My Ethical Tourism Plus

Silent Night

2011-12-19T14:05:00.001+01:00

Dear Reader

With Best Wishes for Christmas and the New Year

Cheers
IP

The Three Voyages of Captain James Cook Around the World

2011-11-10T16:36:00.000+01:00

The Three Voyages (e-book)

James Cook (Biography)

"Captain James Cook, FRS, RN (7 November 1728[NB 1] – 14 February 1779) was a British explorer, navigator and cartographer who ultimately rose to the rank of captain in the Royal Navy. Cook made detailed maps of Newfoundland prior to making three voyages to the Pacific Ocean, during which he achieved the first European contact with the eastern coastline of Australia and the Hawaiian Islands, as well as the first recorded circumnavigation of New Zealand"

Source: Wikipedia

Cheers

Italo

I love Norwich

2011-11-05T21:40:00.001+01:00

Norwich - Cathedral

Dear Reader

Three months after my graduation at the University of Perugia, being conscious that my knowledge of the English language was close to zero, I decided to do an English Grammar in this city.

.I chose Norwich and not London because I thought that here there must be less Italians a true treat for the improvement of my English.

After two months my grammar was okay but not my infamous pronunciation because I got a German accent after a short and intense love story with a sweet and cute German girl :-)

Norwich for me was not only a cultural holiday but after this short period of time I fell in love with the English Culture from Shakespeare to the modern times.

In a decade I have been in England many many times from an English Grammar School to an Academic Short course at the University of Cambridge.

Cheers

Italo

Paris City of Light?

2011-11-05T14:19:00.001+01:00

Having visited Paris, I deliberately avoided to post a modern picture of this pseudo romantic city because now I feel like Charles Dickens when he described the panorama of London enveloped by oppressive chimneys.

Surfing the net I found this magnificent painting which represents the border between the past and modern society.

In front of us we have the representation of our modern world polluted and claustrophobic where the scent of the bread just baked is replaced by carbon monoxide.

We won't have enough time for buying a bunch of red roses for our loved one, and nor take the Metro for a stunning image of the Tour Eiffel which is reflected on the Seine during a romantic sunset.

Cheers

Italo

Unknown Warrior (Westminster Abbey)

2011-11-02T14:32:00.002+01:00

"At the west end of the Nave of Westminster Abbey is the grave of the Unknown Warrior, whose body was brought from France to be buried here on 11 November 1920. The grave, which contains soil from France, is covered by a slab of black Belgian marble from a quarry near Namur. On it is the following inscription, composed by Herbert Ryle, Dean of Westminster."

Source: Westminster Abbey
Read All

I.P.

An Interactive Trip to Cambridge

2011-10-27T21:41:00.004+02:00

Dear Reader

I am waiting impatiently to go to Cambridge for a residential course at the University of Cambridge, the venue will be at Madingley Hall, the house of the Institute of Continuing Education (ICE).

This course is named "Writing for Children" and probably for young adult readers too where I will listen to the lectures and I will take an active part writing something and doing exercises.

In my opinion this is the best cultural holiday that I can do, mainly because after this holiday I will implement what I've learned during this intensive course, obviously it won't be a boring holiday full of museums, monuments and so on but I will remember this holiday because after it I will have something to do i.e. writing and reading more critically.

Cheers

Italo

Grand Canyon & Monument Valley

2011-10-22T15:23:00.001+02:00

In a late afternoon of July, I was interacting with a slot machine, when my tired eyes were captured by an advertisement, a tour for two days into these solitary valleys.

After three days in Las Vegas I decided to visit the Grand Canyon and then Monument Valley for cultural reasons.

I was flying above the Grand Wash Cliffs on a small plane like a piper, when I felt like a cowboy of the air, I was going up and down like a bird.

I will never forget this trip, mainly because it was irrepetible and original especially under a bird-perspective.

When I touched the soil I felt better, the name of the land was South Rim, suddenly I jumped on a motorcoach for a tour inside the National Park but this time under an human being perspective.

The day after I visited the Monument Valley and the Navajo Tribal Park, here my senses were captured by its metaphysical silence thinking about that it has been painted by the natural force of the wind and water for almost 50 million years.

Cheers

Italo

Las Vegas: a romantic city!

2011-10-21T17:11:00.000+02:00

Ten years ago I spent a few days in this brilliant city, during this decade I haven't yet resolved my dilemma: Why I feel yet attracted by this city being a romantic boy?

I flew to Las Vegas from Calgary on a red and white plane operated by Canada 2000 or similar.

Once landed I saw a long dark strip with some circular sand spot moved by the wind finally I put my feet on the American's desert.

After the procedures, I arrived in a mega hotel suddenly my mind was flooded by a thought ; where Am I in Las Vegas or in Paris? the reply was ... both - the cities of love.

Being in Las Vegas is a unique experience, it is not only the city of the gambling but you are physically enveloped by an artificial world , I will never forget the sky of "Paris" and the "Venice Channell" Bellagio and a showcase full of US dollars its DNA.

The sound of "Paris" is characterised by the movement of the fiches and the playing cards in the hands of an handsome croupier, the slot machines, I loved observing the people attracted by this magic sound.

This magic sound was also the musique of a burlesque show an erotic play between love and sin.

Cheers

IP

Integrating ethics into tourism: beyond codes of conduct

2011-10-07T14:28:00.003+02:00

"The industry is faced with increasingly pressing challenges but embedding ethics into core strategy makes good business sense.

Another closely linked challenge for companies is how to manage the ethical operation of their business. Ethical issues arise in four main areas: the supply chain, the local community (in the tourism destination), the workplace, and customers. There may be concerns about forced labour in the supply chain or exploitation of migrant workers in the workplace for example; or local people may – often rightly – perceive that they have little or no share in the economic benefits of tourism, while bearing a disproportionate burden from environmental degradation.

In 1999, the UN World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) devised and adopted a global code of ethics for tourism, designed to minimise the negative effects of tourism activity on destinations and local communities, which was officially recognised by the UN in 2001. Now, the UNWTO is holding the first International Congress on Ethics and Tourism (15-16 September 2011, Madrid), arguably the first opportunity to evaluate whether the industry has moved beyond symbolic statements and agreed codes to concrete actions."

Source: The Guardian

Read All

Cheers
IP

LHC Geneva & LNGS Gran Sasso L'Aquila

2011-09-24T01:55:00.004+02:00

Geneva

Geneva ( /dʒɨˈniːvə/; French: Genève, IPA: [ʒənɛv]; Arpitan: Genèva, IPA: [ˈd͡zənɛva])[note 1] is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland (after Zürich) and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland. Situated where the Rhone exits Lake Geneva, it is the capital of the Republic and Canton of Geneva. While the municipality itself (downtown ville de Genève) has a population (as of December 2010) of 191,415, the canton of Geneva (République et Canton de Genève, which includes the city) has 464,677 residents (as of July 2011).

The agglomeration has 1,240,000 residents.

Geneva is a global city, a financial centre, and a worldwide centre for diplomacy and the most important UN international co-operation centre with New York thanks to the presence of numerous international organizations, including the headquarters of many of the agencies of the United Nations and the Red Cross.

It is also the place where the Geneva Conventions were signed, which chiefly concern the treatment of wartime non-combatants and prisoners of war.

Geneva has been described as the third European financial centre after London and Zurich, and the world's eighth most important financial centre by the Global Financial Centres Index, ahead of Frankfurt, and a 2009 survey by Mercer found Geneva to have the third-highest quality of life of any city in the world (narrowly outranked by Zürich).

The city has been referred to as the world's most compact metropolis and the "Peace Capital."

In 2009, Geneva was ranked as the fourth most expensive city in the world.

Source: Wikipedia

LNGS Gran Sasso Italy

The Gran Sasso National Laboratory (LNGS) is one of four INFN national laboratories.

It is the largest underground laboratory in the world for experiments in particle physics, particle astrophysics and nuclear astrophysics. It is used as a worldwide facility by scientists, presently 750 in number, from 22 different countries, working at about 15 experiments in their different phases.

It is located between the towns of L'Aquila and Teramo, about 120 km from Rome.

The underground facilities are located on a side of the ten kilometres long freeway tunnel crossing the Gran Sasso Mountain. They consist of three large experimental halls, each about 100 m long, 20 m wide and 18 m high and service tunnels, for a total volume of about 180,000 cubic metres.

The average 1400 m rock coverage gives a reduction factor of one million in the cosmic ray flux; moreover, the neutron flux is thousand times less than on the surface, thanks to the smallness of the Uranium and Thorium content of the dolomite rocks of the mountain.

The headquarters and the support facilities, among which offices, different services, library and canteen, are located in the external building.

The mission of the Laboratory is to host experiments that require a low background environment in the field of astroparticle physics and nuclear astrophysics and other disciplines that can profit of its characteristics and of its infrastructures.

Main research topics of the present programme are: neutrino physics with neutrinos naturally produced in the Sun and in Supernova explosions and neutrino oscillations with a beam from CERN (CNGS program), search for neutrino mass in neutrinoless double beta decay, dark matter search, nuclear reactions of astrophysical interest.

Both the external as well as the underground structures of the National Laboratory of Gran Sasso are located inside the so called Parco Nazionale del Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga.

Source: Official Site

Cheers

Italo

Space tourism a step closer with opening of desert plant

2011-09-21T20:58:00.000+02:00

Spacetourism is closer to reality after the completion of an US$8 million ($9.7million) Mojave Desert production plant where the world's first fleet ofpassenger-ready spaceships will be built.

Source: NZ Herald

Have a Good Reading

Italo

My Trip to Toronto

2011-09-20T23:21:00.000+02:00

From London Heathrow Terminal five, I got a good connection to Toronto, operated by British Airways (BA) the price was acceptable and the flight too.

In Toronto, I studied for one month in an English grammar school, in order to improve my American – English accent, in the afternoon, there were cultural activities, for example reading a novel, or speaking about the Canadian culture.

The most important activity of this holidays was the time spent with my host family, here I tasted the Canadian dishes and speaking to a native.

This is a great and cosmopolitan city, it should be the biggest city in Canada, from the CN tower you are like an eagle, you can fly from south to north, circumnavigate the lake Ontario, flying over the forest and breathing its famous maple.

Culturally speaking Toronto has a vibrant cultural life with theatres, museums and the University of Toronto.
During the summer season, there is the Summer School, this is a great cultural opportunity for adults, personally I will choose the module regarding the module “Writing a novel” when I will back to Toronto.

Another experience to do is travelling by the greyhound, a typical American coach, through its greenery hinterland, during your journey you won’t forget the numerous lakes, the local peoples, the red and white barns and its animals.

Cheers

Italo

Responsible Tourism (Wiki)

2011-05-03T21:12:00.000+02:00

is tourism ‘that creates better places for people to live in, and better places to visit’.

The 2002 Cape Town Declaration on Responsible Tourism in Destinations^[1] defines Responsible Tourism as follows:

“Responsible Tourism is tourism which:
• minimises negative economic, environmental and social impacts
• generates greater economic benefits for local people and enhances the well being of host communities
• improves working conditions and access to the industry
• involves local people in decisions that affect their lives and life chances
• makes positive contributions to the conservation of natural and cultural heritage embracing diversity
• provides more enjoyable experiences for tourists through more meaningful connections with local people, and a greater understanding of local cultural, social and environmental issues
• provides access for physically challenged people
• is culturally sensitive, encourages respect between tourists and hosts, and builds local pride and confidence”

Responsible tourism is fast becoming a global trend. Operators, destinations and industry organisations in South Africa, the United Kingdom, United States, the Gambia, India, Sri Lanka, are already practicing Responsible Tourism, and this list is growing.

Source: Wikipedia

Cheers

Italo

How to Become a Travel Writer (Lectures)

2010-10-31T14:16:00.000+01:00

Cheers

Italo

My Little Town

2010-06-22T01:58:00.000+02:00

Ripatransone is a little town on five hills with the status of “City” promulgated by a bishop in the 1571.

My walk starts in the square dedicated to a heroine called Bianca de Tharolis, she was a great and famous woman.

In the XVI century the city was attacked and sacked by the Spaniards, despite a friendly welcome, but Bianca was not in the city.

After six years the Spaniards returned to Ripatransone with the worst intentions, fortunately for the city there were she Bianca a woman!

Obviously for a homophobic people see a woman on a tower provoked hilarity, unfortunately for them, they were heavily defeated not by muscles but by her intelligence and heroic resistance.

