Articles by Kevin long on ArticleSnatch.com

Connection Between Sustainable Development and CSR

Thu, 26 Nov 2009 07:09:07 -0500

Industry experts are of view that one of the major reasons for an economy to go through unrestrained development is ‘non-sustainability’. If we keep on making use of resources in an unplanned manner, we will be left with nothing in the years to come. The present needs can be fulfilled with the available resources but what about the needs of our future generations? Many parts of the world have already started facing acute shortage of water and electricity. The rate of population is increasing and due to the rise in demand for food and clean drinking water, ground water level is reducing. Forests are being cleared and replaced with buildings due to which the average yearly rainfall has decreased causing further shortage of ground water. Development activities are taking place across the world at a fast pace but is ‘sustainability’ being included in it? According to the World Business Council for sustainable development, social responsibility on part of the business organizations is a commitment to function in an ethical manner and bring significant changes in the local community and society to ensure sustained economic development. Therefore, sustainability or corporate social responsibility can be considered something that goes beyond obeying laws. **End Summary** Topics: Environmental sustainability]]> sustainable development]]> CSR]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Kevin Long is the founder of Global Deaf Connection and the co-founder of Justmeans, a social utility site that helps companies to attract and ignite advocates of better business and good work related to Corporate Social Responsibility , sustainable development, environmental sustainability and sustainable business. Kevin has done significant business development work for both for-profit and non-profit organizations.

Benefits of Social Enterprises

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 08:06:48 -0500

There are several benefits associated with the growth and development of social enterprises. Besides the generation of revenue for sustainability, these enterprises also serve social and environmental objectives. Even though there are difficulties in achieving the triple bottom line of social, environmental and financial aims, the ability to bring positive changes in the society can be very rewarding. One of the most important benefits of running a social enterprise is to offer employment to local people. There are many people who find it difficult to get a job in the market. This is the point when social enterprises play a very important role in offering employment. Local people who have remained unemployed for a long time, belong to a minority group or are disabled can easily find a good job in such enterprises. Not only unemployed but employed people who don't want to be a part of the traditional work environment can also join a social enterprise and make a difference to the society and environment. It offers a platform where an individual can make a difference within a flexible work environment and even encourage people to do the same. **End Summary** Topics: social enterprise]]> social enterprise trends]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Kevin Long is the founder of Global Deaf Connection and the co-founder of Justmeans, a social utility site that helps companies to attract and ignite advocates of better business and good work related to social enterprise trends , social enterprise and sustainable business. Kevin has done significant business development work for both for-profit and non-profit organizations.

Issues Related to Healthcare Provision in Developing Countries

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 07:32:58 -0500

There are several issues related to the provision of health care services across the world. According to health experts, there are three goals that should be achieved in order to ensure success in provision of quality healthcare to all: "Health care services being provided to the patient should reflect their different tastes; "There should be no wastage of money in provision of hygiene and health services; "Patients should not be deprived of health care services due to their inability to pay. Even though it is not possible to incorporate all three goals and realize them at the same time, they can be at least used for designing a good health care system. As far as heath care policies in developing countries are concerned, the emphasis is placed on the development of health services owned by the government. These services are mostly financed by tax revenues by the government. There have been significant changes in the provision of health care services across the world since 1950; however, there are still a number of challenges that need to be solved. For instance, approximately one billion people still lack the access to quality health care services. **End Summary** Topics: Health]]> Health Care]]> health reports]]> health news and updates]]> health trends]]> good work for health]]> go green]]> physical fitness]]> social well being]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Kevin Long is the founder of Global Deaf Connection and the co-founder of Justmeans, a social utility site that helps companies to attract and ignite advocates of better business and good work related to health trends , good work for health, go green and social well being. Kevin has done significant business development work for both for-profit and non-profit organizations.

