Image Incentives for Environmental Management Essay

Investors are most perceptibly impressed by environmental management. A company that demonstrates sound and sustainable practices with respect to the environment wins the trust of fund managers who adopt risk management strategies for the long-term safety of capital. A business or even an arm of government that has large ‘eyesores’ in terms of waste, extravagant consumption and deleterious side-effects from use of its products and services, will find it impossible to attract fresh investment, or even to retain its equity, unless it is able to demonstrate clear ability to contain all the undesirable effects of its operations. Organizations with transparent environmental management systems will emerge as preferred destinations for public and private investment. Major accidents can threaten the continuance of both industry and government. The impacts of the Bhopal disaster on Union Carbide’s pesticide operations, and that of the atomic power plant accident in Chernobyl, are striking examples of how a sudden disaster can be the reason for an indefinite cessation of all activities for a running organization. Formal environmental management systems help to reduce probabilities of adverse incidents, to cope with the immediate effects of disasters, and for image recovery in the aftermath of such major incidents. The EMS has therefore image implications for organizations, apart from the actual aid that it would render internally. Industries with negative images in the public mind need independent certification of their environmental management systems more than others. The label of ISO can enable such enterprises prolong their market operations. Some communities may ask polluting and hazardous businesses to move away from them. Local governments do routinely place severe restrictions on chemical application-some cities in North America have even banned their use altogether. Such developments point towards the eventual demise of entire sectors of industry. Companies and organizations with long term stakes in such enterprises, can rescue their investments by adopting comprehensive environmental management standards. There are a large number of enterprises and organizations with products, services and activities that have no obvious effects on the environment. Even they may on life cycle analysis, find areas where they can contribute to conservation of key earth resources. Life saving health care services generates large quantities of infectious wastes. Electronic goods including computers contain plastics and heavy metals, the disposal of which threatens our future, in a field with such rapid obsolescence. Many consumer goods compete on the basis of elaborate and attractive packaging, which tends to be paper based, and therefore very demanding of vegetative cover. Bureaucracies, especially the armed forces, may run on enormous quantities of energy without consummate and durable benefits. Companies in ‘non-polluting’ fields of endeavor can achieve new breakthroughs by displaying foresight in environmental conservation terms. Environmental concerns are most attractive for the young. This may be because of the long-term perspectives in which related concerns lie. Companies that design and make products and services for the young, can often find environmental concerns to make special business sense. Many social organizations have large numbers of young people amongst their ranks of activists and followers, because they lay so much importance by the environment and its conservation. Any business or group activity that seeks the support and endorsement of the young must have defendable records of environmental management. Toyota leads automobile manufacturers which use achievements in energy and waste reductions, to reach out to the young and to increase their market shares of this demographic segment. Formal environmental management systems involve elaborate procedures. They use the best team building practices. Environmental management methods use some of the top business management resources. The technology encompasses all aspect of business and operations; it provides platforms for individual and group excellence. Firms and organizations with elaborate environmental management systems in place can attract and retain the best professional talent, because of the challenge and opportunity it presents. Conversely, companies and organizations with poor records of environmental conservation will find it increasingly difficult to build adequate human resources of the right quality. The reasons and benefits of certified environmental management are not confined to the ‘soft’ reasons of image and goodwill: there are concrete business advantages as well. Companies and service organizations that supply goods and services to downstream industries, can access additional markets by adopting environmental management systems. The latter have ‘domino’ effects and all those who adopt formal systems for environment care are generally obliged to make their suppliers conform as well. Vendors who opt to ignore environmental management systems, or who consider the costs to be too high, will find themselves isolated and excluded from increasing sections of their potential markets. Tenders for major construction and service projects may stipulate environmental requirements. Bids can be lost because potential winners for such contracts do not have the experience and resources to comply with tender conditions. Some bidders, who are not the lowest on price, may present environmental advantages and add-on services to support their bids. We may see more examples of this trend, especially when public funds are at stake. It is unlikely that any major tenders can exclude conditions related to environmental concerns. We know that investors value stocks more on the bases of their perceptions and sentiments, rather than by the cold facts and figures of financial statements and checks of dividend. Image plays a major role in building long term value for companies, especially leaders in mature markets. There is a recent trend towards Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), which instigates firms to stray beyond the strict limits of their original purposes. CSR has little meaning for firms without EMSs. One can never tell when an acute and major adverse event may expose an errant company, but the erosion of credibility of all firms with pernicious abuse of the environment, is also certain. There are strong compulsions for companies to develop and to protect their images in the public eye through the shield of ISO 14001. ISO 14000 and Global Trends The Internet and the World Trade Organization have combined to give all businesses global potential. This is a double-edged sword, as the benefits come with certain tags. One of the important implications of globalization is the need to display effective commitment to environmental conservation. The latter