ISR (Individual Social Responsibility)

By Pakac Luteb

ISR (Individual Social Responsibility) is the concept that each of us
who is of sound mind,
whether we act alone or as part of a group, is responsible for our
action (or inaction) and the
resultant consequences to ourselves and others.

If we want the consequences to be a peaceful, harmonious society which
can flourish economically and socially, there are certain guidelines:

Don't be smug, even if your mind is blazingly fast, your intelligence
is about twice average and you're a member of MENSA.

Don't be smug, even if you own hundreds of hectares of prime land.

Don't be smug, even if your nett worth exceeds the GDP of some countries.

Don't be racist, people don't get to choose their skin colour or shape
of their nose.

Don't be anti-gay or anti-lesbian, others don't choose their sexual
orientation any more than you chose to be straight.

Don't be xenophobic, the world has many countries and cultures.

Don't be misogynist, people don't choose their gender.

Don't obey unlawful orders.

Do listen to other's opinions, you don't have a monopoly on good ideas.

Do help a blind person cross a busy road.

Do use resources wisely, Earth is not growing any larger, therefore
Earth's resources are finite and fixed. Already people use too much of
Earth's resources, for example the population of fish in the ocean
that we depend on for our food has already declined by 90%! It's
obvious that as population increases the quantum of resources
available to each person decreases.

Do have small families, one or two children. I wanted one, my excuse
for the second one is the condom broke. Sorry.

Much of the resources individuals depend on is not controlled by the
individuals dependent on the resource, more often the resource is
controlled by corporations and governments. That's particularly true
in the case of rivers, upstream activities impact people downstream.

With control of a resource comes responsibility for the welfare of the
people dependent on the resource.

For example, Taib Mahmud, his family and the timber companies in
Sarawak are responsible for the welfare of the Penan. They are also
responsible for any consequences, such as environmental damage,
resulting from their action or inaction.

People in corporations and politicians are accustomed to thinking
short-term, the next quarter, year or election. They have no choice
but to think that way, but they must also consider how their actions
will have impact over the next 50 years at least. Their old age and
the lives of their children and grandchildren will be affected by
their decisions.

Think carefully and act wisely, the future begins now.