Importance of CSR for Small Companies

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 06:08:46 -0500

Did you know that approximately 90% of businesses worldwide are made up of small to medium sized enterprises? SMEs also provide 50-60% employment, playing an important role in the development of the society. Small and medium sized companies are also an important factor in ensuring social welfare but sadly, initiatives related to corporate social responsibility have been mainly focused on multinationals and large companies. Experts believe that CSR is as important for small companies as it is for large firms since SMEs also have stakeholders and their impact is also significant for the society. There are limited numbers of case studies that show small enterprises behaving in a socially responsible manner. According to industry experts, if a large number of small and medium level companies start making investments in the local communities, it will be easy to transform various social and environmental issues. It will help reduce poverty levels, provide more employment and also solve the problem of homelessness. For various transnational corporations, SME social responsibility can be improved if their supply chain risks are controlled. Issues such as child labor, health, environmental or safety problems in small and large companies are mostly found in developing countries. **End Summary** Topics: Social utility]]> csr news]]> corporate social responsibility]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Kevin Long is the founder of Global Deaf Connection and the co-founder of Justmeans, a social utility site that helps companies to attract and ignite advocates of better business and good work related to Social Responsible Investing , CSR Events, Sustainable Development and Sustainable Business . Kevin has done significant business development work for both for-profit and non-profit organizations.

The Potential of Responsible Careers

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 05:54:31 -0500

Prices of commodities and services are increasing with every passing day and people are losing their jobs. Global warming is posing serious threats to the environment and the world is facing energy crisis. The present scenario has made it essential to build a greener economy so that climate change effects can be controlled and the financial condition of the global economy also improves. In the last few years, union leaders to politicians, everyone has been praising the benefits of socially responsible career opportunities (green jobs). These jobs are being considered the future of the US economy and millions of dollars are already being invested in this sector for good results. What is a green job? Green jobs are career opportunities that contribute towards social and environmental benefits. Green jobs can play a very important role in building a green economy and fight the effects of global warming. According to industry experts, green jobs are not just about creation of new jobs, it also means increased job security for people who are already employed in certain fields. **End Summary** Topics: responsible careers]]> social responsible careers]]> NGO Jobs]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Kevin Long is the founder of Global Deaf Connection and the co-founder of Justmeans, a social utility site that helps companies to attract and ignite advocates of better business and good work related to Sustainable Jobs , NGO jobs, social responsible careers. Kevin has done significant business development work for both for-profit and non-profit organizations.

Issues Related to Sustainable Development

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 04:49:20 -0500

The term "sustainable development" covers various global issues such as inequality, hunger, poverty and degradation of the environment. It is not difficult to follow a development strategy that is sustainable and causes less damage to the environment. However, one can"t deny the fact that several challenges and issues are involved in successful implementation of it. In simplest terms, sustainable development is a development pattern which ensures that present needs are met without causing any destruction to the society and environment and there are sufficient resources also available for the future generation to meet their needs. But is it possible to meet present needs without affecting the availability of resources for the future? This question itself can be considered one of the biggest challenges in attaining sustainable development. The first summit that examined the progress towards achieving sustainable development was held at the Earth Summit in Rio in 1992. Since then, this topic has been discussed in all global conferences in some form or the other. There are several countries that have failed to share the economic growth benefits. Pressure on the global and local environment has increased due to high levels of economic activities. **End Summary** Topics: Environmental sustainability]]> sustainable development]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Kevin Long is the founder of Global Deaf Connection and the co-founder of Justmeans, a social utility site that helps companies to attract and ignite advocates of better business and good work related to Environmental sustainability , sustainable development, sustainable business. Kevin has done significant business development work for both for-profit and non-profit organizations.

