CSRwire Press Releases, Events and Reports

InterContinental Miami goes 100% Green with Wind Power

02.03.2012 - 01:02PM

Luxury hotel InterContinental Miami today announced that it has partnered with Greenlight Energy to purchase 15,467,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of wind power in 2012. The purchase is part of a broader corporate-wide sustainability strategy and makes InterContinental Miami the largest green power purchaser in Florida to be named to the most recent 100% Purchaser’s List maintained by the EPA’s Green Power Partnership. The purchase also earns the luxury hotel membership in the Partnership’s prestigious Leadership Club.

The EPA's Green Power Partnership is an industry-government partnership that helps increase the use of green power among leading U.S. organizations. Currently, there are over 1,300 EPA Green Power Partners that are collectively buying nearly 21 billion kWh of green power annually.

Beyond the use of renewable energy, InterContinental Miami has a broader sustainability focus that covers design, operations and technologies that reduce energy, water and waste, cut carbon emissions, improve guest health and comfort, reduce operating and maintenance costs and raise guest and staff awareness of sustainability issues.

“Our decision to go green was another way to reduce the environmental impacts associated with conventional electricity”, says Robert Hill, InterContinental Miami’s General Manager. “Our Hotel has a reputation as an active member of the community and part of that social responsibility lies in making green and sustainable operating decisions that set an example for others to follow.”

InterContinental Miami has partnered with New York-based green power supplier Greenlight Energy to provide renewable energy certificates (RECs) sourced from wind farms across the U.S. Because RECs are not tied to the physical delivery of electrons, they allow organizations to purchase green power from suppliers other than their local electricity provider. RECs help overcome a major barrier to renewable energy development - the fact that the best renewable resources may not be located close to population centers.

“We commend InterContinental Miami’s environmental leadership,” says Kelly Bennett, CEO of Greenlight Energy. “InterContinental Miami not only has incredible amenities and accommodations, but now they should be known as a hotel of choice in south Florida and in the U.S. for anyone with a focus on sustainability,” adds Bennett. All of the wind supplied by Greenlight Energy is certified by Center for Resource Solutions’ Green-e Energy certification program, ensuring that the purchase is sourced from new renewable generators that meet strict environmental and consumer protection standards.

The EPA estimates that InterContinental Miami’s purchase avoids an estimated 10,665 metric tons of carbon dioxide, which is the equivalent to the greenhouse gas emissions from 2,091 passenger vehicles each year or the carbon dioxide emissions from the electricity use of 1,330 average American homes for one year.

About InterContinental Miami
Celebrating 25 years as an icon of the Downtown Miami skyline, the InterContinental Miami is located at the crossroads of Miami's Business and Arts & Entertainment districts. A beacon for business and leisure travelers alike, the hotel rises 34 stories over the city with breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean, Biscayne Bay and the Port of Miami. The hotel features 641 luxury guest rooms, including 34 suites; 33 meeting rooms with over 101,000 square feet of meeting and exhibition space, including a spectacular Grand Ballroom and a 196-seat theater; 3 restaurants, including Table 40, the only Chef's Table in Downtown Miami; full-service fitness center and spa at mySpa Miami; and rooftop pool deck with gardens. The InterContinental Miami is a proud corporate citizen of the Miami-Dade community, invested through its annual InterContinental Miami Make-A-Wish Ball, Chefs With A Purpose, and other charitable events. For more information or to make reservations, contact the InterContinental Miami, 100 Chopin Plaza, Miami, Florida 33131, at 305-577-1000 or by visiting www.icmiamihotel.com.

About Greenlight Energy
Greenlight Energy is the first and only woman-owned renewable energy marketing company in the U.S. Industry pioneers since 2003, our founders have transacted over 5 billion kWh of RECs over their careers with some of the world's most recognizable brands. Helping clients support renewables, reduce emissions and drive sustainability throughout their operations is core to Greenlight Energy’s mission. Rethink. Go green. For more information, call (518) 499-3555 or go to www.gltenergy.com.

GBCHealth Business Action on Health Awards

02.03.2012 - 09:23AM

** APPLICATIONS CLOSING SOON! ***

Are you looking to gain widespread recognition for your program in global health? GBCHealth’s Business Action on Health Awards highlight innovative and results-oriented corporate achievements in tackling global health challenges.

Award-winning companies will enjoy many great benefits.

An opportunity to showcase their program at GBCHealth’s conference with an audience of business and global health leaders.
Visibility on our website and social media platforms.
Placement in a major international newspaper.

Applications close February 8 - so we urge you to get started soon!

The application process is simple - just log on to our online application form and tell us why your program deserves a GBCHealth Business Action on Health award: http://action.gbchealth.org/Awards/Application.php

You can find out more about the awards and the application process here: http://conference.gbchealth.org/awards.php

SAM (Sustainable Asset Management) Distinctions for Bombardier

02.02.2012 - 11:33AM

(Marketwire) - Following its fifth consecutive listing as an index component on both the Dow Jones Sustainability World and the Dow Jones Sustainability North America Indexes, Bombardier (TSX: BBD.A)(TSX: BBD.B) was awarded SAM Sector Mover and SAM Gold Class in this year's SAM Sustainability Yearbook 2012.

As the SAM Sector Mover, Bombardier ranks within the top 15% of its sector, Aerospace & Defence, and has achieved the largest proportional improvement in its sustainability performance over last year. Additionally, Bombardier received the SAM Gold Class award, ranking within 1% of the Sector Leader's score.

"These awards represent international recognition of our sustainability practices and are a testament to our performance over the past year. These results are a significant achievement in CSR at Bombardier and our commitment to continue moving forward responsibly," said Me Daniel Desjardins, Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Social Responsibility Committee Chairman, Bombardier Inc.

Sustainable Asset Management (SAM) provides benchmark indicators of sustainability. SAM has been assessing and documenting th sustainability performance of over 2,000 corporations on a yearly basis since 1999, and currently holds one of the largest global databases on corporate sustainability. The world's 2,500 largest companies (based on the Dow Jones Global Total Stock Market Index) are invited to participate in SAM's Corporate Sustainability Assessment every year. The survey results determine inclusion in the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes. Only the top 15% from each of the 58 SAM sectors qualify for inclusion in the Sustainability Yearbook.

The Corporate Sustainability Assessment evaluates criteria within the Economic Dimension, the Environmental Dimension and the Social Dimension. SAM assessed 19 of the total 31 companies within the Aerospace and Defence sector.

For more information about CSR at Bombardier, visit our dedicated website www.csr.bombardier.com For more information about the SAM Sustainability Yearbook 2012, visit: http://www.sam-group.com/int/sustainability-insight/the-sustainability-yearbook.jsp

About Bombardier

A world-leading manufacturer of innovative transportation solutions, from commercial aircraft and business jets to rail transportation equipment, systems and services, Bombardier Inc. is a global corporation headquartered in Canada. Its revenues for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2011, were $17.9 billion, and its shares are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (BBD). Bombardier is listed as an index component to the Dow Jones Sustainability World and North America indexes. News and information are available at www.bombardier.com or follow us on Twitter @Bombardier.

Pre-Order Your Copy Of The 2012 Who’s Who Of CSR

02.02.2012 - 10:00AM

The Ethical Performance 2012 CSR Professional Services Directory will be published in early February, and you can pre-order your copy for £29.95 ($47, €35). This is the directory’s seventh year and the print version is the only one of its kind.

This year's 84-page full-colour edition contains details of 593 organisations worldwide that provide services in the corporate responsibility field.

With listings under 57 categories, the directory is an indispensable guide to what's on offer. So whether you're searching for consultants, academic institutions, rating agencies, ethical auditors, training providers or research organisations, you should find them here.

To order your copy, visit ethicalp.com/dirpre12a

Alternatively, you can email us on directory@ethicalperformance.com or call us on
+44 (0)1227 720 900

Kohl's Cares(R) Scholarship Program Accepting Nominations February 1 - March 15 For Outstanding Young Volunteers

02.02.2012 - 08:00AM

The Kohl’s Department Stores (NYSE: KSS) Kohl’s Cares^®Scholarship Program will award more than $420,000 in scholarships and prizes, ranging from $50 Kohl’s gift cards to $10,000 scholarships, to more than 2,200 young volunteers who have made a positive impact on their communities. Nominations for kids ages six to 18 will be accepted February 1 – March 15 at kohlskids.com. Kohl’s is helping promising youth further their education at a time when college tuition continues to increase yearly – a challenge to many American families who face high unemployment and stagnant incomes.*

“Through the Kohl’s Cares^®Scholarship Program, Kohl’s recognizes young volunteers who dedicate their time, energy and passion to helping others and bettering the communities we live in,” said Julie Gardner, Kohl’s executive vice president and chief marketing officer. “During a time of economic uncertainty and high tuition costs, it’s important to support extraordinary kids by investing in their future. We encourage parents, teachers, neighbors and friends to nominate outstanding young volunteers at kohlskids.com.”

To nominate volunteers ages six to 18 for a Kohl’s Cares scholarship, visit kohlskids.com. Nominations are accepted February 1 through March 15, and nominators must be 21 years or older. Two nominees from each of the more than 1,100 Kohl’s stores nationwide will win a $50 Kohl’s gift card, and more than 200 will win regional scholarships worth $1,000 toward post-secondary education. Ten national winners will be awarded a total of $10,000 in scholarships for post-secondary education and Kohl’s will donate $1,000 to a nonprofit organization on each national winner’s behalf.

Through the Kohl’s CaresScholarship Program, Kohl’s aims to honor young volunteers who have made a positive impact on their communities. Since the program began in 2001, Kohl’s has recognized more than 15,000 kids with more than $3 million in scholarships and prizes. In 2012, Kohl’s celebrates its 12^th year of rewarding young volunteers.

In 2011, Kohl’s honored national winner Sarah Kladar, 12, who sold approximately 5,000 dishtowels and with the nearly $50,000 raised, helped financially-burdened families pay for surgery-related expenses that were not covered by insurance. Regional winner Jaimus Ready, 8, was recognized for assembling and sending more than 350 care packages to soldiers in Afghanistan filled with candy, clothing and homemade cards from local school children.

The Kohl’s Cares®Scholarship Program is part of Kohl’s Cares®, Kohl’s philanthropic program focused on improving the lives of children. Kohl’s Cares® benefits children’s health and education initiatives nationwide through its merchandise program, featuring special books and plush toys where 100 percent of net profit benefits children’s initiatives; fundraising gift cards for schools and youth serving organizations and the Associates in Action associate volunteer program. For more information or a list of past Kohl’s CaresScholarship Program winners, visit kohlskids.com.

About Kohl’s Department Stores

Based in Menomonee Falls, Wis., Kohl’s (NYSE: KSS) is a family-focused, value-oriented specialty department store offering moderately priced, exclusive and national brand apparel, shoes, accessories, beauty and home products in an exciting shopping environment. With a commitment to environmental leadership, Kohl’s operates 1,127 stores in 49 states. In support of the communities it serves, Kohl’s has raised more than $180 million for children’s initiatives nationwide through its Kohl’s Cares® cause merchandise program, which operates under Kohl's Cares, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Kohl's Department Stores, Inc. For a list of store locations and information, or for the added convenience of shopping online, visit www.Kohls.com.

*Justin Pope. “College Prices Up Again As States Slash Budgets.” The Associated Press. 2011.

TEDxManhattan "Changing the Way We Eat" 2012: Issues, Impacts & Innovation

02.02.2012 - 08:00AM

On a snowy Saturday in January, more than 350 attendees, 60 viewing parties, and 9,000+ online viewers attended and tuned in to watch 17 leaders in the world of sustainable agriculture and food speak about the state of agriculture, challenges to our food system, and innovative advances in the field. Most of the speakers have several advanced degrees, awards and impressive resumes. But it was the teacher from the South Bronx, Stephen Ritz, who brought the house down and earned the only standing ovation of the day with his talk on Growing a New Kind of Green Economy.

“The South Bronx is the poorest Congressional district in the country” he said, “and my hope is that my reach will exceed my grasp.” Working with his “kids,” underserved teenage students in the South Bronx, he developed the first “indoor edible wall” in New York City. Attendance in his class has jumped from 40 percent to over 90 percent, and his students are graduating and going to college. His “kids” have been asked to help share their technology and expertise with other schools, have helped put an edible garden on the John Hancock building in Boston and spent the summer in the Hamptons building a rooftop garden. “It’s simple,” says Ritz, who is teaching his third generation of students in the Bronx. “just show your Passion.”

Be inspired. Watch Stephen Ritz’s video and start changing the way your community eats – and thinks.

TEDxManhattan, an independently organized event licensed by TED, will be releasing the remaining talks from its January 21 event in the next couple of weeks at www.tedxmanhattan.org/2012talks/. Learn from speakers that include Consumer Reports Urvashi Rangan, who oversees their Consumer Safety and Sustainability Group and discusses problems with food labeling; Wayne Pacelle, President and CEO of the Humane Society of the United States who shares his thoughts on the feelings and lives of farm animals, and President of Stone Barns Fred Kirschenmann, whose talk teaches us that soil is so much more than just dirt.

A DVD of the talks will be released in the Spring and photos of the event can be found on Flickr. For more information, please email TEDxManhattan@gmail.com; media can contact geralyn@resourcescommunications.com or telephone her at 281. 980.6643.

The Glynwood Institute for Sustainable Food and Farming is the lead sponsor and host for TEDxManhattan 2012.

About TEDx, x = independently organized event

In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like* experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for

the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized. *TED is a nonprofit organization devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading. Started as a four-day conference in California 25 years ago, TED has grown to support those world-changing ideas with multiple initiatives. For more information about TED and TEDx, please visit www.ted.com.