is a prime concern of recent origin that permeates key markets everywhere (Hanson, A. J. not dated). The United Nations Commission on Environment and Development, also known as the Brundtland Commission, published in 1987, gives concrete credence for the inevitability of environmental concerns for all international transactions. The cause of sustainable development is well served by the ISO 14000 series. Business houses and social organizations are bound by some international treaties related to environmental protection. The Montreal Protocol of 1987 on ozone depletion, the Basel Convention of 1989 on the transport of hazardous wastes, the 1992 Framework Convention on Climate Change and the 1992 Convention on Biological Diversity, are the key ones. These international agreements act as competitive advantages for companies that can meet the technological challenges implied; companies that ignore international trends in environmental concerns, on the other hand, are doomed to exclusion from emerging frontiers of global business. The Agreement on Technical business to Trade (TBT) and the Code of Good Practice are strong albeit indirect influences by the World Trade Organization to impose environmental management on a trans-national basis. Imports in to a member country may be restricted by technical regulations and product standards. The latter can have strong environment norms, as for example in terms of air emissions. Product labeling requirements may also act as barriers for companies to export their goods, if they do not have a comprehensive environmental management system such as ISO 14001 in place. Since ecological labeling is based on life cycle analysis, international trade can dig deep in to production and purchase systems as a barrier to entry for companies that do not follow or use ISO 14001. The Strategic Advisory Group on the Environment (SAGE) has led the ISO to establish the following standards, each of which has severe impact on companies involved in international trade: Environmental Management Systems (EMS) Environmental Auditing (EA) Environmental Performance Evaluation (EPE) Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) Environmental Labeling (EL) Terms and Definitions (T&D) Environmental Aspects of Product Standards (EAPS). TC 207 has the international authority to set standards for environmental management systems. It has established a network of organized committees in many countries of the first world that give strong body and substance to the strict observance of environmental management standards by all companies engaged in global trade. TC 207 gives an undeniable message to global corporations to use systems such as ISO 14001. Environmental concerns have reached consumer groups, and they add great force to regulatory pressures on global companies to use the ISO 14000 series to respond to changing trends in customer demands. Companies that lack the abilities and the inclination to conserve the environment, face gradual extinction as they stand to lose custom. The net effect of these treaties and regulations is that business will get confined in stages to small pockets of the third world where international obligations do not apply, and where consumer awareness is low. Even these pockets will shrink to infinitesimal proportions with the passage of time. The future lies in business that meets global standards, and environmental management systems are an integral part of such standards. ISO 14001 is a structured way for all companies to strengthen their bases for the world-wide markets of the future. ISO 14001 and Profits Many business leaders will not invest the time and money required to obtain ISO 14001 registration, and to maintain it, for image reasons alone. However, they can be persuaded by arguments related to direct effects on the bottom line. ISO 14001 helps profitability in a number of ways (Case Studies 2002). Companies which have implemented ISO 14001 have the following experiences: 1. ISO 14001 makes the implementation of other standards in the ISO 14000 series easier. A company which invests in ISO 14001 can earn multiple returns by qualifying quickly and at low cost, for other certifications in the series. The profit implications of this competence will become an increasing lever of competitive advantage as countries and trading blocks insist on the consumer benefits that the ISO 14000 series offers. 2. Material and energy costs can be significant in total product costs. Much of the ISO 14001 process deals with reducing the amount of materials and energies needed to make each unit of a brand. This leads to direct cost savings. ISO 14001 also reduces the total cost of production by reducing waste management expenses. 3. ISO 14001 reduces the chances that a company may have to pay out large and unexpected amounts to help communities recover from pollution arising out of production and use of products. ISO 14001 protects operating profits from erosion due to recovery from pollution. 4. Recycling of waste is an important ISO 14001 priority. Parts recovered from a recycling process can act as raw materials for a new or a different production process, sometimes by a new entity at some other location. Regardless of the structure of a recycling process, there are always significant revenue potentials in the system. 5. ISO 14001 contributes positively to employee health and safety. It reduces employee-related costs in this manner, and improves productivity. ISO 14001 companies can expect better contributions from their human resources. 6. Insurance companies can be persuaded to reduce their charges as ISO 14001 improves risk management. The chances of adverse events reduce with ISO 14001 processes, and thereby reduce insurance costs. 7. ISO 14001 has international relevance. Companies that operate globally can avoid duplicating the costs of meeting local standards by seeking the universal nature of ISO 14001 certification. 8. Company valuation appreciates after an ISO 14001 certification, especially for relatively risky areas of business. Investors feel more assured about investing in stocks of companies that are able to manage their inherent risks in the transparent and professional ways of ISO 14001. 9. Companies can market their ISO 14001 certifications to gain market share. Customers may switch over to support companies who are able to inform them about the environmental benefits of the registration. ISO 14001 is a flexible system that adapts to the priorities of organizations that strive for its certification. It yields margin improvement through productivity achievements. It also protects future profits by contributing to the risk management capabilities of registered organizations. It can reduce insurance costs by managing product liabilities and reducing the probabilities of accidents, claims and other adverse incidents. Companies that use ISO 14001 experience profit growth and more assured future prospects as well.