Survival of Social Enterprises

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 07:22:21 -0500

There are several threats and challenges associated with the growth of social enterprises. The present need is to identify remedies for promoting the development of more social enterprises across the globe. What are social enterprises? In order to raise income, social organizations employ entrepreneurial skills and business concepts that cause less destruction to the society and environment. As compared to other social organizations that reply on charity or donations for income, social enterprises use business skills to do so. One of the major factors that separate social enterprises from mainstream companies is their social objective. Private sector companies mostly reply on profit making for its stakeholders but social enterprises tend to strike a balance between the corporate and social world to fulfill the social objectives. Challenges for social enterprises: In today"s time, everyone is worried about their job and business. In this scenario, it may not be the right thing to encourage social enterprises as the global financial crunch is still showing its effects on economies worldwide. But if industry experts are to be believed, the present economic condition is best suited to make sure that social enterprises grow. **End Summary** Topics: social enterprises]]> social enterprise trends]]> social utility]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Kevin Long is the founder of Global Deaf Connection and the co-founder of Justmeans, a social utility site that helps companies to attract and ignite advocates of better business and good work related to social enterprise trends , social enterprise report & Sustainable Investment. Kevin has done significant business development work for both for-profit and non-profit organizations.

Trends for Sustainable Food Consumption

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 02:03:10 -0500

Consumption of seasonal and locally grown food has become one of the latest trends as far as the sustainable food movement is concerned. Consumers across the world are realizing the importance of buying food produce from local farm markets as health experts believe that local is healthy. If exotic fruits and vegetables available in the supermarket have travelled miles to reach the market it cannot be considered sustainable because it has resulted in burning of fuel and emission of greenhouse gases. Growing sustainable food in kitchen gardens: There are many consumers who have started growing vegetables and fruits in their gardens. This can be considered another latest trend in the context of sustainable food. In an attempt to encourage the production of organic produce Michelle Obama recently planted an organic garden in a 1,100 square foot plot at the White House. This is being considered one of the most remarkable efforts towards ensuring environmental sustainability. Buying seasonal produce: Another latest as sustainable food trend is the purchase of seasonal produce by consumers and restaurants. Several hotels and restaurants across the world are extending support to the environment and local farmers by purchasing locally grown fruits and vegetables. **End Summary** Topics: sustainable food]]> go green]]> sustainable food trends]]> health]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Kevin Long is the founder of Global Deaf Connection and the co-founder of Justmeans, a social utility site that helps companies to attract and ignite advocates of better business and good work related to clean technology , sustainable food, sustainable development and health. Kevin has done significant business development work for both for-profit and non-profit organizations.

Trends of the Healthcare Industry

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 04:01:05 -0500

The healthcare industry may be showing an upward growth in countries across the world but several areas are still not being taken care of that will enhance the provision of health care to the common people. Almost 1/5th of the worldwide sale of healthcare is comprised by countries like Russia, Mexico, India, Indonesia, China and Turkey. It was in the 1990s that the heath care cost started increasing. The 42 million mark was attained by Americans who did not have any health insurance or health care coverage. In the years to come, it is being predicted that considerable stress will be imposed on the US health care sector due to the rise in number of old sick people. In the near future, number of healthcare programs and insurance coverage will also witness some increase. The escalation in the medical plans in 2006 was 42.5 million and this might increase to 70.2 million by the year 2025. Based on health studies it was found that approximately 23% of Americans try to prevent themselves from lifestyle diseases by consuming good quality food. **End Summary** Topics: health reports]]> health news and updates]]> health trends]]> good work for health]]> social well being]]> environmental sustainability]]> sustainable food]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Kevin Long is the founder of Global Deaf Connection and the co-founder of Justmeans, a social utility site that helps companies to attract and ignite advocates of better business and good work related to health news , health trends, good work for health, social well being, environmental sustainability and sustainable food. Kevin has done significant business development work for both for-profit and non-profit organizations.

Why Choose A Responsible Career?

