The Rise of the Ethical Consumer

The term "green" is being used these days as a synonym for all things organic, eco-friendly and sustainable. With so many real issues at hand and so many people and companies jumping on the bandwagon, the term "green" has largely lost its impact in 2010. Flux has created a presentation which aims to debunk the myths around "green" issues, and bring clarity to the forces are really at work behind the 21st Century's most important battle.

 

 

In this presentation we:

• Take a step back to the turn of the century to find out where it all began
• Look at what has meant to get in on the trend, and how this has ended up not the best thing for the environment in some cases
• Unpack some of the most important green issues, showing the diversity of issues that have been grouped under the same umbrella
• Illustrate the choices that consumers have when making that final decision
• Look ahead at some of the pitfalls and suggest what to look out for
• Highlight some companies that are making huge strides in differentiating themselves from the rest

Dion will be presenting this talk at the iStore HQ in Sandton on the 9th September. If you are interested in booking your seat (R300pp), call the Flux Office on (011) 726-5529 or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

The world we live has been founded on the theories of modern Western science, which is characterised by a compartmentalised worldview and rational thinking. The structures that have been built up in government and business rely on centralised power within hierarchical systems and make use of a linear, mechanistic approach.

As the global financial crisis and ongoing environmental alerts warn us, mankind is perfectly capable of self-destructing. The system that has been in place since the turn of the 20th Century is coming to a natural conclusion, making way for a more balanced and integrated approach which views society as a living, breathing system capable of making the fundamental changes that are necessary at this point in time.

This movement displays typically feminine qualities: relying on intuition and relationship building to recreate the systems in an organic and natural unity, at the same time promoting Mother Earth's capacity for sustenance of all living systems. These qualities stand in firm opposition to the rigid, masculine dogma entrenched in our societal consciousness that seek to dominate the weak and support the strong and powerful. These structures where necessary in bringing us technological progress, but as we will see a new paradigm is emerging that posits happiness and freedom at the heart of the equation.

This presentation explores the following points:

• Moving from the masculine to the feminine
• An era of control to an era of community
• Embracing empathy as part of your business ethos
• A shift in value systems and how to keep up with the shifting sands
• Moving towards a world in balance

To book this presentation for your company, e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and for more information call (011) 726- 5529

The FIFA carnival has come and gone, and like any traveling circus it was filled with heart-stopping thrills, breathtaking skills and a few clowns to add some comic relief. In its wake, we are now left to nurse the football craving, ponder what to do with our shiny new sports cathedrals and consider how best to capitalize on the nation building euphoria, before reverting back to our true national sport - bickering.

2010 was a first in many respects for both South Africa and the World Cup. It was the first World Cup to be held on African soil and the first time vuvuzelas became a global talking point (potentially our next biggest export opportunity since the wooden giraffe). South Africa was, unfortunately, the first host country not to proceed to the second round. It was however, also the first World Cup where fans were armed with new technologies: social media and the opportunity to vent and publish online.

For me, the last point is the most significant, and one that FIFA should be placing at the top of their post-mortem discussions. Like the Olympics, the World Cup is held every four years. This adds an exciting element into the tournament's dynamics. In a digital age, however, four years represents a quantum leap in altered social dynamics, and the 2010 World Cup just proved how out of step FIFA had become with this fast-changing world.

The tongue lashing FIFA received from fans and media is well documented, but the one word that kept cropping up in relation to FIFA sponsorship deals and interaction with the public was "draconian": a word derived from a 7th century law maker who was notorious for severe punishment of the most trivial offences. The heavy handed manner in which FIFA dealt with the Bavaria ambush marketing incident was the most publicized, but that was just the tip of the iceberg.

Read more: How FIFA misjudged the digital natives