Beach Performance by Luke Foster
“ Ethics is knowing the difference between what you have a right to do and what is right to do.”
Potter Stewart
In this day and age ethics in big business is important especially with big companies such as Converse but more can still be done. I Googled Converse ethics and I found this page:
https://www.converse.com.au/converse-corporate-social-responsibility-ethical-stance-policy
I am so impressed as they are an extremely ethical company. For example, the following principles:
“Accountability and Transparency
Converse will be accountable and transparent by endeavouring to:
– ensure that it does not risk the health and safety of its employees and the wider community;
– ensure that the lives of local and indigenous people are not harmed;
– promote diversity and inclusion;
– maintain a safe working environment through best practice in health and safety management in all areas of its business;
– produce an environment whereby all are encouraged to work to and realise their full potential through the offering of learning and developing opportunities;
– seek out and accept customer feedback, respect customer processes and support vulnerable customers;
– ensure that its programs and policies promote the increased representation of diverse groups of people, including people of varied cultural backgrounds, religions, ages, genders, sexual orientations, abilities and disabilities; and
– encourage employee confidence in discussing any problem(s) connected with their work ensuring that they will receive a fair, impartial and confidential review of the issue.”
Converse website
Jared Carver will succeed Scott Uzzell as the new President and CEO of Converse, effective June 1. Carver will report to John Donahoe, President & CEO, NIKE, Inc.
I am sure Jared shall do a fantastic job as CEO as an ethical businessman. I actually really love Converse high top shoes and have three pairs at the moment. I wore the black ones on my two last international trips to Europe and America and they are comfortable and fashionable. I have been wearing them for years and when I did my first solo show at Kirra Hill, I asked Converse Australia for sponsorship and they gave me a pair of black high tops. I also got sponsorship from IKEA and the Good Guys. IKEA gave me five tables and five stools and the Good Guys lent me an Epson video projector and Samsung soundbar.
I have to praise the soon to retire CEO of Converse Scott Uzzell for all the ethical business and charity work.
Homelessness is one of the biggest problems in the developed world and aid groups, charities, CEOs and world leaders already do so much to address the problem. However much more can be done. However, as it is such a complex problem I don’t know what the solutions are apart from the obvious such as soup kitchens, food vouchers and shelters.
However, I invite my friends internationally to brainstorm the issue individually with essays or group and individual creative projects such as, music, film, writing and art.
When I was thinking about this issue while beach walking this morning, I was feeling really sad as I know how much the homeless suffer.
We think sometimes that poverty is only being hungry, naked and homeless. The poverty of being unwanted, unloved and uncared for is the greatest poverty. We must start in our own homes to remedy this kind of poverty.
Mother Teresa
In conclusion I know how much ethical and charity work Converse do so I am making them an installation in gratitude and to encourage them. I think people might wonder why I linked big business and the issue of homelessness in the developed world but I did it intuitively as I heard on the grapevine that not just Converse but many CEOs are donating a lot to such complex problems.
These drawing diagrams are an installation the for the CEO of Converse Jared’s and everyone at Converse but I have ordered the paper I need online, also the big A0 photo and need my support worker Yannick to help me edit the video but this week I have a few appointments so it might not be finished until the following week.
These are some photos from my beach shoot yesterday on the issue of homelessness but I still need to finish the video editing. So much thanks to Yannick for shooting the video and photos. There is also a second part of small giving that I shall keep under wraps until later. I love these Levi’s jeans too that I got on sale at the Levi’s shop in Time Square New York last month.
This is the big A0 photo I have ordered from the Poster Factory in Sydney who are quick, efficient and high quality and they do all my big photos. I wasn’t sure if I would use this photo as my face was in shadow but I kind of like it.
This photo shows the blue neon compassion sign that I want manufactured for the pile of red, white and blue Converse shoes with the sign on top. It was in my recent show at Kirra Hill titled: Chthonian Meets Compassion. I was dressed up as one of my favourite artists Joseph Beuys and wearing blue Converse high tops and Levi’s jeans.