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 01:57:25 -0500

Are you looking for a responsible career opportunity that will help you make a living while making a difference? If yes, there are several green jobs available to choose from. In the last few years, there has been an unprecedented rise in the demand for socially responsible careers. Thanks to the economies shifting towards green business practices and technology, people are looking for jobs that will cause less damage to the society and environment. Experts believe that if someone is already working with a NGO or social enterprise involved in green activities, they should stick to the job for all good reasons. Based on a research conducted on the functioning of companies during recession it was found that green companies and jobs were the least affected with the financial crunch. Not only green stocks performed well in the market but many employees working in sustainable companies also didn’t lose their job. One of the green career opportunities you can opt for is environmental engineering. You can join fields such as solar, wind, urban planning, hydroelectric energy plants and green building. Environmental lawyer is another sustainable job you can opt for. **End Summary** Topics: Sustainable development jobs]]> social responsible careers]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Kevin Long is the founder of Global Deaf Connection and the co-founder of Justmeans, a social utility site that helps companies to attract and ignite advocates of better business and good work related to sustainable development jobs , social responsible careers, green jobs, greening consulting and non profit jobs. Kevin has done significant business development work for both for-profit and non-profit organizations.

Green Investment Trends

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 04:18:30 -0500

If finance experts are to be believed, green investment is still worth despite the global economic blues. Sustainable investment options are set to become more attractive in the long run with the incorporation of the eco-stimulus. Currently, green stocks are showing stable returns on investments and investors who care about how and where their money is being used are opting for the “go green” option. Investment can be a great way of making money if done in a logical and systematic manner. In the last few years, significant changes have been visible in the interest of investors across the world. Other than oil and gas, interest has deviated to sources of energy as it causes less harm to the environment and society. Thanks to the increased awareness on sustainable investment opportunities, several companies across the world are realizing the importance to preserve and protect the planet. In the form of a contemporary type of stock investment, green investments are becoming popular for the investors who want to use it as a source of helping the earth and the atmosphere. There is no significant difference in green investment and stocks and mutual funds. **End Summary** Topics: Green Investment]]> sustainable investment]]> green events]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Kevin Long is the founder of Global Deaf Connection and the co-founder of Justmeans, a social utility site that helps companies to attract and ignite advocates of better business and good work related to sustainable finance , sustainable development, Sustainable Investment. Kevin has done significant business development work for both for-profit and non-profit organizations.

Greenhouse Gases and Climate Change

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 02:00:07 -0500

We all know that energy from the sun is required for sustaining life on earth. The outer atmosphere deflects approximately 30% of the sunlight that comes to the earth and this light is then scattered back in space. Remaining sunlight reaches the surface of the earth and gets reflected upwards in the form of slow moving energy known as infrared radiation. Greenhouse gases absorb the heat caused by the infrared radiation like CO2, water vapor, methane and ozone, due to which it becomes difficult for the gases to escape the atmosphere. According to experts, only 1% of the earth’s atmosphere is made up of greenhouse gases and these gases regulate the climate through heat trapping. This is known as the ‘greenhouse gas effect’. According to climate change experts, without the greenhouse gas effect, the average earth temperature will be colder by 30 degrees Celsius. This temperature will be too cold for the sustenance of our ecosystem. Therefore, the greenhouse effect is very much required for the earth; however it must be in a controlled manner. How are we contributing to the greenhouse effect? **End Summary** Topics: Climate Change]]> global warming]]> green events]]> global warming]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Kevin Long is the founder of Global Deaf Connection and the co-founder of Justmeans, a social utility site that helps companies to attract and ignite advocates of better business and good work related to Climate Change , global warming, greenhouse effect. Kevin has done significant business development work for both for-profit and non-profit organizations that support good work.

