate Madden.
Looking for young high potentials who are at risk
With the march of time I became deeply involved in the business world. Many of my clients were high tech financial services such as banks, insurance, ITC communications, and high profile individuals. As we restructured, right sized, brought in hi-tech solutions and worked with elite talent pools, I lost sight of worker empowerment.
I forgot its critical importance for humanity’s development. I fell into the trap of thinking trickle down economics worked, that the modern workplace had any other real interest then profits (market driven profit and short termism) and that technology would help solve the big problems of overpopulation, and climate change.
However, let me give credit to some visionary CEOs and Chair who took the risk of shareholder displeasure with the bigger picture view. It is a pleasure to have worked with Gareth Ackerman, Mike Hawker, Guy Winship and Prof Muhammed Yunus
Now as the debate shifts to AI, billionaire and fascist autocracy, climate change, plus conspiracy theories, workers become increasingly lost in the noise.
Time as a board trustee for the Global Eco village Network (GEN), helped restore reality. I helped pioneer and market first world European eco-villages (Narara Ecovillage, Tasman Ecovillage) and made regular visits to Findhorn and Damanhur. I recall Kosha Joubert, then CEO of GEN saying there are millions of villages in the global South and North who are not first world, who needed help to reinvigorate their village and the rural landscape. So sad all her work at the COPs to make Eco-villages center to rural generation failed due to leadership at the wrong level of complexity.
Full Circle
Protecting People at Work – 35 years ago this message was as relevant as today.
In 2022 the then Chair of Fairtrade International, asked me to work with the board. This opportunity gave me a chance to visit workers in farms ranging from small producers to plantations. Thank you Lynette Thorstenson and current Chair, Laurence Tainty.
I have just returned from a board meeting in Ghana and was privileged to visit farm workers near Accra and Kumasi. It was here I saw the ‘Empowered Worker, Productive Worker‘ T shirt. I heard from the workers first hand how Fairtrade’s certification has made a difference to their lives. I experienced this in Sri Lanka, Mexico and Kenya.
I do urge you to consider buying Fairtrade products, its direct action that helps workers. If your retail outlet doesn’t stock them. ask them to do so. It gives workers dignity, opportunity and the ladder for self development, both for themselves and their communities.
In 2024 I formed Neos Delta with a circle of influential and caring friends. Our aim is to foster long term thinking, empowerment and accountability to living our best lives. That’s why we are run interesting and eclectic workshops for Boards who see different visions of the future, Leaders who want to work with a Long View and for all of us, Living your Best Life.
Conclusion
If you are in the position of leverage, be it an organisation or a board, consider how you can make a difference to people’s lives and planet health. If you are working for an organisation, choose one with a purpose for greater good. It is not only rewarding, its empowering and provides a sense of greater purpose, both for you and workers. Remember doing good is good business.