Assessments †Nutrition †Food Groups Essay

My first grade class is participating in a health lesson that will introduce them to the food groups. They will use MyPlate as a resource for learning the food groups and what foods are included in each group. The objective of this lesson is that the student can name foods that belong to each of the food groups labeled on MyPlate. Our health goal will be using MyPlate as a healthy eating tool and our vocabulary words will be food group and MyPlate. We will place foods in each of the five food groups and know the food groups by name and color coding: Grains (orange), Vegetables (green), Fruits (red), Dairy (blue) and Protein (purple). Students will be assessed on their ability to place and/or name foods in the appropriate food group. Students will be placed in assessment groups based on their level of English proficiency. The students will be assessed as follows: * Beginning ELL – students will be shown a photograph of a food and be told the name of the food (ie: photograph of an apple with teacher speaking the word apple) the student will then be asked to point to the food group on MyPlate (see attachment 1) (www. cnpp. usda. gov) in which the apple belongs. Intermediate ELL – Students will be given photographs of food with the name of the food along with a blank MyPlate (see attachment 2) (www. choosemyplate. gov). They will be asked to color each food group and then place the foods in the appropriate food group. * Advanced ELL – Students will be given a blank MyPlate (see attachment 2) (www. chosemyplate. gov) and be asked to write the names of at least three of their favorite foods in each group and then color the food groups the appropriate colors. The data gathered from the assessments will let me know how they comprehended and understood the lesson and will start to give me a snapshot of their English proficiency. Did they understand the words when they were spoken to them? Are they apple to read words associated with a photograph? Can they write words based on their knowledge and the lesson that was taught? Nutrition is taught every year in Kindergarten through 5th rade so a student of any level†¦ELL, SPED, Gifted, and Regular Education can be evaluated and previous years knowledge can be compared. Did the first grade beginning ELL student move up at least one level by second grade? Are they considered proficient by fifth grade? Portfolios can be made and follow the ELL student through school so that teachers can compare previous year’s work to the work they are doing that year. They can look for improvement in their English proficiency as well as the knowledge in the content areas being taught. As a teacher with ELL students I would not only look to teach them our English words for our foods but I would try to pull photographs of foods that might be important to their culture. I would try to find foods they are already familiar with and show them where they fit in the world of nutrition. Using this data would help create a comfort zone for them because they would at least recognize the photograph of the food and learn how we say it in English. Once the assessments are performed we will be able to determine if the student is capable of learning the content even though English proficiency may be low. If they score low then we will know that we have to continue to improve their English to help them in all content areas. If they are scoring high, while we will continue to improve their English but we will know they are capable of learning and understanding the content being presented to them. A teacher might consider placing the ELL student in peer groups with English speaking students to help increase their fluency.

