2006RUS

All the big brands are making statements about palm oil at the moment. Whether they’re announcing their plans to buy sustainable palm oil for their chocolate, bread or soap, or off-setting their use with certificates, they’re all setting our their policies on palm oil.

They’re responding to demand from consumers and campaigners who are keen to stop the damage caused by palm oil production in Malaysia and Indonesia, as rain forests are cleared to make way for plantations, emitting greenhouse gases and destroying the habitats of extinction-threatened orang-utans.

Great! The brand looks good, customers can buy their biscuits without fear of killing orang-utans, and another box is ticked on the CSR statement. The problem is this – if European companies boycott palm oil altogether, or buy only from sustainable plantations in countries such as Papua New Guinea, the issues in Indonesia and Malaysia will simply continue.

First of all, the palm oil industry provides an income for over a million people in Malaysia and Indonesia, so to lose it would be a huge economic blow. And more than two-fifths of the plantations are owned by smallholders whose output is consumed locally, rather than major companies who export their product.

The second point is that if Europe stops buying palm oil from Malaysia and Indonesia, that shortfall will go unnoticed among the huge amount consumed by India, China and other major markets.

The third point is that demanding sustainable palm oil from Malaysia and Indonesia gives producers an incentive to invest in responsible practices and the audits and certification to prove it. Shun them, and the cost and effort of working sustainably will no longer be worthwhile.

Fourthly, the issue is not palm oil, but the way it is produced. Oil palms grow faster, have a far higher yield and require 10 times less land than any other crop. A cheap, high-yielding crop is crucial for feeding the world’s growing population, so if we stopped all palm oil production, we’d see the same problems but on a greater scale as slower, less productive crops were grown to replace it.

Ultimately, sacrificing the odd biscuit, soap or ready-meal containing palm oil might make you feel like an eco-crusader, but it’s not going to tackle the real issues. Palm oil is here to stay, so if you’re really concerned, your time is better spent supporting their drive towards sustainable production.

Shunning palm oil from Malaysia and Indonesia may well give you some good headlines. But don’t be misled. While you bask in the warm glow of your green boycott, you’ll be turning your back on the rainforests and the orang-utan, not helping to save them.

To find out more on sustainable palm oil, visit the GreenPalm page on sustainable palm oil and see how you can back sustainable methods.

Authenticity as a prerequisite for Leadership requires genuine individuals who are accepted because people believe in their vision. There are many examples from the past through to the present of individuals who have made a difference on a global level. Many of these examples are people who have become unquestionable leaders because of the circumstances of their lives and times. These individuals have become entitled to acceptance or belief because there is consensus surrounding the known facts of their experiences.

The civil Liberties activist Martin Luther King fought against injustice, not only on his own home soil but also wherever people where facing constraints on their freedom and human rights. A Nobel Prize winner he received love and admiration the world over for his position. Despite being on the receiving end of personal attacks and abuse he nonetheless carried on to win through and helped change the way black people were treated in the deep South. His determination to see Justice prevail continue to inspire people everywhere.

Eleanor Roosevelt a former First Lady of the White house was a passionate campaigner on civil rights issues. She too believed in freedom, liberty and fraternity and went on to help draft one of the most important pieces of legislation, The Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The African Freedom Fighter, Nelson Mandela is respected the world over for his human rights work. Despite being harassed, banned and imprisoned he still retains authenticity because of his continuing fight against social and economic injustice. He is a man whose core values and principles still inspire people the world over and will undoubtedly stand the test of time.

Authentic Leadership does not have to come solely from individuals who because of time, place and circumstance find themselves taking a stand against inhumanity. Anyone who aspires to interact with others from a position of respect for self and respect for others can acquire the knowledge and skills to make a difference whether in politics, civil liberties, business or in general everyday life.

Sustainable leadership is really about standing by basic principles and values that make life more bearable for everyone. It is about ensuring that values and beliefs by which lives are lived are evident in words and actions.

Supporting others to achieve goals or succeed in any walk of life requires skills and knowledge about the self. To Thine Own self be True is an old scholastic idiom sometimes attributed to William Shakespeare. If an individual is unable to be true to his or her self they most certainly should not expect others to follow in their wake.

Authenticity as a prerequisite for leadership is important. Realism and honesty are generally appreciated by most people no matter where they live and at what level of society they belong. People enjoy taking on board a challenge. For employers genuinely allowing their workforce to invest of themselves in the business in which they work will pay dividends in a happy and proud workforce.

Get the right Business Life Coach by looking online. There are many Authentic Leadership Suggestions that you can consider. Head online now.

categories: business,leadership,sustainability,ceo,manager,president,chief executive officer,management,authenticity,authentic,leader,conscious leadership