About TED

TED is a nonprofit organization devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading. Started as a four-day conference in California 25 years ago, TED has grown to support those world-changing ideas with multiple initiatives. The annual TED Conference invites the world's leading thinkers and doers to speak for 18 minutes. Their talks are then made available, free, at TED.com. TED speakers have included Bill Gates, Al Gore, Jane Goodall, Elizabeth Gilbert, Sir Richard Branson, Nandan Nilekani, Philippe Starck, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Isabel Allende and UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

Follow TED on Twitter at www.twitter.com/TEDTalks, or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TED.

The Dannon Company Announces 2012 Dannon Next Generation Nutrition Grants

02.01.2012 - 06:21PM

Applications for the seventh annual Dannon Next Generation Nutrition^® grants are now available on the Dannon website under the ‘Dannon Cares’ section http://dannon.com/dannoncares.aspx. Applications are due by March 30, 2012.

Dannon will award grants of $30,000 to four nonprofits for programs that promote healthy eating and support nutrition education for children within each of the four communities where a Dannon facility is located – Salt Lake County, Utah; Tarrant County, Texas; Westchester County, New York; and Shelby, Mercer, Darke, and Auglaize counties in Ohio. To qualify for funding, organizations must be designated as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and must already be engaged in a nutrition education program for children up to age 18, or be able to launch such an initiative in 2012.

Dannon established the Dannon Next Generation Nutrition^® grant program in 2006 to promote childhood nutrition education in communities. Each organization that receives a grant creates a program that helps children develop life-long habits for good nutrition and exercise.

In 2011 alone, $120,000 in grants benefited nearly 4,000 children and families nationwide; and since the inception of the Dannon Next Generation Nutrition^® grant program, more than $700,000 has benefited nearly 18,000 children and their families.

For questions about Dannon’s grant application process, please call 914-872-8672.

About The Dannon Company, Inc.

The Dannon Company is America’s founding national yogurt company and continually leverages its expertise to develop and market innovative cultured fresh dairy products in the United States. Headquartered in White Plains, NY, Dannon has plants in Minster, OH, Fort Worth, TX, and West Jordan, UT and produces approximately 100 different types of flavors, styles and sizes of cultured fresh dairy products. Dannon is a subsidiary of Danone, one of the world’s leading producers of packaged foods and beverages, and Dannon is the top-selling brand of yogurt products worldwide, sold under the names Dannon and Danone.

With a strong commitment to high-quality, wholesome, nutritious, and innovative products, The Dannon Company is committed to encouraging people to eat a balanced diet and live a healthy lifestyle. In 2010, for the tenth year in a row, Danone was listed on the Dow Jones Sustainability Index, a worldwide reference for socially responsible businesses. Danone is a recognized leader for its contributions to nutrition and health and was ranked best in class in a 2008 JPMorgan & Insight Investment study about the response of the world’s largest food companies to obesity and health-related concerns. This commitment is also illustrated through The Dannon Company’s support of the Dannon Institute, an independent, non-profit foundation dedicated to promoting research, education, and communication about the links between nutrition, diet and health. For more information, please visit www.dannon.com.

Sustainability Roundtable Gives Strong Outlook for the Future of Municipalities, Corporations, and Government

02.01.2012 - 06:03PM

On the evening of January 25^th, 2012, the Centre for Sustainability and Excellence (CSE), in partnership with CSRwire and the Illinois Chamber of Commerce, hosted a Sustainability Roundtable Discussion and reception at the Hotel Monaco in Chicago. An engaged audience featuring some of Chicagoland’s largest and most sustainable companies and organizations, including Allstate Insurance, Illinois Tool Works, and R.R. Donnelley, came out for a discussion on the topic “Using Sustainability to Mitigate Risk During Economic Turbulence.”

The evening’s first presenter was Karen Weigert, Chief Sustainability Officer for the City of Chicago. Ms. Weigert communicated to the audience the City’s push for more efficient systems of transportation, waste reduction, and natural resource protection & restoration. She also reinforced the position of Mayor Emanuel’s administration to adhere to the Chicago Climate Action Plan.

Following Ms. Weigert was Doug Widener, Executive Director of the U.S. Green Building Council – Illinois Chapter who articulated the fiscal and environmental advantages of implementing the suite of rating systems known as Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) for the design, construction, and operation of high performance green buildings, homes, and neighborhoods. Mr. Widener also noted that Chicago had more LEED certified buildings than any other city on the planet with 47.

Herbert Lust, Director of Strategy, Global Corporate Citizenship at Boeing provided examples to dispel the myth of any conflict between environmental stewardship and economic growth. Mr. Lust touted Boeing’s use of biofuels as an alternative to petroleum-based jet fuels, and the company’s mentality of engineering products and systems (R&D goes toward benefitting and addressing environmental performance).

The evening’s final presenter, Menno Enters, Director of Energy and Sustainability at Walgreen's, began with personal anecdotes from his childhood that gave rise to his enthusiasm for sustainability today. Mr. Enters touched on many of Walgreens’ initiatives including the use of geothermal energy, solar panels, and internal training and education on sustainability.

“We are at a critical juncture where integrating sustainability into the corporate and governmental strategy and framework must be addressed as priorities,” stated Nikos Avlonas, President of CSE and moderator for the Roundtable. “We facilitate events such as tonight’s Roundtable not to pat ourselves on the back for the work we’ve done, but to engage with our peers in sharing best practices, addressing challenges, and pushing the sustainability movement forward.”

CSE is an international advisory, coaching and training organization with offices in the U.S., Greece, and Belgium. CSE specializes in sustainable development solutions and works with private and public sector clients for the advancement of sustainability, within their operations and organizational framework.

Sustainability Education from CSE

The Centre for Sustainability and Excellence has hosted Roundtable Discussions on various topics of Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in cities across the U.S., including New York, Atlanta, and Washington, DC. CSE Roundtables have featured panel members from the Global Reporting Initiative, the City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Sustainability, Sustainable Atlanta, and the Sustainable Business Network of Washington (SB NOW), among others.

On March 8-9, 2012, CSE will be hosting its Certified Sustainability (CSR) Practitioner Training in Chicago, IL. CSE will also be hosting its Certified Carbon Footprint Practitioner Training on April 26-27, 2012 in Chicago. Early registration discounts are applicable one month prior to training date.

At present, more than 250 CSR Practitioners in over 25 countries are certified under the CSE. To view CSE’s complete 2012 training schedule, visit us on the web at www.cse-northamerica.org.

First Peoples Worldwide Announces Partnership with Trillium Asset Management

02.01.2012 - 02:00PM

First Peoples Worldwide (FPW), a global indigenous nonprofit dedicated to strengthening Indigenous Peoples, today announced a new partnership with Trillium Asset Management. Under the terms of the partnership, Trillium is undertaking custom research and shareholder advocacy focused on how corporate policies and programs can better protect and enhance Indigenous Peoples’ rights.

Founded in 1997 by widely acclaimed advocate Rebecca Adamson, FPW supports projects that preserve biodiversity, identify contemporary applications for traditional knowledge, mitigate the impact of climate change, and advocate free prior informed consent.

Adamson, a Cherokee, has developed creative, mutually beneficial economic models since 1970 and was just interviewed for the 2013 PBS series entitled “Women Who Make America.” Her work includes creating the first microloan fund in the United States, the first tribal investment model, a national movement for reservation land reform, and legislation that established new standards of accountability regarding federal trust responsibility for Native Americans.

First Peoples’ new small grants fund, Keepers of the Earth, makes grants directly to communities in ways that ensure capital is engaged to reflect cultural values. It is an effective platform for donors who want 100 percent of their monies directed to some of the most remote grassroots communities in the world. FPW is the only organization worldwide that distributes global grants using the collaborative intelligence of indigenous wisdom to address contemporary challenges in areas of wealth, environment and cultural preservation.

In keeping with Rebecca’s ongoing focus on innovation, she looked to Trillium to help build a new partnership to promote Indigenous voices in the corporate boardroom.

Trillium is the oldest independent investment firm focused exclusively on Sustainable and Responsible Investing. Under this partnership, Trillium is leveraging its expertise in corporate responsibility research and advocacy as well as its deep ties within the sustainable investing community. This collaboration culminates in a FPW publication called “Corporate Engagement Strategies: Indigenous Partnerships for Best Practice Solutions.”

As part of this publication, Trillium is providing FPW with regular research updates examining best practices in corporate America and reviewing new developments in legal cases and local and national legislation.

Trillium is also helping FPW engage in broader policy discussions around corporate responsibility. For example, Trillium helped FPW provide formal input into the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Guidelines’ next generation framework. A recent letter signed by Rebecca Adamson, and supported by Trillium, makes the case that the current GRI reporting guidelines can be significantly improved by developing indicators that more explicitly address the reporting organizations’ impact on Indigenous communities and how well companies are equipped to anticipate, forestall and mitigate negative impacts.

According to CEO Matt Patsky, “We believe Trillium Asset Management is uniquely positioned to work with First Peoples in developing cutting edge research and advocacy on Indigenous peoples’ issues. We have been integrating these issues into our investment process since our founding in 1982.”

Rebecca Adamson said of the partnership, “Our partnership with Trillium signifies one of the first genuine platforms for Indigenous grassroots voices to be heard by corporate America. Trillium’s deep understanding of research and advocacy related to corporate sustainability policies is a powerful springboard that drives grassroots voices into the boardroom.”

This partnership illustrates well Trillium’s ability to provide custom research and advocacy services on behalf of other groups of investors. Trillium believes there may be a strong demand for such a service from a variety of investor groups.

This partnership is a natural extension of the work Trillium has undertaken for some time to address Indigenous peoples’ rights. Trillium was one of the first investment companies to explicitly reference Native American and Indigenous peoples’ rights as a specific area of focus in its sustainable investment criteria. Trillium also addresses these issues through dialogue and shareholder proposals with some of the largest companies in America.

First Peoples Worldwide is a global development nonprofit based in Fredericksburg, VA with expertise in indigenous management principles and solutions for best practice in corporate strategies. The FPW flagship fund Keepers of the Earth links donors directly with communities all over the world by making small grants in ways that successfully apply indigenous intelligence and support economically effective platforms for positive change.

Trillium Asset Management, LLC is the oldest independent investment advisor devoted exclusively to sustainable and responsible investing. With over $950 million in assets under management, Trillium has been managing equity and fixed income investments for high net worth individuals, foundations, endowments, religious institutions, and other non-profits since 1982. A leader in shareholder advocacy and public policy work, Trillium's goal is to deliver both impact and performance to its investors.

Solar Electric Light Fund Launches "Energy Is A Human Right” Campaign

02.01.2012 - 01:52PM

The Solar Electric Light Fund (SELF), a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit working to eliminate energy poverty through the use of solar power, today announced that it is launching “Energy is a Human Right,” a campaign to provide a voice to the nearly 1.5 billion people around the world living without access to electricity and other forms of modern energy. It is also calling upon the international development community and general public to join the campaign by visiting www.EnergyIsAHumanRight.com to show their support for those living in energy poverty, and to learn how they can help provide energy access to assist in their economic, education, health and agricultural development.

“For the last 15 years, SELF has always believed and said that energy is essential for life,” says Bob Freling, Executive Director, SELF. “Access to energy is foundational to achieving a broad range of basic human rights and all of the Millennium Development Goals. Without it, life is very, very difficult as I’m sure 1.5 billion people can attest to.”

Through its Whole Village development model, SELF works hand-in-hand with communities to create and implement innovative solar energy solutions to improve people’s health and education, ensure food and water security, and spur economic development. Recently, it made a commitment to the United Nation’s Sustainable Energy for All Initiative to continue scaling up this model in Benin, West Africa by installing solar systems to power water systems, schools, health clinics, community centers, and street and household lighting systems. Mr. Freling is also co-chairing the initiative’s Working Group on Energy and Health, which will be examining ways to provide access to renewable energy sources for hospitals and health care clinics to support medical services.

“We proudly support the U.N. initiative and look forward to closely working with them to provide universal access to energy to those in need,” says Freling. “Our hope in launching this human rights campaign is to call attention to the critical role energy can play in helping people lift themselves out of poverty and create a better life.”

About SELF

The Solar Electric Light Fund is a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit whose mission is to implement solar energy solutions in developing countries to assist rural communities with economic, education, health and agricultural development. Its “Whole Village” development model takes an innovative approach in using integrated solar systems to improve the lives of the 1.5 billion people living in energy poverty throughout the world. Since 1990, SELF has completed projects in more than 20 countries, pioneering unique applications of solar power for drip irrigation in Benin, health care in Haiti, telemedicine in the Amazon rainforest, online learning in South Africa, and microenterprise development in Nigeria. Connect with SELF on the web at www.SELF.org; on Twitter @solarfund; and at www.Facebook.com/solarelectriclightfund.

Couple Makes Multi-Million Dollar Commitment to Screen Every Newborn Baby for "Bubble Boy" Disease

02.01.2012 - 12:22PM

/PRNewswire/ - Frustrated with the slow pace of implementation of newborn screening for Severe Combined Immune Deficiency (SCID), Vicki and Fred Modell decided to coordinate and fund the effort themselves. Today, they announced a multi-million dollar commitment to screen every baby born in every state for this life threatening condition, often referred to as "bubble boy disease."

The Modells established the Jeffrey Modell Foundation (JMF) 25 years ago in memory of their son Jeffrey, who lost his battle with Primary Immunodeficiency (PI) at the age of 15. There are more than 150 genetic defects that are classified under the umbrella of PI. The NIH estimates that at least 500,000 Americans are affected and most are undiagnosed. SCID is the most serious of the disorders and is characterized by experts as a "Pediatric Emergency."

