Unilever Launches Foundation to Help One Billion People
At the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Unilever announced the launch of the Unilever Foundation, a global charity that will be key to helping the company reach its goal of improving the health and quality of life of more than one billion people around the world. This is an ambitions goal, but it’s one that fits very well with Unilever’s brand and strengths.
Monsanto’s Foray Into GMOs Goes Into the Weeds
As many critics have long maintained, the proliferation of genetically modified crops would eventually lead to the proliferation of herbicide-resistant superweeds. Hence, we now have a dangerous escalation of chemical warfare in the fields from which our food is being harvested. The “new” herbicide 2,4-D that Monsanto’s latest corn will be resistant to, is actually one of the two active ingredients in Agent Orange of Vietnam War infamy.
What Does It Take to Achieve a Sustainable Future?
What does it take to achieve a sustainable future? The UN’s Secretary-General’s High Level Panel on Global Sustainability’s final report, released on January 30, thinks that transparency is needed. Yes, you read that correctly. The Panel’s report thinks that by making both the cost of action and inaction transparent “political processes can summon both the arguments and the political will necessary to act for a sustainable future.”
UN Calls Sustainable Development a Top Priority
The UN High-Level Panel Global Sustainability released its report in Addis Ababa yesterday entitled “Resilient People, Resilient Planet: A Future Worth Choosing.” The panel’s 99-page report, which will serve as an input to the UN Conference on Sustainable Development in June, (otherwise known as the Rio+20 Summit) is a call to action, “to address the sustainable development challenge in a fresh and operational way.”
From Detroit to Doha, Citizens Are Building a Greener Economy
My recent stay in Detroit and current trip to Doha have opened my eyes to how citizens are taking matters into their own hands and building more sustainable economies.
Comic Book Heroes Leap off the Page to Help Millions Facing Famine
With 13 million people in Horn of Africa countries facing down drought, famine and other real-life challenges that would give pause to any fictional superhero, DC Entertainment has joined forces with Warner Bros. Entertainment and other Time Warner companies to launch the “We Can Be Heroes” campaign, to enlist the help of ordinary citizens across the globe in raising relief funds.
Corruption and Sustainability: Like Oil & Water Do Not Mix
Recently, the Guardian ran a post addressing the question of why eliminating corruption is crucial for sustainability. A first glance the two topics might seem unrelated—the one about criminal behavior and the other about something like environmental responsibility.
Where exactly then, do the two ideas come together?
Pay-As-You-Go Solar Could Provide Clean Electricity to 1 Billion People
Eight19 announced Kickstart, a program that funds pay-as-you go solar energy in poor dual areas, this week at the World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi.
Is Bill Gates Really Batman?
It was Jon Stewart that first made the reference. He called Bill Gates “Batman” to his face on his TV show. Why Batman? I think he probably meant Bruce Wayne, Batman’s civilian identity: the eccentric millionaire industrialist, who is also a philanthropist, sworn to do good and serve a greater ideal of justice. Of course, [...]
Fair Trade USA: Why We Parted Ways with Fair Trade International
In recent months, Fair Trade USA has caused a ripple in the Fair Trade movement by boldly questioning the status quo and moving in a new direction to significantly increase the effectiveness and reach of the Fair Trade model. President and CEO Paul Rice explains his new strategic vision, Fair Trade for All, which aims to double the impact of Fair Trade by 2015 by innovating the model, strengthening farming communities and igniting consumer involvement.
High Heat: Re:char Recharges African Soil
A start-up called re:char has a new take on an ancient idea that’s designed to enhance crop yields in the developing world by making biochar accessible and affordable. Biochar is made by a process known as pyrolysis, which heats organic matter such as waste farm produce, without oxygen. Instead of releasing carbon dioxide into the [...]
Should Coca-Cola Use its Power to Promote Social Justice in Swaziland?
It’s never dull at Coca-Cola. The company didn’t have much time to recover from its white polar bear can campaign fiasco and the accusations it tried to stop a ban on sales of disposable plastic water bottles in the Grand Canyon National Park before a new crisis arose. This time the negative attention concerns Coca-Cola’s presence in [...]