Ten metres on the right, there is the Archaeological Museum, with ruins of an important necropolis and many remains, your senses are captured, by a razor, a comb, and household utensils, if you close your eyes, you can be transported in the prehistoric times imagining your daily routine, going forward there are other museums and the cathedral devoted to the Italian renaissance.

After one hour and several millennium of history made of joys, pains and injustice, you are out of the city centre, the first impact is with the bitter cold and cutting, in front of me there are the a mountain range called the Apennines, their peaks are covered of snow a blinded white, like the sun, enveloped by a blue sky and the noise of a plain with a white trail too.

You cannot see the valley there is fog, it seems to sail in a sea of fog to an unknown destination.

Cheers

Italo

UN's Millennium Project

2010-06-21T18:10:00.002+02:00

The Millennium Project was commissioned by the United Nations Secretary-General in 2002 to develop a concrete action plan for the world to achieve the Millennium Development Goals and to reverse the grinding poverty, hunger and disease affecting billions of people. In 2005, the independent advisory body headed by Professor Jeffrey Sachs, presented its final recommendations to the Secretary-General in a synthesis volume Investing in Development: A Practical Plan to Achieve the Millennium Development Goals.

The bulk of the Project's work was carried out by 10 thematic Task Forces, each of which also presented its own detailed recommendations in January 2005. The Task Forces comprised a total of more than 250 experts from around the world including: researchers and scientists; policymakers; representatives of NGOs, UN agencies, the World Bank, IMF and the private sector.

After the presentation of the Millennium Project's final reports, the secretariat team worked in an advisory capacity through to the end of 2006 to support the implementation of the Project's recommendations, with special focus on supporting developing countries' preparation of national development strategies aligned with achieving the Millennium Development Goals."

Source: UN Millennium Project

Investing in Development

"A Practical Plan to Achieve the Millennium Development Goals
We have the opportunity in the coming decade to cut world poverty by half. Billions more people could enjoy the fruits of the global economy. Tens of millions of lives can be saved. The practical solutions exist. The political framework is established. And for the first time, the cost is utterly affordable. Whatever one’s motivation for attacking the crisis of extreme poverty—human rights, religious values, security, fiscal prudence, ideology—the solutions are the same. All that is needed is action.

This report recommends the way forward. It outlines a way to attain this bold ambition. It describes how to achieve the Millennium Development Goals.

Presented here are the overview and full report of Investing in Development, the final report of the UN Millennium Project. The overview is available here in six languages in pdf format; the English overview is available in html format using the navigation at the left on the Overview Report page. The task force reports are also available in pdf format."

Source: UN Millennium Project

Full Report:

http://www.unmillenniumproject.org/documents/MainReportComplete-lowres.pdf

We've seen the future ... and we may not be doomed (The Independent GB)

"UN report finds life is getting better for people worldwide – but that governments are failing to grasp the opportunities offered at 'a unique time'. Geoffrey Lean and Jonathan Owen report"

http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/green-living/weve-seen-the-future--and-we-may-unotu-be-doomed-866486.html

Think!

Italo

UN's Global Compact

2010-06-21T18:09:00.003+02:00

The Global Compact's ten principles in the areas of human rights, labour, the environment and anti-corruption enjoy universal consensus and are derived from:

    * The Universal Declaration of Human Rights
    * The International Labour Organization's Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work
    * The Rio Declaration on Environment and Development
    * The United Nations Convention Against Corruption

Source: UN Global Compact
http://www.unglobalcompact.org/AboutTheGC/TheTenPrinciples/index.html

Think Green

Italo

Ethical Consumer

2010-06-21T18:08:00.002+02:00

Dear Readers

Please have a look at this article, then will follow a discussion on
how to find a clear and simple definition of
"Ethical Consumer"

"Organic or fairtrade? Sustainable or certified? With so many labels
on food, clothes and white goods, it's a miracle that we make it to
the checkout before closing time. So just how useful are ethical
labels to the average shopper - and which ones live up to their eco
credentials? Lucy Siegle investigates"

@ http://lifeandhealth.guardian.co.uk/ethicalliving/story/0,,2238596,00.html

Source: The Observer, Sunday January 13, 2008

Cheers

Italo

CSR and the Web

2010-06-21T18:07:00.002+02:00

UK Social Invstment Forum UKSIF is the UK's membership network for social responsible investment (SRI). UKSIF's primary purpose is to promote and encourage the development and positive impact of SRI amongst UK based investors. UKSIF believes that all material social environmental and ethical (SEE) issues should be integrated into standard investment practice and that indivisual investors should be able to reflect their values in their investments. www.uksif.org
Eurosif is like UKSIF, this an organisation for selecting products and providers, recently has published a document called "Eurosif Transaprency Guidelines for Retail SRI" www.eurosif.org
Ethical Investnment Association The EIA is an association for independent financial adviser working in ethical investment. Membership offers quartely training meetings to stay up to date on product and sector developments, reduced subscriptons to ethical performance magazine and access to ready made client marketing literature. www.ethicalinvestment.org.uk
Ethical Investment Research Service (EIRIS) The ethical investment research service provides the independent research into corporate behaviour used by ethical investors to make informed decisions. Their website also has an extensive personal finance section detailing all the different products. www.eiris.org
Ethical Screening Ltd. Ethical screening is a company of dedicated socially responsible investment specialists. They conduct detailed research and analysis into a wide range of corporate social responsibility issues, from Human Rights to environmental exploration. www.ethicasreening.co.uk
Assiciation of Independent Financial Advisers (AIFA) Aifa is the trade association representing the IFA. They represent 70% of the IFA market. Recognised by regulators and the media as the focal point for finding out the views of IFAs, they help keep Ifas informed about developments which affect their business. www.aifa.net
Investment Management Association, IMA ia a trade body for the UK's asset management industry. They publish a consumer leaflet on ethical investment as well as having ethical fund information on website. www.investmentuk.org
Friends Provident www.friendprovident.com/sri
Co-Operative Insurance Society www.cis.co.uk
Henderson Global Investors www.henderson.com/sri
Insight Investment www.insightinvestment.com
Jupiter Asset Management www.jupiteronline.co.uk
Morley Fund Managemet www.morleyfm.com/sri

Source: UKsif.org

Business is getting ethical

2010-06-21T18:06:00.000+02:00

Dear Readers

If you are a responsible entrepreneur, you should watch this short video, broadcasted by the British Library

.
Business is getting ethical.

It is estimated that social enterprises comprise five percent of the whole UK economy, with a combined turnover of £27bn and businesses with an ethical or green dimension are becoming increasingly powerful and valued by customers.

In 2006 the Organic food market was worth £1.6bn, double the amount in 2000 and sales are forecast to hit £2.7bn by 2010.

So how do you start a social enterprise and where are the future opportunities? We hear from four of Britain 's most successful social and ethical entrepreneurs on their experiences.

Justin Francis is MD of ethical travel firm Responsible Travel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4GDx4D_EnE

Cheers

Italo

Reputation and Csr

2010-06-21T18:04:00.002+02:00

Hi There

Today I found this interesting paper, please read it and then post your viwpoints.

Reputation and CSR

Steward Lewis, Director Mori

http://www.ipsos-mori.com/publications/sl/reputation-and-csr.pdf

Cheers

Italo Perazzoli

From Challenge to Opportunity: The role of business in tomorrow's society

2010-06-21T18:02:00.002+02:00

Dear Mates

Please have a look at this video, called "From Challenge to Opportunity: The role of business in tomorrow's society"

Companies able to tackle issues such as poverty, climate change and population shifts are those most likely to succeed in the future. This is a view shared by eight global business leaders in a major new publication from the WBCSD.

From Challenge to Opportunity (PDF)

Sets out a "manifesto for tomorrow's global business" as defined by the Tomorrow's Leaders group of the WBCSD. It also discusses why and how four key areas of business and sustainable development need to be profitable in order to be effective.

http://www.wbcsd.org/DocRoot/4lcRHbx7NPrVWlwpGxaL/tomorrows-leaders.pdf

Source: WBCSD official website

Cheers Italo

Eurosif

2010-06-21T18:01:00.001+02:00

Dear Members

As Stakeholders our duty is to promote directly Social Responsibility with the companies involved.

Here in Europe there is an organisation called "Eurosif".

Eurosif (European Social Investment Forum) is a Pan-European stakeholder network who encourages and develops sustainable and responsible investment and better corporate governance.

The officail website is: http://www.eurosif.org/

At the moment, I'm reading the "Socially Responsible Investment among European Institutional Investors 2003 and then the last report (2006).

If you'd like read these reports please go to "file Section"

Thank You

Italo

CSR and Philosophy

2010-06-21T17:59:00.001+02:00

Dear Mates

I'd like to share my passion about philosophy and CSR with you.
Yesterday I read an article written by Geoffrey Klemper about this argument.

What do you think?

http://www.businessphilosophy.co.uk/articles/csr_philosophy.pdf

CSR (forum)

2010-06-21T17:58:00.001+02:00

Why we believe this Forum is important?

Today’s crisis brings our financial, economic and governance systems to an unprecedented moment of truth. Time
has come for business, investors, governments, civil society, academia and the cultural and spiritual communities to
engage in a new round of “glocal” diplomacy to rebuild trust and hope in the capacity of business and all players to
compete with integrity and contribute to shaping a fair and sustainable society.

Europe’s strategy “To Make Europe a Pole of Excellence on Corporate Social Responsibility” (CSR), initiated by the
European Commission in March 2006 and the European Plans for Sustainable Production and Consumption are at
the forefront of such a cultural shift.

Their success greatly depends on our capacity to build competitive advantage
through more and sometimes unconventional partnerships. What is at stake is Europe’s quest to serve its citizens,
protect the environment and earn a just place in the world.

Fortunately, more and more business practitioners across
Europe around the globe, together with pioneering stakeholder organisations, have accelerated their efforts over
the last 2 years to turn societal pressures and expectations into new opportunities for sustainable growth with inclusive
engagement and equitable outcomes for all.

We strongly welcome the gathering of the European Multi Stakeholder Forum organised by the EC. It offers a unique
platform for dialogue. It can also act as “clearing house” where company and stakeholder practitioners, social
partners and NGOs, investors and public authorities can take stock and pool together their vision and values, their
know-how and courage, their trials and errors to give a new push to corporate social responsibility.

Our experience in 2007 and 2008 - through CSR Europe’s initiatives, the European Alliance for CSR and in particular, the CSR
Laboratories – has provided clear evidence on the “power of collaboration” when business and stakeholders cobuild
practical solutions and tools towards true and long-term value creation.

Our main contribution to this 2009 Forum will be CSR Europe’s Toolbox launched on 4 December 2008. Capitalizing on
two years of intense business and stakeholder cooperation, this CSR Toolbox is the starting point for accelerated
action and innovation.

Not only does it provide tools and practical recommendations; it also gives new hope that
together we can nurture our societies and market systems through enlightened entrepreneurship and solidarity.

Source: EU website

http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/csr/documents/stakeholder_forum/csreurope.pdf

Cheers

Italo

CSR Europe

2010-06-21T17:57:00.000+02:00

Hi Mates

This is a great opportunity for us, please join the Collaborative Space.

"Make the Shift! Collaboration space provides you with communities to discuss topics of your interest with other CSR practitioners from over Europe and beyond.

Resources, discussion forums, surveys and other features are there for you to push ahead with sharing knowledge and creating new one in a collaborative fashion. Collaborative Space should help move ahead CSR agenda in Europe.

The Collaboration Space!"

Source: CSR Europe

http://intranet.csreurope.org/communities/

CSR and Citizenship

2010-06-21T17:55:00.002+02:00

This is a good article,because there is not only a recall for a responsible business but a comparison between Companies and Consumers

The price and promise of citizenship: Obama’s challenge to corporate America
In last week’s Inaugural Address, President Obama left no doubt that citizenship was going to form the bedrock of his philosophy on rebuilding America. “What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility - recognition on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation and the world. Duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining to our character, than giving our all to a difficult task. This is the price and promise of citizenship.”

http://blogs.bcccc.net/2009/01/the-price-and-promise-of-citizenship-obamas-challenge-to-corporate-america/

Cheers

Italo

Public still sceptical on climate change

2010-06-21T17:55:00.000+02:00

Dear Mates

A few second ago I read an article on the Guardian UK, the title is "Public still sceptical on climate change"

"The UK public remains sceptical about how much impact climate change will have on the country and believes the problem is being overstated by politicians and scientists, according to a poll out today.