Babies born with SCID fail to develop a functional immune system. They appear normal and healthy at birth, causing delayed diagnosis until they are repeatedly hospitalized for life threatening infections. Undetected and untreated, SCID leads to death before the baby's first birthday. But with Newborn Screening, they can now be diagnosed and then cured with a bone marrow transplant. The cost of the screening test, called TRECs, is $4 per baby. To date, the Jeffrey Modell Foundation has contributed over $3 million towards programs of Newborn Screening. Affected babies with SCID are already being identified, transplanted, and cured in several states, including California, New York, Wisconsin, Massachusetts, and Louisiana. Overall, only 50 percent of all babies born in the United States live in states that screen for SCID or have stated their intention to screen if funding is available.

Mike and Missy Bornheimer were lucky enough to have lived in Wisconsin (the first state to screen). Her baby, Dawson, was born with SCID and was screened, diagnosed, treated, and cured and now is a healthy three and half year-old boy. Missy offered Testimony to the Secretary's Advisory Committee on Heritable Disorders in Newborns and Children in Washington, D.C. on January 21, 2010. The Committee voted the same day to recommend adding the SCID test to the core panel of newborn screening tests. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius approved the recommendation shortly thereafter.

"Two years later, we are just approaching halfway to completing our mission so that every baby in every state can be screened for this fatal disease and those afflicted can be cured," according to Fred Modell. "We have not raised all of the funds as yet, but we are confident."

Vicki Modell added, "We have heard from too many grieving parents whose babies were tragically lost to SCID. But now that we can screen and cure babies that are affected, we just can't stand by for another day, and watch precious babies die. We will be offering funding to every state that implements a Population Screening Program for SCID. This is an historic journey and we hope to wipe out this fatal disease forever."

About Jeffrey Modell Foundation

Vicki and Fred Modell established the Jeffrey Modell Foundation in 1987, in memory of their son Jeffrey, who died at the age of fifteen from complications of Primary Immunodeficiency – a genetic condition that is chronic, serious, and often fatal. JMF is a global nonprofit organization dedicated to early diagnosis, meaningful treatments and, ultimately, cures through research, physician education, public awareness, advocacy, patient support, and Newborn Screening.

For more information about PI, visit www.info4pi.org or email the Jeffrey Modell Foundation at info4pi@jmfworld.org.

Change Is In The Air: Preserve Joins The B Corp Ranks

02.01.2012 - 12:05PM

Preserve is proud to have become a Certified B Corporation™, a new framework to evaluate corporations based on their social and environmental policies and performance. Preserve, the leading maker of sustainable household products including toothbrushes, razors, tableware and kitchen tools, is in good company. Preserve joins a committed community of over 500 other Certified B Corporations coming from over 60 industries from Biotechnology to Education, representing $3 billion in collective revenues and $6.5 billion in capital under management. This third party certification asserts Preserve’s continued commitment to social responsibility and a ‘better’ way of doing business.

"Becoming a B Corporation was a fabulously rewarding experience for us. It gave us the process and format to put structure around our social mission and affirm for our entire team the essential components of the underlying mission driving Preserve since our founding,” states Eric Hudson, Founder and CEO of Preserve.

Since forming in 1995, Preserve has stayed true to its mission – using recycled and sustainable materials to create products that have strong design and functionality, but are fundamentally safe for consumers and less impactful on the Earth. Preserve believes in empowering its employees, customers and all the people involved with the Preserve brand to approach purchases more responsibly. For example, Preserve products, which are made of recycled #5 plastic, are also designed for recyclability. Furthermore, Preserve encourages recycling by creating take back systems for its products at their end of life. Preserve is best known for recycling Stonyfield yogurt cups and making them into toothbrushes, and then encouraging its customers to send the brushes back to be recycled again. Preserve’s mission directly supports the corporate accountability implicit in becoming a Certified B Corporation including commitment to social impact and environmental stewardship.

Preserve worked on the certification process with B Lab, the non-profit organization who conceived of the methodology in 2006 and has been administering it ever since with companies seeking to bring social and environmental issues to the forefront. The process for Preserve to become certified involved undergoing the B Impact Assessment. This is an evaluation of the company in five key areas which provides a comparable measure across companies of social and environmental performance. The areas measured include accountability, employees, consumers, community and environment. Companies undergoing this assessment must earn an established minimum total of points to receive certification. Preserve passed this level, receiving high marks in accountability driven by strong governance and transparency. The impact of these measures is to drive these companies to have accountability for their social and environmental performance which in effect strengthens the greater community.

Preserve is coming together with other like-minded consumer products companies including Seventh Generation, Patagonia and Method to become Certified B Corporations. These companies are setting themselves apart and providing both clarity and transparency to consumers so they can make the informed choices about the brands they purchase.

“Preserve is ‘proof of concept’ for a new way of doing business. Preserve is a model for other companies due to its pioneering work in creating sustainable consumer products and bringing together like-minded companies to create recycling systems for their products,” says Jay Coen Gilbert, B Lab co-founder. “We created B Lab to inspire a new breed of company and set a new standard for corporate accountability. Preserve has done this since its inception, and we are proud to have certified Preserve as a B Corporation.”

To learn more about B Corp and see Preserve’s B Corp profile, visit www.bcorporation.net/preserve

About Preserve

Preserve is the leading sustainable consumer goods company and producer of stylish 100% recycled household products. Preserve turns yogurt cups into toothbrushes and take-out containers into tableware. Through innovations in recycled materials and sustainable design, Preserve has been creating more resourceful ways to make everyday products for the kitchen, table, and bath since 1996. The company is powered by the recycling efforts of individuals and companies via its Preserve Gimme 5 program. This program accepts #5 plastics, 98% of which are not normally recycled—such as yogurt cups and other common household containers— transforming them into new Preserve products. All recycling and manufacturing is done in the USA. Preserve pioneers partnerships with premier product design, manufacturing, and sales and marketing firms to bring together thought leaders to drive industry change. Preserve empowers people to make everyday choices that are better for the earth while offering real solutions without compromise. Preserve products can be found at forward-thinking retailers like Whole Foods Market, Amazon.com, Trader Joe’s, Wegman’s, and a variety of grocery and natural food stores. Visit us online at www.preserveproducts.com

About B Corp

Certified B Corporations 1) meet rigorous standards of social and environmental performance; 2) legally expand their corporate responsibilities to include consideration of stakeholder interests; and 3) build collective voice through the power of the unifying B Corporation brand. As of January 2012, there are over 515 Certified B Corporations from over 60 industries, representing a diverse multi-billion marketplace.

About B Lab

B Lab is a nonprofit organization dedicated to using the power of business to solve social and environmental problems. B Lab drives systemic change through three interrelated initiatives: 1) building a community of Certified B Corporations to make it easier for all of us to tell the difference between “good companies” and just good marketing; 2) accelerating the growth of the impact investing asset class through use of B Lab’s GIIRS impact rating system by institutional investors; and 3) promoting supportive public policies, including creation of a new corporate form and tax, procurement, and investment incentives for sustainable business.

Opinion Poll: Small Businesses Say Weak Customer Demand, Not Regulations, Their Problem

02.01.2012 - 11:30AM

Small business owners say their main concern is weak customer demand, not regulations, according to independent opinion polling released today. In fact, when asked what would do the most to create jobs, small business owners’ top response was eliminating incentives to move jobs overseas. Reducing regulation came in fifth place.

Small business owners see government standards as an important tool to level the playing field with big business. In addition to protecting small businesses the vast majority of owners view regulations as a necessary component of a modern economy. Click here to read the report, based on a national survey of 500 small business owners, released today by the American Sustainable Business Council, Main Street Alliance and Small Business Majority.

“These survey results underscore what Main Street small business owners have been saying all along: we need more customers, more demand, not deregulation,” said Jim Houser, owner of Hawthorne Auto Clinic in Portland, Oregon, and a leader with the Main Street Alliance. “In fact, I’ve seen first-hand from over 35 years in the auto industry that smart standards help create jobs and promote innovation in the U.S. economy.”

“Despite the heated rhetoric, regulations simply aren’t small businesses’ top concern,” said John Arensmeyer, founder and CEO of Small Business Majority. “Small businesses can be the jobs engine we need to jumpstart the economy, but not if legislators are focusing on something that isn’t their top problem. Policymakers should listen to what real small businesses are saying and act accordingly.”

"With football at the top of everyone's mind, if we played the game with no rules the Super Bowl winner would come down to which team was bigger or willing to play dirtier," said Frank Knapp, Jr., Vice Chair of the American Sustainable Business Council and president and CEO of the South Carolina Small Business Chamber of Commerce. "Well, regulations are the rules of the game we call private sector competition. An overwhelming percent of small business owners agree that without fair regulations creating a level playing field, small businesses won't be able to compete against big businesses. From our perspective, the effort to kill regulations is big businesses’ way of rigging the game in their favor."

Key findings from the survey include:

Small business owners see their top problem as weak customer demand, not regulations: 34 percent cited weak customer demand as the most important problem for their business, while only 14 percent named government regulations.
On the question of what would do the most to create jobs, cutting regulations came in low on the list: the top response was eliminating incentives to move jobs overseas at 24 percent; reducing regulation was fifth at 10 percent.
Small business owners see an important role for standards and safeguards: 78 percent believe some standards are important to protect small businesses from unfair competition, and 76 percent believe regulations on the books should be enforced.
Small business owners see regulations as necessary for a modern economy: 93 percent agree their business can live with some regulation if it is fair, manageable and reasonable.
Small business owners express strong support for specific rules and standards: 78 percent support rules to prevent health insurance companies from increasing rates excessively, 84 percent support food safety standards, 80 percent support product safety standards and 80 percent support disclosure and regulation of toxic materials.
Small business owners support clean energy policies: 79 percent support ensuring clean air and water, and 61 percent support moving the country towards energy efficiency and clean energy.
Small businesses believe in streamlining government processes: 73 percent of respondents believe we should allow for one-stop electronic filing of government paperwork.

For more information on these poll findings, visit:
http://www.asbcouncil.org/poll_regulations.html

http://mainstreetalliance.org/5511/poll-regs-economy/

http://smallbusinessmajority.org/small-business-research/downloads/020112_Regulations_Poll_Report.pdf

Poll results reported in this statement represent findings from an Internet survey of 500 small business owners nationwide, commissioned by the American Sustainable Business Council, Main Street Alliance and Small Business Majority, and conducted by Lake Research Partners. The survey was conducted between December 8, 2011, and January 4, 2012. It has a margin of error of +/- 4.4%.

The American Sustainable Business Council is a network of business organizations representing over 100,000 companies and 200,000 business leaders. ASBC advocates for public policies that meet the realities of the 21st century global economy including strategic investments in workforce and infrastructure; standards and safeguards that promote innovation, prevent abuse and protect critical resources; and a new sustainable economic model that fosters a growing, economically-secure middle class. www.asbcouncil.org

The Main Street Alliance is a national network of state-based small business coalitions. MSA creates opportunities for small business owners to speak for themselves on issues that impact their businesses and local economies. www.mainstreetalliance.org

Small Business Majority is a national nonpartisan small business advocacy organization, founded and run by small business owners, and focused on solving the biggest problems facing America’s 28 million small businesses. We conduct extensive opinion and economic research and work with small business owners, policy experts and elected officials nationwide to bring small business voices to the public policy table. www.smallbusinessmajority.org

Hershey Will Offer Certified Chocolate Following Consumer-Driven Campaign

02.01.2012 - 11:26AM

The Hershey Company announced yesterday that it will make its first commitment to sourcing independently certified cocoa for its Bliss line by the end of 2012. The announcement was made days before International labor Right Forum was scheduled to run a Super Bowl ad highlighting Hershey’s use of child labor and follows a multi-year campaign that generated over 100,000 letters to Hershey, including from 50,000 supporters on Change.org, asking Hershey to improve its cocoa sourcing practices.

The “Raise the Bar, Hershey Coalition,” a group of responsible cocoa advocates led by Global Exchange, Green America, and International Labor Rights Forum, started the campaign after identifying Hershey as behind its competitors on addressing child labor, forced labor, and other abuses in the cocoa industry.

"It’s great to see Hershey's take this first step towards accountability in their supply chain. We will continue to push them to ensure a better price for cocoa farmers so they can stop depending on forced child labor," said Judy Gearhart, Executive Director of the International Labor Rights Forum. "The threat of a Super Bowl ad certainly increased the pressure, but Hershey’s new agreement is really the result of thousands of consumers, students, church congregations and community groups writing to them over the past two years.”

The Raise the Bar, Hershey Coalition has been increasing pressure on Hershey, including launching a petition on Change.org, creating “brand-jamming” photos and videos of Hershey products, blanketing the company’s Facebook wall in messages, organizing rallies at Hershey’s flagship stores, and delivering more than 100,000 letters from concerned consumers to Hershey’s corporate headquarters on Halloween.

“The Raise the Bar, Hershey! Coalition is excited to see Hershey listening to consumer demand for ethically sourced cocoa,” said Elizabeth O’Connell, fair trade campaigns director for Green America, “but we also recognize there is much more work to be done to fight child labor and other abuses in the cocoa industry, and we will continue to encourage Hershey to develop ethical sourcing practices.”

“The growth and ultimate success of Raise the Bar, Hershey’s petition on Change.org is incredible,” said Change.org Director of Organizing Amanda Kloer. “Hershey responded to consumer pressure with a significant improvement in cocoa sourcing transparency. It’s been empowering to watch this group of concerned organizations and individuals use Change.org’s tools to fight for changes at the Hershey Company.”

In response to Hershey’s announcement, eighth grader Jasper Perry-Anderson has created a follow-up campaign on Change.org, asking the Hershey Trust to ensure the Hershey Company expands its commitment to certified cocoa to all its products in the future.