A Career in Tourism

Currently tourism – very promising and quickly developing field of economics. Now on volumes of revenue tourism in the third place in the world after the automotive and petroleum industries. But there is a forecast that in the coming years it will take a second or even first place. Also, it should be noted that in the tourism sector employs about half of the population of our planet. Therefore, I believe that tourism Is one of the most attractive areas of activity.In our time, given all the advancements and technology, travel has become easy. And If we consider that the standard of living In our country Is growing, we can still say that tourism Is becoming more affordable for us. Personally, I was attracted by specialty tourism, because I believe that this work- combining business with pleasure. That Is, If I work In the travel agency, I will get the opportunity to more and more to develop, to learn about different parts of our planet,I will certainly go to Info-tours at the e xpense the enterprise. If, for example, I work In a hotel, It Is a constant opportunity to communicate with new people, foreigners, with their culture. This is an opportunity to practice foreign languages. Jobs tour operator is also very interesting, as it implies a vast knowledge of geography, involves creativity. Make tours very interesting, because I can go to different countries.In addition to all the benefits that I have listed, we should add that all this high-paying places. More accurate to say that everything will depend on myself. To succeed in the career of tourism, first need to have a aspiration and a great desire, you need to be in the mood for communication. Should also receive special education. One must be aware of all the news related to tourism. Attend conferences, participate in the communities to be active within the enterprise, and to invent something new.

How a Bill Becomes a Law Essay

Nearly 10 percent of children in the United States suffer from asthma, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Dealing with a chronic health condition like asthma has several significant effects on a child’s lifestyle. Childhood should be fun and carefree, but kids with asthma have to take on some very big worries and responsibilities. They need to learn which symptoms and events are likely to trigger an attack, such as cold weather, exercise, stressful situations and exposure to secondhand smoke. Kids, their families and other caregivers must all learn to recognize the signs of an attack and how to respond to it quickly, such as using a steroid inhaler during acute attacks. Some kids also take daily maintenance medications, such as bronchodilators and anti-inflammatory drugs, which may reduce the risk of future attacks. Being active is a key component of being healthy and physical activity is a major part of many kids’ lives. However, kids with ast hma often have limitations that make it difficult to participate in sports, active playground games and activities like dancing. Asthma doesn’t usually prevent kids from participating in these events, but they are often at greater risk of experiencing an asthma attack in these situations. Both the children and the adults on the sidelines need to be aware of the possibility that an asthma attack could occur and what to do if it does. Anything that makes a child stand out can cause feelings of embarrassment and even shame. Kids with asthma may fear having an attack at school, or feel uncomfortable about having to use an inhaler in the presence of their friends. They may feel left out when they can’t always participate in activities with their peers. Having any serious, chronic illness is scary, and kids with asthma need extra emotional support to develop additional coping skills. Asthma often causes missed school days and these absences from school can quickly lead to a child falling behind. Kids with asthma may need extra tutoring to keep up with their classes, and understanding teachers who are aware of their students’ health issues are crucial. In some cases, severe or frequent asthma-related illness and hospitalization may even require parents to consi der homeschooling. Parents of children who have asthma often worry constantly about their child. When a child is first diagnosed with asthma there tends to be frequent emergency room visits due to the fear of the parents for their child’s safety. This situation impacts the whole family. Places that are unhealthy for an asthma  sufferer are avoided, which can keep the other family members from having these experiences. The direct costs of asthma are estimated at more than $9.4 billion. This cost is born by individuals, families, health systems and insurance providers according to the Allergy and Asthma Advocate.

