By cyn on December 21, 2009
Tags: climate, Copenhagen
I didn’t believe in the ‘invisible hand of the market’, but after Copenhagen I am beginning to wonder! People across the world told their governments they wanted action on climate change, yet when the leaders of governments met together it was not the voice of the people that was heard but the interests of corporate profit, speaking through the leaders. Why should corporate profit override the interests of people and our earth? How can this happen? By their legal constitution corporations are told to put the profits of shareholders first, but this situation was created through law made by parliament. Governments have power only as it is given to them by the people so when the people want action on climate change why cannot the government change the law? Could we have a government willing to empower the corporations to act in the interests of people as workers and citizens and of the environment we depend on before the profits for the richest few?
Something about rights and responsibilities comes to mind here. Corporations have been given a lot of rights and take little or no responsibility at the moment.
However, listening to radio 4 today and M&S spokesperson talking about the action they are taking, I wonder whether they are beginning to listen? – if citizens keep up the pressure perhaps eventually government will catch up?