Environment Portal

The opening of school can be pretty chaotic for families more so if the kids are going to school for the first time. Older students may not be new to the routine but just the same they will be apprehensive of meeting new classmates, making new friends and coping with the demands of new teachers if they have to move to a new school. The entire family will have to face new adjustments regarding time schedules as well as additional expenses. On top of it all, the adults will be concerned with the security of the students while in school. Research conducted shows that children at the age of 8 to 14 have the most school related injuries. However, most adults are still concerned about the violence that can happen inside the school.

Aside from the injuries that can be caused by the natural boisterousness of children, adults are most concerned about more violent incidents like child abductions and sexual harassment. The adults fears are justified as they are entrusting their kids to educational empoloyees and it can be expected that these people can only protect the children while they are inside the school premises.

The school organization should make the necessary measures to ensure security against damage to school assets through larceny but the security of the educational empoloyees and the schoolkids must be given top priority. The location of the educational institution is one consideration in setting up security measures. Basically, educational institutions in isolated locations will be relatively safe from unwelcome “visitors” unlike schools in well populated areas. A school on a suitable location is not an excuse for the educational institution organization to be complacent about creating a safe surrounding.

Recently Canada’s Environment and Plastics Industry Council stated in a report that eco friendly reusable bags may “pose a public health risk.” The report was minor, and they did not suggest that reusable green bags shouldn’t be used. However, per the norm, special interest groups ranging from plastic manufacturers to lumber mills manipulated the store into something greater. They have begun promoting the report out of context to serve their interests. The Environment and Plastics Industry Council report is not a cause for concern in the least. Reusable green bags are a much better option to paper and plastic for a variety of reasons ranging from the environmental toll of disposable bags to saving for companies.

These interest groups, including plastics manufacturers and deforesters are irresponsibly further stoking germophobia caused by the swine flu. What they neglected to mention is that simply washing your reusable bag after it comes into contact with contaminants will avoid any and all issues. The lumber and plastics industries have resorted to fear mongering to protect their interests, and they are doing it in both an inappropriate and unethical fashion.

Reusable bags are no different than other improvements in consumer products throughout history. During the Second Industrial Revolution (1890s) terry cloth replaced linen as the primary material for bath towels. Users experienced a better, more pleasant experience all around. However, as any parent knows when they unpack their child’s summer camp luggage, towels must be washed. This has now become second nature, and most people wash and dry their towels regularly. This avoids mold, bacteria, and anything else that may be a cause for concern. Simply washing your green reusable bag after they come into contact with anything suspect will have the same effect and render the report’s concerns completely unfounded.

An independent study in 2001 stated, “mowing the lawn does the same amount of damage as driving about 100 miles in a car.” That does not include those who use 2-stroke weed eaters as lawn mowers on steep slopes, ditches, and saturated ground. The hybrid remote control lawn mower, such as the Southern RobotX SRX22T, allows lawn care professionals to increase productivity in those situations, while at the same time, reducing fuel consumption. The hybrid power system on these mowers reduce fuel consumption by 40%, in addition to keeping the battery charged during use. The lawn care professional usually don’t care about the M.P.G. on his mowing equipment. But, by giving them an alternative to 6 or 8 ozone eating weed eaters on slopes up to 70 degrees, they are able to increase productivity by using commercial grade green technology. It is a win-win situation for the environment, as well as the lawn care professional.

Another win-win situation is on the residential side of things. The residential models are benifiting the elderly and/or disabled people who, due to the physical demands of traditional lawn equipment, usually resort to having someone else take care of their lawn. Unlike most of us, a lot of elderly really do enjoy yard-work. And now, by using green technology, they are able to rekindle their passion for yard-work.

The practicallity of the hybrid remote control lawn mower is what sets it aside from the other, more environmentally friendly, mowers on the market today. The all electric push mowers are great for the environment, but have to use a 12″ fragile cutting blade due to the lack of power in the DC electric motor. The fully robotic mowers are also very environmentally friendly. They are not practical on most lawns, either. Not only do they use the same fragile blades, but you have to bury a wire, similar to the invisable dog fence, around the perimiter of the lawn. Slopes over 20 degrees are not recommended for the fully robotic mowers. However, if your lawn is less than 10,000 sq. ft., and you don’t mind changing blades ever-so-often and burying a wire around the perimiter; the all electric mower is the environmentally minded choice. The hybrid remote control lawn mowers have the perfect balance between being environmentally friendly and practical for most lawns.

Build a Road to Peace

1. Set up a justice system for resolution of disputes between nations, identification and censure of criminals, verification of evidence etc.

2. Get criminals out of government positions and replace them with honest men.

3 Reform your money system and prosper beyond all imagining, thus removing the need to “save” (i.e. plunder) other nations .

4. Drop the notion that the answer to crime is to commit lots of crimes.

5 Drop the notion that the way to make the world safe is to start World War Three.

6. Drop the notion that the way to bring order to an area is to start blowing things up and shooting people (ie. bringing chaos).

7. Protect all human rights without compromise. Recognize that sanctimonious rhetoric is not enough and doesn’t fool anybody but the terminally gullible.

8. Apply your morés, customs, laws and basic decencies to your dealings with ALL men everywhere.

9. Stop aiding and abetting ruthless dictators.

10.Stop dropping bombs on people. It upsets them.

11.Recognize that the best way to uphold civilization is to practice it rather than abandon it at the first temptation.

12. Recognize that to practice civilized conduct, despite all “reasons” or invitations to abandon them, requires true courage and moral fiber and that persons, groups or nations who abandon these values are weak.

Strategic Blueprint for the Foundations of a Global Civilization

As individuals, we have our own responsibilities to our social environment. Businesses as well have social responsibilities. Social responsibility is the obligation of the business to protect and serve the society, as a way of giving back as the business uses resources of the society, and is dependent to the society for its operations.

So generally, why do businesses need to be socially responsible? Firstly, the activities of the firm can earn goodwill that even though intangible can be reflected in the sales figures. Therefore, public image is considered. Government regulation also plays a role in the social responsibility of businesses. Because businessmen would not want to be closed by the government if pollution measures were not observed by them, businesses are forced to comply with social responsibility. Another is for employee satisfaction. Because productivity is related to employee satisfaction, businesses are bound to provide proper compensation and work place to the employees. Thus, capitalizing on social responsibility can also achieve efficiency in the workplace by satisfied employees. Lastly, but definitely not the least important factor to be considered in the social responsibility of an organization is the consumer awareness. Consumers are more conscious of their rights and providing them inferior quality of goods and services would definitely affect your business’s reputation.

The next question would then be, what are various ways for a business of being socially responsible? Typically, the business should render services and provide goods needed by the society. It should as well generate profits in a legal means that is not detrimental to the welfare of the society. It should also pay taxes, and observe the laws of the government in its operations.