I am often amazed at events I go to where people call it " green" and there is no gender awareness and no diversity

Half the world is women and half is men -and one of the biggest flaws in economics has been the supremacy of the white western educated male, homo economicus - or rational economic man - on whom modern economics is based. The theory has been that the buying preferences of this western white male - dictate and indicate what and how the markets should cater and how they should be run.

This homo economicus has made it possible to ignore the needs and rights of less developed countries, and of women and minorities the world over for many years and has been a major contributing factor in the current economics mess.It is an enormous imbalance.

This year I have been to major platforms - claiming to be " green " or talking about corporate social responsibility and they have entirely missed the point -and have been completely male- usually mostly white male - etc.

Please ensure- a) you are paying your female team the same as the male ones. b) please ensure if you are claiming any kind of green credentials- you have some gender balance- c) please ensure if your are claiming sustainable development - you have gender balance d) please ensure if you are claiming corporate social responsibility- you include the social - and not just a bit of recycling - --- ignoring gender balance really ignores - "Being Green starts at home " and is really just Greenwash.

If you have not lived up to this -I am happy to post your transformation stories on this website- as you change and consider how to change

Miriam Kennet December 2008