The Responsibility Revolution
By Amanda Coffin
As Jeffrey Hollander and Bill Breen of Seventh Generation reflect upon the dismal atmosphere following the past two years’ financial upheaval, they see in it the incubator for a revolution. Their newly-released book, The Responsibility Revolution: How the Next Generation of Businesses Will Win, offers a review of companies that are breaking molds, designing new molds, or rejecting molds altogether, as they illustrate that doing business responsibly can pay very gratifying rewards. Read more
A Letter From Annie Leonard on the Story of Stuff
March 12, 2010 by admin
Filed under Initiatives
Dear Reader,
My new book, The Story of Stuff, goes on sale today in bookstores all around the country.
In fact, I’m in New York as I write this preparing for my appearance tonight on The Colbert Report! I hope you tune in. Read more
Cars In The News
March 10, 2010 by admin
Filed under News Bites
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.
COP 15: What is the Impact on Malaysia and South East Asia?
By Daniel Chandranayagam
What most can take away from COP 15 is a bitter sense of disappointment with the ‘disagree-to-agree’ outcome of the summit, which has been described as “a theater of the absurd” on HuffPost. With that in mind, it piqued my interest to learn that a talk would be presented by the US Embassy Public Affairs Office, at the Annexe Gallery, on the Copenhagen Summit. Read more
Ethics For Media
March 1, 2010 by admin
Filed under Initiatives
The Center for International Media Ethics (CIME) and EthicsforMedia is presenting a unique opportunity for journalists interested in further training opportunities. The organization is dedicated to encouraging ethical media practices around the world. In collaboration with journalists and experts, they have created a weeklong course focusing on how good ethics can lead to business sustainability. Read more
Upcoming CSE Workshops
The following are upcoming workshops offered by the Centre For Sustainability and Excellence (CSE).
IEMA Approved “Become a Qualified CSR Practitioner”
- Place: Dubai, UAE
- Date: 20-21 January 2010
- Time: 8:30 – 5:30 pm
- Cost: €1260
RSVP contact: Ms. Irene Daskalakis, Business Development Manager, CSE research@cse-net.org
More information or registration here.
Description:
This challenging 2-day course enables participants to acquire the skills and competencies required to become qualified CSR practitioners, certified by IEMA. Through specialised, detailed and highly focused training, it provides them with the tools and necessary practical framework of every CSR aspect. Upon completion of the course, trainees are able to apply their knowledge in all levels of CSR from the development and implementation of effective CSR strategies, to CSR reporting and communication.
Key modules to be covered include:
- CSR & Sustainable Development concepts
- Future trends & Legislation for CSR worldwide
- The Stakeholder approach & CSR
- CSR & Responsible Communication
- Global Standards / Models / Guidelines & tools for practical CSR integration
- Sustainability Reporting
- CSR Action Plan for your organisation (prerequisite for CSR Certification)
At the end of the course participants have the opportunity to be assessed and become qualified CSR practitioners to act as CSR consultants and in-house CSR Managers.
IEMA Approved “Become a Qualified CSR Practitioner”
- Place: Chicago, USA
- Date: 9-10 February 2010
- Time: 8:30 – 5:30 pm
- Cost: Workshop Cost US$1795 (Early Registration Offer 15% Discount)
RSVP contact: Mr. Nick Andrews, Managing Director, CSE N. America, nick@cse-northamerica.org
More information or registration here.
Description:
This challenging 2-day course enables participants to acquire the skills and competencies required to become qualified CSR practitioners, certified by IEMA. Through specialised, detailed and highly focused training, it provides them with the tools and necessary practical framework of every CSR aspect. Upon completion of the course, trainees are able to apply their knowledge in all levels of CSR from the development and implementation of effective CSR strategies, to CSR reporting and communication.
Key modules to be covered include:
- CSR & Sustainable Development concepts
- Global Warming & Climate Change
- Future trends & legislation of CSR & Climate Change in the U.S. & worldwide
- The Stakeholder approach & CSR
- CSR and Responsible Communication
- Global Standards/Models/Guidelines & tools for practical CSR integration
- CSR/Sustainability Reporting
- CSR Action Plan for your organization (prerequisite for CSR practitioner Qualification)
At the end of the course participants have the opportunity to be assessed and become qualified CSR practitioners to act as CSR consultants and in-house CSR Managers.
IEMA Approved “Become a Qualified CSR Practitioner”
- Place: Athens, Greece
- Date: 11-12 March 2010
- Time: 8:30 – 5:30 pm
- Cost: €1260
RSVP contact: Ms. Irene Daskalakis, Business Development Manager, CSE research@cse-net.org
More information or registration here.
Description:
This challenging 2-day course enables participants to acquire the skills and competencies required to become qualified CSR practitioners, certified by IEMA. Through specialised, detailed and highly focused training, it provides them with the tools and necessary practical framework of every CSR aspect. Upon completion of the course, trainees are able to apply their knowledge in all levels of CSR from the development and implementation of effective CSR strategies, to CSR reporting and communication.
Key modules to be covered include:
- CSR & Sustainable Development concepts
- Future trends & Legislation for CSR worldwide
- The Stakeholder approach & CSR
- CSR & Responsible Communication
- Global Standards / Models / Guidelines & tools for practical CSR integration
- Sustainability Reporting
- CSR Action Plan for your organisation (prerequisite for CSR Certification)
At the end of the course participants have the opportunity to be assessed and become qualified CSR practitioners to act as CSR consultants and in-house CSR Managers.
The USA: Greening the Nation
November 6, 2009 by admin
Filed under News Bites
President Obama recently signed Executive Order 13514, an extension of George Bush’s executive order 13423. While Bush’s executive order 13423 covered climate change issues, President Obama’s focuses on the primary problem, namely greenhouse gas reduction (GHG). Agencies must now monitor and report their GHG output and comply with other environmental requirements. The order’s greatest impact is on government agencies, but perhaps the same mandate will apply shortly to US corporations, as well.
The order requires that a “Steering Committee” and a “Sustainability or Green Officer” to be installed. Other requirements, said to be “reasonable,” include the use of duplex mode for printers, purchasing Energy Star-rated equipment, and a reducing use of potable water.
For more on Executive Order 13514, click here.