The Current State of Microfinance (and Why it Needs an Overhaul)
The following post is part of the course work for “Live Exchange” the foundational course on communication for The MBA Design Strategy Program at California College of the Arts. The rest of the posts are presented here. By Brian Schmierer Microfinance has a long history of helping the bottom of the economic pyramid to build [...]
Social Ventures Create Utopian Future
Social ventures are constantly discovering ways to solve pressing social issues. The biggest underlying obstacle is capital to increase the reach across the world. By implementing a small twist in the way we approach non-profit business models, we can focus the efforts of social entrepreneurs into a force for solving global problems on a global scale.
3 Reasons Why Freakonomics is Wrong About Local Food
Local food is bad for your health, bad for the environment and bad for the economy, not to mention its potential risk for the well-being of billions of poor people worldwide. As strange as you find this description of local food, these are probably the conclusions you would reach from reading Steve Sexton’s Freakonomics article, The [...]
Indian Women Find Self-Reliance Through Embroidery Businesses
In a store in my hometown of Ahmedabad, India, I was immediately charmed by the colorful display of intricate handcrafted embroidery on pillow covers, decorative wall-hangings and silk kurtas. The needlework was simple, yet elegant, distinctive – and yes, expensive. At first I hesitated over whether to spend so much on an embroidered piece I really liked. Then I read the price tag a bit more carefully and noticed that 65 percent of the proceeds went directly to the artisans, and the store itself was affiliated with SEWA, the Self-Employed Women’s Association.
The Power of a Population
As we seek to discover new methods of generating and harnessing energy, there is one source that is worth discussing: the human body.
Crafts and Design Can Cross-Pollinate to Create Better Opportunities for Craftsmen
In October 2008, 8 weavers committed suicide in Sircilla, a small town in the state of Andhra Pradesh (India). This was preceded by another incident in 2006, when a destitute weaver of Sircilla sold his four-month-old son for Rs 500 (approx. $10) to keep the hearth burning.
Using Art to Inspire and Engage Communities
This is a story about transformation of a community through art.
WEconomy: The Rise of Collaborative Consumption
Have you ever shared a car ride, lent someone a book, made a mix tape, or traded clothing? Then you’re part of the WEconomy, a new economic model where communities of consumers share, swap or rent goods as opposed to owning them.
Open Letter to Presidio Graduate School MBA Students and the David and Lucile Packard Foundation
SLDI Responds to Presidio Students’ open letter to the David and Lucille Packard Foundation
Credit Unions Ask, ‘Now What?’ Answer: Invest in Cooperatives
Credit union membership continues to surge after the successful ‘Move Your Money’ campaign. The opportunity now exists to better articulate the connection between credit unions as cooperative businesses owned by the members and the need for them to invest more heavily in the growing cooperative business sector.
KivuWatt: Powering Rwanda and Averting Disaster
This post is part of a series on exploring Rwanda as part of the International Reporting Project’s Gatekeeper Editor trip. Follow along on our page here. One of the more vivid memories of my childhood was hearing about the 1985 disaster at Lake Nyos in Cameroon. In case you forgot, Lake Nyos was naturally super-saturated with dissolved carbon [...]
How to Build a Better Bailout: Consider Main Street
It seems to me that the big “government bailout” of banks and selected industries was significantly one sided. There could have been a more equitable solution that considered all sectors of society and not just the “fat cat risk-takers” and politically entrenched businesses. Here’s how:
Social Entrepreneur Jumps on Treadmill to Fund Kickstarter Campaign
What do you when you find yourself $25,000 short on your Kickstarter funding goal with only few days remained before deadline? Most entrepreneurs will start thinking about plan B (maybe it’s time to get in touch with that rich uncle of yours who once said he believes in you) or wonder if the whole idea [...]
An Open Appeal to the SEC on Crowdfunding
As entrepreneurs looking to build businesses and contribute to our local economies, we are interested in having increased access to capital from unaccredited investors who are willing to contribute funds in smaller amounts.
