The Constitution

THE CONSTITUTION (Edited Version):


"While I live, no rich or noble knave
Shall walk the world, in credit, to his grave.
To virtue only and her friends, a friend,
The world beside may murmur, or commend."
Alexander Pope.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

GAIA is an independent ethical multi-media, arts and ecological educational organization (for productions, presentations, publications, performances, design, marketing and advertising) working in film, stage, promotional, publishing, lectures, installations and education, founded on ethical and ecological ideals. Its interests span film productions; stage and music performances; poetry and music publishing; fine-art, photographic and sculptural installation; educational and ecological talks, workshops and presentations; garden design and construction; graphic and film advertising, marketing and promotional campaigns. GAIA’s two-tier objective policy is to umbrella in-house multi-media projects and to foster external multi-media projects (be they individuals or groups). All in-house GAIA affairs and multi-media projects are guided by an environmental policy and an ethical policy, which govern the work practices of GAIA members and associate members. All external projects are reviewed by GAIA directors, to ensure their ecological and ethical approval. GAIA is founded on non-political and non-religious grounds, as such all projects, documents campaigns and decisions must be issue lead. Once one views an issue in political terms, one beginnings to view it from left or right of party politics. Once this happens objectivity is impeded and the issue becomes sacrificed. GAIA is in continuous pursuit of innovative low-environmental-impact creativities and high ethical and ecological standards.



ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY

Our attitude... we recognise our responsibility to the environment, and all living things, wherever we operate. We bare a special responsibility to our customers, staff and local residents. We aim to ensure a safe, healthy and sustainable environment, on which we have the least possible impact.

Goals... we will set goals for safety and environmental performance. These goals will be quantified by targets which will be annually raised.

Audits... we will regularly audit our products with legislation and this policy, measure progress and strive to improve.

Standards... we will select and conform to the most stringent international environmental standards. Wherever possible we will surpass those standards. We will aim continually to raise our standards. We will work for fair and sound legislation.

Conservation... we will aim to conserve natural resources by minimising the use of non-renewable materials, by recycling materials, by minimising energy use and by using recycled products and packaging.

Products... we aim to produce products/services that are useful or beneficial. Wherever possible our products will be recyclable. We will not produce or sell products that knowingly harm any species or habitats.

Production... our production methods will strive to achieve waste-free production, and to avoid polluting the land, air or water. We will avoid hazardous processes or materials, where alternatives are available. We will reduce waste and losses by being efficient, and we will take all responsible steps to prevent pollution at its source.

Research And Development... our research and development programme will seek to improve current products and to introduce new ones that are better still. We will undertake cradle-to-grave responsibility for our products. We will stay abreast of new technologies, and uncover new business opportunities that are compatible with the environment.

Work Place... our premises will be a safe, healthy and attractive place in which to work. We will avoid hazardous practices. We will access the environmental impact of all major proposed changes and reduce their environmental effects.

Transport... we will adopt an environmentally sound transport policy.

Communication... we will communicate openly about our operations to all relevant bodies, and provide appropriate statistical information even when not required by law. We will provide information to consumers and the trade about the contents of our products and the nature of our activities. We will not make misleading or exaggerated environmental claims, and we will oppose and expose such information.

The Community... we will be a responsible neighbour, acting promptly to correct incidents or conditions that endanger health, safety or the environment. We will report to the authorities promptly, and inform everyone who may be affected.

Society... We recognise our duty to share solutions with the rest of society.

Suppliers... We expect high environmental standards from suppliers and contractors who work for us, and we will monitor their performance. We will trade with, where possible, ethically recommended sources.



CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

CSR, offers companies the opportunity to self regulate and truly show where their loyalties lie, in short-term profit and individual greed or long-term sustainable products and a wider consciousness to enhance society. Without a broader perspective, the presumed fundamental economic role of business is flawed, in as much as it stands and acts to destroy its own marketplace and raw materials. Dedicated to promoting Fair Labour and Environmental protection, at its core, GAIA's efforts toward Corporate Social Responsibility is to produce products under safe, fair, legal and humane working conditions. For some, Corporate Social Responsibility is a broad-based movement in business, that, encourages companies to take responsibility for the impact their activities have on customers, employees, communities and the environment. It's an obligation to include international labour and human rights standards. CRS can mean different things to different people. However, at GAIA, not only is it our guiding philosophy, but, it is the foundation of our policies, working practices, working guidelines and is at the core of our Mission Statement, Values, Operational Values and Code of Conduct. For us, CSR mean taking steps to improce the quality of life for our employees and their families, as well, as for the community, society and environment at large.



DECISION-MAKING

GAIA embraces ethical values by ensuring that all our members have equal rights, responsibilities and power to decision-making.



FINANCE AND LAW

GAIA has an economic growth-cap, which is enforced in situations of ten percent profit. At no time shall GAIA exceed an annual growth of ten percent. In situations when this occurs the excess growth capital must be invested back into employer benefits or non-profit campaigns or charitable works. Where possible and applicable five percent of any profit should be shared as a donation between: GAIA's non-profit making education and campaigns department; Alternative Government (GAIA's non-profit making advertising campaigns initiative); and bUtterfLies (GAIA's non-profit making website ecological forum/think tank). GAIA, also, has a wage-cap on all employees/members. The cap will be relative to the annual income and shall not exceed annual profits. GAIA must at all times, under any directorship, remain an independent organization. At no time can GAIA be 'bought-out' or 'taken-over' either financially, physically, politically, ideologically or spiritually by any other company or organization - whether they be in sympathy or compliance with GAIA's own policies and ideologies, or not. GAIA must, at all times, exists as an independent trading, manufacturing, campaigning, lobbying, protest and educational organization.



