A New Definition of Prosperity: Sustainability

Typically, companies focus on economic prosperity (return on investment and growth); but society has begun to redefine “prosperity” to include sustainability. In this context, “sustainability” means meeting present business imperatives without compromising the future needs of people, planet, and profits. While a company may sincerely aspire to social and environmental responsibility, it must nevertheless function […]

Conscious Contracts for Conscious Business

Conscious Business “Conscious Business” is a phrase used to identify companies that operate according to the fundamental principle that business can be a force for positive change in the world.  These companies believe (and have demonstrated) that creating value for all stakeholders–customers, employees, society, the environment, and future generations–brings greater success than putting primary focus solely […]

What is Justice?

‘Justice’ has no meaning unless it relates to the human heart, the community, the daily-life realities (conditions and causes) of conflict.  We all feel the absence of Justice in the conventional system when its dogma is not related to human facts as they are experienced. The powers that be tell us – ‘the system works’ […]

Power At Its Best Is . . .

Create Your Own Legal System

I’m lawyer, so I talk to a lot of people who are in disagreement; but they all agree on one thing, the litigation system is broken. So, if the system isn’t working– fix it.

Being the Change

 “You must be the change you wish to see in the world,” is a statement widely attributed to Gandhi.[1] For years, I held the corollary belief that the legal system had to change before I could change the way I practiced law. As much as I wished that my professional actions and principles could be aligned […]

Is Change Possible?

Is this change possible? The legal system and the assumptions it is built to serve are the water we swim in — as fish are unaware of the water (I’m assuming fish are suspended in yet not aware of the water), we are essentially unaware of the legal system and how it affects our day-to-day […]

A New Frame and Framework

Why do we have a system?  What is the purpose of Law and the Legal System? We have a system because we want to be safe; and we want to be certain. As business people and community members, we want to have sufficient predictability so that our expectations are reasonably assured.  We need to be […]

What does ‘Occupy’ mean?

What does ‘Occupy’ mean? by Linda Alvarez We all understand that ‘occupy’ has the literal meaning of physical presence on the street, in a building, or other location; but what I hear from those at the heart of the Occupy demonstrations gives me a sense of its deeper, metaphorical meaning. For organizers and participants, the […]

“Our Justice System Will Speak For Us”

“Our Justice System Will Speak For Us” a letter from Dominic Barter about responding to conflict In recent weeks I have been at Occupy Chicago and was present at the set up of – and have been back regularly to – Occupy Rio, and the New Earth festival that involved many of the same people […]