Ethical Investment and Ethical Fashion

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 07:23:11 -0500

Ethical Fashion: If you thought ethical fashion referred to not-so-stylish fabrics and old-fashioned designs then think again. Thanks to the rise in globalizations and awareness, serious issues like environmental damage and exploitation of workers in sweatshops across the world have come to the attention of consumers. Environmentalists as well as human rights activists are also urging people to take notice of how major fashion brands are working and whether or not any harm is being caused to the environment and workers due to their functioning. Due to the rise in awareness among consumers, companies are finding it difficult to run their business in an unethical manner. With the advancement in technology it has become easy to spread the word to boycott products of unethical organizations. This is one of the main reasons why several fashion companies have started taking environmental concerns as well as working condition of their labors into serious consideration. The present need for consumers is to choose companies that are producing clothes and accessories without causing minimal or no damage to the environment. **End Summary** Topics: Ethical consumption]]> ethical investing]]> corporate ethics]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Kevin Long is the founder of Global Deaf Connection and the co-founder of Justmeans, a social utility site that helps companies to attract and ignite advocates of better business and good work related to ethical investing , ethical consumption, corporate ethics, corporate social responsibility, csr, corporate ethics and social responsibility. Kevin has done significant business development work for both for-profit and non-profit organizations.

Corporate Social Responsibility in Asia

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 02:10:50 -0500

India has been recently ranked fourth among the five Asian countries that lay emphasis on the disclosure norms of corporate social responsibility. The list was topped by Australia as approximately 8 out of 10 companies in this country are involved in CSR activities. According to industry experts, Asian companies have started realizing the importance of integrating cost effective CSR programs as a part of their business activities. This is being done in order to make profit and run a sustainable business that will cause less damage to the society and environment. For business organizations to function in a better manner, a conducive and healthy environment is required for carrying out profit making and CSR activities. This is the reason why it is important for companies to learn how to maximize available resources and come up with innovative products and services to address social issues while making money. Jollibee is one of the organizations that can be considered an effective example of how companies can integrate corporate social responsibility in business operations. It has been successful in helping poor farmers with skills and infrastructure in improving rice production. The company in turn has benefitted with the supply of better quality products. **End Summary** Topics: corporate social responsibility]]> CSR consultants]]> CSR NEWS]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Kevin Long is the founder of Global Deaf Connection and the co-founder of Justmeans, a social utility site that helps companies to attract and ignite advocates of better business and good work related to CSR NEWS , CSR consultants, CSR events and CSR reports. Kevin has done significant business development work for both for-profit and non-profit organizations.

Are You An Ethical Investor?

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 04:38:08 -0400

Is it possible to make profit and do good at the same time? By investing in an ethical manner you can ensure social good along with financial returns. Your hard earned money should not contribute to the damage of the environment or support the exploitation of labor in poor countries. The best way to ensure that your money is not being used by companies for causing destruction to the society and environment, look for ‘green’ company stocks. The concept of ethical investment has gained tremendous importance in the last few years. Even if your green investment doesn’t make a significant contribution to the planet, it will at least give you a clear conscience. Traditionally, the term ‘investment’ has been related to capitalism under which ethics are not given much importance. There are several individual stocks and collective funds with the help of which you can combine investment with conscience. According to finance experts, financial bottom line is no more the sole criterion for measuring the success of an investment. When you invest in an ethical manner, you should know how your money is being used by the company. Different investors have different ways and reasons for making a sustainable investment. **End Summary** Topics: Sustainable finance]]> responsible investment]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Kevin Long is the founder of Global Deaf Connection and the co-founder of Justmeans, a social utility site that helps companies to attract and ignite advocates of better business and good work related to sustainable business, ethical investing, responsible investment and environmental sustainability. Kevin has done significant business development work for both for-profit and non-profit organizations.