COMMUNICATIONS

GAIA’s openness and willingness to be up front and honest prevails in our communications with GAIA members, shareholders, associate members or potential business relations. However uncomfortable, complicated or pedantic we will aim to ensure that everybody knows all that is going on within every aspect of GAIA. GAIA has a communications policy, that, means we aim to reply to telephone calls within two days, and postal correspondence within a week. We will not slump into the profound rudeness and laziness within society today of ignoring or forgetting correspondence. We will not slip into poor communications management. Because of GAIA’s ‘human touch’, we do not intend to lose a grip and become computerised characters. Where possible, however inconvenient, we will hand write letters and envelopes, and meet face to face rather than via the telephone or internet. GAIA adhere's to Data Privacy Law 1989/Statutory Instruments No. 2426, protecting individual's rights to privacy in communications (electronically or otherwise).



ETHICS

Ethics in the work place is as much about comprehensive and clear communication. Ethics is in thought/intent and the spiritual as much as in action and the physical. Being ethical means, that we aim to not act immorally or unethically, or indirectly be party to unethical or immoral acts, or ignore unethical or immoral acts once involved directly by invitation. Although, GAIA maybe criticised for seeming to stand on moral judgement over an individual or group, GAIA members or associate members take responsibility, as individuals, and recognise, that, society is not an entity in its own right (a self-governed and self-regulating being). But, that, society is made-up of a collective of self-governed and self-regulating individuals, influenced by moral and ethical judgements.



ECOLOGY

At GAIA we believe, that, the finished product is not more important, than, the process or manufacture. Projects and products are not to be pursued at all costs. We are, continually, monitor our own impact on the environment, and assessing the impact projects have on the environment. GAIA projects must sit in harmony with the rest of nature and social environments: As we embrace lateral thinking and omni-directional skills.



RIGHTS

GAIA aims to be an equal opportunities organization and does not discriminate on the basis of age, gender, culture, race, elitism, sexuality, disability, religion, class, titles or hierarchy. It is sectarian/non-sectarian*, and non-party political and does not affiliate to any party political organisation. Rights are divisible. One person’s right must not be wholly permitted if it in any way deprives, infringes or limits the rights of others. *The English definition of the word ‘sectarian’ adhering to sect seems to contradict the present day English language usage and terminology, hence the reference to “sectarian and non-sectarian”.

References in this constitutional document to the ‘green manifesto’ or ‘green politics’ or ‘greens’ are not references to party political doctrines and so do not contradict this constitutional document’s policy on party politics.

‘Green’ is a way of life and has a guideline of standards packaged under the wording manifesto. GAIA cannot take responsibility for organization’s or individual’s interpretations or their adoption of ‘green’ issues to their party political doctrines.



MEDIA

Although the media has a role in distributing news and information to a mass, and serves a vital promotional and marketing purpose, the abuse of their role is not something that GAIA succumbs to or proliferates. GAIA’s relationship with the media is open and honest at all times when in communications with them, but, we do not indulge in tabloid reporting, giving of irrelevant information or marketing, promotion and advertising if it does not suit GAIA’s interests or meet with GAIA’s ethical and ecological policies.



CONSUMERISM

GAIA has a commitment to discourage unnecessary consumerism, and vast amount of choice for the sake of choice. If GAIA feels a product is creating an unnecessary impact on the environment, or that, the ethics of introducing a new product or another product on the market place out ways the educational influence it may have, the product must not proceed or must terminate.



ZERO BALANCE SHEET

At GAIA, we have never understood the need for growth on growth. The need to push products to new pastures and in doing so stepping on the toes of other products already established in those areas. As such, we work towards a funding-per-project basis. Where upon we aim to raise funds for each individual project as and when it is needed. Raising enough to implement the project and sustain it. We have no problem bringing our bank balance back to zero after each project.



PHILANTHROPIC BUSINESS ACUMEN

Too often business's never learn from successful, unorthodox businesses. After years of success, The Body Shop is still not on any serious business course as a template for running a business in an unconventional way. The word 'unconventional', in itself, has become to mean querky, off-beat, wacky. But, in truth, it merely means doing things in a way that has not been done as commonplace for many years. There is nothing 'wacky' about this. In GAIA, we do not see business as merely there to make money and profits. A business has an invaluable position in society to be able to access the public conscience and ellivate society. GAIA strives to make judgements in its projects and day-to-day management between helping communities and making art make a living for the artists who have created the art.



OPEN BOOK MANAGEMENT

We have nothing to hide at GAIA. Commonly, people's fear in the western world with openess is countered by their own defences coming-up in an aggressive combative mode. If you are unsettled by GAIA's openness, don't look! We allow all our members/staff to access all levels of GAIA and in deed promote their involvement in every aspect of the running of GAIA, and encourage cross departmental participation. In this way, we have a necessity to promote accountability. Although, we do recognise the difference between businesses being open and governments being open. We would not necessarily endorse governments being so open as to put its citizen's safety at risk. However, we are just a business and do not have to make such decisions or demands on our activities.