Dear friends, I would like to present some topics to start a debate about the pyramide’s base, after attending a conference in Mexico, that is related to the topic of this Changemakers competition (particularly b/c it’s open to private and social sector).
From the workshop in Mexico, I have developed several questions about BOP. A good start would be to work with the language in which this statements are introduced.
The title “Bottom of the Pyramid” deserves to be analyzed. This concept is introduced in a way that it’s totally unengaged with the same process that created a bottom in the pyramid. It’s presented in such way as if it’s an establish fact already. I think that we need to make clear why there’s a bottom and which are the issues that help expand it. On the other hand, we need to be careful with euphemisms to denominate the poor. It’s not the same to say “making business with the poor” than “making business in the BOP”. I believe that this last phrase is not a casualty. From the geometry perspective, you could conclude that the top vertex exists and will always do if there’s a big extensive bottom that supports it. Good to considerit, don’t you think?
During the workshop, the statement “the poor are an opportunity” was mentioned on several occasions. NO, the poor are not an opportunity. They are the evidence of our own society’s failures. They’re the face of the injustice we’ve built. If the poor are an opportunity, then to generate opportunities is to create more poverty. Even in some cases where the poor have been benefited, transfer of resources from the poor to the rich has taken place (for example multinationals). Our work then, is to push the transfer of resources from rich to poor. Multinationals have a lot to give back. Wealth does not come spontaneously; usually it’s extracted from the poorest sectors.
On several occasions, there were mentioned great things people can save or invest while making $2 per day. We can’t content with this. We need to be please when these people have a decent income. $2 per day, should embarrass us.
“The world would not be sosteinable if everybody could consume or have what the minority currently has. This cynic reality is worth of discussion. We’re saying, “Guys, sadly you arrived late. You can’t hope to live a life like ours. You lost”. And what if we said that we’re willing to have not that good life so they can live better? The salvation of our planet is implicit in a brotherhood’s utopia. Then, what’s Social Entrepreneurs’ role on these issues? I think this is a critical subject. We need to accept that the BOP matter is strong and will take place. I suggest a series of questions to open up the discussion: How do we empower communities so this process does not end up in the traditional vicious cycle? What criteria should we use to not become the “Troy horses” that bring negative situations that seem to be good? What enterprises can receive our help and based on what criteria? What subjects should be considered so the poor can have better access? How to make multinationals transfer resources to the poor and not the opposite? Which should be main interest in this midst? How can we create income opportunities for the poorest?
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