What Earth Hour’s All About

Earth Hour, the event which calls on the world to switch off their lights for one hour on 27 March 2010, is coming soon. Although criticised by some (including us!), Earth Hour still is a tremendous show of concern about the state of our world.

WWF-Malaysia’s representatives, Devan Subramaniam, Corporate Relations Senior Manager, Marketing Department and Melissa Chin, Climate Change Coordinator, Conservation Department, explains what Earth Hour is all about. Read more

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Ethical Shopping Is Embraced In Asia Pacific

Shopping with a conscience is taking off in the Asia/Pacific, with over six in ten respondents buying items that are either based on fair trade principles or are environmentally friendly. An overwhelming response with more than 80% of Thai, Malaysian and Chinese respondents bought items that are based on fair trade principles. Read more

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Cars In The News

Toyota

According to Reuters, Toyota Motor Corp will replace an oil hose in some 933,800 vehicles in the USA, due to the risk of a potential leak that could damage the engine if left untreated. The cars to which damage might occur are:

• Camry
• Avalon
• Rav4
• Lexus

The vehicles, equipped with V6 engines, might experience damage to the rubber portion of the engine oil hose, potentially causing oil leakage and engine failure, Toyota said in a document sent to US dealers and obtained by Reuters.

Safety issues have put Toyota under media and public scrutiny, forcing them to recall more than 8.5 million vehicles worldwide.

General Motors

News portal, the Malaysian Insider, has reported that General Motors Co is recalling 1.3 million compact cars in North America. The move is to address a power steering problem that has been linked to 14 crashes and one injury. The recall affects the 2005-2010 model year Chevrolet Cobalt and 2007-2010 Pontiac G5 in the United States; 2005-2006 Pontiac Pursuit sold in Canada, and the 2005-2006 Pontiac G4 sold in Mexico.

The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration began investigations in January after receiving more than 1,100 complaints of loss of power steering assist in the US Cobalt models. GM was reported to have said it told US safety regulators about the voluntary recall after concluding an investigation that began in 2009.

Hyundai

Bernama reports that Hyundai Motor Co is voluntarily recalling 515 sport-utility vehicles in the USA over a defect in the airbag system. The recall affects new Tucson sport-utility vehicles, produced in South Korea, from 10-30 Nov 2009, exported to the USA.

According to the news report, the defect involves the airbag system in the front passenger seat and may not properly protect a passenger in a crash. Hyundai has notified the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in the USA of the defect.

This recall comes shortly after the company recalled some 47,000 units of its new Sonata sedan in the USA and South Korea over a glitch in the front-door locks.

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Earth Hour Malaysia 2010

Earth Hour will be coming soon. The World Wide Fund for Nature Malaysia (WWF Malaysia) urging the nations to fight climate change on 27 March 2010, from 2030 to 2130. Malaysians have been called to switch off all non-essential lights during this hour as a show of support. Read more

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The Greening of Putrajaya

Selangor’s No Plastic Bag Day is just one of the many new efforts at going green in Malaysia. There are now plans underway to turn Putrajaya, Malaysia’s administrative capital, into an eco-friendly city. According to a news report, the first initiative will be turning the Prime Minister’s Office Complex into a green building this year, while Putrajaya’s first commercial energy-efficient building is expected to be completed by 2012.

Putrajaya Holdings Sdn Bhd (PjH) project management division general manager, Hassan Ramadi, was quoted as having said:

We will have to do some retrofitting to change or modify its mechanical and electrical system, that is, the air-conditioning and lighting, to make it more energy efficient.

Hassan wad reported to have said that retrofitting would take about six months as it will not involve heavy renovation works or extra-sun-shading devices because the complex was already designed to meet this need.

Together this move is the building of another energy efficient structure, both in design and material, in Putrajaya – the Energy Commission’s (EC) Diamond Building, which is now under construction.

PjH planned to lease the commercial green building, when completed, to both government agencies as well as local and multinational companies (MNC).

The 2010 Budget targeted Putrajaya and Cyberjaya to be developed as pioneer townships in green technology. Building owners or developers who obtain Green Building Index (GBI) certification between 24 Oct 2009 and 31 Dec 2014 will be given tax exemption equivalent to the additional capital expenditure in obtaining the certificate.

Another green rating tool for the tropics is Singapore’s BCA Green Mark scheme, which was made mandatory in 2005 for all new buildings in the republic as part of submission to get certification.

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The Future of CSR in Malaysia Workshop

This event is on as scheduled. Apologies for the previous announcement.

As part of his world tour, Prof Dr Wayne Visser will be conducting a one-day workshop in Kuala Lumpur to share CSR Best Practices with organizations in Malaysia. With over 20 years of experience in the industry, he will be delivering a workshop that will help CSR professionals and stakeholders on CSR’s 2.0 evolution. The workshop is set to shed light on the new expectations stakeholders have of corporate organizations and on why it is essential organizations acknowledge and meet these new expectations.

Workshop Benefits

• Stay up to date with the latest in CSR Best Practices
• Create CSR Programs which are relevant and current
• Stay updated on stakeholder expectations
• Understand the changing role of business in society
• Prepare your organization for the future of CSR

Workshop Content

• The Evolution of CSR and related concepts
• CSR in a Developing Country Context
• CSR in Asia and Malaysia
• ISO 26000, CSR 2.0 and the Future

Who Should Attend

This workshop is designed for CSR Professionals, Members of the NGO Community and other Industry Players who wish to stay abreast with the latest in CSR. It is designed to help these individuals develop a more current understanding of CSR to ensure their day to day CSR efforts are relevant to the changing demands of the industry.

Workshop Details

• Date: 30 March 2010
• Venue: Concorde Hotel, KL
• Duration: 9.00am to 5.00pm

Prof. Dr. Wayne Visser

Prof Dr. Wayne Visser is Founder and Director of the think-tank- CSR International and the author/editor of seven books on the role of business in society. He is also a Senior Associate at the University of Cambridge Programme for Sustainability Leadership, where he is contributing to various research and teaching programmes and where he previously held the position of Research Director.

Before getting his PhD in Corporate Social Responsibility (Nottingham University, UK), Dr. Wayne was Director of Sustainability Services for KPMG and Strategy Analyst for Cap Gemini in South Africa.

In 2010, Dr. Wayne embarks on a 30-country ‘CSR Quest’ World Tour, to share best practices in corporate sustainability and responsibility. Malaysia is one of his many stops.

For more information, click here.

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Unilever Stays Away From Indonesia Palm Oil Planter

Unilever, the world’s top palm oil buyer, has instructed dealers to stay away from palm oil sourced from Indonesian planter, Duta Palma, over its concerns about rainforest destruction, according to an Indonesian industry official. This move comes after BBC revealed Duta Palma allegedly clearing forests illegally, and is the second bid against Duta Palma in three months. Read more

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