Live from the VISION SUMMIT 2008 in Berlin

Just freshly arrived with Noel from Karmakonsum at the Vision Summit conference on Social Business in Berlin.

In the first speech, professor Werner, founder of the drugstore DM, makes a strong note for a basic income for everyone. This will stimulate a new kind of economy. Everyone who did not yet get warm for this idea of a basisc income, I recommend taking a day time and reading about it. One of the most innovitive ideas of our times, that combines grassroots capitalsm and socialism, in a soiety based on social entrepreneurship.

Currently, Professor Faltin from the FU Berlin compairs fair trade with indulgence.
concept of Yunus means: making another product, and making this product more worth. So, with a new idea you can sell your product for twice as much.
In the opinion of Faltin, doing good does not solve the problem of poverty. Doing good keeps poverty up because it does not support own initiative.

I do not agree, because indulgence means there should be a sin, and with fair trade there is no sin, you just take care that the labor is controlled according to certain standards, and that small farmers or producers get a better price. Although a lot of fair trade projects are not social businesses, also in fair trade there are projects, where farmers take care of their own business, and in this way fair trade projects and social business models do not exclude each other, but should be combined.

Where I agree with Faltin, is with his statement that for an business doing business is not enough, you have to understand your society and your dreams. Just maximizing your profits does not work anymore. The key to success is meaning, it should make sense what you are doing with your business.

just a coffee break starting…to be continued!