But a man

It is amazing how often people assume that responsible living simply implies recycling, buying organic and giving up a few consumer luxuries.

The fact is responsible living is much, much more. While the importance of the three basic R's (reduce, reuse and recycle) cannot be understated, Responsible Living implies that there is a fourth R -- respect.

Unfortunately, respect -- as opposed to tolerance -- is often overlooked.

Thankfully there are moments when Respect is put forth front and centre. Very recently, Warren Buffet, aka: the Oracle of Omaha, donated a large percentage of his amassed fortune to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Warren made his billions through astute investment. And, like many financiers and billionaires, could opt to continue his legacy by keeping the wealth within his nuclear family. Yet, he opted for something completely different. He opted, instead, to invest in humankind, not in the Buffet empire.

In essence, Warren's decision is based on respect. The assumption is that humankind is WORTH investing in, worth contributing to, and worth giving up for.

The fact that Warren Buffet chose not to attach his financial contribution to a caveat of unending fame -- he did not set up his own foundation, nor did he ask for a centre, hospital, school, street, award or any other form of immortalized recognition be created -- rather, he simply announced that he would be handing over a large portion of shares to his corporation (worth over $30-billion U.S.) to Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

That is humility and that humility comes from respect: respect for himself, respect for his ability to contribute and respect for the importance of contribution itself.

In his statements, Warren professes that the primary reason for his decision was that he felt the Bill and Melinda Foundation would be better at spending the money. He conceded that while his money could help people, perhaps he was not the best to decide how. In otherwords, he accepted his own limitations, took stock of his contributions and proceeded forthwith.

The fact is responsible living demands respect. If I truly want to give back and be a part of then, I must develop a level of respect that allows me to do this. Warren did. Despite his title as CEO, despite his fortune and his elite ranking within the Western neo-liberal market economy, he realized that he, too, was but a man.