Integrity Matters
June 23, 2004
Press on with recycling campaign efforts
Question: (E-120)
Dear Jim:
I live in England. Do you think companies should be
obliged to provide recycling facilities in their offices?
My manager thinks I am asking for too much. He says
I am just being a hippie. Since I disagree with him,
how am I to argue my case?
Response:
Recycling is a modern-day response to compensating for
the multiple ways human beings have both constructively
used and destructively abused the Earth's natural resources.
The Earth is a fabulous source of raw materials. Using
up those marvelous resources and not attempting to preserve,
protect and replenish them is both self-centered and
shortsighted. Those who understand and agree with these
two statements know that recycling is simple common sense.
Those who cannot grasp the intelligence of the two statements
will not be argued into submission. Spend your energies
recycling, with or without corporate assistance. You
will, anyway.
This is not to suggest that your employer must use scarce
capital to build a recycling facility that is out of
scale to available resources; it does mean that the recycling
resources in your community should be used appropriately.
Of the Bracher Center's "Eight Attributes" that
we have defined as integrity-centered behaviors, charity
is the one that most adequately affirms the importance
and legitimacy of recycling. Over and over, the same
questions need to be answered: Is your organization a
responsible steward of the people and assets within its
responsibilities? Does your organization reach out to
those in need?
Integrity-centered living says that the better job we
do now will enable those who follow us to live better
and longer. So, yes, recycling is sound behavior because
it is integrity-centered. Recycling looks at the Earth
as a space we occupy for only a short time. The Earth
is simply on loan to us. We should respect it. We should
make it easy for those with whom we live and work to
protect it.
Thoughtful people do not take others for granted. Neither
should they take the Earth for granted. Yes, recycle
-- all the time.