Live signature totals from Raise the Bar, Hershey’s campaign:
http://www.change.org/petitions/hershey-raise-the-bar

Journalists interested in contacting Hershey’s public relations staff should try:
Andy McCormick, Vice President, Public Affairs
(717) 534-5739
amccormick@hersheys.com

Kirk Saville, Spokesperson
(800) 468-1714
ksaville@hersheys.com

The Raise the Bar, Hershey! Coalition is led by the following organizations:

GREEN AMERICA is the nation’s leading green economy organization. Founded in 1982, Green America (formerly Co-op America) provides the economic strategies, organizing power and practical tools for businesses and individuals to solve today's social and environmental problems. www.GreenAmerica.org

GLOBAL EXCHANGE is a membership-based international human rights organization dedicated to promoting social, economic and environmental justice around the world. www.GlobalExchange.org

INTERNATIONAL LABOR RIGHTS FORUM is an advocacy organization dedicated to achieving just and humane treatment for workers worldwide. www.LaborRights.org

For more information on Change.org, please visit:
http://www.change.org/about
Change.org is the world’s fastest-growing platform for social change — growing by more than 500,000 new members a month, and empowering millions of people to start, join, and win campaigns for social change in their community, city and country.

Risk, Opportunity, Scarcity - Sustainability Challenge for Oil, Gas and Mining

02.01.2012 - 10:58AM

As energy becomes scarcer innovative forms of extraction have emerged. Most prominent among these due to their controversy are fracking and oil sands.

Obama in his State of the Union address backed fracking alongside additional regulation requiring companies disclose the chemicals used in the process.

Keystone XL did not receive the Presidents backing amid claims the Congress imposed deadline did not give sufficient time to weigh the social and environmental impact. The more cynical might suggest it was simply too controversial a decision to take in an election year.

Regardless of the motives behind each decision the question must be posed, has the extractives industry ability to operate in increasingly complex and difficult environments been matched by implementation of a sufficiently robust social and environmental policy?

Fracking in the USA is seen as a potential holy grail on the road to diversifying energy supply and reducing foreign energy dependence. Environmentalists remind us of the potentially devastating harm fracking can cause to drinking water. Deepwater Horizon serves as a poignant reminder of failed risk mitigation as BP struggled to contain a leak occurring thousands of feet below the ocean floor.

The risk versus opportunity conundrum extends well beyond energy extraction. In the mining sector operations now take place in extreme environments ranging from the Canadian Arctic right through to conflict affected zones such as DR Congo and Liberia. Here risk mitigation isn't just environmental but also social. Infrastructure and regulatory capacity is often minimal whilst mining operations have a major impact on national GDP.

De Beers through its diamond mining activities generates 30% of GDP and 50% of government revenue in Botswana. Resource rich countries are become increasingly protective of their natural assets as energy and precious materials become scarcer. South Africa, Zambia, Australia, Zimbabwe and Columbia have all put forward plans to secure a greater slice of the pie.

The challenge is for extractives companies to engage with local and national stakeholders and develop positive long term relationships in order to retain all important community consent for operations and overcome resource nationalism . Resources are finite and the onus is on mining companies to develop sustainable social investment initiatives which will survive long after mine closure.

For a more in depth rundown of key social and environmental risk challenges including the keystone xl debate and resource nationalism download a free 15-page briefing pack.

You can get your copy here.

For further advice and best practice on social and environmental risk management for oil, gas and mining take a look at the conference on "How to manage social and environmental risk for oil, gas and mining". With 25+ expert speakers and about 100 corporate attendees expected, it's the leading conference dealing with this topic in Europe with BP, Chevron, De Beers, Anglo American and IFC among the participants.

Click here for more info. - http://j.mp/socialenvironmentalriskmanagement

The VWR Foundation Auction Raises $75,000 for Children's National Medical Center

02.01.2012 - 10:18AM

/PRNewswire/ - Continuing its mission to give back to the science community, the VWR Charitable Foundation raised $75,000 in an auction on January 16, 2012 benefiting Children's National Medical Center of Washington D.C.

The VWR Foundation hosts its annual auction during VWR International, LLC's North American Sales Meeting as a way to give back to the meeting's host city. This year, the Foundation chose Children's National Medical Center for its natural fit with all three pillars in the VWR Foundation's mission: research, health and well-being and science education. A check for $75,000 was presented to Children's National on January 17, 2012.

In addition to fundraising, auction attendees donated over 1,000 books for both patients and their parents to enjoy during hospital visits. The book drive was organized by VWR International, LLC's Women's Affinity Group.

"We are so grateful to the VWR Foundation and everyone who participated in this incredibly successful auction," said Pam King Sams, Executive Vice President for Development for Children's National. "These funds will support important research and care for so many children in the nation's capital, and help make their stay with us more comfortable."

About VWR Foundation

The VWR Charitable Foundation was established in January 2009 by a group of VWR International, LLC associates. In July 2009, the VWR Foundation distributed its first grant. Since then the organization has donated nearly $200,000 to various organization across America that are aligned with its mission. More information about the VWR Foundation, including a grant application can be found at www.VWRfoundation.org.

About VWR International, LLC

VWR International, LLC, headquartered in Radnor, Pennsylvania, is a global laboratory supply and distribution company. With 150 years of industry experience, VWR offers a well-established distribution network that reaches thousands of specialized labs and facilities spanning the globe. In addition, VWR further supports its customers by providing onsite services, storeroom management, product procurement, supply chain systems integration and technical services.

For more information on VWR, phone (800) 932-5000, visit www.vwr.com, or write, VWR International, LLC, Radnor Corporate Center, Building One, Suite 200, 100 Matsonford Road, Radnor, PA 19087.

VWR and design are registered trademarks of VWR International, LLC.

How to Manage Social and Environmental Risk for Oil, Gas and Mining

02.01.2012 - 10:04AM

Our 3rd annual social and environmental risk management conference provides best practice insight for oil, gas, mining and heavy industry. Robust debate, interactive discussion and problem solving with BP, Chevron, Rio Tinto, De Beers, ICMM and many more. In depth focused agenda covering, capacity building, stakeholder engagement, human rights and revisions to the IFC performance standards. A global event boasting 25+ speakers from Africa, Europe and North America. Gain months’ worth of research and valuable knowledge over a mere two days. For more information about speakers, agenda, discounts and delegate prices please click here.

The UPS Foundation Donates $6M To Champion Diversity

02.01.2012 - 10:00AM

UPS (NYSE:UPS) today announced almost 120 grants totaling more than $6 million to non-profit organizations around the world that champion diversity and support diverse communities.

For more than 60 years, UPS’s philanthropic arm has funded organizations that support under-served and under-represented members of society. This year’s grants will support a wide range of programs, including those for wounded veterans, the hearing and visually-impaired, women and girls and culturally distinct populations.

“Supporting diversity is the largest area of our funding,” said Ken Sternad, president of The UPS Foundation. “We have long sought to help bridge opportunity gaps in areas like economic empowerment, education, leadership, mentorship and advocacy. Through these grants, we are helping many great organizations improve lives and create opportunities.”

The grants being awarded include (in part):

More than $800,000 to the National Urban League to support Entrepreneurship Centers in several cities and other programs.
$750,000 to the National Council of La Raza toward the continued implementation of a regional strategy that focuses on capacity building for Hispanic community organizations.
$655,000 to the NAACP for educational programs and other events.
More than $450,000 in grants to organizations that support people with disabilities, primarily for programs around economic empowerment and transition into the workforce. Grant recipients include the National Organization on Disabilities, Paralyzed Veterans of America and National Federation of the Blind.
More than $450,000 to organizations that provide youth leadership and mentorship opportunities, including the 100 Black Men of America, Girls Inc., National Hispana Leadership Institute and the Japanese American Citizens League.
$250,000 to the United Negro College Fund (UNCF) and the UNCF Atlanta.
$235,000 toward college scholarships for Native American students through the American Indian College Fund and Brigham Young University.
$200,000 to the Organization of Chinese Americans (OCA), primarily to support the OCA-UPS Gold Mountain Scholarship program for “first-in-family” Asian American college students.
$185,000 to the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights for its education reform work.
$150,000 to three Atlanta-based historically Black colleges and universities (Spelman College, Morehouse College and Clark Atlanta University) for the UPS Community Service Scholars Program, a unique effort that combines academics with community service.
$150,000 to the Hispanic Scholarship Fund.
$100,000 to the Human Rights Campaign Foundation for its Workplace Project.

The UPS Foundation, which is responsible for facilitating community involvement to local, national and global communities, has led UPS’s corporate citizenship efforts for more than 60 years. In 2010, UPS and its employees, active and retired, invested more than $95 million in charitable giving around the world. The UPS Foundation can be found on the web at UPS.com/foundation. To learn about UPS's sustainability program and commitment to the environment, go to www.ups.com/sustainability.

New Research Finds Kids & Teens More Exposed to Character Education Volunteer More

02.01.2012 - 10:00AM

Results of a new research study released today, “It Starts with Character: Inspiring Kids & Teens to Volunteer” found that kids and teens who have more exposure to character-building skills, such as sharing, being kind and helping others, are more likely to volunteer in their communities, and with greater frequency. The study also found that parents and teachers say that media (TV, film, books, magazines, games, apps and Internet) can play an important role in communicating the value of character education. The study was commissioned by Scholastic Media – a division of Scholastic Inc., the global children’s publishing, education and media company – and HandsOn Network – the volunteer enterprise of Points of Light – and administered by C+R Research and MDR.

Among the study’s findings from parent, teacher, kid and teen respondents:

Parents (84 percent), teachers (78 percent), kids age 6–11 (73 percent), and teens age 12–17 (64 percent) say character-building skills are among the most important skills to develop along with academic skills in order to be successful in life.
The more kids and teens are exposed to character-building skills, the greater their level of interest in volunteering. Additionally, kids and teens who are more exposed to character-building skills volunteer more frequently.
Eighty-eight percent of parents and 93 percent of teachers believe that volunteering provides opportunities for children to build character.
Ninety-four percent of parents and 98 percent of teachers agree that media can play an important role in teaching kids the value of character education; 63 percent of teachers believe that kids would benefit from more media exposure to lessons about character-building skills.

“This study demonstrates the importance of having curriculum for the heart as well as the head,” said Francie Alexander, Senior Vice President of Scholastic Education and Chief Academic Officer of Scholastic Inc. “At Scholastic, we put the same value on preparing children for good citizenship as we do for careers and college.”

Findings Coincide With Launch of Fourth Annual ‘Clifford® BE BIG™ In Your Community’ National Contest to Inspire Service and Volunteerism

“This survey reinforces the importance of ensuring that kids are able to discover their power to make a difference in their communities at an early age,” said Michelle Nunn, CEO of Points of Light. “Programs like BE BIG encourage our next generation to act on their potential to make their mark on the world.”

The findings coincide with today’s launch of the fourth annual ‘Clifford BE BIG in Your Community’ national contest, which is designed to inspire engagement in service and volunteerism. Beginning today, the contest invites kids of all ages, teachers, parents and community leaders to submit proposals that demonstrate how Clifford’s BIG Ideas (Share, Help Others, Be Kind, Be Responsible, Play Fair, Be a Good Friend, Believe in Yourself, Have Respect, Work Together and Be Truthful) can make the world a better place. Submitted ideas vie for the chance to win up to $10,000 in community grants from the BE BIG Fund to be used to implement the winning proposals. The mission of the fund is to recognize and reward others for their BIG actions, to catalyze change in local communities, and to provide resources for everyone to share BIG ideas. Entry forms can be found at http://www.scholastic.com/cliffordbebig/contest/; those interested can also explore their local HandsOn Network action center for opportunities to serve in their community at http://www.handsonnetwork.org/actioncenters/map. Complete rules are online at www.scholastic.com/cliffordbebig/contestrules.*

Additional findings of the study include:

Teacher, kid and teen survey respondents name Clifford The Big Red Dog® as the character most associated with teaching character-building skills relative to other characters.
The vast majority of parents (96 percent), teachers (98 percent), kids (91 percent), and teens (81 percent) surveyed agree that Clifford’s BIG Ideas are valuable/important.

The study was commissioned to examine the role of the BE BIG™ program on civic engagement, as it continues to grow and inspire communities to engage in service. “It Starts with Character: Inspiring Kids & Teens to Volunteer” is a national online survey of more than 1,000 individuals – 250 parents of kids age 2–11, 251 kids age 6–11, 249 teens age 12–17, and 260 kindergarten through second-grade teachers. The sample was drawn from C+R Research and MDR online panels, and the survey was fielded from October 10, 2011 through October 25, 2011. The margin of error is +/– 5.2 percent at a 90 percent confidence level. The study results can be viewed online at mediaroom.scholastic.com/clifford and www.handsonnetwork.org/bebig.

* No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited.

About Scholastic
Scholastic Corporation (NASDAQ: SCHL) is the world’s largest publisher and distributor of children’s books and a leader in educational technology and related services and children’s media. Scholastic creates quality books, print, and technology-based learning materials and programs, magazines, multimedia and other products that help children learn both at school and at home. The company distributes its products and services worldwide through a variety of channels, including school-based book clubs and book fairs, retail stores, schools, libraries, on-air, and online at www.scholastic.com.

About Points of Light
Points of Light is the world’s leading volunteer organization, with more than 20 years of history and a bi-partisan presidential legacy. Our mission is to inspire, equip and mobilize people to take action that changes the world. We connect people to their power to make a meaningful difference, by providing access to tools, resources and opportunities to help volunteers use their time, talent, voice and money to meet the critical needs of our communities. We are organized to innovate, incubate and activate new ideas through our action networks, including: HandsOn Network, the largest network of 250 local volunteer centers across the country and around the world; generationOn, the youth service movement that ignites the power of kids to make their mark on the world; AmeriCorps Alums, the national service alumni network that activates the next generation of service leaders; and Points of Light Corporate Institute, which enables companies to engage their employees and customers in service. For more information, visit www.PointsofLight.org.

