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Catalysta is the forum to explore and develop jobs that are socially responsible,
sustainable, and benefit the common good.

CEOs Need a New Set of Beliefs
Harvard Business Review, Raymond V. Gilmart
Curated by Kyle LaFleur
Image by Thomas Chan
December 5, 2011

What should take precedence, shareholders or value to society? Here's a challenge to CEOs.



The New-Economy Movement
The Nation, Gar Alperovitz
Curated by Catalysta
Image by Thomas Chan
December 5, 2011

Care for a new economy?
Consider a few starter options.

The Green Revolution Backfires: Sweden’s Lesson for Real Sustainability
Common Dreams, Firmin DeBrabander
Curated by Catalysta
Image by Thomas Chan
December 5, 2011

Are cars too enviro friendly in Sweden?
Be careful what you wish for.

When a former iPod division Senior Vice President left Apple with plans to build his own green home, he didn’t expect trouble finding an energy efficient thermostat. It turned out though that not one thermostat on the market lived up to his expectations. Tony Fadell, former Senior Vice President of the iPod Division, decided to create his own thermostat and that was the origin of his company, Nest.

Mike Daisey
Author and Performer
Moderated by Christine Costigan
Image by Thomas Chan
December 5, 2011

Q: In your opinion, what would it take for Apple to become a socially responsible company?
What could they be doing better in a small way that would have the greatest impact?

Mike Daisey is a monologist who takes a critical look at Apple and working conditions at Chinese factories that form part of Apple’s supply chain in his show, “The Agony and the Ectasy of Steve Jobs” which is currently running at New York’s Public Theater.

A: Apple is actually directly responsible for what is happening to their workers, as are Dell and the other electronics makers. This idea that they should take a small measure is part of what lead to this ridiculous situation. They should be bound by the same ethical laws that we are all supposed to live by. They have every responsibility to make things in the same way they would were these plants sitting in California, end stop.

At the moment they won’t even acknowledge that they are not behaving ethically and neither will anyone else who makes electronics in the zone. It’s their responsibility to work with other electronics makers to open themselves up to outside, independent verification. It is their responsibility.

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