Research by Ipsos Mori shows that while most Britons recognise the problem of climate change and that humans have played a role in causing it, many are not convinced that the issue is as bad as the scientists and politicians claim"

Source: The Guardian Unlimited UK

Well this is a bad news, if you open a newspaper there is at least an article on climate change.

Obviously this is only a"picture", maybe the majority of Britons are interested and involved in this argument.

Unfortunately a part of our society think that Climate Change is a political tool, this is completely wrong, due a low education,selfish behaviour, and so on.

It's a good idea to watch this film: "An Unconventional Truth" and to take into consideration the so called socio-economic characteristics (age, gender,education, place of residence etc) because it is useful for a better communication.

Every one of us, is involved, our climate is unstable, what about melting ice & Katrina? is this a political tool? I don't think so.

On Sunday the 7th there will be a concert on climate change called "Earth Live" watch it and then post your impression, what we can do, how to involve our community and so on.

Think Green

Italo

Guardian Unlimited UK: Public 'still sceptical on climate change' @

http://environment.guardian.co.uk/climatechange/story/0,,2117527,00.html

Corporate Accountability

2010-06-21T17:53:00.000+02:00

Dear Members

Please have a look at this recommendations:

"Recommendations to the Special Representative to the U.N. Secretary-General on Business and Human Rights"

Its objectives

The recent appointment of a United Nations Special Representative to the Secretary-General on business and human rights provides an important opportunity to advance the debate on corporate accountability. The Special Representative�s work, if focused appropriately, can help develop a common understanding of the human rights responsibilities of companies. This work also should serve to help build consensus on the need to further strengthen corporate accountability standards and measures for their implementation.

Source & Link

http://hrw.org/english/docs/2005/09/09/global11723.htm

Cheers

Italo

Recommendations to the Special Representative to the U.N. Secretary-General on Business and Human Rights

2010-06-21T17:50:00.000+02:00

Biofules v Human Rights

2010-06-21T17:47:00.002+02:00

Problem

“The leaders of Bolivia and Peru have attacked the use of biofuels, saying they have made food too expensive for the poor.

Speaking at the United Nations, the Bolivian president, Evo Morales, said the increased use of farmland for fuel crops was causing a ‘tremendous increase’ in food prices” (Source: The Guardian UK, Biofuels Starving our people leaders tell UN, 22^nd april 2008)

A possible solution by the EU

“The European commission is backing away from its insistence on imposing a compulsory 10% quota of biofuels in all petrol and diesel by 2020, a central plank of its programme to lead the world in combating climate change.

Amid a worsening global food crisis exacerbated, say experts and critics, by the race to divert food or feed crops into biomass for the manufacture of vehicle fuel, and inundated by a flood of expert advice criticising the shift to renewable fuel, the commission appears to be getting cold feet about its biofuels target” (Source: The Guardian, written by Ian Traynor in Brussels Sat. April 19 2008)

A possible solution by Oxfam (new)

Bio-fuelling Poverty: Why the EU renewable - fuel target maybe disastrous for poor people?

http://www.oxfam.org/en/files/bn_biofuelling_poverty_0711.pdf/download

Dear Readers

This is an example of what’s going on, in our world.

We are responsible too, because our target is to save money only, without consider its effects, especially in the 3^rd world. (sometimes we buy products from irresponsible multinationals).

If we read this article, we’ll think that the European commission and the US, must impose a quota of biofuels, this is responsible and positive, for the simple reason that biofuels are good for the environment less CO2 emission, but the counterpart is that it is dangerous for the Human Being.

I am writing this article, because, the truth is that this is a marketing campaign, lead by some irresponsible transnational companies, especially those involved on OGM …why?

Think about a multinational that will “promote OGM” in the 3^rd world.

It will say “ according to our researchers, we’ll implement OGM because is the only solution against starvation; buy our products, your penny will be reinvested in social activities”

???????????????????????’

The key problem is that we do not know at 100% if this technology is safe for our health, here in Italy we are strongly against OGM, maybe is illegal too.

This is a gold opportunity for the irresponsible multinationals, for instance they will test or they are testing OGM in the developed world, were the local populations haven’t rights and voice, at the end we’ll eat a safe “product” paid in terms of health entirely in the 3^rd world.

What do you think?

This is right or wrong?

Is biofuels against Human Rights?

Cheers

Italo

Amnesty International,Taking stock: Corporate social responsibility and Human Rights

2010-06-21T17:46:00.002+02:00

"Is CSR all PR? I suppose my short answer is if we don't want CSR to be PR then we must not only ask companies to commit voluntarily to human rights principles, but - given the unreliability of the market and the uncertainties of self-interest, we must insist on enforceable legal accountability."......................

Source and Link:

http://asiapacific.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGIOR500032003?open&of=ENG-398

PDF Format:

http://asiapacific.amnesty.org/library/pdf/IOR500032003ENGLISH/$File/IOR5000303.pdf

Cheers

Italo

Accountability (Definition)

2010-06-21T17:45:00.002+02:00

"In leadership roles, it is the acknowledgement and assumption of responsibility for actions, products, decisions, and policies including the administration, governance and implementation within the scope of the role or employment position and encompassing the obligation to report, explain and be answerable for resulting consequences."

Source: Wikipedia.org

Accountability: the principle that individuals, organisations and the community are responsible for their actions and may be required to explain them to others.

Source: University of Warwich UK

"A21: Reinventing Accountability for the 21st Century – reflects the astonishing breadth of ideas debated at the event of the same name hosted by AccountAbility in October 2005.

It predicts that the most significant forms of accountability tomorrow will be rooted in today’s experiments with collaborative governance, peer-to-peer networks and civil regulation"

Source & Link:

http://www.accountability21.net/uploadstore/cms/docs/A21.pdf

Triple Bottom Line

2010-06-21T17:32:00.001+02:00

Hi Mates

Would you like to read a paper on how to achieving the Triple Bottom Line?

A short introduction:

The Australian companies publish annual environmental reports Nations Environment Programme
(UNEP), the GRI encompassing the “triple bottom line” of economic.

http://www.bhert.com/Docs%5Cissue9.pdf

See ya

Italo

Markets and Moral

2010-06-21T17:31:00.000+02:00

Michael Sandel, Harvard Professor of Government, delivers four lectures about the prospects of a new politics of the common good. The series is presented and chaired by Sue Lawley.

Sandel considers the expansion of markets and how we determine their moral limits. Should immigrants, for example, pay for citizenship? Should we pay schoolchildren for good test results, or even to read a book? He calls for a more robust public debate about such questions, as part of a 'new citizenship'.

Source: BBC Radio 4

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00kt7sh

Cheers

Italo

EU & CSR

2010-06-21T17:24:00.001+02:00

Dear Members

The European Union has created a web page on CSR, if you're interested
please click on the link.

http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/csr/index_en.htm

This Web Page is composed of:

· Commission CSR policy
· CSR& SMEs
· CSR& competitiveness
· Official documents
· Speeches & articles
· European Responsible Entrepreneurship Bulletin

Please Notice: I didn't find a section on Trans-National Companies
(TNCs)

Is this a policy pro SME's only?

If Yes are You agree?

Does it mean that the EU has not a strong power on TNC's?

Thank you

Italo

The subprime crisis

2010-06-21T17:19:00.001+02:00

The subprime crisis and ensuing credit crunch has once again placed
global finance and its (lack of) regulatory arrangements at the heart
of mainstream political discourse. Straightforward media alarm at
instability and contagion have confirmed faltering market sentiment
and prompted the usual calls for transparency and accountability by
politicians and central bankers. But the subprime crisis is also a
signal event, highlighting deeper changes related to the ongoing
financialisation of global capitalism and how this impacts upon people
as they attempt to conduct their everyday lives. The unprecedented
expansion of individual credit and debt has fostered a plethora of
risk management techniques that point to urgent questions linked to
the very sustainability of the global financial system in its current
form. In this way the subprime crisis can be read as the fulcrum of
wider shifts in the nature of debt, risk and expectations regarding
(ir)responsible financial behaviour.

The Warwick Political Economy Working Group from the Department of
Politics and International Studies organised a two-day workshop on the
subprime crisis on September 18th/19th 2008. The workshop was made
possible through generous support from the Economic and Social
Research Council, GARNET, the Political Economy Specialist Group of
the Political Studies Association, the Centre for the Study of
Globalisation and Regionalisation and PaIS. The aim of the workshop
was to provide a forum for critical and inter-disciplinary engagement
on central issues raised by the crisis and the ensuing credit crunch.
Scholars from across the social sciences in the UK interacted with a
number of their European counterparts to produce two days of lively
and intellectually stimulating debates.

Source: Warwick University

http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/newsandevents/audio/more/spc/

Cheers

Italo

G8 Young Business Summit Joint Declaration (Article)

2010-06-21T17:17:00.002+02:00

Dear Readers

Social Innovation:

Entrepreneurs have a strong impact on society, not only as creators of
wealth and jobs, but also as contributors to common good.

Therefore we strongly encourage that the concept of Corporate Social
Responsibility be adopted by the majority of companies, and be
supported by governments.

We also stress the importance of Social Entrepreneurship:
entrepreneurs can contribute to sectors that offer social services and
at the same time be profitable.

We as young business leaders agree to engage in public/private
partnerships that will help our businesses grow and to assist the next
generation of entrepreneurs so they are contributors to the economy.

We ask Governments to recognize the importance of private/public
partnerships and the important role that young entrepreneurs can play
if given the opportunity to engage equally with large corporations in
government policy development and procurement opportunities.

Green Innovation:

We as young leaders see green innovation as an opportunity for growth.
This can bring new markets, create new jobs and lead to a more
environmentally sustainable development.

Therefore, we encourage companies to adopt the highest level of eco-
efficiency and invest in green initiatives. We also encourage the
development global partnerships among all countries.

We as young business leaders promote studies on the effects of our
corporate carbon footprint and undertake proper actions to decrease it
until we are carbon neutral. We urge governments to create matching
incentives for young entrepreneurs to adopt new and greener
technologies and also to nurture green innovation.

Source: etribuna

http://www.etribuna.com/aas/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id...

I disagree with this article for two reasons:

First: The philosophy of every university and entrepreneurs is based
on Business as Usual

Second: The development of this noble business model, must be a duty
of States , NGO's and UN, and not the opposite.

Conclusion: After a real and long agreement between these two figures,
we can say, that the Corporate Social Responsibility is a mass-
reality.

NB: Tomorrow there will be the G8, at L' Aquila (Italy), did you heard
politicians speaking about CSR/SRI???

I did not heard anything!!!!!!

If you are disagree with me please post your opinions

Thank You

Italo

New Business Model

2010-06-21T17:16:00.002+02:00

Hi Mates

Please have a look at this article, it will happen???!!!!

"It's time to think about different, new business models," one of the
speakers, Birgit Forstnig-Errath of the International Business Leaders
Forum (IBLF), told the two-day conference at the University of Vienna,
entitled "Corporate Social Responsibility, Decent Work and Human
Rights".

Source: Msn News

http://news.id.msn.com/business/article.aspx?cp-documentid=3569229

Cheers

Italo

Islamic Finance

2010-06-21T17:15:00.000+02:00

What makes Islamic finance different from conventional finance? And
what makes it better? We look at 3 real-world examples and find out.
We also introduce you to the 4 principles that guide Islamic finance
transactions.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PzIf6h-rsLc

In this part we look at two things - 'Diminishing Musharakah,' the
Islamic alternative to home finance and student loans. Using these
examples we illustrate the equity and service-backed aspects of
Islamic finance.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_B77t3U1s30

Social Responsible Investment

In this video CSRwire president Joe Sibilia speaks on Green Finance
and Socially-Responsible Investing (SRI) at the 2008 CEO & CSR
Conference in Athens, Greece. The panel was moderated by Mr. Christos
Konstas, a journalist for "Investor's World" newspaper.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nk5zK4p3k8o

What do you think?

Cheers

Italo

G8 Young Business Summit Joint Declaration

2009-07-07T23:18:00.005+02:00

Dear Readers

I disagree with this article for two reasons:

First: The philosophy of every university and entrepreneurs is based on Business as Usual

Second: The development of this noble business model, must be a duty of States , NGO's and UN, and not the opposite.

Conclusion: After a real and long agreement between these two figures, we can say, that the Corporate Social Responsibility is a mass-reality.

NB: Tomorrow there will be the G8, at L' Aquila (Italy), did you heard politicians speaking about CSR/SRI???

I did not heard anything!!!!!!