Building a Sustainable Business

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 06:45:42 -0400

Business organizations across the world need to follow an effective approach in order to run an environmentally sustainable business. They need to reduce their carbon footprint and also come up with products that will help the consumers in minimizing the same. This will be possible only when they include the environmental aspect in the entire product lifecycle. A sustainable business is one that makes profit without causing any damage to the society or the environment. Traditional business organizations were the worst hit with the recent financial crunch as they used to run in an unsustainable manner. Such companies never took climate change and pollution into serious consideration while running their business. According to experts, the main reason behind this failure was the notion that making a profit is more beneficial as compared to doing business in a sustainable manner. A sustainable business should meet the triple bottom line and follow progressive human rights and environmental policies. It should make use of natural resources in a balanced manner so that present as well as future needs can be met. **End Summary** Topics: Environmental sustainability]]> sustainable development]]> sustainable business]]> sustainable development trends]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Kevin Long is the founder of Global Deaf Connection and the co-founder of Justmeans, a social utility site that helps companies to attract and ignite advocates of better business and good work related to sustainable business , sustainable development. Kevin has done significant business development work for both for-profit and non-profit organizations.

Importance of Environmental sustainability

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 06:19:07 -0400

Business organizations have a very important role to play towards ensuring environmental sustainability. They need to come up with a business model that will not only be beneficial for the business but also contribute to safety of the environment. According to experts, environmental sustainability can be considered a strong basis to ensure sustainable development and the emphasis should be on environmental and social welfare along with economic growth. There is no doubt that sustained growth of an economy is not possible without considering the environmental aspect. Therefore, governments as well as companies across the world need to consider this aspect for better results. In the last few years, one of the key policy issues that have gained tremendous importance is the environment. Thanks to the increased concern over environmental issues, stringent pollution targets are being set by governments across the world. Due to this, companies providing environmental solutions are also enjoying innovative market opportunities. In order to ensure environmental sustainability, balance is required between ecological system protection, economic development and maintenance of cultural and social wellbeing of communities. Business organizations can benefit from environmental sustainability to a great extent. **End Summary** Topics: environmental sustainability]]> sustainable development]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Kevin Long is the founder of Global Deaf Connection and the co-founder of Justmeans, a social utility site that helps companies to attract and ignite advocates of better business and good work related to environmental sustainability, sustainable development, sustainable business and sustainable development trend. Kevin has done significant business development work for both for-profit and non-profit organizations.

Climate Change and Poverty Reduction

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 07:57:30 -0400

Climate change or poverty- what according to you is a more grave issue? Experts believe that one issue cannot be dealt without addressing the other. While climate change has a direct impact on the poor, poverty in turn poses hindrance in combating the effects of climate change. Deforestation and flooding is causing maximum damage to the people in developing nations. It is also affecting the capacity of low income groups to deal with shortage of food and water. Since the beginning of the century, global temperature has increased by .74 degree Celsius due to the greenhouse gas emission across the world. Climate experts are predicting a further increase of 2 degrees in the temperature if the emission is not reduced in this century. Due to the increase in frequency of natural disasters, people from underdeveloped countries are migrating for their livelihood. Climate change is posing several problems in the reduction of poverty across the world. Poor nations lack the resources to fight such challenges and their heavy dependence on natural resources makes them more vulnerable to natural disasters. The present need is to adapt climate change into efforts related to poverty eradication. **End Summary** Topics: Climate change]]> global warming]]> global temperature]]> sustainable development.]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Kevin Long is the founder of Global Deaf Connection and the co-founder of Justmeans, a social utility site that helps companies to attract and ignite advocates of better business and good work related to global warming , climate change, sustainable development. Kevin has done significant business development work for both for-profit and non-profit organizations.

Asia to Get City Loans to Fight Climate Change

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 05:49:21 -0400

Climate change may have turned into a serious global issue but its effects will be more visible on under developed economies. According to the World Bank, South Asia and Africa might have to witness economic depression of approximately 5% every year. Earth’s temperature is rising due to global warming and it is being predicted that further warming will result in acute shortage of food and clean drinking water for more than 400 million people. Recently, Surat, a state in India became one of the 10 cities in the Asian Cities Climate Change Resilience Network that will be granted loan from the World Bank to fight the effects of climate change. Rest 9 cities belong to India, Vietnam, Indonesia and Thailand. Many developed as well as under developed countries across the world have set goals to go green and reduce carbon footprint to bring down the warming rate below the mark of two degrees. Climate change experts are of view that adoption of mitigation measures to curb global warming effects is a better option as compared to adaptation to warmer climate. **End Summary** Topics: climate change]]> companies working on climate change]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Kevin Long is the founder of Global Deaf Connection and the co-founder of Justmeans, a social utility site that helps companies to attract and ignite advocates of better business and good work related to climate change , Green events, companies working on climate change and global warming. Kevin has done significant business development work for both for-profit and non-profit organization

