Dear friends and colleagues,

With all the tipping point events in the world lately - whether the London riots, the Arab Spring, the Occupy Wall Street movement or the first democratic vote in Tunisia -we can't help but realize that many old icons and symbols are vanishing to make way for new thoughts and vision. Change is no longer only in our future. It is here and now.

Our traditional system of capitalism is under siege for excessive greed and consumption in some cases heightened by unethical behaviour. Stories of friends and neighbours who have been affected by a loss of a home, a pension or a job cause us all to feel angst.

We are only beginning to understand that prosperity has also made way for inequality, both globally and domestically. For this reason, it is worthwhile to re-examine our values to find a more equal balance, where economic progress does not come at the expense of the environment, where individual success is married with respect for those who may not be so fortunate and where diversity is a cause for celebration.

In the last few months, I have lept back into the research and teaching topics of governance, corporate responsibility and the ethical and legal intersection of business and human rights. I have designed a new course for the UOttawa’s law faculty, I remain indebted to Dr. John Ruggie at the Kennedy School of Governance, Harvard University, for leading the way and inspiring others to seek solutions to some of the world’s most troubling challenges.

With my best wishes,
Penny Collenette
www.twitter.com/@penottawa

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Divided Loyalities, The Liberal Party of Canada, 1984-2008, by Brooke Jeffrey.

Adjunct Professor - Faculty of Law, University of Ottawa