BUSINESS FOR PEACE AWARDS
Chamber delegation travels to Oslo for Business for Peace Awards By Monica Kreuger
O
n May 7th, Kent Smith in the world through such ideas Windsor, Christian Braid, as bringing a group of Aboriginal former Cameco CEO people from Australia who had Jerry Grandey, and me, never even been on a plane, to Monica Kreuger, had the honour meet with a group of Aboriginal of attending the Business for people in Saskatchewan where Peace Awards in Oslo, Norway. they shared stories and ideas The Award aims to highlight about how to build community ethical and responsible business for their people through the practices, and the commitment of economic opportunities available business leaders as individuals to with Cameco. It was obvious to create long-term success or benefit us that this story was but the tip to their businesses, society and of the iceberg behind his belief in themselves. The Award Committee creating value in society while still consists of Nobel Prize winners in developing a profitable company. Peace and Economics and they We are so fortunate to have operate independently of the people with the vision of Mr. Business for Peace Foundation. Grandey in our midst. It was Over 90 nominations were surprising however, that we were made from around the world, the only chamber in Canada to with 6 recipients chosen. What nominate someone given the so impressed us was the calibre calibre of people we have. As a of candidate, all of whom were country we are humble, but if we exceedingly business-worthy. are to build greater connections Recipients included business in the world, share bigger ideas, owners from Egypt, Argentina, and build the bridge between Bangladesh, Lithuania and Monica Kreuger, Christian Braid, Jerry business and social interests that is Tanzania, and the COO of Cargill Grandey, & Kent Smith-Windsor in Oslo for sorely needed, we need to identify USA, each of whom made a the Business for Peace Awards those individuals that epitomize presentation that captured the these ideals and nominate them. attention of the audience at the Nominees can be from any size dinner held in their honour. And each country without his body guards for business so start looking now and keep left us with a clear impression that they some time after the announcement as your eyes peeled on the Business for were indeed committed to an ethical, well, and yet continued to receive no Peace website for information about the responsible set of values with the violent repercussions from the people next awards. purpose of creating economic value that he named. He was unable to say why We also met with the Oslo he went unscathed other than it was Chamber of Commerce and Canadian also creates value for society. One of the stories shared by such an outrageous announcement Embassy in Oslo as part of our ongoing Reginald Mengi from Tanzania, founder and that others may have felt he was building of international chamber and Chairman of the IPP Group, focused somehow protected from harm at some connections that can help you explore on his deep desire to get rid of the metaphysical level! His story was not international opportunities. One of the corruption in business in his country. unusual that evening and certainly gave key opportunity areas in Norway at the At one point he decided to set up a us all something to ponder. moment is “green” building so if that We also had the opportunity of is of interest to you, please contact the media event where he would name the top 5 most corrupt businessmen in the getting to know our nominee, Jerry Chamber for more information. country. And, he asked his bodyguards Grandey, on a more personal level. In the meantime, take a few to stand in the crowd instead of beside Humble by nature but powerful in minutes to read about the Business of him when he made the announcement. action and deed, Mr. Grandey had the Peace awards and what they stand for He wanted there to be no mistake that opportunity to meet the other nominees and think about how we can all increase and recipients at a special private our business-worthiness. he was serious. Nobody thought he would live to reception. During our time together we also learned more about his own see the end of the day. Monica Kreuger, Past President But he did. He moved around the commitment to create positive change Co-Chair Going Global committee
BUSINESS View June July 2012
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