Food Shortage and Sustainable Investment

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 03:34:51 -0400

In the last few years, the agriculture sector has witnessed a sharp rise in food prices. Rise in poverty and global warming is being predicted to cause more shortage of food and clean drinking water in the years to come. Developing nations are being said to be the worst affected with such global issues. If experts are to be believed, the present need is to adopt the concept of environmental sustainability and invest in countries that have untapped potential for food production. For instance, countries such as Ukraine, Russia and Kazakhstan hold good potential for export and agricultural production. Therefore, responsible investment along with effective policies for sustainable development is required to make sure these developing countries also play an important role in solving global food crisis. Apart from socially responsible investing, government policies of these countries will also play an important role. Unless the agriculture sector doesn’t offer a supportive platform for ethical investing opportunities, financial firms from all sectors will not be motivated to invest money in such economies. Agriculture has been declared a national priority in Russia and the amount of sustainable investment in this sector has also been increased as per the government policy. **End Summary** Topics: Sustainable finance]]> responsible investment]]> socially responsible investing]]> ethical investing]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Kevin Long is the founder of Global Deaf Connection and the co-founder of Justmeans, a social utility site that helps companies to attract and ignite advocates of better business and good work related to sustainable finance , sustainable development, Sustainable Investment. Kevin has done significant business development work for both for-profit and non-profit organizations.

Why Choose a Sustainable Career?

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 06:44:23 -0400

The current economic crisis has proved the fact that there is no such thing as job security. No job can be considered as safe no matter how well you have been performing. This in turn has led to the rise in popularity of sustainable career opportunities. But before you make a career switch it is essential to determine whether or not you are committed towards building a serious career. A lot will depend on how far you can go to excel in your career and invest time and efforts. In order to build a sustainable career you will have to understand the importance of continuing with your education, whether or not your company pays for it. It is very important to establish a career network and meet new professionals. This will help you learn more and you can implement the inputs to advance further in your career. People who want to enjoy the benefits of a sustainable job should never get afraid of making decisions. Since their job will not only help them make a living but also make a difference to the world, decision making skills will help them excel further. **End Summary** Topics: responsible careers]]> Sustainable Career]]> CSR Jobs]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Kevin Long is the founder of Global Deaf Connection and the co-founder of Justmeans, a social utility site that helps companies to attract and ignite advocates of better business and good work related to sustainable jobs. Kevin has done significant business development work for both for-profit and non-profit organizations.

Global Health Challenges

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 03:54:51 -0400

Health experts believe that the present need is to address issues related to provision of public health and care facilities instead of focusing on disease specific problems. Investments from public as well as private sectors may be rising but the provision of quality health care still varies across the world. Besides the cost, there are several social, economic, political and cultural factors due to which provision of healthcare becomes a challenge in many countries. There are several challenges associated with global healthcare facilities. People who don’t require health care too often are the ones who enjoy these facilities the most. Whereas the access to basic health care services is very poor for people who are not financially strong. This chasm is being predicted to grow deeper in the coming years if equal distribution of hygiene and healthcare is not implemented. The fact that the rich often benefit from such services as compared to the low income group, policymakers need to implement effective measures to fill the gap. Fragmented care is another challenge associated with global health care. **End Summary** Topics: Health]]> health reports]]> health news and updates]]> health trends]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Kevin Long is the founder of Global Deaf Connection and the co-founder of Justmeans, a social utility site that helps companies to attract and ignite advocates of better business and good work related to Health , health care, sustainable development. Kevin has done significant business development work for both for-profit and non-profit organizations that support good work.