New Yorker Wins $50,000 In Examiner.com's America Inspired Contest

02.01.2012 - 09:56AM

/PRNewswire/ - Examiner.com, one of the nation's leading online publishers featuring local expertise from over 85,000 contributors (called Examiners), today announced Hideki Kinoshita as the Grand Prize winner of its America Inspired contest. Kinoshita, also known as Kino, has won the $50,000 cash prize award for his extraordinary work and inspiration throughout his community. Running Examiner Kimberly Bogin nominated Kino for the America Inspired contest.

Kino has used his passion for running to answer his calling of giving back. He ran 63 marathons and 10 ultra-marathons, including three 100-mile races and three 24-hour runs – all in the span of 39 months. Kino runs to raise money for charities that have a personal meaning to him, including the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCan), as Kino lost two loved ones to pancreatic cancer, and the World Trade Center Health Program, as he is native New Yorker. So far, Kino has raised $53,000 for these charities and in addition, has donated over $5,000 of his own money. Furthermore, Kino has pledged to raise over $50,000 for charities by running 26 100-mile races in 2013.

"We were incredibly moved to hear about the work and good deeds of so many people across the U.S.," said Ashish Kapur, COO, Examiner.com. "Since we opened this contest, we received close to 1,000 nominations from our Examiners, who are in the local communities and were able to surface these unsung heroes in their communities across the country. The America Inspired contest was a great way for us to honor those who have had a positive influence on their communities without expecting anything in return."

The competition set out to spotlight people in communities across America who inspire others across five categories including: leadership, sacrifice, overcoming adversity, passion and outstanding youth. Examiner.com contributors (Examiners) nominated almost 1,000 unique individuals from communities across the U.S. who inspire them and other local individuals each day.

The Examiner.com editorial team and advisory board, comprised of respected veteran journalists, chose 25 finalists for the contest. Public voting for America Inspired occurred from January 9, 2012 through January 27, 2012 to select the winner and runners up.

Kinoshita represented the passion category. The majority of Examiner.com readers voted for him over the 24 other finalists – to award him the grand prize. Additionally, four runners-up will each receive $10,000 for their inspirational work through leadership, sacrifice, overcoming adversity, and being an outstanding youth.

Cari Meyers, Leadership
Anthony D'Urso, Sacrifice
Sabrina Cohen, Overcoming Adversity
Sean Young, Outstanding Youth

About Examiner.com
Examiner.com is an enterprise-quality publishing and community platform where independent, self-motivated contributors write on topics that matter to them and share content at scale for audiences around the world. A leading content provider with more than 20 million unique monthly visitors, Examiner.com offers high-quality, relevant content from 85,000 contributors. The Examiner.com team and review board curates a rich content library of 2.5 million articles, with 2,300 original pieces of content added every day. Examiner.com is a division of the Clarity Digital Group, LLC, wholly owned by The Anschutz Company, one of the largest sports and entertainment companies in the world.

Hublot Presents amfAR New York Gala

02.01.2012 - 09:10AM

/PRNewswire/ - Hublot, the luxury Swiss brand which brings the "Art of Fusion" to watchmaking, is proud to present the amfAR New York Gala on February 8, 2012 honoring those who have led the global struggle against HIV/AIDS. The black-tie benefit, which will be hosted by Sarah Jessica Parker, will feature special performances by Janelle Monae and Theophilus London.

"We are excited to again join forces with amfAR in the fight against HIV/AIDS," says Hublot chairman Jean-Claude Biver. "Our first amfAR men's collection was very well received and we hope that these new women's designs will bring us one step further in accomplishing the goal of a world without HIV/AIDS."

To support amfAR's goal and following the success of the men's amfAR collection, Hublot created a second limited edition collection for women featuring the foundation's colors and logo. It features a black ceramic case, white mother of pearl dial, and a white gold bezel set with 48 baguette diamonds (also available in a steel bezel set with 114 circular diamonds for the non-limited edition). It houses a self-winding chronograph movement and a white alligator strap sewn on black rubber. As a commemoration to amfAR, the watch features the foundation's colors and logo at the 5 o'clock mark. As with the first collection, part of the proceeds will go to support amfAR.

The evening will feature a gala dinner, live auction, special performances, and honoree tributes. For this special occasion, Jean-Claude Biver and Hublot are pleased to announce the auction of the first timepiece 000/100 of the new Hublot amfAR collection engraved with the signature of amfAR Founding Chairman Dr. Mathilde Krim.

About Hublot
Hublot made its name 30 years ago when it became the first Swiss watch luxury brand to fuse precious metals with functional rubber, sparking a revolution for material innovation and aesthetics. In 2004, Mr. Jean-Claude Biver gave Hublot a great new boost and revolutionized watchmaking with the creation of the "Big Bang", which marked the start of the spectacular success of the brand. In just five years Hublot has become one of the most sought-out high-end watch brands with some of its timepieces making watch history, such as the One Million Dollar Big Bang, All Black Big Bang and Mag Bang watches. In 2008 Hublot was bought by the LVMH group with Jean-Claude Biver as CEO and leading the company's guiding principle of "Fusion," which combines unusual materials such as ceramic, tantalum, magnesium and titanium with a modern version of Hublot's rubber strap.

About amfAR
amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research, is one of the world's leading nonprofit organizations dedicated to the support of AIDS research, HIV prevention, treatment education, and the advocacy of sound AIDS-related public policy. Since 1985, amfAR has invested more than $340 million in its programs and has awarded grants to more than 2,000 research teams worldwide.

2012 Limited edition amfAR

TECHNICAL DETAILS

Series	341.CI.6019.LR.114.AMFR12 (carat version with baguette diamonds)
	Limited edition of 100 pieces numbered from 000/100 to 100/100

	341.CI.6019.LR.194.AMFR12 (diamonds version with circular diamonds)
	Non limited edition

Case	Big Bang - Diameter 41 mm – in black ceramic

Bezel	Black ceramic set with:
	- 114 circular diamonds (diamonds version) with steel black PVD treatment
	- 48 diamond baguette (carat version) with white gold black PVD treatment
	6 H-shaped titanium screws, countersunk, polished & locked.

Crystal	Sapphire with interior/exterior anti-reflective treatment
Bezel Lug	Black composite resin
Lateral inserts	Black composite resin
Crown	Polished Steel with blue rubber insert
Push-pieces	Steel with blue rubber inserts

Case-back	Black ceramic opened case-back
Water resistance	10 ATM or 100 metres

Dial	White mother of pearl dial with blue SuperLuminova™ indexes
	Logo AmfAR at 5.00

Hands	Polished black nickel hands with blue SuperLuminova™
	Yellow chronograph hand with polished & rhodium-plated H counterpoise

Movement	HUB4300 self-winding chronograph
Date	Trapezoid window at 4.30
Wristlet	Adjustable white alligator sewn on black rubber with blue and yellow stitching
Clasp	Steel Big Bang deployant buckle

Sainsbury's the Only UK Supermarket Named Among the Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations

02.01.2012 - 08:56AM

Sainsbury’s is the only UK supermarket Retailer to be recognised as one of the "Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations" by Corporate Knights Inc, an independent media company focused on sustainable development. The list is announced each year during the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, and includes the corporations that have been most proactive in managing environmental, social and governance issues, and those with strong strategic management capabilities, capacity for innovation and ability to respond to changing competitive forces.

Sainsbury’s recently unveiled a new £1 billion plan, which will ensure the company remains at the forefront of sustainability between now and 2020. The Sainsbury's 20 by 20 Sustainability Plan sets out 20 sustainability targets to be achieved by 2020. The targets are based on Sainsbury’s five corporate values:

Best for food & health – including Healthiest Baskets: We’ll continue to reduce salt, saturated fat, fat and sugar in our own brand products
Sourcing with Integrity – including Best for British: By 2020, we'll double the amount of British food we sell
Respect for our environment – including Operational carbon emission reduction: By 2020, we'll have reduced our operational carbon emissions by 30 per cent absolute and 65 per cent relative, compared with 2005.
Great Place to Work – including 20 years service: By 2020, 20,000 of our colleagues will have reached 20 years service at Sainsbury's.
Making a positive difference to our community – including New jobs and skills: By 2020, we'll create 50,000 new jobs in the UK.

Planned initiatives include carbon-saving technologies for new and existing stores that will drive down energy usage, thereby reducing energy costs. There will also be an increased focus on providing customers with more British food as the company seeks to double the amount it currently sells, as well as a target to increase sales of fairly traded products to £1 billion.

Stuart Wright, Corporate Responsibility Manager at Sainsbury’s, said: “We have long been recognised as one of the leading UK companies when it comes to sustainability. Our industry-leading 20 by 20 targets are intended to help shift everyday behaviour in favour of sustainability, while still providing the value and quality that UK shoppers demand. It will also help shoppers make more nutritious, sustainable and ethical purchasing decisions.”

To learn more about Sainsbury’s 20 by 20 Sustainability plan, please visit www.j-sainsbury.co.uk/responsibility

Notes to editors

Our strong ethical approach has been at the heart of our business, ever since we opened our first store back in 1869. Our five values provide the framework for how we do business at Sainsbury’s. They guide us in everything we do – from key business decisions to day-today activities. In the current economic climate our values remain just as relevant. Although customers are increasingly price-conscious, ethical and environmental issues remain important for them. We believe that by considering the wider social, environmental and economic impacts of our business, we are able to meet our customers’ expectations by acting responsibly on their behalf. This ultimately delivers long-term shareholder value by securing our future ability to grow as a profitable business.

Sainsbury’s 20 by 20 Sustainability Plan

Best for food and health

Healthiest baskets: Between now and 2020, we'll continue to reduce salt, saturated fat, fat and sugar in our own brand products and we will lead on providing clear nutritional information, enabling our customers to make informed choices.

No.1 for lighter alcohol, wines & beers: By 2020, we'll double the sales of lighter alcohol wine and reduce the average alcohol content (ABV) of own brand wine and beer.

Sourcing with integrity

Sustainably sourced raw materials: By 2020, we'll source all of our key raw materials and commodities sustainably to an independent standard.
No deforestation: By 2020, our own brand products won't contribute to global deforestation.
Sustainable fish: By 2020, all the fish we sell will be independently certified as sustainable and we'll strengthen our position as the leading retailer for sustainable seafood.
No.1 for Fairtrade: By 2020, our sales of fairly traded products will hit £1 billion.
Best for British: By 2020, we'll double the amount of British food we sell.
No. 1 for animal welfare: By 2020, all our meat, poultry, eggs, game and dairy products will be sourced from suppliers who adhere to independent higher welfare standards.
Improve supplier standards: By 2020, our suppliers will also be leaders in meeting or exceeding our social and environmental standards.

Respect for our enviroment

Water stewardship: By 2020, through robust water stewardship we'll ensure that our supply chain approach is sustainable in areas of water vulnerability.
Positive waste usage: By 2020, we'll put all waste to positive use.
Sustainable and innovative packaging: By 2020, we'll make sure that our own packaging has been reduced by a half compared to 2005.
Operational carbon emissions reduction: By 2020, we'll have reduced our operational carbon emissions by 30 per cent absolute and 65 per cent relative, compared with 2005 (this is part of our broader target of an absolute carbon reduction of 50 per cent by 2030).
Supplier carbon emissions reduction: By 2020, we'll have worked with our own brand suppliers to reduce carbon emissions across all of our own brand products by 50 per cent relative.

Making a positive difference to our community

Active youth: By 2020, we'll have encouraged over 20 million children to enjoy physical activity in the decade.
Charitable causes: By 2020, we'll have donated over £400 million to charitable causes in the decade.

A great place to work

New jobs and skills: By 2020, we'll create 50,000 new job opportunities in the UK and at least half of our colleagues will have received externally accredited training.
Long service: By 2020, 20,000 of our colleagues will have reached 20 years of service at Sainsbury's.
Sharing in success: By 2020, we'll increase the number of colleagues with shares in our business by 25 per cent.

Work opportunities for disadvantaged groups: By 2020, we'll have provided 30,000 people from disadvantaged groups with work opportunities.

Globe 2012 Tackles Pipeline and Electricity Infrastructure Challenges

01.31.2012 - 01:30PM

With public hearings currently underway for the proposed Northern Gateway pipeline project and the US’s recent rejection of TransCanada’s Keystone XL pipeline and several electricity projects underway across the country, the challenges of developing the pipeline and electricity infrastructure to support Canada’s energy resources have never been more apparent. In recognition of this, GLOBE 2012, being held March 14-16, 2012 in Vancouver, Canada, has added a special session on Energy Infrastructure: The Environment and Economy Debate.

“Energy infrastructure will determine if Canada can fully tap into the potential of its natural resources and reach international markets,” says John Wiebe, President and CEO of the GLOBE Foundation. “Successfully developing this infrastructure calls for a deep understanding of how to protect sensitive ecosystems and the interests of Aboriginal communities.”

This special session provides an opportunity to hear from key players engaged in this increasingly complex activity of North American development. The session will take a town hall approach to encourage a frank and constructive dialogue on issues surrounding pipeline and electricity infrastructure development including:

Tackling the environmental and economic dilemmas related to resource development and transport;
Reconciling seemingly conflicting interests between multiple businesses and stakeholders;
Identifying and working with the critical points of convergence and divergence in the future.

Participants will come away with an understanding of mitigating the challenges involved in developing energy infrastructure responsibly.

