By Carol Lawton
I
sometimes think randomly and write on impulse as the intangible of my brain
needs the tangible of the pen. While both are real it means nothing unless it
is created in hard form. For months they sometimes stay still not even a vowel
to create by this marriage. But in time, the partnership of brain and pen bears
fruit with gushes of words, sentences and nonsensical logic. So too it is with
the relationship of all of us who are true capitalist as ideas become market
commodities. Hence the capitalist cannot ignore and must understand the
environment as this is a real waste and not a imagine waste. Environmental
protection is not in the mind of the capitalist anymore it is real in terms of
dollars and sense for those who doubt it is the partner that will sustain the
very market that pushes return on investment (ROI).A simple profit analysis
yield s that revenue minus expense equal profit should settle that. NO ONE CAN
DEBATE THAT even the socialist. It is hard wired into all activity of the
market. Why then should the capitalist break this wedlock which binds us
forever with the environment?
The
carbon footprint of our actions seems to missing from the bottom line of our
accounting statements. There are few businesses much less one official or
government willing to see how critical it is to make these adjustments as it
will increase economic growth and efficiencies. It will create work via new
career paths for all strata which will drive services. Capital investment will
be created with the sales of hard purchases over a long term as these as not
quick fixes or one time fixes. It ties in the lifecycle management and merges
scientific management with the liberal arts. An El Greco is just a painting but
its value is priceless so too is the environment as it’s just a beach but its
value is priceless. So pity the fool who destroys our beaches in Jamaica under
the guise of development, GDP and political brownie points because they are
thieves of our present and future. This value is nothing to them because they
place no value on it and will wreck it just for a back door cut of the projects
slated. Lets us just be real about how it really works. So short term gains are
traded off for exponential ROI gains. Is that a fair tradeoff Are you willing
to trade these off?
A
move to make adjustment could see new technologies and concepts of debt
financing between Jamaica and its donor agencies who belong to the countries
producing the most waste ,if we should think outside the box while inside the
reality of Jamaica. Jamaica is a box open out flat. THIS IS ALSO A FACT AS SO
FAR NORTH, SOUTH EAST OR WEST THEN WATER. Investment could be use to convert
energy into numerous by products of which Red Stripe is doing with its cogen
plant. One of the more forward think companies I must add. But it would also
affect the social including crime, education, health and even the direct and
indirect customers of those who leave a carbon foot print. But then again I
have yet to hear anyone speak of the matter in Parliament so it is not on their
radar. How can an economy exist with being in an environment? The intangible
and the tangible must blend in this age as we exist with the technology to
convert ideas into reality. Hence what did not exist now becomes tangible and
what exist become an intangible making it obsolete and irrelevant. So too is
social responsibility to the act of business and government.
We
complain about JPS and the cost associated but have we ever seen the real accounts
for the carbon waste that JPS produces to gain profits? Yet they speak of some
people wanting something for nothing. Is it actively planting tree and
upgrading its system fast enough to ensure that the cost are mitigated? How
many tons of emission does it produce and what is the real value of the cost of
the pollutants? JPS is not the only one I might add all business produce a
carbon footprint . It just that JPS is the beating stick which is the easiest
to pick on as an example. Our air quality is invisible but it has a value to
me. Do you value the air you breathe? Is this a negative ROI for those who are
trying to say clean but still forced to breathe because life s everything?
In some
forward thinking countries debt can be written off for their pollution waste.
Countries trade this at time for debt as well in their trade negotiations for
well over two decades. What a concept air is a tangle commodity even across
border that can attract a monetary ROI! Companies are given tax breaks for
buying new equipment and reducing Carbon output. How novel! Yet the world has
been doing this for years. This is not only about climate change but how do we
put value to the intangibles of environmental protection to be socially
responsible to both internal and external stake holders hence increasing
equity.
I
am a capitalist and the environment does have a price on it. It carries revenue
and expenses with ties into the primary law that runs our head which is
profits. Without profits no taxes and increase in social liabilities on the
human side. Losses normally just give us headaches. Since the laws of economic
bonds the environment, it is rightful that we look at it as capital and protect
it and try to expand its worth and value. Two projects will harm it that are slated
as mega projects which I believe in which makes it hard to resolve. But I will
choose the environment at all times especially since these project involve the
sea, beaches and water. The logistics hub and Port Royal development are these
two projects. They will affect me directly on all fronts hence they are an
interest to me as well. It is at this point I look more at government as the
largest business and ignorer of its social responsibility and the footprint it
makes in our lives past present and future. The government feels it holds no
responsibility to us for the environment yet we are required as active
investors in taxes and fees to support its action blindly. Our waters are
polluted and watershed damaged. Do you like clean drinking water?
Legislation
is hinder under the pretense of the process but the government makes up the
majority in Parliament and is sure of a win when it wants it. So is it they
lack the will to look out for our interest? The use of the state’s power forces
us to hold a negative business with disregard to our environmental laws. Why
create laws if they do not apply to the maker? An environmental impact study
must determine the cost in real dollars and cents to the society and economy.
Yet they are mostly words. Show me the money is all I have to say to the cost.
What are the financials behind the environmental cost? I hear the emotions but
I want to see the numbers and what the resource are valued at by the
government. This is what is expect to be responsible to us in our generation,
Government of Jamaica. Do you think the government is being responsible here by
holding back information? More questions than answers as it concerns my
interest and what I value.
1.
What
will happen to the annual turtle migration nesting sites along the Palisadoes
Strip?
2.
What
will happen to the crocodiles in the mangroves when your mega projects go up?
3.
How
to you project to maintain the estuaries and mangroves which are breeding
ground for the fish?
4.
Will
we have access to beaches?
5.
Will
we be able to afford to go to Port Royal to relax?
6.
How
is it right that my friends in Port Royal cant build a home because of historic
landmarks and environmental limitation but this project will go ahead? Is the
government beyond the law as the stake holders are the government agencies in
the project?
7.
The
government sells energy to JPS and runs the only refinery. How many tons of CO2
is pumped into our air and how much more will be added with this new build out
for the logistics hub and the traffic it creates?
You cheat
us Government of Jamaica with withholding key information and holding phony
accounting books on the environment and its cost. If future cost can be access
and liabilities, state your case for the short term gains and long term gains.
How we can mitigate the liabilities of your forced decisions on the
environment. The government and the true capitalist must review the balance
sheet and ensure that the cost of doing business includes the environment.
Plant a Tree and don’t step on your social responsibility to us with a
footprint and a news headline saying it was a missed step.