If you are disagree with me please post your opinions

Thank You

Social Innovation:

Entrepreneurs have a strong impact on society, not only as creators of wealth and jobs, but also as contributors to common good. Therefore we strongly encourage that the concept of Corporate Social Responsibility be adopted by the majority of companies, and be supported by governments. We also stress the importance of Social Entrepreneurship: entrepreneurs can contribute to sectors that offer social services and at the same time be profitable.
We as young business leaders agree to engage in public/private partnerships that will help our businesses grow and to assist the next generation of entrepreneurs so they are contributors to the economy.
We ask Governments to recognize the importance of private/public partnerships and the important role that young entrepreneurs can play if given the opportunity to engage equally with large corporations in government policy development and procurement opportunities.

Green Innovation:

We as young leaders see green innovation as an opportunity for growth. This can bring new markets, create new jobs and lead to a more environmentally sustainable development.
Therefore, we encourage companies to adopt the highest level of eco-efficiency and invest in green initiatives. We also encourage the development global partnerships among all countries.
We as young business leaders promote studies on the effects of our corporate carbon footprint and undertake proper actions to decrease it until we are carbon neutral. We urge governments to create matching incentives for young entrepreneurs to adopt new and greener technologies and also to nurture green innovation.

Source: etribuna

Cheers

Italo

Controversies in Tourism

2009-04-27T22:15:00.001+02:00

Dear Reader

On internet I found this article, what do you think?

14 april 2009 - Tourism is neither panacea nor blight.

The impacts of tourism on people and the environment are well documented.

Yet, the controversies in tourism remain undocumented, and sometimes even unpopular.

A look at the current tourism environments from non-academic sources illustrates the importance and need to discuss tourism controversies in academia, Omar Moufakkir writes.

Source:Science Guide

Cheers

Italo

The Future of Capitalism

2009-01-05T17:04:00.001+01:00

As the issues of global warming and international development become more pressing, many are reexamining the role multinational corporations play in our society.

Some believe that corporations will be the new agent of change in this era of globalization, while others question the potential corporate social responsibility can have to solve all the world's problems.

Elliott Brown is Founder and CEO of Springboard Forward, an award winning non-profit organization that provides career development services that empower individuals to find a lifetime of Engaged Employment™. In 2005, Elliott was elected an Ashoka Fellow for his innovative work in changing the way poverty is being addressed in the United States. He graduated from Stanford University with a BA in Psychology in 1989.

Bruce Piasecki is the President and Founder of the American Hazard Control Group, a management consulting firm specializing in energy, materials, and environmental corporate matters since 1981. Dr. Piasecki is the author five books, including In Search of Environmental Excellence: Moving Beyond Blame. His latest book, World Inc., will be released in April 2007. Visit worldincbook.com

David Vogel is the Solomon P. Lee Professor of Business Ethics at the Haas School of Business and Professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of California, Berkeley. He is the author of The Market for Virtue: The Potential and Limits of Corporate Social Responsibility. He has lectured on corporate responsibility to professional and academic conferences in the United States, Great Britain, France, Italy, Denmark and Canada.

Source: Youtube

The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism

Cheers

Italo

Obama and CSR

2008-11-07T17:47:00.007+01:00

Dear Readers

A) Surfing the net I found that the new President of the US in pro CSR, this is the proof (click above on "Obama and CSR")

B) I believe that The CSR and SRI must be implemented by a responsible state, not from a multinational, because their target is to do money, dot.

I believe that, the CSR and SRI must be implemented by a responsible state, not from a multinational, because their target is to do money dot.

They are pro CSR and SRI because this new business model is a perfect cosmetic, a PR tool.ù

When I was a student at uni, our philosophy was to make money, translated into "maximum results with minimum effort"

It's time to change

Yes we Can

What do you think?

Cheers

Italo

Tourism, Development and Conservation: a Saharan perspective

2008-09-11T11:02:00.002+02:00

Hi Mates

This paper is well done, for a synergy between heritage & hospitality

Abstract:

"The paper explores the role played by tourism in both the destruction and the conservation of the Sahara’s cultural heritage"

By Jeremy Keenan

Source: PSI.Org

Cheers

Italo

UN Millennium Project

2008-07-14T18:39:00.003+02:00

Discussion

Is this a way against irresponsible multinationals?
As Responsible Tourists, what we can do?
Our Governments are interested on this Project?
?

"The Millennium Project was commissioned by the United Nations Secretary-General in 2002 to develop a concrete action plan for the world to achieve the Millennium Development Goals and to reverse the grinding poverty, hunger and disease affecting billions of people.

In 2005, the independent advisory body headed by Professor Jeffrey Sachs, presented its final recommendations to the Secretary-General in a synthesis volume Investing in Development: A Practical Plan to Achieve the Millennium Development Goals. The bulk of the Project's work was carried out by 10 thematic Task Forces, each of which also presented its own detailed recommendations in January 2005.

The Task Forces comprised a total of more than 250 experts from around the world including: researchers and scientists; policymakers; representatives of NGOs, UN agencies, the World Bank, IMF and the private sector.

After the presentation of the Millennium Project's final reports, the secretariat team worked in an advisory capacity through to the end of 2006 to support the implementation of the Project's recommendations, with special focus on supporting developing countries' preparation of national development strategies aligned with achieving the Millennium Development Goals."

Source: UN Millennium Project

Investing in Development

"A Practical Plan to Achieve the Millennium Development Goals"

We have the opportunity in the coming decade to cut world poverty by half.

Billions more people could enjoy the fruits of the global economy.

Tens of millions of lives can be saved.

The practical solutions exist.

The political framework is established.

And for the first time, the cost is utterly affordable.

Whatever one’s motivation for attacking the crisis of extreme poverty—human rights, religious values, security, fiscal prudence, ideology—the solutions are the same. All that is needed is action.

This report recommends the way forward. It outlines a way to attain this bold ambition. It describes how to achieve the Millennium Development Goals.

Presented here are the overview and full report of Investing in Development, the final report of the UN Millennium Project. The overview is available here in six languages in pdf format; the English overview is available in html format using the navigation at the left on the Overview Report page. The task force reports are also available in pdf format."

Source: UN Millennium Project

Full Report:

http://www.unmillenniumproject.org/documents/MainReportComplete-lowres.pdf

We've seen the future ... and we may not be doomed (The Independent GB)

"UN report finds life is getting better for people worldwide – but that governments are failing to grasp the opportunities offered at 'a unique time'. Geoffrey Lean and Jonathan Owen report"

http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/green-living/weve-seen-the-future--and-we-may-unotu-be-doomed-866486.html

Think!

Italo

Anthropology: Thinking Through Tourism

2008-05-31T11:20:00.005+02:00

Hospitality, Culture, and Society Papers:

Convenor(s)

Corsica, hospitality and the law: some paradoxes in identity and difference

Fanta Orange for the Ancestors: Ingesting the 'Mad' Stranger in Southwest Madagascar

Emerging concepts and practices of tourist hospitality among the locals of Viengxay, Lao PDR

Monastic hospitality: the enduring legacy

Hospitality spaces, hospitable relationships: exploring the entanglement of social and commercial hospitality.

Cheers Italo

Green Workers (for a better tourism)

2008-02-24T22:22:00.004+01:00

"Booking a business trip? Think about the transport you choose"

"Stanislas Berteloot, of travel and expense solutions firm KDS, says concern about global warming affects business travel choices - and company policy should reflect this. Try to use travel suppliers that have a corporate social responsibility (CSR) charter, for instance, as this will include a commitment to minimise impact on the environment. A car hire firm with a CSR charter is more likely to have hybrid cars (such as the Honda Civis model pictured above) in its fleet."

Article written By: Louise Gray

Source: The Guardian UK

Dear Readers

The practical difficulty of this ethical behaviour is to decide which company or type of plane is the most eco-friendly, ok I've to do a research, no problem, but unfortunately, its meaning is that we do not have enough informations, data, advertisement, of Green Companies/Planes.

What do u think?

Your Company has the so called "Green Policy"

If you're a manager this responsible business is it on your agenda?

Post your ideas

Cheers

Italo

Building a Sustainable Future, What Will You Do Next? (Video)

2008-02-11T21:09:00.000+01:00

About This Video:

Tennessee Congressman Jim Cooper speaking on the future of health care at the 2007 Net Impact conference at Vanderbilt University.Close to 2,000 business leaders and students from across the country packed Vanderbilt University Nov. 1-3 for a massive event to discuss how to build a successful business while also being socially and environmentally responsible.

The theme of the Net Impact Conference, hosted by the Vanderbilt Owen Graduate School of Management, is "Building a Sustainable Future, What Will You Do Next?" Participants heard from 300 speakers in 90 different sessions dealing with corporate social responsibility, social entrepreneurship, international development, and non-profit and environmental management.

Jim Cooper is currently serving his third term as U.S. Congressman for the 5th District of Tennessee. Cooper also teaches health policy at the Vanderbilt Owen Graduate School of Management. A leading voice in Washington on fiscal policy, health policy and government accountability, he serves on the Armed Services Committee, the Budget Committee and the Oversight and Government Reform Committee.

Cooper began his career as an attorney and investment banker. He is a Morehead Scholar, earned a B.A. from the University of North Carolina, a B.A./M.A. as a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University and a J.D. from Harvard Law School.

Cheers Italo

Business Social Responsibility - The Consumer Equation

2008-02-08T23:49:00.000+01:00

About This Video: Dr. Susan Kirby speaks about the relationship between consumers and Business Social Responsibility.

Cheers

Italo

Climate Change & Tourism

2007-12-29T00:47:00.000+01:00

"The world community has charged the United Nations with framing a strategic response to the challenge of climate change, coherent with the Millennium Development Goals.
The Davos Declaration is our commitment that Tourism will be at the leading edge of the global response to climate change.‎‎

Francesco Frangialli

Secretary-General "

Source: WTO official Web-Site

More Info

Climate Change & Tourism Responding To Global Challenges

Davos Switzerland, 3 October 2007

http://www.unwto.org/pdf/pr071046.pdf

Statements and Declarations of the World Tourism Organization related to the Sustainable Development of Tourism:

* Manila Declaration on World Tourism, 1980

* Acapulco Documents on the Rights to Holidays, 1982

* Tourism Bill of Rights and Tourism Code, Sofia, 1985

* The Hague Declaration on Tourism, 1989

* Lanzarote Charter for Sustainable Tourism, 1995 (jointly with UNEP, UNESCO, EU)

* Statement on the Prevention of Organized Sex Tourism, Cairo, 1995

* Agenda 21 for Tourism & Travel Industry, 1996

* Global Codes of Ethics for Tourism,1999

* Hainan Declaration - Sustainable Tourism in the Islands of the Asia-Pacific Regions (2002)

* Québec Declaration on Ecotourism, 2002

* Djerba Declaration on Tourism and Climate Change, 2003

All links (Declarations + Concept & Definitions) are available here:

http://www.unwto.org/sustainable/concepts.htm

Source: WTO

Cheers Italo

Responsible Tourism: a good example

2007-12-09T16:14:00.000+01:00

Hi Mates

Please watch this video, this is a good example of a Responsible Tourism.

About this Video:

The New Forest - overall winner of the 2007 Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards organised by responsibletravel.com in partnership with The Times, World Travel Market and Geographical.

The judges said:

"For 20 years, long before 'green' became fashionable, Anthony Climpson was developing an integrated approach to managing tourism in the landscape, engaging local communities, local government and tourism businesses in conserving the New Forest."

Anthony Climpson, Tim Howell and Sarah Green discuss the challenges and achievements that earned the New Forest this award.

Source: Responsible Tourism

Cheers

Italo

The state of responsible business

2007-10-26T23:27:00.000+02:00

The state of responsible business: Global corporate response to environmental, social and governance challenges. A report by Ethical Investment Research Services

This report provides an overview of the extent to which companies are addressing their environmental, social and governance impacts. The issues covered are corporate governance, equal opportunities, human rights, supply chain labour standards, environmental responsibility and community involvement. Other topics examined include climate change, HIV/AIDS and responsible business approaches in emerging markets.

Source:Corporate Accountability Org

Good Documents

See ya

Italo

The Disater of Capitalism

2007-10-24T22:12:00.000+02:00

Hi Mates

This seems a good book, have you read it? yep after this video you'll be agree that the right solutions is CSR, but pay attention, unfortunately there are some companies that use it a PR tool, only in the developed world were there are laws pro labours, they... are so responsible, but what about the third world? for instance the exploitation of their workers, is this possible, only because they are poor??? and because the majority of their Pseudo-Governments are corrupted???