Getting a Job in Non-profit Organizations

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 08:50:02 -0400

The basic purpose of starting a non-profit organization is the fulfillment of mutual or public benefits other than profit making. If you thought individuals start a NGO in order to get away from income tax payment or hide their illegal assets, think again. Even though governments in many countries have exempted such enterprises from the payment of income tax, this form of business cannot be considered an alternative for other business types. In fact, most of the non-profit organizations work for the fulfillment of social and environmental concerns. The profit made by such organizations is not distributed among the owners. The main aim is to direct the profit towards serving the clients (consumers). There is no doubt that the public sector goes beyond national and local governmental bodies. It also includes a wide range of other organizations like charities, police as well as educational bodies. Anyone looking for a socially responsible career can find tremendous opportunities in the public sector. There are several notions associated with NGO jobs. Many people feel that such organizations don’t offer any career progression. **End Summary** Topics: responsible careers]]> social responsible careers]]> NGO jobs]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Kevin Long is the founder of Global Deaf Connection and the co-founder of Justmeans, a social utility site that helps companies to attract and ignite advocates of better business and good work related to NGO jobs. Kevin has done significant business development work for both for-profit and non-profit organizations.

Benefits of Sustainable Investment Opportunities

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 03:10:48 -0400

Sustainable finance is all about the investment opportunities directed towards the conservation of the environment. It also relates to investments in clean energy and water projects, production of renewable energy or any business activities that fulfill environmental concerns. The fact that sustainable investment trends are catching up despite the financial crisis, the concept of sustainable finance has become more attractive for investors. Green investments can be extremely effective in providing stable returns in the long run. Anyone interested in combining ethics with investment can opt for green companies that carry their business activities with environmental issues as the main agenda. According to experts, sustainable investment is a great way to build a better environment. Business organizations need to focus on the protection of environment and eco-friendly living in order to achieve the goal of sustainable development. In the last few years, demand for green stocks has increased to a great extent. Investors across the globe are looking for companies that are integrating the concept of ‘sustainability’ in their daily business activities. Many such companies are offering diverse investment opportunities to lure investors from all sectors. This certainly doesn’t mean that companies other than green companies are bad. **End Summary** Topics: Sustainable finance]]> responsible investment]]> socially responsible investing]]> socially-conscious investing]]> ethical investing]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Kevin Long is the founder of Global Deaf Connection and the co-founder of Justmeans, a social utility site that helps companies to attract and ignite advocates of better business and good work related to sustainable finance , sustainable development, ethical consumption. Kevin has done significant business development work for both for-profit and non-profit organizations that support good work.

Sustainable Development and Global Issues

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 07:30:09 -0400

Sustainable development may be an over-used term but it can prove extremely beneficial in solving global issues such as degradation of the environment, poverty, inequality and hunger. According to experts, the entire world is facing social, environmental and economic challenges in the 21st century. The present need is to acquire a development approach that is not only sustainable but also viable from the social, environmental and economic point of view. It is not difficult to follow a development approach that is sustainable and causes less damage to the planet, however there are several challenges attached to it. A synergy between long term changes in lifestyles and business activities is required to integrate sustainability in the process of development. This concept holds different meanings for different people, which is why its impact has not been very impressive so far. Billions of people across the world continue to live without any access to sanitation or clean drinking water. Workers in under developed nations live on the mere income of 2 dollars per day. The gravity of such issues is increasing and the world is witnessing a significant difference in the consumption of resources. **End Summary** Topics: environmental sustainability]]> sustainable development]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Kevin Long is the founder of Global Deaf Connection and the co-founder of Justmeans, a social utility site that helps companies to attract and ignite advocates of better business and good work related to sustainable business . Kevin has done significant business development work for both for-profit and non-profit organizations.