Google’s “Instant” Impacts The Global Environment
Google have as part of their corporate philosophy the statement “You can make money without doing evil” which most of us know as Don’t be evil.
With the recent launch of the Google Instant they may be impacting on the environment in ways they hadn’t foreseen.
Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria Explained
Infographic by probiotics.org
Is Nepotism Really a Form of Corruption?
The answer to this question is both yes and no. Nepotism, in its simplest form, entails showing favoritism in hiring practices by choosing a relative or friend over other, more qualified candidates. And since there are no federal laws regarding the practice of nepotism, it goes somewhat unregulated. There are several states that have passed anti-nepotism measures, but generally speaking, these only pertain to jobs in the public sector (in other words, government jobs). So nepotism is not, strictly speaking, illegal for private sector businesses. It can, however, be unethical in the area of discrimination, which is actionable under law if it can be proven. The real question is: does nepotism signal corruption? Read more
The Global Recession Prompts Safeguards for Banks
The public outcry about the state of the global banking industry has not subsided since the first financial hits toppled industry giants like Bear Stearns, Lehman Brothers, Countrywide Financial, and other investment and lending institutions. And while these companies paid the ultimate price for an over-inflated market, no one can dispute that they played a large part in their own demise. Unfortunately, individual investors and private citizens also had to suffer tremendously along the way. And for that, regulators in the banking industry intend to make a change. Recently, representatives of twenty-six countries met to form the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (so named for their meeting place of Basel, Switzerland) with the chief goal of reforming bank safeguards to prevent future crises like the one we currently face (and have been dealing with for the last two years). Read more
WEF is Hot on Climate Change
Anyone who saw Al Gore’s uber-popular 2006 documentary An Inconvenient Truth knows that climate change is not only imminent, it is already upon us. And although there has been subsequent controversy concerning the factual data presented in the documentary, there is no doubt that global warming is affecting our atmosphere, and that it is due in large part to pollution perpetrated by humans. Gore urges viewers to “act boldly, quickly, and wisely” to combat this growing epidemic that threatens our existence on a global scale. And this is exactly the issue up for discussion at the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting of the New Champions this week in China. Read more
Human Rights: Justice or Joke?
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, signed and adopted in 1948 by the General Assembly of the United Nations, first states that “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.” This statement seems self-evident, and yet, it says a lot about the progression of humanity that it had to be written and agreed upon. It further states that everyone has the right to life, liberty, security, freedom of thought, and equal protection under the law, and that no person shall be subject to persecution, slavery, or torture, amongst other things. While many nations agreed to this Declaration and have made efforts to uphold the ideals set forth in the document on their home soil, no one can dispute the fact that injustice exists on a large scale throughout the world, and that the United Nations has been less than effective in promoting their human rights agenda. Read more
Transparency International: An Overview
Contemplating a topic as vast as the fight against corruption, in all of its many and varied forms, is like attacking an impenetrable bastion. This may be because corruption is something that can affect each and every one of us in a variety of ways. We are not only susceptible to being corrupted, but we also have very different ideas of what the term itself implies. As defined by the Merriam-Webster dictionary, corruption is: 1) impairment of integrity, virtue, or moral principle, 2) inducement to wrong by improper or unlawful means, and 3) a departure from the original or from what is pure or correct. What this serves to convey, first and foremost, is that corruption can affect us both internally and externally and that at its base, there is a distinction between “right” and “wrong”. Knowing what corruption entails is essential to fighting it, and this is exactly what Transparency International aims to do. Read more
Sustainability Reporting: Singapore Stock Exchange
The Singapore Stock Exchange, otherwise known as SGX has released a set of guidelines encouraging its listed companies to adopt sustainability reporting. This move has finally given recognition to those investors interested in issues revolving around the environment, social changes, and governance issues. As of August 28, the first securities exchange in Asia has prompted listing companies to start sustainability reporting. Read more
Big Business in Politics Causes a Big Stir
Businesses that contribute to political campaigns are nothing new. Lobbyists have to work for someone, after all, so if companies aren’t spreading their influence by greasing the campaign wheels, they certainly have people in place in Washington to further their agenda. However, a recent decision by the Supreme Court in January of this year (in the Citizens United case) may have changed the political landscape in terms of corporate contributions, and not necessarily for the better. The ruling gave corporations and unions heretofore unparalleled freedom to contribute funds to political campaigns. And controversy followed fast on the heels of the falling gavel. Read more
Good Business Ethics Require Good Training
Ethical practices in management are something that must be taught. None of us are born knowing the difference between right and wrong. We learn appropriate behaviors from parents, peers, and society at large as we grow into functioning adults. So it should come as no surprise to companies that employees who are trained in ethical business practices are far more likely to engage in them. While there is certainly a large amount of personal responsibility involved when employees commit fraudulent, illegal, or even simply immoral acts, companies that neglect to train their workers in the ethics of business are doing both themselves and their employees a great disservice. Not only that, but they are partially culpable in indiscretions that occur under the veil of business. Read more