As one of the world’s largest and longest-running series dedicated to the business of the environment GLOBE 2012 will feature social gatherings, workshops, and related meetings, offering GLOBE participants well-rounded opportunities to meet fellow attendees, build social networks, exchange views and do business. GLOBE’s world-renowned Trade Fair will feature more than 400 exhibitors showcasing the latest in green, clean technologies, innovations and services.

With participants expected from over 50 countries and a presence from China, Germany, Japan, Austria, France, Poland, United Kingdom, United States, Switzerland, Taiwan, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Columbia, Brazil, Israel, Italy, Korea, Mexico, Portugal, Spain, and Canada already confirmed – GLOBE 2012 will offer a truly international experience.

For more information visit: www.GLOBESeries.com.

Find us on Twitter: @GLOBE_Series

About GLOBE

GLOBE 2012 is produced by the GLOBE Foundation, an international consultancy organization in the business of the environment. GLOBE’s expertise lies in project management, event development, and management and consulting in the fields of environment and energy, urban development, and corporate responsibility. The GLOBE Foundation is North America’s longest operating producer of environmental events.

Volkswagen of America Sponsors MoMA PS1 Performance Dome, Which Launches February 5 With Weekly "Sunday Sessions"

01.31.2012 - 12:27PM

/PRNewswire/ - Volkswagen of America today announced the inauguration of a new performance dome at MoMA PS1, as part of its ongoing, innovative partnership with MoMA and MoMA PS1. The Volkswagen-sponsored MoMA PS1 Performance Dome will allow for expanded winter programming in MoMA PS1's iconic courtyard, namely weekly "Sunday Sessions," which will launch Sunday, February 5 and continue every Sunday through May 13, 2012.

Weekly "Sunday Sessions" in the MoMA PS1 Performance Dome will feature an amalgam of artistic programming—from light, sound, and music installations to lectures by world-renowned scholars and special performances. Various other galleries and rooms inside of the former schoolhouse will also be activated during these weekly sessions. The inaugural celebration of the dome on February 5 will feature a special performance by musician Nicolas Jaar and collaborators Will Epstein, Dave Harrington and Sasha Spielberg, presented by MoMA PS1, Pitchfork, and Clown & Sunset Aesthetics (CSA). The five-hour, continuous piece will combine recording, sampling, and looping techniques with analogue instrumentation and sound-derived video from CSA's resident filmmaker Ryan Staake as well as a movement piece from Lizzie Fiedelson LIVE in the MoMA PS1 Performance Dome.

Details about additional "Sunday Sessions" schedules will be forthcoming.

About the Volkswagen, MoMA, and MoMA PS1 Partnership

The Museum of Modern Art, MoMA PS1, and Volkswagen began a two-year partnership in 2011 that supports exhibitions and education at MoMA and at MoMA PS1. The major components of the partnership are the support for an international contemporary art exhibition at MoMA PS1 in 2013, and the expansion of MoMA's online course offerings beginning in March 2012. It also includes sponsorship of a series of installations in MoMA's Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Sculpture Garden and new initiatives to take place in 2012.

This unprecedented partnership supports MoMA and MoMA PS1's leadership role in contemporary art and culture, and our goal of reaching a diverse and global audience. As part of the partnership with Volkswagen, Klaus Biesenbach, Director of MoMA PS1 and Chief Curator at Large at MoMA, is currently engaged in extensive research to scout artists working in multiple mediums throughout the world. A major exhibition filling MoMA PS1's entire gallery space, and utilizing the new MoMA PS1 Performance Dome, will open in 2013, highlighting artists who are reacting to the pressing questions of the 21st century with its interrelated ecological, economical, spiritual, ethnographic, political, and social challenges.

About MoMA PS1

MoMA PS1 is one of the largest and oldest organizations in the United States solely devoted to contemporary art. Established in 1976 by Alanna Heiss, MoMA PS1 originated from The Institute for Art and Urban Resources, a not-for-profit organization founded five years prior with the mission of turning abandoned, underutilized buildings in New York City into artist studios and exhibition spaces. P.S.1 Contemporary Art Center, as it then was known, became an affiliate of The Museum of Modern Art in 2000.

About Volkswagen of America, Inc.

Founded in 1955, Volkswagen of America, Inc. is headquartered in Herndon, Virginia. It is a subsidiary of Volkswagen AG, headquartered in Wolfsburg, Germany. Volkswagen's operations in the United States include research and development, parts and vehicle processing, parts distribution centers, sales, marketing and service offices, financial service centers, and its state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Volkswagen is one of the world's largest producers of passenger cars and Europe's largest automaker. Volkswagen sells the Beetle, Eos, Golf, GTI, Jetta, Jetta SportWagen, Passat, CC, Tiguan, Touareg and Routan vehicles through approximately 600 independent U.S. dealers.

Aveda and Green America: Dirt Rag, Greenability and Grit are Winners of the Aveda Environmental Award for Magazines

01.31.2012 - 12:01PM

Aveda and Green America honored the top leaders in sustainable magazine publishing by announcing the Winner, Runner Up and Finalist of 2012 Aveda Environmental Award for Magazines.

Dirt Rag, a leading mountain bike magazine, was the Aveda Environmental Award Winner; Greenability, Kansas City’s green living magazine, was the Runner Up; and GRIT, America’s rural lifestyle magazine, was the Finalist. All three magazines demonstrate industry leadership on environmental publishing practices.

The awards from Aveda, a pioneer in corporate environmental sustainability and responsibility, recognize environmental leadership and achievement in the magazine industry through use of environmentally responsible paper and production practices.

Dirt Rag Publisher, Maurice Tierney, said: “Because our staff and readers are avid mountain bikers and spend a lot of time outdoors, we treasure the environment and do what we can to minimize our footprint. As a natural extension of this, the staff is proud to use 90 percent recycled, Forest Stewardship Council Certified and Process Chlorine Free paper in Dirt Rag.” Tierney added, “It’s as simple as walking the walk.”

Julie Koppen, publisher of Greenability, commented: “Greenability's mission is to showcase the efforts Kansas City is making to be a more sustainable metropolitan area. We hope to be an example by upholding the highest standards for a printed magazine. So, our use of recycled and Forest Stewardship Council-certified paper is one example of how we can reduce our own use of natural resources.”

GRIT Publisher and Editorial Director, Bryan Welch, said: “We take considerable pride in using recycled-content paper to lessen GRIT magazine’s environmental impact. This decision goes hand-in-hand with our long history – dating back to the late 1800s – of being good stewards of the land. We hope that this will lead to greater environmental practices by others in the magazine industry, too!”

Green America’s Better Paper Project Director Frank Locantore said: “Despite the rise of the digital age, the world is using more paper than ever before. Dirt Rag, Greenability and GRIT are all shining examples of how we can make print more sustainable. They truly stand out in the magazine industry, where only about 2% of U.S. publications regularly use recycled paper.”

"True to our mission to care for the world we live in, Aveda encourages all the publishers we advertise with to adopt environmentally responsible paper and production practices,” said Rachael Ostrom, executive director of consumer engagement for Aveda. “We have been delighted to work with Green America to promote sustainable publishing by sponsoring the Aveda Environmental Award since 2005.”

How much is at stake if magazines get greener? If the entire North American magazine industry included a minimum of 30 percent post-consumer recycled paper in their publications, it would save approximately:

- 1.5 million tons of wood, or the equivalent of 10 million trees;

- 6.6 million BTU’s of energy, or the equivalent of heating 73 thousand homes;

- 1.8 billion pounds of CO2 emissions, or the equivalent of taking 160 thousand cars off the road;

- 7 billion gallons of wastewater, or the equivalent of 5 thousand swimming pools;

- And 780 million pounds of solid waste, or the equivalent to 28 thousand garbage trucks.

For a more comprehensive list of magazines using recycled paper and sustainable production processes visit Green America’s Better Paper Project website: http://betterpaper.ning.com/page/better-papers-better-magazine

ABOUT AVEDA
Empowered by its mission, Aveda believes that authentic beauty is one that works in harmony with the greater web of life and leads its business through environmental sustainability. For this reason, Aveda partnered with Green America in 2005 to found the Aveda Environmental Awards for Magazines. Akin to Aveda’s corporate leadership in environmental and social sustainability, this award recognizes the achievements of magazines committed to environmental leadership in an industry where less than two percent of all magazines contain any recycled content. For more information on Aveda’s mission and guiding principles visit http://aveda.aveda.com/aboutaveda/guiding_principles.asp.

ABOUT GREEN AMERICA AND THE BETTER PAPER PROJECT
Green America is the nation’s leading green economy organization. Founded in 1982, Green America (formerly Co-op America) provides the economic strategies, organizing power and practical tools for businesses and individuals to solve today's social and environmental problems. Green America’s green economy programs encourage corporate responsibility, tackle climate change, build fair trading systems, advance healthy, local communities, and provide green purchasing and investing information for families and businesses. Green America’s Better Paper Project is creating a greener magazine industry in the US and has assisted over 150 publishers in selecting environmentally responsible papers for their magazines. For more information, visit http://www.greenamerica.org and http://www.betterpaper.org.

CITGO Recognizes Canine Castaways, Inc. for Fueling Good

01.31.2012 - 11:54AM

/PRNewswire/ - Doing good in local communities is a core value woven throughout CITGO Petroleum Corporation and one that is uniquely demonstrated through its Fueling Good Program. Now in its third year, Fueling Good recognizes and rewards local heroes within their communities for the good works they do, from caring for the needy to providing food for the hungry to assisting kids who need dental care.

As part of its fall Fueling good program, CITGO is awarding Canine Castaways, Inc. with $5,000 in CITGO Gift Cards to help extend its Ripple of Good and the impact of its work educating area residents about responsible pet care and rescuing and rehabilitating homeless dogs.

"The reward from CITGO will make a huge impact on our education outreach programs and canine rescue efforts," said Kim Rinaldi, president of Canine Castaways, Inc. "Throughout the year, our dedicated volunteers travel across Southwest Florida in the Canine Castaways' Canine Cruiser mobile unit to rescue dogs and find them loving families. Along the way, we participate in pet adoption and community events to increase awareness of pet overpopulation and responsible pet care."

Canine Castaways is committed to educating people about issues central to pets and good pet care. In addition, through a partnership with local animal control and welfare organizations, the charity takes in unwanted dogs to prevent them from being euthanized. Since 2004, nearly 1,500 dogs have been saved. The non-profit organization also provides rehabilitation services for the rescued dogs to make sure the animals are well behaved and in good health prior to adoption.

Canine Castaways, Inc. is one of 12 CITGO fall Fueling Good winners determined from more than 1,500 charities through a nationwide online vote. More than 100,000 votes were cast to determine the latest winners

The winter 2011 Fueling Good program registration ended on Jan. 11 for all 501(c) (3) non-profit organizations within the CITGO marketing area. Online public voting runs from Jan. 12 to Feb. 9 to determine the next 12 winning charities, who will each receive $5,000 in CITGO Gift Cards to spread their own Ripple of Good.

To enter your charity for a chance to win up to $5,000 in CITGO Gift Cards, and to learn how CITGO and local organizations are making a difference, visit http://www.fuelinggood.com/. For regular updates and to join the conversation, "Like" CITGO Fueling Good at www.Facebook.com/CITGOFuelingGood and view videos of past winners at www.youtube.com/CITGOFuelingGood.

CITGO, based in Houston, is a refiner, transporter and marketer of transportation fuels, lubricants, petrochemicals and other industrial products. The company is owned by PDV America, Inc., an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A., the national oil company of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. For more information, visit www.CITGO.com.

Sustainable Brands Announces "The Revolution Will Be Branded" as Rallying Cry and Theme for SB'12 Conference, June 4-7, 2012

01.31.2012 - 09:55AM

Sustainable Brands today revealed the theme and program focus for SB’12, the sixth annual gathering of 1000 brand leaders and sustainability executives. “The Revolution Will Be Branded” is set to explore the business transformation, market drivers and sustainability innovation underway in response to growing activism by consumers and citizens around the globe.

“Since the beginning of this century, a consumer revolution has been brewing that in 2012 is set to explode,” said said KoAnn Vikoren Skrzyniarz, CEO, Sustainable Brands. “Around the world, and across multiple demographic segments, a growing understanding of the connection between business activities and consumer choice, and the health and future of our families, our communities, and the planet, is spurring a revolution in the way society will define, create and measure value for the future.

“Sustainable brand leaders see brands as a platform for purpose and are already playing a role in supporting the revolution which fundamentally seeks to steer society back toward a flourishing future,” notes Ms. Skrzyniarz. From Patagonia’s call to reduced consumption by encouraging less frequent purchases of higher quality apparel and Zipcar’s enablement of consumption, to Levi’s campaign to build a consumer and brand partnership around smarter water use, this year’s conference will explore how smart brands are increasingly seeking and finding ways to embed purpose into the core of their brand. Sessions will explore how brands can and are using a deeper statement of purpose to drive innovation through the many stakeholder touch points brands engage with. We see brands having the opportunity to become heroes by leading the revolution to a sustainable and flourishing future.

Sustainable Brands has become ground zero for those sustainability, brand and design leaders who have been working to understand and leverage environmental and social innovation as a driver of brand innovation and value. This year, the Sustainable Brands community gathers June 4-7 at the Paradise Point Resort in San Diego for SB’12 where attendees will learn from the brands that are succeeding in turning their brands into platforms for purpose.

