People First: Global Mission

Abdul-Jaleel Al-Khalifa, 2007 SPE President • president@spe.org

Our industry has sustained the growth and prosperity of mankind through the past 150 years. Our role now is to take this growth and prosperity forward. The new global landscape, however, has significantly raised the bar for us with an intensified focus on sustainability, which calls for meeting humanity’s needs without harming future generations. In other words, it is a people-first approach to doing business.

Let me explain. A people-first approach calls for fair internal policies, vigilant leadership, and full engagement of our company workforce to develop and embrace advancing technologies. A people-first approach also calls for companies to be eco-friendly and socially responsible to people outside the business. Corporations’ ability to extend care and support to deprived human beings will be the leading competitive advantage. It will be the main difference between dinosaurs and long-term survivors. Companies’ ability to access new resources and to reach new global customers will depend on embracing sustainability and a people-first approach.

On a personal level, isn’t social responsibility what gives meaning and purpose to our life? As we aim for excellence, it is only rational to aim for objectives beyond ourselves; beyond our company and home town; and beyond our region—goals that can shape the lives of mankind (Fig. 1). Nothing is closer to that than helping needy people, which draws on the deepest human value of love. This value can blossom to a level where one puts meeting others’ needs ahead of self interest, as emphasized in many scriptures: “Those who are saved from their own greed, it is they who are the felicitous.”1 This is the true spirit of the people-first concept. The need to live this value day by day has never been more important than now, with the increasing division between rich and poor further endangering the stability of the geopolitical landscape. The voluntary contributions of our members, our corporations, and our industry can make a difference. This contribution can very well be in the form of teaching people “how to fish” and live on their own. Besides being the right thing to do, such efforts can significantly polish our industry’s image and help eradicate false perceptions in local communities.

Fig. 1—Excellence aims for objectives that radiate far beyond personal, community, and country objectives to shape the lives of mankind.

Many oil and gas companies have made great commitments to sustainable development efforts. However, much of humanity still lives without access to basic necessities. More than 1.2 billion people have no access to clean water.2 The World Bank estimates that it will take U.S.$40 billion to $60 billion per year in addition to foreign aid to achieve the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals for halving global poverty by 2015.3 This is not impossible to achieve. Indeed, U.S.$40 to $60 billion per year is a fraction of the cost of fighting wars and conflicts in many places around the world. Also, U.S.$40 to $60 billion is only 0.1% of the global gross domestic products (GDP). I strongly believe that it is not the population and lack of resources that creates this striking imbalance; instead, it is the poor management of resources.

How can SPE help put people first in our communities? SPE can promote awareness of not only the needs, but of opportunities to help. SPE can serve as a catalyst for action, mobilizing our members around the world to take part in local actions that will further sustainable development.

There are many examples of SPE members who are making a difference through their personal efforts. Former SPE Presidents Lyn Arscott and Roy Koerner will present articles related to such efforts in the April and May issues of JPT, respectively. Lyn’s article highlights the honourable efforts by Lon Stuebinger, who traveled to Tibet, Uganda, and Ethiopia to teach people how to drill water wells and repair water pumps. Many other SPE members are leading community efforts to help needy people. I know many SPE members who spend a few hours daily to support local humanitarian organizations. They are all invited to submit articles to JPT editor John Donnelly about their experiences, achievements, and satisfaction in these efforts.

Many thousands of individual efforts will make a huge difference. SPE’s members can best address needs in their own backyards, and may have greater success in seeking their companies’ interest in funding local projects.

When we put people first in our hearts, we will be more motivated than ever to serve mankind. Let’s always remember the timeless and profound wisdom that “greed is permanent slavery.”4

References

The Qur’an, translated by Ali Quli Qara’I, Islamic College for Advanced Studies Press (2004) 59.9, 777.
Engardio, Peter: “Beyond the Green Corporation,” BusinessWeek (Jan. 29, 2007) 50.
World Bank, “The Costs of Attaining the Millennium Development Goals,” summarizing research by Shantayanan Devarajan, Margaret J. Miller, and Eric V. Swanson.
Bin Abi Taleb, Ali: Nahj Al Balagah, http//www.al-islam.org/nahj/.