As responsible and not selfish citizen, what I should do?? or How should I deal to an irresponsible Transnational Company??, well recently I wrote a paper on this dilemma, if you're interested read it.

Once Again as Responsible Tourists, Managers and so on how we can condemn sex tourism in Thailand and exploitation of waiters, porters, in the 3rd world and in the developed world?

Please notice, that this is my point of view, Noemi did not speak about CSR and how to do an ethical purchasing , Yep, I'd like to know her point of view, but she'll never read my blog

Well Done Noemi

Cheers

Italo

Reputation and CSR (Pdf)

2007-10-23T13:45:00.000+02:00

Hi There

Today I found this paper, please read it and then post your viwpoints.

Title: Reputation and CSR

Written by: Steward Lewis, Director Mori

Cheers

Italo Perazzoli

What is Ethics?

2007-08-31T14:39:00.000+02:00

Dear Readers

Are you sure what is Ethics?

Would you like to read a framework for thinking ethically?

Click on title.

Thank You

Think

Italo

B&B Can Reduce Poverty in Kenya? (Paper)

2007-07-15T13:31:00.000+02:00

Please Notice:

You can download this paper as pdf click on title

Optimised to Mozilla

Key-Concepts: Swot Analysis, Eco-Tourism, Stakeholders, Sustainable Development, Ecosystem, Environment, Tourism Supply Chain.

UN’s Tourism Code Article 1.

The understanding and promotion of the ethical values common to humanity, with an attitude of tolerance and respect for the diversity of religious, philosophical and moral beliefs, are both the foundation and the consequence of responsible tourism; stakeholders in tourism development and tourists themselves should observe the social and cultural traditions and practices of all peoples, including those of minorities and indigenous peoples and to recognize their worth.

My paper is based on Eco-Tourism and B&B formula,because they are perfect partners, this business activity can be supported by Micro-Credit institutions, where local women are involved as mangers.

At University I did a thesis on how to develop a B&B formula, unfortunately I didn't used words such as: Collectivism, Society, Community and so on.

My Goal was to implement this formula in a specific area, in the developed world, the main goal was to make money as soon as possible.

After a course on Human Rights, I changed my mind, Individualism is based on "Human Independence" and Collectivism is based on "Human Interdependence" that's the difference, my idea is to create a Bed & Breakfast in the developing world, where I'll put my stress on synergy, communities, and promoting the concept on how to create a responsible business, where the profits will be used for infrastructures, education, and the most important goal "make poverty History".

Social Management

First of all, in our management literature words like, Altruism, Biosphere, Environment, Ecosystem, Eco-Tourism, Sustainable Development, Empathy are absents.

It’s my duty to give some definitions, then I’ll give some input on how to apply it on my field: Eco-Tourism.

Biosphere: The part of the earth’s surface and atmosphere in which plants and animals can live (Oxford Dictionary)

Environment: The natural world in which people, animals and plants live (Oxford Dictionary)
Ecosystem: All the plants and living creatures in a particular area considered in relation to their physical environment. (Oxford Dictionary)
Eco-Tourism: The business activity connected with providing Ecology, Green-Education, Services, Accommodation, Entertainment (this my concept of eco-tourism)
Sustainable- Development: involving the use of natural products and energy in a way that does not harm the environment. (Oxford Dictionary)
Empathy: The ability to understand another person’s feelings, experience, ethics, moral, etc. (Oxford Dictionary)

Altruism: The fact of caring about the needs and happiness of other people more than your own. (Oxford Dictionary)

These definitions are granted, but unfortunately they aren’t implemented in a business context, if they were, now our world, was better.

Social Profit (Definition)

“The money that you make in business or by selling things, especially after paying the costs involved” (Oxford Dictionary)

A responsible entrepreneur, should take into consideration not only the first part, but the second one “especially after paying the costs involved” for example, environment, pollution, society, are costs involved on the other hand every entrepreneur has a moral duty, to do something for our society.

At the moment we haven’t a common definition of CSR, I think that, the first thing to do is to find a common word, a good idea is to anagram two words “Profit” and “Ethics”, for example “Brunch” is a fusion between Breakfast & Lunch, an example of fusion between Profit & Ethics is “Proethics” “Prothics” (please help me, this is not my field).

"Fair Trade Tourism features videos of accommodations and tours that aim to maximise the benefits to the community and minimise the impact on the environment. This video introduces the concept of fair trade tourism.com and features clips of lions in Tanzania, sharks in South Africa, Masai in the Masai Mara of Kenya, artists in South Africa, a group climbing Kilimanjaro via the Rongai route, sailing in Greece, and trekking in the Atlas Mountains"

Source:

http://www.fairtradetourism.com/

Description of area (Kenya)

Situated on the equator on Africa’s east coast, Kenya has been described as “the cradle of humanity”
In the Great Rift Valley palaeontologists have discovered some of the earliest evidence of man’s ancestors.
In the present day, Kenya’s ethnic diversity has produced a vibrant culture but is also a source of conflict.

With its scenic beauty and abundant wildlife, Kenya is one of Africa’s major safari destinations. The lucrative tourist industry has bounced back following the slump that followed bomb attacks in Nairobi in 1998 and in Mombasa in 2002.

In Kenya there is high unemployed, crime and poverty, most Kenyans live below the poverty level of $1 a day. Moreover, a long running regional drought has put millions of Kenyans in need of food aid.

Politics: Politics has recently been dominated by wrangling over changes to the constitution, prompted by pressure to stamp out corruption and nepotism.
Economy: The Government is accused of not doing enough to deal with corruption.
International: Kenya has mediated in conflicts in Somalia and Sudan Population: 32.8 m (UN,2005)

Capital: Nairobi

Main Export: Tea, coffee, horticultural products, petroleum products

Monetary Unit: 1 Kenya shilling = 100 c

GNI per Capita: US $530 (WBI, 2006)

(Source BBC News: Country Profile)

Kenya Cultural Safari

Kenya has a culture born of countless sources.
This region has been crossed by the paths of a long and complex history. From the prehistoric records of early man to the present day, Kenya has been a land of unending change, contrasts and diversity.

The early tribal states saw cycles of migration and shifting power, with Kenya as a meeting place for peoples from the plainlands of the south, the forests of the west and the desert of the north.
The sea brought the outside world, and the passage of the spice trade created the unique coastal culture, where lines between Africa and Arabia blurred.

The open coast brought European influences into this world of change and began a turbulent struggle for control whose exotic history lingers today.
The first explorer discovered a land of great peril and greater beauty, and their great adventures created the most unique colony in the British Empire.
This was a meeting place of cultures, where adventures and soldiers of fortune mingled with a complex tribal society, and the arrival of labourers and merchants from India brought new and pervasive influences.The colonial legacy lives on the traditions of the great safari, and the pursuit of adventure and freedom.

Kenya has drawn on all of these influences to develop its own unique culture. This is the nations greatest strength the ability to blend the best of many worlds into a strong, singular identity.
Today Kenya welcomes the world to its shores and continues to evolve a modern culture that is born of endless variety, and yet purely, proudly Kenyan.
(Source: MagicalKenya.com)

Experience Kenya’s Wilderness

Most visitors to Kenya want to experience the country’s world famous wildlife. But there are many different ways to experience the Kenyan wilderness.

Whether you want to drive by a pride of lions in a four wheel drive, walk through herds of plains game, watch a herd of elephants from the comfortable veranda of a safari lodge, track game on horseback or search for rare birds in a thick rainforest, the possibilities are endless.

Kenya’s wilderness areas are famous world wide. The name Kenya has become synonymous with the great wilds of Africa but they represent far more than you would ever expect, protecting and showcasing a broad range of habitats and species.

They are complex ecologies that depend on the conservation of diverse natural resources and systems. The Parks, Sanctuaries and Conservation areas co-exist with and depend on the communities that surround them, and work together to protect the future.

From the depths of a coral reef to alpine mountains, from one of the world’s most endangered owls to a herd of wildebeest more than a million strong, the wilderness in Kenya is a wonder to behold…

(Source: MagicalKenya.com)

Kenya’s Forests

Kenya has a wide range of forests, from coastal forest through central high mountain to forests to the thick wet rainforest of the west. These forests support more than just a diverse range of tree and plant species; they are also the territory of a wildlife, from rare chameleons to elephant herds, elusive leopards to colourful butterflies, monkey families and prolific birdlife.

Kenyan forests offer to traveller a wide range of options, from treetop lodges to trekking trails.

(Source: MagicalKenya.com)

Communities and Tourism

The Community Outreach Program is one among the key program areas of Ecotourism Kenya. The aim of the program is threefold: (i) to integrate communities and community-based tourism into mainstream tourism in Kenya; (ii) to build capacity for local people to more effectively engage with tourism issues; (iii) to explore ideas for tourism involvements in their areas. The ultimate goal is for an equitable distribution of the benefits that accrue from community-based tourism enterprises. Our work involves;

Community mobilization; participatory trainings, seminars, workshops and sharing of information through the quarterly newsletter and monthly e-letter;
Community advisory services on product development, packaging, fundraising, etc;
Promotion of community based, owned and/ or managed tourism enterprises.

Ecotourism Kenya has realized that many community-based tourism enterprises exist in the country, and are at various stages of development. We have compiled a database of these from field visits, surveys and contacts with other organizations engaged in community development work in Kenya. For details of different Kenyan communities and their ecotourism initiatives, click on the Communities and Ecotourism database in the third column of this page.

(Source: MagicalKenya.com)

Community Mobilization

Over the past years, we have been involved in community mobilization through regional workshops, debates and seminars in Kenya. Between November 2004 and May 2006, we conducted a total of eight regional workshops creating awareness on ecotourism and identifying challenges and gathering possible solutions.

As a follow up mechanism, we have rolled out regional training programmes in 2007 that are explicitly designed to meet the needs and enhance the skills of local communities involved in community-based tourism enterprises.

(Source: MagicalKenya.com)

Community Advisory Services

This involves community advisory services on product development, packaging and market access. In 2003-2005 with support from United Nation Development Programme (UNDP), Ecotourism Kenya played a key role in supporting two community groups to develop and package their products in Uasu Cultural Centre Samburu and Isechano Banda’s in Kakamega forest.

(Source: MagicalKenya.com)

Promotion of Community-Based Tourism Enterprise

This we do by proactive marketing and promotion of tourism enterprises run by communities or local individuals in our website, flayers and newsletter. We also support and coordinate with activities of others, such as NGOs and donors, who are promoting community-based tourism enterprises.

(Source: ecotourismkenya.org)

Swot Analysis & Strategy

This Swot analisys is based on a “Green Segment”, with a Medium/High Profile

(Professors, Students, Managers, CEO, NGO employees, Environmentalists, etc)

Strengths

Product: Nature, wildlife, biodiversity, Safari, Beaches, Game viewing, Ancient fossils found in Kenya attract scientists, Eco-Tourism attract Responsible Tourists.

Strategy: B&B as a tool for promoting cultural exchanges. Tourism acts as a catalyst for the development of the other sectors of the economy.

Weaknesses

Personal Security

Crime

Unemployed

Dirty Water

Corruption

No CSR for Sme

No 3 bottom Line

No Supply Chain
No Kaizen Philosophy http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaizen
No Deming’s Philosophy http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/W._Edwards_Deming
No Lean Leadership (Corporate Governance)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lean_production#Lean_Leadership
No cooperation Between Universities and Business

Opportunities

To Develop a mentality oriented on “Human Rights its your Business”

To Develop a B&B Formula on Ethics, CSR, 3bl

To involve Women in the Business Activities as CEO, supported by Micro-Credits Institutions.

To Implement Deming’s and Kaizen Philosophies

To Implement SCM

To Establish B&B in Rural Areas

To Improve agriculture

To Develop Code of Conducts

To built a natural container of Clean Water accessible for the local community (by Business’s profits)
To promote local dishes in EU/US, like Slow Food
Safe Water
Politics and Activities pro Environment
Summer School on Climate Change, Ocean etc

Exchanges of different Cultures (European and Africans)

WWF Pan Park Framework

Threats

Crime

Dirty Water

Waste of Water

Government’s Corruption

Sexual Tourism

Impact of Tourism on Environment and local Communities

Exploitation of labours

Indiscriminate Development

Indiscriminate pollution due to a rapid economic growth

Local Customs and Culture are endagered

Strategies

Aim 1: Stake on Poverty Reduction

Action: Your Tour Operator should have published, and promoting their Code of Conducts based on Ethics, the UN’s Tourism Code. A report on Accountability (SA8000 or AA1100).

