"You don't have to be a millionaire to support the causes you care about." This was what Amy Pirozzolo, head of donor engagement at Fidelity Charitable, had to say about charity during the Christmas season. In the USA, a recent survey by Fidelity Charitable found that 54 percent of parents believed starting a family increased the priority of “giving” in their lives, with 82 percent of those parents saying that children had an influential impact on the types or numbers of organizations they support.

I do not think the Indian results will be any different.

As I look through the internet, the recent trend shows a shift in belief. Many of the new generation think that Christmas should shift its focus from extravagant gifting to having more emphasis on charity. In a world brimming with materialism, this is a welcome trend. Redirecting the spirit of Christmas towards acts of kindness and generosity would foster a greater sense of community in the younger generations and might balance a few of the negative effects of digital addiction, which isolates them to some extent from the community. Instead of excessive spending on gifts, redirecting resources into charitable endeavors allows us to address pressing societal issues. The culture of giving will help make a meaningful impact on the lives of the less fortunate.

I strongly believe that sharing with the underprivileged of society should be recognized as the true measure of wealth. True prosperity lies not in amassing material possessions but in uplifting others. Generosity towards those in need reflects a richness of spirit that rises beyond its monetary value. In a society that often equates wealth with opulence, redefining affluence as the capacity to make a positive contribution to the lives of others will be a powerful paradigm shift. 

While we still have much to traverse on this path, the Millennials and Gen Z are showing us the way. We can learn a lot from them, and I have no shame in admitting that compassion is one of the top items on the list.

Being wealthy extends beyond the confines of a fat bank balance. It encompasses the richness of experiences, relationships, and the positive influence one can exert on the world. A truly wealthy individual contributes to the well-being of others, recognizing that the true essence of wealth lies in shared prosperity. 

This is how we can redefine our understanding of affluence and cultivate a more compassionate and fulfilling holiday season.



 



 

 


As YouTube became popular, leaders and coaches started their channels. The obvious question that comes to mind is why people purchase tickets to watch them deliver similar content physically. 

The answer is easy. It is the company of the speakers that adds value to the words they speak. Secondly, the event also has a similar-minded audience who derive value from each other by reflecting thoughts.

Staying in good company and having effective leaders around you can significantly impact various aspects of your life. One of the primary benefits is the positive influence on mental and emotional well-being. Being around people who exude optimism, support, and encouragement can create a constructive environment that cannot be derived from digital media.

Good company is essential for personal and career development in a professional context. Constructive peer relationships and collaborations with like-minded individuals motivate each other on creativity and innovation. The conducive atmosphere for growth and success helps ideas flow more freely, and problem-solving becomes a collective effort, increasing productivity and efficiency.

Positive energy is contagious, and when we surround ourselves with those who uplift and inspire, it can profoundly affect our mindset, which, in turn, contributes to reduced stress levels, improved mood, and enhanced overall mental health.

A strong leader often provides direction, guidance, and a sense of purpose. They embody the values and principles they expect from their team members. When individuals are in the company of competent leaders to look up to, it fosters a sense of trust and confidence within the team. This trust is crucial for establishing open communication channels where team members feel comfortable expressing their ideas and concerns. 

Furthermore, staying in the company of effective leaders also provides valuable learning opportunities. Leaders, by their experience and expertise, impart knowledge and insights that contribute to the professional development of their team members. Mentorship from a seasoned leader can be instrumental in helping individuals navigate challenges, make informed decisions, and build essential skills for career advancement.

Staying in good company and under effective leadership also has positive social implications. Engaging with a community of supportive and encouraging individuals fosters a sense of belonging and shared purpose. This sense of community is essential for personal growth and contributes to a fulfilling and meaningful life.

The benefits of staying in good company are multifaceted, from improved mental well-being to enhanced professional growth and a positive social impact. The effects are much beyond the words that they say. 

 



When the BBC reported in 2019 how International Rights Advocates had sued technology firms Alphabet, Apple, Tesla, Dell and Microsoft seeking damages for the damages of the families of child miners killed or injured in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the world’s attention shifted for a moment to the terrible human conditions in which cobalt is mined.

Cobalt is used to make lithium-ion batteries—which power smartphones, laptops and electric cars, the emblems of the modern world. The International Rights Advocates said the tech companies knew of the conditions where cobalt was mined.

The US court where the suit was filed dismissed it on technical grounds.

While the DRC has “clean” cobalt mining companies, people of all ages digging for the mineral with bare hands in highly polluted environments are a part of the chain.

The case succeeded in highlighting the issue of sustainable solutions. Are these solutions only for the short term, with low regard to their long-term effect on life and the environment?

Sustainable solutions are pivotal in addressing environmental challenges, aiming to balance human development with ecological preservation. However, it's crucial to differentiate between sustainability and environmental friendliness, considering both current and future impacts. Many solutions seem like eco-friendly initiatives but can have unintended consequences.