Compare three pre-20th Century poems about London Essay

I am going to compare three very different poems about London. The first poem is ‘London’ by William Blake, written around 1800. ‘Upon Westminster bridge’ is the second poem , by William Wordsworth, again written around 1800. The third poem by Mary Ann Evans in the mid-19th century is called ‘In a London drawing room.’ William Blake was a man of strong opinions, he was a strange person who painted horrific art and walked around naked in his garden. He was a strict Christian and wrote hymns. People disliked him for his strange ideas and strong criticism of what he felt was wrong. William Wordsworth lived in the Lake District, and wrote poems about where he live; the countryside. Whilst visiting London he wrote a poem about what he could see from Westminster bridge. Mary Ann Evans lived in London she was a tomboy by the name of George Elliot. Her father was a vicar. She moved to London to live a more interesting life. Working for a printing company she realised how mistreated women were. The story behind ‘Upon Westminster bridge’ is:- London looks very beautiful. You’d be sad not to be impressed. It’s about what Wordsworth sees from Westminster bridge. His theme is simple; He likes what he sees. London has a very different theme: William Blake lives in London and can’t stand it. The story is very simple the poet wanders through London’s streets thinking about what he sees. In a London drawing room also has a simple story; Mary Ann Evans is in a drawing room looking out into the street. Her theme is much more complex She talks about how London through this window is dull, grey and boring. When she says this she actually means that’s how she feels inside and expresses it through her poetry. ‘Upon Westminster bridge’ is a sonnet because it has fourteen lines praising London’s beauty, it has only one verse. It has a regular iambic rhythm all the way through: Giving the poem a joyful sound. There is no regular rhyming pattern but some lines rhyme. London uses quatrains which means it has four equal lines into four verses. London has a regular and joyful rhythm, which is ironic because of its sad message. The rhyming follows an ACBD pattern (‘A’ rhymes with line ‘C’-‘B’ rhymes with line ‘D.) ‘In a London drawing room’ has no verses, twenty lines which have each ten syllables in them. There is no regular rhythm, because of the regular enjambment. â€Å"Cutting the sky with one long line of wall Like soled Fog: Far as the eye can stretch.† The enjambment causes lines to run into each other. There is no rhyme a tall in the poem. There is a lot of figurative language in ‘Upon Westminster bridge.’ â€Å"wear The beauty of the morning; silent bare,† This a personification because the city wears the beauty of the morning like a dress. â€Å"The river glideth at his own sweet will:† In line twelve names the river a ‘he’. This poem has a lot of imagery, one of them mentions valley, rock and hill, putting the picture of the valleys, hills and rocks on the horizon. In a London drawing room too uses figurative language, â€Å"The world seems one huge prison-house and court,† this is a similar because the world seems to be like a prison-house. A metaphor would be, â€Å"Cutting the sky with one long line of wall,† this is calling the row of houses a wall cutting the sky. The figurative language in London are, â€Å"The mind-forg’d manacles I hear.† Means the people in London believe they are in manacles. The metaphor at the end of the third verse is about the old war soldiers begging outside wealthy houses, â€Å"And the hapless soldier’s sigh Runs in blood down palace walls.† In ‘Upon Westminster bridge’ most of the ‘play on words’ are to keep the rhyme and rhythm in a pattern. London plays on words quiet a lot compared with Upon Westminster bridge. At the end of the first verse there is an element of alliteration, â€Å"Marks of weakness. Marks of woe,† woe is a much more powerful word to use than sad plus it alliterates with weakness. The second verse uses ‘in every†¦.’ Four times to get the point that this is serious across more strongly. † The mind-forg’d manacles I hear,† is an alliteration of the letter ‘M’. On the last line, the last two words are marriage and hearse (car that carries a coffin) this is called juxtaposition; because marriage is associated with beginning and hearse is associated with the end they are opposites. This is an interesting way to end the poem. The only real play on words in ‘in a London drawing room’ was the last line because the three last words are the only positive words (colour, warmth and joy) in the whole poem but just before it says ‘with lowest rate of’. So they might be positive but she’s saying there is no colour, warmth or joy. I feel London is the most effective poem. This is because I like the irony in the rhythm and rhyme which sounds happy but its meaning is sad. I also like the Juxtaposition in the last line ‘Marriage hearse’. He uses clever words and sentences to put down London. I don’t like ‘In a London drawing room’ because it drags on so as to lose its meaning. ‘Upon Westminster bridge’ I quite like because its cheerful but I still prefer the way ‘London’ is written because it uses good words and clever poetry.