Ask of the 3bl (Profit, Social, Environment, in particular if the local community is involved in the business activity, (not only as waiter or waitress) & Supply Chain Management (if they contractors have implemented CSR).

Ask if they have a policy on how to Reduce C02, or a partnership like “WWF Pan Park”

Fundamental: If your Tour Operator/Hotel Chain, is a Multinational, please ask if the company is included in the Ftse4Good, and Its policy on MDGs

Aim 2 : Stake on Eco-Tourism

Action: The Eco-Tourism sector of the travel industry is primarily a collection of local businesses communities and non - governmental organisation that develop and implement Eco-Tourism programs in remote and fragile destinations for both the group tour and independent markets. (The Components of successful Eco-Tourism).
NGO's play a fundamental role in this field, we can recognise a Green and Responsible Brand, because they are ideal partners for the private sector, and also their activities are to protect our environment, to develop programs like sustainable development for local people, to create a strong relationships between national and international stakeholders, to cooperate to the private sector for a common code of conducts.

Aim 3: To create a strong relationship between Private Sector, Government & Communities

Action: In the Decision-Making strategies the main actor is the local community, when we decide to go on holiday in the developing world, our moral duty is to be sure that all stakeholders have been entailed.
· The local Community must have an important rule in the Decision-Making strategies
· NGOs must promote and protect the local communities, to have a policy on Fair Trade Tourism, To cooperate to International Tour Operators, local entrepreneurs, To develop an Educational Programs for Tourists, Training courses for labours and managers on Corporate Social Responsibility, to write a business agreement on rules, case studies, code of conducts.
· The Rule of a Responsible Tourist is putting ethics into practices, to implement, the articles written by UNWTO (The Responsible Tourist and Traveller) and to learn something about the local community and its customs.
· International and National Governments, have a crucial rule in the development of ecotourism's strategies, for example "Guidelines for an Ecotourism National Policy (Government of Brazil) & The national Ecotourism plan (Government of Australia). Another rule is to "legalise" the code of conducts, Training programs and CSR.

An Example: Australian National Ecotourism Strategy
Challenges

Maintain acceptable levels of visitors use.

Adopt minimum impact practices

Use of monitoring to maintain oversight on resource impact

Objective

Facilitate ecologically sustainable practices

Integrate regional planning

Improve natural resources management

Improve natural resources management

Improve Cooperation between ecotourism and natural resource management

Provide proper regulation

Determine infrastructure needs

Monitor visitor impacts

Develop information base

Conduct Marketing

Deliver ethical ecotourism products

Enhance opportunity for self determination

Develop business policies

Source: Commonwealth of Australia, National Ecotourism Strategy, 1994

Aim 4: Supply Chain Management based on NGO’s

A case study: Forestry initiative in Kenya: Friends of Conservation

Deforestation poses one of the greatest threats to Kenya’s overall environmental health. The country has lost half of its forest since the 1970’s. In the Maasai Mara Reserve – one of the Kenya’s main tourist destinations – tree loss is critical and local Maasai women may have to travel every two days to collect the 30-40 kilos of fuelwood used by a family of five each day. Population pressures around the Reserve, the change of lifestyle of the Maasai People who were once nomadic but are now sedentary, and the growth of tourism have all contributed to the loss of trees in the region. About a quarter of tourist camps and lodges in the Mara use fuelwood for cooking and to heat water. Lodges are estimated to use up to 540 tonnes of wood each year, and since they collect fuelwood from as far away as 30km, their effects cover larges areas.

Friends of Conservation (FOC) and addressing this problem in a number of ways. One of these is to set up forestry training units from which around 15 Maasai people (male and female) “graduate” each year. They are trained in raising seedlings and producing firewood, and are provided with help in marketing the wood to tourist establishments. All who have passed through the FOC training have found local jobs in forestry and some have set up their own businesses to sell wood to camps and lodges.

FCO’s own staff aim at producing around 70.000 seedlings a year, for reafforestation projects and to set up new enterprises, and the organisation has created a seedbank of indigenous species and buy seeds collected by local people. FOC also organises the sale and free distribution of seeds to schools for seedling production, while raising particularly difficult seedlings itself at its nurseries at each of its three centres, providing seedlings for free distribution to community projects or public institutions. The seedlings are also available for sale to private enterprises such as lodges or tented camps. FOC has supported private individuals to develop “woodlots” to grow sustainable supplies of wood for use in construction of houses, lodges and fences, and to provide fuelwood for cooking, heating and light and other commercial purposes.

Recently FOC has started to work on reducing demand for fuelwood – for example FOC’s Women’s officer is currently training women and young-girls to produce fuel-efficient mud-stoves. FOC has also developed waste briquettes which can be used as fuel in mobile camps and small lodges/tented camps, which are currently testing them. During 2001-2 FOC encouraged various tourism outlets to switch their fuel source from wood and charcoal to other forms, such as gas, paraffin, chardust, briquettes, or solar energy. As a result a number of tourist facilities have moved away from using wood and charcoal as fuels.

(Source: Tourism Supply Chains – A report from LeedsMet UK)

Action:. A chain of B&B should adopt and to cooperate to FOC, for many reason, a Brand Recognition, to improve staff morale, and to have satisfied customers.

Another policy pro environment is to involve the customers of a B&B, for example a marketing campaign, should be “Adopt a Tree” or “Adopt an animal” "Make Poverty History" etc

Sponsored by International Organisations Like WWF, GreenPeace etc.

B&B's Supply Chain:

International & National Tour Operators

Food production (Breakfast and Brunch)

Transports

Local suppliers

Local Community

Labours

NGO’s (WWF, GreenPeace)

UNEP, UNDP, EU, US

SCM (Definitions)

At the moment we haven’t yet a common definition of SCM, The best ones are:

SCM is the process of planning, implementing, and controlling the operations of the with supply chain management the purpose to satisfy customer requirements as efficiently as possible. Supply chain management pans all movement and storage of raw materials, work-in-process inventory, and finished goods from point-of-origin to point-of-consumption. The term supply chain management was coined by consultant Keith Oliver, of strategy consulting firm
Source: Booz Allen Hamilton in 1982.

The Supply Chain comprises the suppliers of all goods and services that go into the delivery of tourism products to consumers.

It includes all suppliers of goods and services whether or not they are directly contracted by Tour Operators or by their agents (including ground handlers) or suppliers (including accommodation providers).

Tourism Supply Chains involve many components – not just accommodation transport and excursions, but also bars, restaurants, handicrafts, food production, waste disposal, and the infrastructure that supports tourism in destinations.

(source: TSC Leeds Metropolitan University UK)

Fair Trade Tourism (Def)

“A commitment to finding positive and practical solutions for the Tourism industry as well as consumers, local communities and destination governments, so as to benefit local communities through trade, in preference to aid”

(Source: Leeds Metropolitan Univrsity UK)

B2B & B2C, based on Ethics

In the Hospitality literature there are definitions on B2B and B2C, but unfortunately there are not words like, local community, environment, ethics, etc.

A B&B/Ecotourism, in the developing world is defined as a niche market, in this case my idea is to reinvent these definition base as:

Business to NGO’s to Business (BNB)

and

Business to NGO’s to Consumers (BNC)

BNB: The main goals of the International or National NGO’s are to find the best code of conducts that satisfied both, to check if all procedures are respected, to support researcher, to give its know how, on how to adapt the best good practices, to coordinate Stakeholders activities and so on.

BNC: In this case the rule of an NGO’s is to certified that the X company has adopted and implemented CSR, Code of Conducts, Its good practice,to show on how the local community is involved, policy on CO2 reduction etc.

The second goal is to spread the notion of a Responsible Tourist with its duty and its rights.

The third goal is to organise a Summer School in Kenya where there will be lectures on Human Rights, Climate Change, etc

The key concept is to advertise that when a tourist is on holiday, him/her can contribute actively on poverty reduction. (We do not want your money, We want your name - Live 8 2005)

The most important goal of all stakeholders, involved in the Hospitality industry is to give detailed information and a correct social behaviour against Child Sex Abuse, at the moment there is a code called ECPAT others literature are published by organisations like Human Rights Watch, Tourism Concern, etc.

Unfortunately this awful activity is common in the third world, our duty is to be sure that the ECPAT code has been included in the business agenda.

Aim 5: B&B & Triple Bottom Line

Definition: The Triple Bottom Line (3bl) is the traditional bottom line profit of a company with the added of social, environmental, and accountability (Source: Bhert News Australia) for example the SA 8000 and AA1100.

In the hospitality Industry people and companies involved in this business, have an important moral and civil duty, in particular to bring social benefit for the local community, on how to optimise profits, and how to incorporate and advertise policy on CO2 emission.

For example a B&B should choice the most greener Tour Operator, that use planes with less CO2 emission, or “adopt a forest” after a summer season.

This is possible if a company and its Stakeholders, will accept international frameworks, or a sustainability report, like the GRI’s Sustainability Reporting Guidelines.

GRI’s Sustainability Report Guidelines:

Economic

Investment on Human Capital (training courses, on how to manage a B&B)

Nature and Location of outsourced operations (Education on how to respect our eco-system, developed by Universities or/and NGO’s)

Labour Productivity levels (benefits, like a free journey in Europe)

Environmental

Total energy use (wind power, solar power etc)

Use of re-cycled materials (especially for brochures)

Water sources significantly affected by the organisation’s use of water

Social

Job satisfaction levels (to involve all labours on environmental thematic, a better salary.

Employee retention rates

Investment for worker in illness and injury prevention

Aim 6: B&B & Human Rights

An increasing number of firms have begun to integrate human rights considerations into their mainstream business decision making. Although some have been driving by public scandals, activist campaigns, consumer boycotts or lawsuits over alleged corporate complicity in human rights abuses, others have acted without an external stimulus for other commercial reasons or because they believe it is the right thing to do (Human Rights: It is your business IBLF UK)

Action 1

1. Improve workplace conditions
2. End racial, religious and gender discrimination
3. Eliminate the worst forms of child labour
4. Avoid force or compulsory labour
5. Guarantee freedom of association
6. Increase access and availability to essential products and services for those living in poverty
7. Ensure responsible marketing and product testing
8. Build human rights criteria into security arrangements
9. Minimise population displacement for heavy footprint projects
10. Engage with stakeholders and governments to promote human rights
(Human Rights: It is your business IBLF UK)

This is the main challenge and a huge responsibility for all Human Beings, if we do something, probably our world will be a better place where to live, and also, Racism, xenophobia, terrorism will be history.

"We are not looking for Charity, We are looking for Justice"
by Bono (Live 8 2005)

"Business is essential to the development and protection of human rights for the six billion people on this globe.
Responsible companies see human rights issues as part of their business environment"
Peter Sutherland
Chairman of BP

Eco-Tourism and B&B formula is a diamond of Hospitality Industry, for one simple reason, they are oriented on sustainable environment and fairtrade.
"There is also evidence that consumers are being influenced by niche marketing aimed at responsible business practice. In 2004, British consumers spent GBP140 million on products hearing the Fairtrade logo, a year rise of 53%" (IBLF UK, HR: It is your Business)

To have a "Green Brand Image" and a positive reputation based on Responsible Business, cooperation to NGO's, implementation of the UN Global Compact, at 100% all responsible companies, will increment their revenues, and also, will attract consumers, investors, employee, etc.

This is wonderful and likeable, but it must be certified, for example in the Ftse4Good, there are some inclusion criteria like: Human Rights, Climate Change, etc.

Action 2

· To develop an advanced search-engine for the "behaviour "of the companies (Responsible & Unreponsible Business)
· To engage all key Stakeholder, they must have a proxy, with clear rules and transparency.
· To improve working condition, all employee must be informed about how to do a good job, how to respect the environment at work and even when they are at home.
· A responsible western firm, should cooperate to Micro-Credits institutions not only as a philanthropic company, but as a consultant on how to manage a B&B, optimisation of economics results, etc.

Recommendations

In conclusion you should read the following books:

Benjamin M. Friedman “The Moral Consequences of Economic Growth

Richard Dawkins “The Selfish Gene”

And also I’d like to interact to you on this field.

Appendix

The Responsible Tourist and Traveller

Dear Traveller,

The “Responsible Tourist and Traveller” is a practical guide to help you make your trip an enriching experience.

The advice is based on the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism of the World Tourism Organisation.

The Responsible Tourist and Traveller

Travel and Tourism should be planned and practiced as a means of individual and collective fulfilment. When practiced with an open mind, it is an irreplaceable factor of self education, mutual tolerance and for learning about the legitimate differences between peoples and cultures and their diversity.