A Brief Look at Rwandan Coffee’s Empowerment Potential
This post is part of a series on exploring Rwanda as part of the International Reporting Project’s Gatekeeper Editor trip. Follow along on our page here. In most coffee producing countries, you’re hard pressed to find anything better than Sanka at a restaurant or hotel. Ironically enough, the good stuff all gets exported. Rwanda has made it [...]
OLPC Plans to Air-Drop Laptops Into Villages
The One Laptop Per Child initiative run by the NGO of the same name has done great work in distributing technology in impoverished areas. They have boosted educational facilities in countries like India, Paraguay, Nicaragua, Afghanistan, Peru, Kenya, Haiti and other developing countries. The organization has recently announced that it will soon begin to air-drop laptops [...]
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Where We’re Going
Have your event listed here.
Webinar: Feb 17Greening Stonyfield Farm: As a consultant with Stonyfield Farm for the past 12 years, Switzer Fellow Tim Greiner will discuss efforts to broaden and deepen sustainability within the company. He will discuss the company's efforts to track its environmental impacts, barriers the company had to overcome.
Webinar: Feb 29Product Scorecards for Sustainability: Product scorecards that detail and evaluate environmental and sustainability aspects of products are increasingly adopted by leading companies. This webinar covers the best practices in this area and a case study by Seventh Generation.
NY: Mar 19-20Wall Street Green: The longest running and most comprehensive environmental market event in the industry. The Wall Street Green Summit covers cutting edge content, industry developments and features the practitioners and the leaders of tomorrow.
Bay Area: Mar 22-23GRI Certified Training: Demand for sustainability experts is growing rapidly as companies look for proven professionals. For companies, GRI trained employees mean faster implementations and better use of the GRI Sustainability Reporting Framework. Join our partner ISOS group for this two day session. Early bird discounts apply!
SF: Mar 26-28Cleantech Forum San Francisco: The 2012 Cleantech Forum San Francisco will mark the 10th anniversary of Cleantech Forums, the annual gathering of the global clean technology innovation community. Our theme this year is “The Power of Global Partnerships,” an exploration of how strategic relationships are playing an ever more important role in the future of clean technology. For a $300 Discount use code "VIPofTriplePundit " More Info.
SF: April 10-12 Navigating the American Carbon World: The must-attend event for professionals in the carbon landscape. Over the past decade, NACW has consistently provided informative content, thoughtful discussions and outstanding opportunities for collaboration.
Have your event listed here.
Webinar: Feb 17Greening Stonyfield Farm: As a consultant with Stonyfield Farm for the past 12 years, Switzer Fellow Tim Greiner will discuss efforts to broaden and deepen sustainability within the company. He will discuss the company's efforts to track its environmental impacts, barriers the company had to overcome.Webinar: Feb 29Product Scorecards for Sustainability: Product scorecards that detail and evaluate environmental and sustainability aspects of products are increasingly adopted by leading companies. This webinar covers the best practices in this area and a case study by Seventh Generation.NY: Mar 19-20Wall Street Green: The longest running and most comprehensive environmental market event in the industry. The Wall Street Green Summit covers cutting edge content, industry developments and features the practitioners and the leaders of tomorrow.Bay Area: Mar 22-23GRI Certified Training: Demand for sustainability experts is growing rapidly as companies look for proven professionals. For companies, GRI trained employees mean faster implementations and better use of the GRI Sustainability Reporting Framework. Join our partner ISOS group for this two day session. Early bird discounts apply!SF: Mar 26-28Cleantech Forum San Francisco: The 2012 Cleantech Forum San Francisco will mark the 10th anniversary of Cleantech Forums, the annual gathering of the global clean technology innovation community. Our theme this year is “The Power of Global Partnerships,” an exploration of how strategic relationships are playing an ever more important role in the future of clean technology. For a $300 Discount use code "VIPofTriplePundit " More Info.SF: April 10-12 Navigating the American Carbon World: The must-attend event for professionals in the carbon landscape. Over the past decade, NACW has consistently provided informative content, thoughtful discussions and outstanding opportunities for collaboration.Have your event listed here.
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