This is a really unique and fascinating argument, and invites a deeper look at what divestment really is, and whether it's as effective as we imagine. Not to create a diversion around the subject of divestment, but it strikes me that this principle goes beyond where we put our money, but at base, involves where we put our attention. In your awesome opening quote, Yvon Chouinard says that businesses are responsible to their resource base, and it would seem the same applies to humans. We could argue that attention is our primary resource base. And if that's the case, divesting our attention away from anything we want to impact is a completely misguided notion. Because if we want to be an effective agent in evolving anything, whether it's the policy of a corporation or our own behavior, we have to be willing to be in full relationship with it first. Our committed attention is the basis of such a relationship. You've said it clearly in the article, investment is how we earn the right to vote on the future direction of anything.
Wow! That is such a good point, Rick. I never thought that this idea could be applied to our attention, but it is so true. That is actually a much more complete way of looking at it. I need to think about this more.
I just re-read what I wrote days ago now that you're looking at it and realized it was a bit muddled, so I edited the idea a bit to try and make the point (your point actually) more clear. I look forward to hearing if you have further thoughts on the idea.
Wow, Randy, you bring up a very important point. I feel like this debate could be extrapolated even to topics like buying products from companies that are not necessarily "green". I guess one has to always navigate that balance and see what works and what doesn't. Your post is raising the correct questions, and I thank you for it.
Thank you, Ishan! And yes, you are correct, it could be extrapolated to other topics as well. Rick Lewis brings up a great point in his comment below, that it could be applied to where we devote our attention, which is a really interesting perspective.
Amazing. Love what those ASU students were doing. That's some strategic thinking.
This is a really unique and fascinating argument, and invites a deeper look at what divestment really is, and whether it's as effective as we imagine. Not to create a diversion around the subject of divestment, but it strikes me that this principle goes beyond where we put our money, but at base, involves where we put our attention. In your awesome opening quote, Yvon Chouinard says that businesses are responsible to their resource base, and it would seem the same applies to humans. We could argue that attention is our primary resource base. And if that's the case, divesting our attention away from anything we want to impact is a completely misguided notion. Because if we want to be an effective agent in evolving anything, whether it's the policy of a corporation or our own behavior, we have to be willing to be in full relationship with it first. Our committed attention is the basis of such a relationship. You've said it clearly in the article, investment is how we earn the right to vote on the future direction of anything.
Wow! That is such a good point, Rick. I never thought that this idea could be applied to our attention, but it is so true. That is actually a much more complete way of looking at it. I need to think about this more.
I just re-read what I wrote days ago now that you're looking at it and realized it was a bit muddled, so I edited the idea a bit to try and make the point (your point actually) more clear. I look forward to hearing if you have further thoughts on the idea.
Wow, Randy, you bring up a very important point. I feel like this debate could be extrapolated even to topics like buying products from companies that are not necessarily "green". I guess one has to always navigate that balance and see what works and what doesn't. Your post is raising the correct questions, and I thank you for it.
Thank you, Ishan! And yes, you are correct, it could be extrapolated to other topics as well. Rick Lewis brings up a great point in his comment below, that it could be applied to where we devote our attention, which is a really interesting perspective.