Everyone has a role to play creating responsible travel and tourism. Governments, business and communities must do all they can, but as a guest you can support this in many ways to make a difference:

Open your mind to other cultures and traditions – it will transform your experience, you will earn respect and be more readily welcomed by local people. Be tolerant and respect diversity – observe social and cultural traditions and practices.

Respect Human Rights. Exploitation in any form of conflicts with the fundamental aims of tourism. The sexual exploitation of children is a crime punishable in the destination or at the offender’s home country.

Help preserve natural environments. Protect wildlife and habitats and do not purchase products made from endangered plants or animals.

Respect cultural resources. Activities should be conducted with respect for the artistic, archaeological and cultural heritage.

Your trip can contribute to economic and social development. Purchase local handicrafts and products to support the local economy using the principles of fair trade. Bargaining for goods should reflect an understanding of a fair wage.

Inform yourself about the destination’s current health situation and access to emergency and consular service prior to departure and be assured that your health and personal security will not compromised. Make sure that your specific requirements (diet, accessibility, medical care) can be fulfilled before you decide to travel this destination.

Learn as Much as possible about your destination and take time to understand the customs, norms and traditions. Avoid behaviour that could offend the local population

Familiarise yourself with the laws so that you do not commit any act considered criminal by the law of the country visited. Refrain from all trafficking in illicit drugs, arms antiques, protected species and products or substances that are dangerous or prohibited by national regulations.

Source: UNWTO

UN's Global Code of Ethics

Principles

The Code includes nine articles outlining the "rules of the game" for destinations, governments, tour operators, developers, travel agents, workers and travellers themselves. The tenth article involves the redress of grievances and marks the first time that a code of this type will have a mechanism for enforcement.

ARTICLE 1

Tourism's contribution to mutual understanding and respect between peoples and societies

ARTICLE 2

Tourism as a vehicle for individual and collective fulfilment

ARTICLE 3

Tourism, a factor of sustainable development

ARTICLE 4

Tourism, a user of the cultural heritage of mankind and contributor to its enhancement

ARTICLE 5

Tourism, a beneficial activity for host countries and communities

ARTICLE 6

Obligations of stakeholders in tourism development

ARTICLE 7

Right to tourism

ARTICLE 8

Liberty of tourist movements

ARTICLE 9

Rights of the workers and entrepreneurs in the tourism industry

ARTICLE 10

Implementation of the principles of the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism

Code of Ethics for the Industry: Sustainable Tourism

1. Commit to excellence in the quality of tourism and hospitality experiences provided to our clients through a motivated and caring staff.

2.Encourage an appreciation of and respect for, our natural cultural and aesthetic heritage among our clients, staff, and stakeholders, and within our communities.

3. Respect the values and aspirations of our host communities and strive to provide services and facilities in a manner which contributes to community identity, pride, aesthetics and the quality of life of residents.

4. Strive to achieve tourism development in a manner which harmonises economic objectives with the protection and enhancement of our natural, cultural and aesthetic heritage.

5. Be efficient in the use of all natural resources, manage waste in an environmentally responsible manner, and strive to eliminate or minimise pollution in all its forms.

6. Cooperate with our colleagues within the tourism industry and other industries, towards the goal of sustainable development and an improved quality of life for all.

7. Support tourists in their quest for a greater understanding and appreciation of nature and their neighbours in the global village.

Work with and through national and international organisations in helping to built a better world through tourism

Source: TIAC 1991

Code of Ethics for Tourists: Sustainable Tourism

1. Enjoy our diverse natural and cultural heritage and help us to protect and preserve it

2. Assist us in our conservation efforts through the efficient use of resources including energy and water

3. Experience the friendliness of our people and the welcoming spirit of communities. Help us to preserve these attributes by respecting our traditions, customs, and local regulations.

4. Avoid activities which threaten wildlife or plant, populations, or which may be potentially damaging to our natural environment.

5. Select tourism products and services which demonstrate social, cultural and environmental sensitivity. (Source: TIAC 1991).

Muhammad Yunus: Building Social Business Ventures (Video)

Business Ethics Symposium (Video)

In the wake of the corporate ethical scandals of recent years, Georgetown University hosted a business ethics symposium where business and non-profit leaders released results of a new study on the issue.
The report outlines a new framework for leaders to use to assess the ethics of their organization and provides ways to embed ethics into organizational culture.

Source: Georgetown University

http://uc.princeton.edu/main/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;id=69&Itemid=7

References:

Guidelines for Community Based Eco-Tourism Development by WWF International – July 2001 @ http://www.wwf.org.uk/filelibrary/pdf/community_based_ecotourism.pdf

Shades of Green (article) by The Guardian UK on Saturday May 26^th 2007 @ http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2007/may/26/saturday.costarica

Research Note: Environmental Inputs and Outputs in Eco Tourism: Geo tourism, with a positive triple bottom line?

By Ralf Buckley Centre for Eco Tourism Research, Griffith University Queensland Australia @

http://www.multilingual-matters.net/jet/002/0076/jet0020076.pdf

Tourism Supply Chain by Leeds Metropolitan University UK @

http://www.leedsmet.ac.uk/lsif/the/Tourism_Supply_Chains.pdf

The components of successful Eco Tourism by TIES (The International Eco Tourism Society) @

http://www.uneptie.org/pc/tourism/documents/ecotourism/part-two.pdf

Tourism Putting Ethics into Practice by Tearfund UK @

www.icrtourism.org/Tour%20Operators%20Initiatives/Putting%20ethics%20into%20practice.pdf

Tourism and Peace: The Traveller by Sashana Askjekkerud

http://www.iipt.org/educators/OccPap04.pdf

Human Rights Its Your Business

by: Lucy Arris, Peter Brew and Caroline Ersmarker @

http://www.iblf.org/docs/ItIsYrBusiness.pdf

Eco-Tourism and Poverty Alleviation

http://www.most.gov.np/en/pdf/environment/publications/state2004/eco9.pdf

UNCDF Microfinance Distance Learning Programme (Free)

http://www.uncdf.org/mfdl/index.php?_mode=students.home

MDGs Report 2007

http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/pdf/mdg2007.pdf

Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)

1.Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger

2.Achieve universal primary education

3.Promote gender equality and empower women

4.Reduce child mortality

5.Improve maternal health

6.Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases

7.Ensure environmentally sustainability

8.Develop a global partnership for development

The Responsible Tourist and Traveller (pdf)

2007-07-03T14:00:00.000+02:00

Dear Mates

It's summer time, probably you're going somewhere, before your departure, please read this text, is only one page long.

When you back home please post your ideas, comment, in particular tell me how to improve it.

"The Responsible Tourist and Traveller" has been approved by the World Committee on Tourism Ethics in May 2005 and endorsed by UNWTO resolution A/RES/506(XVI) adopted at Dakar, Senegal, in December 2005, by which the General Assembly recommends the dissemination of this text to the travelling public worldwide.

Source: World Tourism Organisation

Thank You

Italo

Ethical Code for Tourists (Tearfund)

2007-05-31T17:45:00.000+02:00

1. Find out about your destination - take some time before you go to read about the cultural, social and political background of the place and people you're visiting.

2. Go equipped with basic words and phrases in the local language - this may open up opportunities for you to meet people who live there.

3. Buy locally-made goods and use locally-provided services wherever possible - your support is often vital to local people.

4. Pay a fair price for the goods or services you buy - if you haggle for the lowest price your bargain may be at someone else's expense.

5. Be sensitive to local culture - dress and act in a way that respects local beliefs and customs, particularly at religious sites.

6. Ask Permission before taking photographs of individuals of people's homes - and remember that you may be expected to pay for the privilege.

7. Avoid conspicious displays of wealth- this can accentuate the gap between rich and poor and distance you from the cultures you came to experience.

8. Make no promises to local people that you can't keep - be realistic about what you will do when you return home.

9. Minimise your environmental impact - keep to footpaths and marked routes, don't remove any of the natural habitat and reduce the packaging you bring.

10. Slow down to enjoy the differences - you'll be back with the family soon enough

............and ensure that others can too.

Source: Tearfund.org

Ethical Tourist Vs Selfish Gene

2007-05-30T13:47:00.000+02:00

Dear Mates

An Ethical Tourist is a person who goes on holiday with a particular attention on environment, ethics, Local Community etc.

Unfortunately this is not common yet, because this is a niche market. Are we agree to pay more money for a Green Holiday? According to the last statistic our choice is based on: Price, Health, Safety only.

Why? Personally I think this is due to our Selfish Gene, we want the best holiday, and pay less.

A good promotion should be to consider this segment as an ethical- Investment, for example:

6 Ethical Holidays Certified (Green Globe 21, Environmental Management, Sustainable Management, Social & Ethical auditing tools, such as ISO 14001, Sigma, GRI, SA 8000, AA 1000.) and then you'll have
V.A.T. reduction, or no V.A.T. / Free journeys or Stays.
Public Sector, Private Sector, Tourists.(stakeholders)
Our Selfish Gene is satisfied and our environment too.

What do you think, please post your ideas, comment, links, etc

Tourism Certification:

The real problem is that in our sector there are too many certifications, confusion and scepticism.

An example is the European Blue Flag. Since 1999, this eco-label logo is not more financed from the European Union, why?

This is my dilemma.

With this example I’d like to introduce that for a better credibility and communication, in the market should be only, well known logos, who promote best practice, comparable criteria, transparency, integration of the economic and social aspects.

For a tourist, like me a good and credible source are the media,Yesterday I read an article on The Guardian, the title was: “Shades of Green”, Costa Rica is held up a shining example of eco best practice, but how much does tourism benefit the environment and local communities, asks Leo Hickman

source: (http://travel.guardian.co.uk/tag/green)

Thank You

Italo

UN Global Compact’s Ten Principles

2007-05-08T00:07:00.000+02:00

The Global Compact's ten principles in the areas of human rights, labour, the environment and anti-corruption enjoy universal consensus and are derived from:

Source: UN Global Compact

Think Green

Italo

First Contact by BBC4 Anthropology Season (a video of 6 parts)

2007-04-11T19:06:00.000+02:00

Hi There

I've to say You-Tube is a wonderful "gold mine", where I found this useful Documentary called "First Contact" between the local people and a group of travellers.

A brief summary:

"Adventurous and high-paying tourists are being offered the chance to make "first contact" with some of the world's last remaining uncontacted tribes.

First contact with the outside world usually spells disaster for genuine uncontacted tribes.

Presented by Mark Anstice, an experienced expedition leader and author of a book also called First Contact, this film looks at the complex issues surrounding the ethics of first contact and meets the people involved."

Source: YouTube.com

Travellerscapes. Tourism Research and Transnational Anthropology.

2007-04-11T16:56:00.000+02:00

Hi Mates

On Internet I found a paper on Anthropology and Tourism, please read it.

Anthropology (definition): "Is the study of the human race, especially of its origins, development, customs and beliefs."

Source: Oxford Dictionary

If you're agree post your ideas, Comment, and so on.

1. I'd like to share my ideas on culturals interaction between Tourists.

2. Is this the first step against Racism and Xenophobia?

More Info:

Research Group Transnationalism

Institute of Cultural Anthropology and European Ethnology
Johann Wolfgang Goethe University Frankfurt am Main (Germany)

Title: Travellerscape. Tourism Research and Transnational Anthropology

Author: Jana Binder

September 2004

See ya

Italo

Tourism will contribute to solutions for global climate change and poverty challenges

2007-04-03T22:09:00.000+02:00

Hi Mates

I've good news from UNWTO............................

"Berlin/ Madrid, 8 March 2007 - UNWTO says that the world must respond in a holistic way to the twin challenges of Climate Change and Poverty and that the tourism sector can effectively contribute to the solutions.

UNWTO Secretary-General Francesco Frangialli said that “in recent years world leaders have identified a range of challenges of truly global impact with extreme poverty and climate change as the most trenchant issues. They require innovative and changed behaviour to effectively respond over time and Tourism can and must play its part in the solutions to both”. He said that “UNWTO has been actively working on these issues for some years and is committed to seek balanced and equitable policies to encourage both responsible energy related consumption as well as anti- poverty operational patterns. This can and must lead to truly sustainable growth within the framework of the Millennium Development Goals.”

Source: UN World Tourism Organisation

See Ya

Italo

“Tourism at the service of bringing people together”

2007-04-02T21:36:00.000+02:00

Hi Mates

“Tourism at the service of bringing people together”

Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of the Migrants and Itinerant People
VI World Congress on the Pastoral Care of Tourism.