Speaking and Sponsorship Opportunities
Sustainable Brands remains open to speaker nominations and sponsorship support for SB’12. Senior executives who have demonstrated enhanced business or brand value through sustainable innovation, and thought leaders with insight into future trends or driving the shift to a sustainable future are encouraged to submit abstracts. Sponsorship opportunities and exhibit space are also now available; but sell quickly. For more information, visit SB’12 Sponsorship

About Sustainable Brands
Sustainable Brands is the global learning, collaboration, and commerce community committed to replenishing the world through better brands. Sustainable Brands offers news and views from thought and practice leaders, online and live events, a robust resource library, peer-to-peer learning groups, E-learning, and a set of solutions providers for corporate brand and sustainability professionals, social entrepreneurs and the eco-system of supporting value partners. Sustainable Brands inspires, engages and equips today's business and brand leaders to grow revenues and enhance brand value, reputation and loyalty, while helping create a healthy and sustainable future for all. Sustainable Brands is a production of Sustainable Life Media, located in San Francisco CA.

Corporate Social Responsibility Program

01.30.2012 - 12:43PM

Emphasizing the alignment of corporate social responsibility (CSR) with business strategy, the CSR program offered by HBS Executive Education helps you define priorities, integrate social responsibility throughout your business, and build social and business value. You will strengthen your ability to define and implement powerful CSR strategies that position the firm, its reputation, and its way of doing business for enduring success. In addition, you will have numerous opportunities to learn from the diverse experiences and perspectives of peers from around the world.

For more information, please click here.

Weekend in Boca V Civil Society Leadership Symposium

01.26.2012 - 10:13AM

"Innovation and Collaboration – The Keys to Non-Profit Sustainability"

March 22, 23, and 24, 2012
Wyndham Garden Hotel- Boca Raton

Presented by the Office Depot Foundation in a continuing effort to help non-profit organizations learn how to operate more efficiently and make the greatest possible impact as they serve the needs of people and communities.

In collaboration with the Sagamore Institute, the SCORE Foundation and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Business Civic Leadership Center.

As a participant in Weekend in Boca, you'll gain insight and knowledge from nationally prominent speakers as well as your peers from other organizations. You will have ample time to network and explore opportunities to collaborate with other non-profits. You'll hear about best practices and how to incorporate them into the important work you do every day.

There is no charge to attend the Symposium, which is open to all non-profit organization executives and staff, board members,volunteers, business and civic leaders, government officials and anyone with a strong interest in the civil society sector.

Featured speakers and panelists include:

•Joe Sibilia, CEO, CSRwire, Springfield, Mass.
•Rick Baker, former Mayor of St. Petersburg, Fla., and Author, "The Seamless City"
•Robert A. Birman, Chief Executive Officer, Louisville Orchestra, Louisville, Ky.
•Erin Carlstrom, Director of Education Programs, Feed The Children, Oklahoma City, Okla.
•Dr. Robert Corbin, Vice President of Learning Experiences, Discovery Place, Charlotte, N.C.
•Dr. Noah Manyika, President, NeXus Global Serve, Charlotte, N.C.
•David Roth, General Director, Kentucky Opera, Louisville, Ky.
•Lois Savage, President, The Lodestar Foundation, Phoenix, Ariz.

Please note: Advance registration is required. It will not be possible to register on-site at the Symposium.

Australian Global Reporting Initiative Conference on Sustainability and Integrated Reporting

01.24.2012 - 07:31PM

Australia’s opinion formers and leaders will join the sustainability conversation on 26-28 March 2012, as the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), with the support of its strategic partner the Australian Government, holds its first ever Australian conference in Melbourne, Australia.

The GRI is a non-profit organization that provides all companies and organizations with a comprehensive sustainability reporting framework that is widely used around the world. The GRI’s first ever Australian conference aims to to explore, shape and advance the field of Sustainability and Integrated reporting in Australia and the Asia Pacific region.

With a central theme of Innovate – Integrate – Collaborate, the conference will communicate GRI’s thinking on integrated reporting and the latest iteration of its Sustainability Reporting Framework, the G4.

Up to 300 hundred representatives from business, government and civil society are expected to attend, making the Australian GRI Conference on Sustainability and Integrated Reporting the place to be for any organization aiming to position itself as a leader in the fast-growing field of sustainability and integrated reporting. Australian sustainability leaders who have taken up sponsorship include BHP Billiton, KPMG, Westpac, CPA Australia, ANZ, and Wesfarmers amongst others.

Head to www.australiangriconference.org for more information or to register.

Event details at a glance:

Event: Australian Global Reporting Initiative Conference on Sustainability and Integrated Reporting

Hosted by: Global Reporting Initiative

Aim: to explore, shape and advance the field of Sustainability and Integrated reporting in Australia and the Asia Pacific region.

Date: 26-28 March 2012

Location: Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre

Website: www.australiangriconference.org

Estimated attendance: 300 executives, directors and senior managers in sustainability, accounting, finance, policy and public affairs, as well as report writers

Webinar: Building strategic partnerships to create social change

01.24.2012 - 03:13PM

The relationship between corporations and non-profit organizations is changing. In the past, relationships were transactional—a company would simply write a check. Today, on the other hand, companies and non-profits are recognizing the value of establishing strategic partnerships and are working together to address societal issues.

However, non-profits and businesses are guided by different principles and goals. Each sector has widely different mindsets, drivers, and societal roles, which can make establishing successful partnerships challenging. Yet there is a growing understanding that creating partnerships – across business, sectors, and markets – has never been more important because there is awareness that we can’t tackle the challenges facing business and society alone.

Corporate Citizenship, a global corporate responsibility and sustainability consulting company, is offering a free webinar to explore the growing importance of building strategic partnerships to address societal issues. Jen Balazs, Senior Consultant, and Jessica Sultzer, Consultant, of Corporate Citizenship will share their experience advising companies to provide insights into:

• The changing partnership landscape,
• Why partnerships matter,
• Different types of partnerships,
• Key attributes of a partnership, and
• The elements to making a partnership effective.

Details for this complimentary webinar are as follows:

Date: January 31, 2012

Time: 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM EST

Register: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/651995249

About Corporate Citizenship
Corporate Citizenship is a management consulting company that offers clients around the world breadth and depth of experience in corporate responsibility. Since 1997, we have advised leading, multinational corporations on how to enhance and align their citizenship and traditional business activities to create strategic business value. Our clients are international and domestic companies including Unilever, Abbott, HSBC, Verizon, PSEG, State Street, and Diageo.

For more information, please visit www.corporate-citizenship.com.

Capitalism with a Conscience

01.24.2012 - 11:12AM

Wake Forest University Schools of Business will welcome Walter Robb, Co-CEO of Whole Foods Market Inc., to campus on Tuesday, January 31 to discuss “Capitalism with a Conscience.” Robb’s presentation will outline the Whole Foods Market business model that embraces both profitability and social responsibility. He will then transition into a passionate conversation about the social responsibility role of business.

Ayn Rand objectivism supporter John Allison, Distinguished Professor of Practice and retired Chairman of BB&T, will join Robb in a panel discussion moderated by Aman Singh, Editorial Director of The Corporate Social Responsibility Newswire, a provider of corporate responsibility (CSR) news and research.

“Capitalism with a Conscience: Reflections on the Whole Foods Market Journey” is Tuesday, January 31 at 4:00 p.m. in the Worrell Professional Center Auditorium, room 1312 on the Wake Forest University campus in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The event is free and open to the public.

The event is part of the Broyhill Leading Out Loud Executive Lecture Series and co-sponsored by the BB&T Center for the Study of Capitalism. Additional support and planning assistance has been provided by the Wake Forest Schools of Business Center for Retail Innovation, the Wake Forest University Center for Energy, Environment and Sustainability, and the Net Impact Chapter of Wake Forest University.

The SoHo Loft Capital Creation and Crowdfunding Event

01.18.2012 - 08:34AM

The SoHo Loft Capital Creation and Crowdfunding Conference will provide the global investing community with key insight into the direction of the U.S. capital markets during this period of regulatory transformation and the rapid progression of the developing ecosystem.

Attendees will be introduced to the Private Company Marketplace (PCM) including the private shares desks and exchange platforms, crowdfunding experts, secondary private share buyers, private stock analysts and senior executives of this market’s potential bellwether companies.

Additionally, attendees will have exclusive opportunities to network with congressional leaders, industry pioneers and demo exciting new technologies that we believe will fuel the growth of these new markets and lead us toward an era of economic prosperity.

Joel Makower at Green Spaces on "How Big Business Sustainability Decisions Affect Social Entrepreneurs"

01.17.2012 - 05:22PM

GreenBiz Chairman, Joel Makower is speaking at New York's Green Spaces on Monday evening 1/23, 7-9pm. Joel's special appearance at Green Spaces is prelude to GreenBiz Forum Tuesday 1/24 (get $100 discount with code gbf12inviteeGS). Join us at Green Spaces, with introductory remarks by Martha Shaw of Earth Advertising. To discuss how big business sustainability decisions affect social entrepreneurs, Joel will be drawing on the release of his new 2012 green business report. He will offer highlights and insights, key trends and indicators, including:

the good news and bad news about sustainable business initiatives
why cleantech is still going strong
why "big data" is a big sustainability story
why sustainable consumption may be (finally) catching on

Admission is $25. Click here to purchase. Green Spaces New York is located at 394 Broadway, 5th floor, between Walker and White Streets. Media Contact: Marissa Feinberg Co-Founder, Green Spaces 917-494-5041, marissa@greenspaceshome.com

We First Social Branding Seminar with Simon Mainwaring, Carol Cone, and Robert Tercek

01.17.2012 - 02:00PM

Simon Mainwaring, New York Times bestselling author of We First, award-winning branding consultant to companies like Nike, Toyota and Motorola, and social media contributor to Forbes, Mashable and Fast Company, is holding a two day training seminar that I know will be of interest to you.

It offers real value to your business for 3 reasons.

Firstly, it fills an urgent need in marketplace by providing world-class training in brand storytelling and social media so that you walk out with an actionable Social Branding Blueprint specific to your business that you can act on. So real value, not a talk-fest.

Secondly, every attendee gets an extra ticket to give to their favorite non-profit for free. So you get to make the contribution.

Finally, the speakers are great. Besides Simon, there’s Carol Cone, Global Vice Chairman Edelman Business + Social Purpose, and Robert Tercek, former President of Digital Media for OWN.

Just enter the code CSRWIRE when you register. This is a rare opportunity to get world-class experts building your brand's success for 2012.

Here’s the link and make sure you use the discount code. Don’t wait as places are very limited: www.WeFirstSeminar.com

Asia Responsible Entrepreneurship Awards (AREA) 2012 - East Asia

01.16.2012 - 12:26PM

The Asia Responsible Entrepreneurship Awards program (AREA) recognizes and honours Asian businesses for championing sustainable and responsible entrepreneurship. The enterprises’ should demonstrate their commitment, advocacy, integrity and leadership in incorporating responsible and ethical values in their businesses such as protection of environment, investing in stakeholders, empowering the community, taking care of their well-being and legal compliance into the way they operate their businesses. Covering 40 countries and territories, the Awards is held in four sub-regions of Asia, namely, Southeast Asia, Eastern Asia, South Asia, and West Asia. The East Asia chapter will see nominations from 7 countries/regions including; Japan, South Korea, China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, and Mongolia. Nomination Deadline: Friday, 30 March 2012

Sustainable Venture Development Conference

01.13.2012 - 11:43AM

The Sustainable Venture Development Conference is a one-day event bringing together low-carbon industry leaders, investors and stakeholders to focus on identifying, building and growing sustainable low carbon businesses.

The conference will provide delegates with an unrivalled template and toolkit for the development of new ventures in the low carbon sector. Drawing on Sustainable Ventures’ proprietary methodology, the event will provide essential and in-depth analysis of the origination, delivery and early management phases of a new low carbon business.

Speakers include regulatory experts, investment professionals, coal-face case studies and providers of essential support services. The event includes evening drinks and an awards ceremony, highlighting the country’s leading low carbon entrepreneurs and corporate venturing teams.

We are pleased to offer CSRwire members a 15% discount on delegate passes. Early bird tickets are available until February 10. For more information about the event or to book tickets, please visit: www.svdconf.co.uk. Promotional code: CSR15.

Conversations with Stephen: The 2012 CSR Outlook with Aman Singh

01.11.2012 - 12:55PM

Join Stephen Jordan, Executive Director of the U.S. Chamber Business Civic Leadership Center and Aman Singh, Editorial Director of CSRwire, as well as a group of MBA graduates virtually for an intimate conversation about what happened in corporate social responsibility (CSR) in 2011 and what the field has in store for 2012. The 2012 CSR Outlook is the first in a FREE six-part forum series.

The U.S. Chamber BCLC’s Conversations with Stephen series is produced and moderated by founder and executive director Stephen Jordan. Guests engage in thoughtful, solution-oriented discussions and debates about the CSR field. The six-part 2012 series is offered at no charge as part of BCLC’s commitment to share knowledge and best practices with current and upcoming CSR practitioners.

Business Sustainability and Organization Development

12.30.2011 - 09:00AM

Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility strategies are increasingly considered key components in the creation of a sustainable business. This month's program will feature Aman Singh, Editorial Director of CSRwire.com, a widely-respected source for corporate social responsibility news, Kara Hurst, Vice President of BSR, and Victoria Zelin from Deloitte's Sustainability & Climate Change practice.

The speakers will share their point of view on the key trends in business social responsibility and describe the role of organization development in this space.

Event details:

Time: 5:30 PM – 8:00 PM

Where: Pfizer - Tudor Room, 235 E. 42nd St., 2nd Floor, New York, NY. Photo ID needed.

Registration: ODNNY Members - included in dues; Non-members pre-registration $25. No refunds.

To register: http://odnny.org/civicrm/event/info?id=2340&reset=1

Sustainable Foods Summit

12.09.2011 - 12:48PM

The food industry is under growing pressure to reduce its environmental and social impacts, however what practical methods are successful and what role do eco-labels play? How can sustainable ingredients contribute to the ecological / social footprint? What are the gamut of sustainable packaging options available to food and beverage companies? What are the best-practices in the industry? The next edition of the Sustainable Foods Summit aims to address such issues in a high-level forum.

