Business & management:
• A Branding for Sustainability workshop in the US last week has looked at the intersection of branding, marketing, green initiatives and corporate social responsibility. Long-standing companies that have never had green issues at their cores are experiencing more difficulty in "transitioning their messages".
• The Interbrand Best Global Brands 2008 report has been released, with the Interbrand CEO saying that it is becoming almost impossible for a firm to retain a strong brand without also having a credible sustainability strategy.
Education
• The report on compulsory schooling in NZ, “New Zealand Schools Nga Kura o Aotearoa 2007” is now available. Overall, the report shows improvement for across students in the compulsory system.
Environment & sustainability:
• The NZ Business Council for Sustainable Development has made a CO2 emissions calculator and how-to guide available.
• A US company has surveyed the “blogosphere” to uncover information about how the online community is discussing environmental sustainability, global warming, purchase trends and user demographics.
• The National Water Industry 2008 Report Card gives the NZ water industry an overall score of a “C” grading, meaning it is only “adequate” and that major change is required. This included a “C+” for water supply, a “C” for wastewater and a “C-“ for storm water.
• Drinking water in the US is becoming controversial due to the issue of pharmaceutical contamination - much of the drinking water in the United States contains prescription drugs according to a recent investigative report.
• The new Carbon Offsetting Trends Survey 2008 shows how large, multinational corporations are addressing their carbon footprints from within, and what strategies they're using to offset the emissions they can't avoid.
• A couple of books in the main Libraries collection that may be of interest: Ecotourism and sustainable development : who owns paradise? / Martha Honey and High tech trash : digital devices, hidden toxics, and human health / Elizabeth Grossman.
Health & wellbeing:
• The AIDS Treatment for Life International Survey results show that HIV patients still live in fear of the societal stigma surrounding the disease. Asian/Pacific respondents were more concerned about the risk of losing family and friends, as well as the potential impact on their current relationships.
Law & Government:
• Inland Revenue is reminding employers that the new tax rates need to be used for pay periods that end on, or after, October 1st.
• The incoming head of the World Intellectual Property Organization says that patent services globally are under huge pressure to cope with demand for their services and that the challenges posed with regard to copyright by ever evolving technology were even more fundamental.
• A UK council has produced an 8 page comic booklet based on Harry Potter, to help staff understand the authority’s corporate improvement plan and its priorities.
• Independent US government investigators have highlighted the need for improved regulation of electronic waste in a new report. The United States is the only industrialized country not to ratify an international convention that regulates the international shipping of e-waste.
• The Ministry of Justice has released a Victims Charter that will ensure that those affected by crime find the assistance they need.
• One of India’s state governments is introducing a mandatory corporate social responsibility framework involving corporates in large infrastructure and other public projects.
People, culture & diversity:
• The restoration of ‘Bach 38’ on Rangitoto Island has received an Honourable Mention in this year’s UNESCO Asia-Pacific Heritage Awards. Quite an achievement, considering the other entries.
• A 2-day meeting in Bangkok has been looking at the impact of migration in the Asia Pacific region. In less than 50 years, international migration has doubled from 28 million to 53 million.
• New UK research has found that people who live with high levels of motor traffic are far more likely to be socially disconnected and even ill than people who live in quiet, clean street.
Science, technology & transport:
• Google has apparently made a patent application for off-shore floating computer centres or "databarges", generating power from wave energy and cooling their supercomputers by using sea water. Using sites in Siberia or deep mines have been possibilities researched by other large technology companies also concerned about energy consumption and cooling.
• Companies and organisations involved in the vehicle transport industries are turning to “eco-driving” courses, as a means of saving fuel. A truck driving course in Sweden aims at a 9% reduction, while the Toyota Fund for Europe is aiming at a 10% reduction for participants in its eco-driving workshops aimed at local authorities, private companies and community groups.
• London’s Lord Mayor wants to see the city become wi-fi enabled so that the internet is accessible anywhere.
Thursday, 25 September 2008
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