The Company under Study Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The Company under Study - Essay Example The company under study is a small manufacturing firm, which produces metal bead chains. This company is doing business since early 20’s and is continuing till now. It has not got a huge set up but only 20 machines, having two sets of dies which are capable of manufacturing 7 sizes of chains. The company is using brass, steel and stain-less steel as raw material and has additional facilities like own die production, a computer numerical control machine for production of dies. They also have special machines for packaging of units. The company possesses an experienced production manager with an experience of 18 years. It has also a well experienced technical manage, 3 die makers, 4 setters with 4 helpers.  While carrying out the case study, following problems can be identified, which are related to the firm in one way or the other: Under utilization of production capacity. Machine stoppages due to quality problems which is a result of under maintained machineries. Manufacturing with steel and stainless steel which are harder metals and do not suite to the companies production set up and due to lack of engineering base the life of dies are minimized the repairing of which, takes an hours time by the setters which is surely a time loss. Speed of machines become slowest in making chain sin the largest size in steel and stainless steel. The quality assurance department is handled by the production manager; quality should always be separate from production. Despite of availability of production software, production plans are made by the production manager. The stock of production material is not been taken care of. A huge stock of un-plated chain has accumulated. The manager is using oil in increasing productivity. Application of software’s should be carried out planning of production instead of using past experience know how, all machine should be allocated in volume of order of different sizes of chains. The machines for manufacturing of steel and stainless steel chains should be separated so that the fast production of brass chains does not get hampered. Quality issues should not be handled by a production manager as the production manager is responsible for executing production that is higher number of units per day and making machines reach maximum efficiency. This can make him over look the quality issues that are related to product development. The persons who are responsible for quality management should also take of material in-process.

Local goverment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Local goverment - Essay Example Looking at the different states in the U.S, we see that different states have given more or less power or authority to the local governments. Also, we see that distribution of power is yet unbalanced within the same state. The distribution of power from a state to its localities is not immutable, nor is it unidirectional. Some states are kind enough to give more authority to their cities while others like to keep power in their own hands. John F. Dillon set out his rule stating that local governments can only exercise powers given to them by the state. This rule is dominant in the working of many cities in the world today. In addition, we see that many states that adopted Dillons rule have home rule provisions that they follow. This allows them to have more autonomy from the state and make important decisions they need to make for the development of their cities. Statistics show that cities have lost discretionary powers in the last decade. The city managers feel this loss more than other stake holders because it makes their work hard. One way that has been adapted by cities is to act as coherent force against states rather than being divided among themselves. Some states legislators show loss of trust in the local governments being the reason for them to not let them enjoy the freedom. Annexation is a method used to improve the overall fiscal environment of a municipality. Looking at the effects of annexation we see that it has influenced spending but effects of spending are complicated depending on the changes in municipality density levels. Annexation has been an important method of physical municipal growth. In the U.S, this is a very intense local issue. Due to this, there are a lot of conflicts that arise because it can increase a city’s population, tax base, demographics, population of voters etc. In addition, annexation can lead to removal of an existing tax or