Electric vehicles (EVs) are a clean alternative to petrol or diesel-burning transport.  But EVs run on batteries made with cobalt in the polluting conditions that exist in the DRC. The EVs are manufactured on assembly lines created using fossil fuels.  Mining can destroy habitats, degrade soil and lead to human rights abuses in mining regions.

Roads resurfaced with recycled plastic have emerged as a novel way of using waste instead of just dumping it in landfills, rivers, and oceans. But roads surfaced with recycled plastic will release microplastics into the atmosphere through wear and tear.

The life cycle of a sustainable solution has unintended negative consequences.

In the 1980s, we were told to shift from paper bags to plastic to save the trees from which paper is made. With plastic waste getting out of hand, we are now told to use paper bags.  However, the production of paper bags has an environmental footprint, primarily in terms of water usage. The pulp and paper industry is water-intensive, and the manufacturing process for paper bags can contribute to water scarcity and pollution if not managed sustainably.

Solar and wind power are highly regarded for their low carbon footprint compared with traditional fossil fuels. However, the manufacture and disposal of solar panels and wind turbines involve using materials that are not easily recyclable. Then, large wind farms or solar power arrays may hurt local ecosystems.  Balancing the benefits and drawbacks of renewable energy sources is essential for achieving a truly sustainable energy transition.

Organic farming is often considered a more environmentally friendly alternative to conventional methods that rely heavily on synthetic fertilisers and pesticides. While organic farming promotes soil health and biodiversity, it leads to lower crop yields.

There may be many more examples, but I am sure experts are looking into all these aspects. Sustainable solutions are integral to mitigating environmental challenges, but their effectiveness depends on a comprehensive understanding of their broader impacts. It is essential to navigate the complexities of sustainability, acknowledging that seemingly eco-friendly choices may have unintended consequences. Striking a balance between human needs and environmental preservation requires continuous evaluation and adaptation of our approaches.

 


 

 


A few days back, I came across a video of a panel discussion on the impact of AI. One panelist said it won’t be long before we have systems that are more intelligent than humans. But should we fear machines will take over humans and start controlling us? This panellist felt this was not a probability because intelligent people do not control others. They like to collaborate and perform as a collective. He also said that he always prefers recruiting those he finds more intelligent than himself. That way, he can have a team that performs much better than his expectations. Similarly, if machines develop as more intelligent than humans, they will not try to control but find a way of coexistence. 

Prima facie, I agreed with all that he had to say. But as I thought more about it, I felt we oversimplified the issue. If the intelligent do not try to control, are we to believe that dictators are dumb? The fact that they rose to become the top leaders of a huge population (sometimes countries) makes it a paradox. 

This got me down to introspect how we, as humans, have behaved in the past. It did not take much time to feel that most of the time, humans have been short-sighted, rejoicing in short-term solutions while ignoring the long-term impact. Foresight has often been a missing critical element in our large-scale initiatives, leading to the lack of a guiding light that could have shown us the potential pitfalls and helped pave the way for sustainable progress. 

Take, for instance, the extraction of fossil fuels for our energy needs. While providing a quick solution for energy demands, after around one-and-a-half centuries, we realise that this practice contributes significantly to climate change, habitat destruction, and pollution. The consequences of these actions are not confined to the immediate areas of extraction; they ripple across the globe, affecting ecosystems and communities far removed from the source. I am not saying that humans should have never used fossil fuel, but had we the foresight and the attitude of challenging the status quo in decision-making, it could have prompted a much earlier shift towards sustainable energy alternatives, mitigating the environmental damage caused by our dependence on finite resources.

Our actions towards natural resources become even more imperative, as exploiting these resources for short-term human convenience is steering us toward the Holocene extinction.

Moreover, our preferential treatment of certain communities has always perpetuated a cycle of harm. We always knew that when resources are disproportionately allocated to specific groups, it can create imbalances within societies. Overexploitation will always lead to dissatisfaction, and the harm inflicted on one community eventually reverberates across others, creating a cascade of negative effects.

In the long run, preferential treatment is bound to backfire, as the depletion of resources and opportunities will ultimately impact even the privileged communities. The repercussions may not be immediately apparent, but they are inevitable. 

Even when we understand the new issues, many of our policies are framed to do the opposite of what happened earlier. This shifts the balance from one side to the other, but the holistic issue persists. This can be realised if we carefully study a few sustainable solutions lauded nowadays. One example would be incineration, where waste materials are burned in the presence of oxygen at high temperatures. Without a treatment mechanism for toxic gases, ground pollution would normally be transformed into air pollution, both harmful to the ecosystem.

Foresight demands that we consider the broader consequences of our actions, recognising that what may seem advantageous in the short term can result in detrimental outcomes for all. Knee-jerk remedial actions should be avoided at all costs. 

 


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