The fifth edition of the Sustainable Foods Summit will take place in San Francisco on 17-18th January 2012. Major topics on the summit agenda include sustainable proteins, food security, sourcing local, raw foodism, ethical finance, ecological packaging, sustainability metrics, marketing best-practices and consumer insights.

More details here.

2012 NBPCA Annual Congress - The Power of Prepaid

12.09.2011 - 10:00AM

Watch what industry leaders are saying about the 2012 NBPCA Annual Congress http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5bCdnMZFp0 Whether you’re a member of the NBPCA or not – make your plans to attend the only event designed “by the industry, for the industry.”

With revenues going directly to support the education, lobbying and outreach programs that support the entire prepaid sector, join innovators and leaders this coming June for two days of practical expert learning and valuable networking suitable for everyone in your organization.

The agenda is currently in production and will be released soon.

Featuring an unrivalled speaker faculty including experienced prepaid-industry keynotes who will deliver valuable, directly-relevant information that you and your teams will take back to your organizations and use to grow your business.

Register today and join the hundreds of your peers who have already committed to attend the Prepaid Industry’s Official Annual Conference and Expo next June. www.PrepaidEvent.com Posted By Matt Godson

Objection Handling Workshop for Sustainability Professionals

12.06.2011 - 07:18PM

Are you able to drive your sustainability ideas forward in your organization or are you encountering resistance?

Are you achieving the best possible outcome at your meetings?

Do you ever wonder if you could have achieved a better result and why your ideas weren’t resonating with your colleagues?

Suppose you find yourself on an elevator with a senior executive and courageously decide that this is your opportunity to convince him/her to integrate sustainability into his/her core business strategies.

How would you open the conversation?
When he/she throws objections at you, how will you respond?
What’s your value proposition?

If you've struggled with any of these questions or you just want to sharpen your skills, then you don't want to miss our Objection Handling Workshop taught by international sustainability expert and author Bob Willard.

To learn more Click Here

More about TSSS

TSSS is a live an online community that promotes dialogue and problem solving among sustainability thought leaders. Our events occur 8 times each year and act not only as a learning opportunity but also as a networking forum for individuals to come together as allies and partners in efforts to promote sustainable business practices.

To Learn More Click Here

International Human Rights Day 2011: Getting Rights… Right…

12.06.2011 - 12:54PM

Getting Rights… Right…
How Companies are Implementing the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights

To mark International Human Rights Day 2011, The George Washington University, the U.N. Global Compact U.S. Network, and the U.S. Institute of Peace will host a day-long conference on the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.

These principles, approved by the U.N. Human Rights Council in June, are designed to help a broad range of stakeholders monitor the impact of business activities on human rights. These guidelines clarify the human rights responsibilities of the business community and offer recommendations on effective implementation, particularly in fragile environments.

Speakers representing business, civil society, the U.S. government and academia will focus on practical approaches to implementing the guiding principles.

To learn more about this event, click here.

Energy Investment Forum

12.05.2011 - 10:48AM

Investors and industry players from around the country connect to discuss the most important topics facing the energy sector.

Join representatives from America's foremost family offices, foundations, pensions, endowments as they network with energy's leading innovators. Discussions on upcoming and current investment opportunities cover renewable energy investing, smart grids, oil and gas, green real estate, project financing, and other investment/financing opportunities.

In light of our current geopolitical climate, this conference is a necessary forum in which energy experts can inform and collaborate with the nation's largest institutional investors.

Partnering for Global Impact

12.02.2011 - 11:32AM

Partnering for Global Impact is a new initiative to facilitate transactions in social investing and philanthropy through one-to-one meetings between investors, philanthropists and social enterprises. The inaugural event will be held in Lugano, Switzerland, July 9-10, 2012 and will feature presentations of impact investment products and services and philanthropic projects. Our focus on transactions and results is supported by industry-leading partnering systems and technology.

EBD Group’s one-to-one meeting system, partneringONE, allows attendees to identify potential partners and schedule meetings ahead of time. This efficient process and the innovative design of our meeting spaces turn networking into tangible partnerships and results.

This annual forum for investors, social entrepreneurs, foundation leaders, development agencies, families and executives from family offices offers two days of insightful panel discussions, product presentations and, most crucially, one-to-one meetings. The conference will attract major players from each group, making it an exclusive, high-level, partnership-oriented setting. Join us in Lugano to bring your impact goals to the next level.

Sustainable Facilities Forum

12.01.2011 - 04:04PM

Sustainability is fast becoming a top priority in boardrooms across Corporate America. Sustainability for many industry leading companies is more and more becoming a business imperative that informs each decision they make as the tangible commercial benefits of implementing quantifiable sustainable processes and practices to manage carbon are being realized. Nowhere else are the challenges and opportunities more apparent and pressing than on the subject of Facilities/Buildings which account for over 39% of all energy used in the United States.

The Theme of the 2012 Sustainable Facilities Forum is: “Sustainable Facilities Management and the Triple Bottom Line.”

*Research by McKinsey finds that most companies have options to reduce carbon emissions at negative cost – across the overall economy there is the potential to save as much as 12Gt CO2e, 25% of the global total annual emissions in this way by 2030. (*McKinsey & Co (2009) Pathways to a Low Carbon Economy)

The Sustainable Facilities Forum aims to act as a catalyst for Major Corporations across all sectors and industries to take advantage of these "low hanging" gains/benefits. In addition to this goal it goes without saying that Sustainable Facilities Management is an integral piece of the overall Sustainability puzzle and it can also have a solid impact on the bottom-line during these times of cut backs and austerity measures.

Event format: This cross industry Forum is by invite only for Senior Facilities Executives or those Senior Corporate Officers tasked with ensuring that their respective Organization’s structures/ facilities are built, operated and maintained in an environmentally and resource efficient manner throughout the buildings lifecycle. The event is a mix of case study conference sessions, think tanks, round tables, 1-on-1 meetings and networking functions.

Katerva Announces Grand Prize Winner of Katerva Awards

12.01.2011 - 01:38PM

New York’s WABC-TV Eyewitness News anchor Sade Baderinwa hosts announcement of most promising sustainability idea in the world.

WHAT: Press conference to announce Grand Prize winner of Katerva Awards -- the pinnacle of global sustainability recognition. Award designed by [name of artist] to be presented by Terry Waghorn. Winner selected from among eight category winners including:

Food Security – The China Study (U.S., China)
Behavioral Change – 350.org (U.S.)
Economy – worldofgood.com (U.S.)
Materials & Resources – Sanergy (U.S., Kenya)
Human Development – Solar Autoclave (U.S., Nicaragua)
Energy & Power – Barefoot Power (Australia)
Transportation – Nissan Leaf (Japan)
Urban Design – Freshkills Park (New York City)

WHERE:

Lincoln Center Institute
Samuel B. & David Rose Building, 7th Floor
165 W. 65th Street (between B’way and Amsterdam)
New York, NY 10023

WHEN:

Wednesday, December 7, 2011
1:00 p.m. – Award Ceremony Award Ceremony in the Clark Studio Theater
2:00 p.m. – Reception Reception in the Samuels Teaching Studio

Changing Landscape of Sustainability Indexes, Ratings and ESG Investing

12.01.2011 - 05:00AM

Join over 50 leading companies who have already registered for The Changing ESG Landscape Quarterly Analyst Call. Acknowledged thought leaders Michael Muyot from CRD Analytics and Mark Serwinowski from award-winning sustainability performance advisory firm, MetaVu, discuss future trends of ESG reporting, performance and investing.

The Analyst Call will focus on:

Results of NASDAQ QCRD 2011 Semi-Annual Reconstitution Company Selection Process
• Common pitfalls of dropped companies
• Performance trends of re-listed or new companies
Learn How to Better Align With GRI G3.1 for Rankings and Indexes
Develop Capabilities for Measuring Sustainability Impacts and Shareholder Value for Non-Financial Professionals
Gain Insights into Leading Performance Indicators
Learn How Technology Enables Integrated Reporting
Discover New and Unique Ways to Communicate Sustainability ROI
Also more Future Trends that you need to prepare for now such as:
• GRI G4 Guidelines
• Integrated Reporting Framework

Presenters included:

Michael Muyot, President and Founder, CRD Analytics
Mark Serwinowski, Founder and CEO, MetaVu

Cost: Free (Registration is limited to publicly-traded companies and invitees only)

Register Here

Carbon Farming Course: Workshops in Regenerative Agriculture

11.29.2011 - 05:52PM

Carbon Farming: Workshops in Regenerative Agriculture

Carbon Farming combines cutting-edge agricultural practices with the tools of ecological design to build healthy soil and profitable farms. The Carbon Farming Course is hosted by the Stone Barns Center in Tarrytown, NY and the Treefold Educational Center in Chestnut Ridge, NY, home of the Pfeiffer Center for Biodynamic Agriculture.

Don't miss these incredible workshops:

Joel Salatin, Polyface Farms, Local Food Systems: The Polyface Farm strategy for economic abundance.
Wes Jackson, The Land Institute, Perennial Agriculture: Mimic ecosystems for resilience and risk-management.
Dave Jacke: Edible Forest Gardens, Perennial Agriculture: Low-maintenance food forests for farm & forest.
Eric Toensmeier: Perennial Vegetables, Tree crops & Agroforestry: Perennial systems to multiply your yields.
Elaine Ingham: Rodale Institute & Soil Foodweb, Inc. Living Soils: Learn to use the Soil Foodweb to activate soil biology and increase fertility.
Darren Doherty: Regen Ag (Joining us from Australia!) Keyline Farming: Whole farm permaculture planning and rapid soil development.
Ann Adams: Holistic Management International, Essential tools for on-the-farm decision-making, holistic goal creation, and profitable farming.

Follow Carbon Farming on Facebook and Twitter.

Group discounts up to 50% contact Ethan or Jeanne below for details.

Guardian Sustainable Business Awards

11.28.2011 - 10:03AM

Is your sustainability initiative leading the way? If so we want to hear from you!

Deadline for entries: 3 February 2012

The Guardian Sustainable Business Awards reward best practice in sustainable business. Now in their second year, the awards showcase the most innovative corporate initiatives – from managing water risk to energy independence via communicating sustainability and social impact. Profile your team’s achievements and inspire others to drive real change in the way that businesses approach sustainability.

Categories:
• Communicating sustainability • Engaging employees • Social impact • Biodiversity • Supply chain • Carbon • Innovation • Collaboration • Waste & recycling • Water • Energy • Built environment

Key dates:
16 November 2011                 Awards launch
3 February 2012                     Closing date for entries
19 March 2012                       Shortlist announced
                                              Public vote for ‘Sustainable Business leader of the year’ begins

May 2012 Awards ceremony, winners announced

Enter the awards today at guardian.co.uk/gsb-awards and inspire other businesses to act!

Along with a prestigious ceremony, held in London in May 2012, all winners will be invited for a morning of inspiration, discussion and collaboration at the Guardian in the weeks following the ceremony. Winning businesses will feature on the Guardian Sustainable Business Best Practice Exchange. The exchange profiles the best in sustainable business initiatives and has become a regular reference point for those looking to drive sustainable business in practice.

Gain the recognition you deserve and inspire others to act.

Entries close 3 February 2012.

For more information and to enter visit guardian.co.uk/gsb-awards.

CSRwire United Nations Global Compact 2011 Communication on Progress

10.24.2011 - 08:00AM

Microsoft 2011 Citizenship Report

10.04.2011 - 07:25PM

2010 Merck Corporate Responsibility Report

09.30.2011 - 09:00AM

FedEx: I Deliver a Better World - A Global Citizenship Update

07.25.2011 - 10:43AM

GE 2010 Citizenship Report, "Sustainable Growth"

07.25.2011 - 08:48AM

Bayer Sustainable Development Report 2010

07.14.2011 - 03:20PM

Coca-Cola Enterprises Committed to 2020: Shaping a Sustainable Future in Europe

06.28.2011 - 10:31AM

Delhaize Group Corporate Responsibility Progress Report

06.20.2011 - 08:58AM

Biogen Idec 2010 Corporate Citizenship Report

06.15.2011 - 09:11AM

Piraeus Bank Annual Corporate Responsibility Report 2010

06.09.2011 - 10:54AM

CVS Caremark 2010 Corporate Social Responsibility Report

05.10.2011 - 03:46PM

Delivering Real Benefits - Anglo American Sustainable Development Report 2010

05.09.2011 - 08:13AM

Cascade Engineering Triple Bottom Line Report 2010

04.27.2011 - 02:26PM

Heineken Sustainability Report 2010

04.18.2011 - 08:51AM

Maersk Line 2010 Sustainability Progress Report

04.07.2011 - 03:00PM

GlaxoSmithKline 2010 Corporate Responsibility Report

03.29.2011 - 10:00AM

General Mills 2011 Corporate Social Responsibility Report

03.24.2011 - 01:24PM

PwC Canada - Corporate Responsibility - Highlights 2010

02.16.2011 - 09:00AM

Novo Nordisk Annual Report 2010

02.10.2011 - 09:04AM

Frontier Markets. Global Partnerships. Local Solutions.

02.04.2011 - 03:39PM

Waste Management Releases 2010 Sustainability Report

01.19.2011 - 04:05PM

Acting Ethically and Responsibly for the Patient: Sanofi-Aventis 2009 Corporate Social Responsibility Report

09.08.2010 - 01:00AM

United Nations Global Compact Communication on Progress - CSRwire, LLC

09.06.2010 - 04:55PM

Dell 2010 Corporate Responsibility Report: Inspired by possibility, guided by purpose

08.31.2010 - 11:33AM

Bayer Sustainable Development Report 2009

08.30.2010 - 10:27AM