21. Under My Nose: Story-telling and truth-making
Denial, Deflection, and other D-words for [Distressing Dis]association from Responsibility
For more than three decades my formal studies have focussed on the ripples in every-day-life of the institutions of Capitalism, Democracy, Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and Patriarchy that variously enhance or degrade the Common Good and thus the broad context of our individual experiences. I call these institutions ‘organising principles’, principles and systems sometimes ‘naturalised’ or ‘neutralised’ to the point of invisibility: positively assuming shared values of justice and integrity; less positively deflecting any critique of the stories we tell ourselves about the complex relationship between story-telling and truth-making. I have been assembling a D-lexicon to explore such storying.
My observation is that we (People-of-Good-Intent) may Deny, Deflect, Diminish, Disassociate, Denounce, Denigrate, Demoralise, Demonise, Dismiss, Disintegrate, or Destroy stories that implicate us in any injustice we say we abhor.
But I see also the positive power of Determined and Dedicated people who expose to view the crack of Dishonesty in our sometimes self-serving stories. Their efforts make change possible. For example, the ludicrous story initially justifying the elimination of paid-for house-work for the frail (UMN20) undermines trust in NZ’s Kindness and Wellbeing Budget[i]. A public outcry restored the housework-service and the question as to the working conditions of those who do this housework has been raised[ii].
Fortunately, Determined and Dedicated people have Developed ways of tackling this matter for some time[iii]. We could amplify their efforts.
I am ‘on vacation’ now - a non-sensical notion really, as I do not have a ‘proper job’ to vacate from. For the next two weeks I am on a road trip with family. I have drafted for development some ideas that have come under-my-nose but which have not yet had the attention I would like to give them:
i) Naomi Klein’s Dedication and Determination to expose Dishonesty in the Davos Drama;
ii) the Direction of the UN Global Compact;
iii) my attraction to (and ignorance of) quantum thinking on the emergence of the future;
I am bound to be Deflected! Already my mind has been alerted to exploring what Winston Peters might mean when he claims Fair Trade (not just Free Trade) is what NZ is aiming for[iv].
Also on my ‘To Do’ list:
- revisit the tomato-story (UMN7): Who are the characters crafting a next chapter to this story and what is their script?;
- return to Goodmanfielder’s response to my query about their plastic bread-bags[v];
- reflect on how the managers who set the parameters of the care for my Mum in her last weeks on earth explain their own constraints;
- rethink on how to engage with the continued degradation of our social services, including our universities.
I have other stories in mind but I have not yet gathered enough perspectives for even a skeleton script! I have time.
[i] https://qz.com/1631187/new-zealands-wellbeing-budget-is-redesigning-government-spending/
[ii] Dominion Post. 22 January, 2020:17
[iii] A) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domestic_Worker%27s_Bill_of_Rights
[iv] https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=12287770 January 2020
[v] cac@goodmanfielder.co.nz Hello Maria,
Fit for purpose packaging plays a critical role in ensuring food safety, reducing food waste, promoting our products, and providing important information to consumers. Goodman Fielder’s sustainable packaging program strives to deliver the best functionality while minimising the environmental impacts. We have a track record of reducing the weight of our packaging, improving recyclability and actively collaborating with external parties on emerging sustainable packaging innovations.
For bread bags, this means investigating step change innovations while simultaneously working to reduce the impact of the existing bags. Over recent years we have reduced the thickness (to world's best practice) and the length of our bread bags to develop a bag that uses 25% less plastic. We are in the process of rolling out these light-weight bags across our bread range in NZ. We are also actively investigating different materials and designs for packaging bread.
Until recently, most consumers in NZ had convenient access to recycle bread bags via the NZ Soft Plastic Recycling Scheme (SPRS). We were disappointed about the temporary suspension of the program in December and have joined the SPRS Steering Committee to accelerate work on relaunching a viable scheme which includes supporting and growing local recycling capability like Future Post and 2nd Life Plastics. We are also investigating the use of soft plastics to make asphalt for roads based on successful trial in Australia. The current timeline is to start rolling out an improved SPRS in April/May.
Our sustainable packaging program also includes a focus on preventing litter. We use the NZ National Litter Survey to understand where our packaging may be contributing to litter and marine plastics. Given bread is typically consumed in the home (or business) bread bags are not commonly identified as a contributor to the litter stream.
Kind Regards,
James
Consumer Advisory Centre
Goodman Fielder New Zealand Limited
2/8 Nelson Street, Auckland 1010
PO Box 90450, Victoria Street West, Auckland 1142
Email: cac@goodmanfielder.co.nz
Phone: 0800 100 538 New Zealand
1800 810 599 Australia
Website: www.goodmanfielder.co.nz