Bangkok, Thailand, July 5 - 8, 2004

Source: Vatican's site

Stephen Timms UK's MP: CSR Academy Launch

2007-03-28T18:55:00.000+02:00

Dear Mates

Please read this speech and then post your ideas:

" I believe the reason we're all here is because we are excited about the potential of Corporate Social Responsibility:

to increase the success of our organizations

to build the competitiveness of the UK economy

to contribute innovation and commitment to addressing the social and environmental challenges that concern all of us, both in the UK and around the world"

Source: Stephen Timms UK's MP (dti.gov.uk)

Ethics and Leadership

2007-03-23T22:16:00.001+01:00

W.Edward Deming on the Future of Capitalism

2007-03-22T20:59:00.000+01:00

Should we think twice about booking that holiday abroad? (Podcast)

2007-03-20T21:36:00.000+01:00

Hi There

Please listen to this podcast on Responsible Tourism, and then post your impression.

Thanxs

see ya

Italo

"This week, the world's biggest tourism fair, the ITB, opened its doors in Berlin.

Week 10-03-2007

A record 11,000 companies from 184 countries are there to promote their holiday products. Environmentally friendly travel is a key selling point at this year's ITB. The travel industry has become increasingly sensitive to claims that tourism is responsible for increasing carbon dioxide emissions and climate change. Helen Seeney asked Emily Armistead of Greenpeace which particular aspects of the travel industry were causing the most damage to the environment.

Source: Deutsche Welle

European Union pro Corporate Social Responsibility

2007-02-26T21:42:00.000+01:00

Hi Mates As a European citizen is a pleasure to post these Papers.

CSR at EU Level http://www.somo.nl/html/paginas/pdf/ECCJ_briefing_nov_2006_NL.pdf

CSR Forum Reccomendation http://ec.europa.eu/employment_social/soc-dial/csr/csr_rapport_forum061207_en.pdf

EU CSR Compendium http://ec.europa.eu/employment_social/soc-dial/csr/csr_compendium_csr_en.pdf

Thanxs Italo

Making EU a pole of Excellence on CSR

2007-02-18T16:44:00.000+01:00

Dear Mate

Last year the European Union has published a paper on CSR a pole of excellence.
I'd like to know your point of view, about this idea, are u agree or disagree? any comment?

Cheers

Italo

EU on Multistakeholders

2007-02-13T21:00:00.000+01:00

Dear Mates

Recently the European Commission has published a document on Multistakeholders.

See ya

Monsanto: Corporate Social Irresponsibility

2007-02-12T17:26:00.000+01:00

Dear Mates

Are you a customer of the Monsanto?

Do you think is it a promoter of CSR, and Triple Bottom Line?

Have you read its codes of conducts?

Please Read the article posted today by "The Guardian UK"

Finding Corporate Citizenship in all of the Right Places

2007-02-03T00:01:00.001+01:00

Hi Mates

At the moment I'm doing an interesting and useful distance learning course on CSR, organised by the World Bank Institute.

At the end of Module 3 I read this article on Corporate Citizenship, if you are agree tell me your opinions.

Thanxs

Italo

"Many people who have been on the CSR frontlines — inside and outside — business often become jaded about profits and bottom-line issues clouding the value connected to citizenship. And how often have we heard that corporate citizenship is marginalized in the company? The observations I share should provide hope and to all camps I say, take heart!"

Source: Centre for Corporate Citizenship

CSR against Poverty (Video)

2007-01-25T00:18:00.000+01:00

Hi Mates

You should watch this video, is very useful if we want to built a better world where, the main tool is CSR against Poverty...... remember......remeber "Make Poverty History" as soon as possible, everyone of us has a moral responsibility.

Thank You

Italo

DESCRIPTION

Time: 60 min.

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is a crucial element of international efforts to foster sustainable and equitable development worldwide. CSR is a public movement, which has gained more momentum as citizens demand that corporations be accountable for their impacts, and as global standards continue to be defined. Businesses operate in a global environment which demands that their operations meet or exceed ethical and legal obligations, and combine commercial success with a deeper understanding of the new role of business in society. They face many of the same pressures as other stakeholders – be it the impact of HIV/AIDS, of terrorism, or, more simply, changes in public expectations. Increasingly, business is recognized as a true partner in meeting development goals with benefits for the business and for the society as a whole.

Source: WBI-Bspan

Ethics, Corporate Codes,and the Supply Chain

2007-01-24T16:34:00.000+01:00

Hi Mates

Please watch this Conference on Ethics.....willl be very useful for us

Cheers

Time: 70 Minutes

KeyConcepts:

The conference Voluntary Codes of Conduct for Multinational Corporations: Promises and Challenges conference was held May 12 - 15, 2004 and jointly sponsored by the International Center for Corporate Accountability, Inc. (ICCA), the Zicklin School of Business (Baruch College, CUNY), the Carol and Lawrence Zicklin Center for Business Ethics Research (The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania and the World Bank Institute of the World Bank.

Presented here is Session 41 of the conference, held on May 15, 2004, which addressed the topic "Ethics, Corporate Codes, and the Supply Chain". Chaired by Prof. Michael Stauffer, Management Department, Zicklin School of Business, Baruch College, CUNY, New York, New York, this session includes the following presentations:

* "Legitimacy of Foreign Facilities in Rural Villages" - Aileen Nowlan, Zicklin Center for Business Ethics Research, The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

* "Corporate Social Accountability in Supply Networks: Managing Ambiguity" - Shannon Jensen, Zicklin Center for Business Ethics Research, The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

* "Are Codes of Conduct in Global Supply Chains Really Voluntary? From Soft Law Regulation of Labor Relations to Consumer Law" - Prof. Andre Sobczak, Audencia Nantes School of Management, Nantes, France

* "What Can Be Learned from the Past about Codes of Ethics?" - Prof. Robert Baum, Director, Center for Applied Philosophy and Ethics in the Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.

Source: World Bank Institute (B-Span)

An Interview with Reem Raim of Numi Tea (audio)

2007-01-23T15:28:00.000+01:00

Dear Mates

Would you like listen to on how to apply the Triple Bottom Line? click on the title.

"Reem Rahim is the Co-founder and Vice President of Marketing of the Oakland-based green business Numi Tea. She is also the creator of the beautiful cover art on the tea's boxes. In the Fall of 1999, brother and sister Ahmed and Reem had a vision to revive the "serenity, creativity, and comfort that is inspired by the simple art of tea." Now they are the #9 brand in the natural food industry out of about 225 tea companies. Reem talks about how the company balances the triple bottom line of profits, people and planet."

Source: Big Vision Podcast

Thank you

Multinationals Corporations in Developing Countries and CSR

2007-01-22T01:12:00.000+01:00

Dear Mates

Today I watched this lecture, it was very interesting, as soon as possible I'll post my ideas, about Ethical Pressure Against Companies by Activist Movements.

Thanxs

Multinationals Corporations in Developing Countries and CSR

Keyword: Social Protection and Labour

Multinational corporations (MNCs) can spur economic activities in developing countries and provide an opportunity to improve the qualities of life, economic growth, and regional and global commons. At the same time, they are often also accused of destructive activities such as damaging the environment, complicity in human rights abuses, and involvement in corruption. Whether these accusations are fair or not, many MNCs are now attempting to manage these complex set of issues in the host countries by implementing corporate social responsibility (CSR) strategies because such issues may risk the success of their operations. However, CSR can be an ambiguous tactic because it is often unclear what a corporation can and cannot be held responsible for, particularly when weak governance and institutions are involved. Daniel Litvin, director of Percept Risk and Strategy, an advisory firm, and author of Empires of Profit: Commerce, Conquest and Corporate Responsibility, came to the Bank to discuss his research on CSR. Empires of Profit examines the political exploits of a series of the most powerful western multinationals in developing countries through history, starting with the East India Company and concluding with Shell in Nigeria and Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp in China and India.

Ede Ijjasz, and environmental specialist with the Bank, introduced Litvin. Litvin hinted that there may be similar issues that MNCs and the World Bank must face on ethical, environmental and social challenges. He said MNC issues were of interest to him starting from his journalistic origins of covering the environment for the The Economist. His book focused on the political and social interactions of these large companies with societies and governments in the developing countries throughout history. He said the book does not seek to draw judgments about MNCs, but rather to observe and document patterns. He has noticed that despite their vast power and wealth, most MNCs failed to anticipate local social and political problems which have affected their reputations and profits. Litvin noted the complex nature of investing, but also said a key factor was MNCs faced criticism in the West for problems that were in fact unrelated to the problems perceived by critics in the countries where they were doing business. Corporate cultures also blind companies from the cultures where they work.

Litvin focused on four MNC examples, the East India and British South Africa Companies, Shell and Nike. The East India Company ruled the Indian subcontinent, and came to that position because it became involved in local politics. Its power was vast, but it was also unpopular, and a revolt in the 1850s lead the British Government to nationalize the company. When British used the company to impose English values on Indian society, this exacerbated the social unrest in the continent. Litvin explained that the conquering of the subcontinent was not by corporate design, but because headquarters could not control its emissaries in the field. Such rogue behaviour almost bankrupted the company several times. The British South Africa Company sought gold reserves in Zimbabwe. The Company’s tactics led to violent revolts at the close of the 19th century. The Company did not foresee the revolt and assumed the local population was pleased because of the economic stability it had brought to them. Nike has been severely criticized for employing youths in its overseas factories during the last decade, and some other abuses. Litvin noted that critics in the West focused on the low pay of overseas workers and the overindulgence of Western consumers, while missing the concerns of people in the countries where Nike did business. Nike factories were providing employment, and empowering women, both new developments in these settings. In fact, Nike was subcontracting with Asian manufacturers, and was largely ignorant of poor working conditions in overseas plants. Now, they work more closely with subcontractors on a code of conduct for these plants. Efforts by Nike to assist reforms, Litvin said, have been admirable but not fully effective. This highlights some of the difficulties that MNCs face. In Nigeria, Shell faced protests for its activities. In the West, critics focused on environmental and human rights abuses. In Nigeria, the concerns were on how oil revenues would be shared by different ethnic groups, an issue not addressed much by Western critics. Revenue sharing remains a concern today, but with Shell’s changes in environmental policy, Western focus has dissipated. Until local corruption is adequately address, these tensions will remain. Litvin said there were lessons American oil companies could learn in Iraq from Shell’s experiences in Nigeria.

Some of the management lessons include the importance of knowing the political and social issues in the country where they are doing business. Headquarters must carefully watch what is happening on the ground overseas. Companies need to have a strategy to address issues, and must anticipate them. When consensus can be established between stakeholder groups, it should be done.

Source: WBI

CSR in the Tourism Industry? The Status of Potential for Certification, Codes of Conduct and Guidelines

2007-01-20T23:51:00.000+01:00

Hi Mates

CSR is not only a buzz, please have a look at this paper about CSR in the tourism industry

Short Summary:

This study is a follow-up to earlier reports commissioned by the world Bank Group which have assessed "Company Codes of conduct and International standards,Implementation Mechanisms for Codes of Conducts as well as various Foreign Investment Advisory Service reports. The objective of this study was to assess whether the development of national certification schemes may help countries to:

a) Address expectations of tourists, investors and supply chain actors such as tour operators and travel agencies

b) ensure the sustainable development of their tourism industry

c) ensure a localisation of the corporate social responsibility agenda by guaranteeing that certification standards are developed in accordance with national criteria

d) whether certification schemes have contributed to spreading sustainable tourism practices or would again with international criteria or standards

Source WBG

Social responsibility is just a PR tool for businesses, says report

2007-01-15T22:03:00.000+01:00

Hi Mates

Today, I read this article, and it was quite strong, for me.
I'd like to share my ideas with you, in particular what we can do against these companies?

Are u agree?

Thanxs

Italo

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Guardian

Wednesday January 21 2004

"Businesses are using corporate social responsibility as a shield behind which to campaign against environmental and human rights regulations, warns a report published today.

Christian Aid claims CSR is in some cases counter-productive, worsening relations between business and local communities. Shell's chairman, Sir Philip Watts, is one of the executives attacked for playing a leading role in CSR while lobbying against tougher international laws.

His company is held up as an example of a group that is implementing CSR initiatives in Nigeria, some of which are backfiring......................................................................"

Source: The Guardian

Corporate Ethics

2006-12-29T11:30:00.000+01:00

Dear Mates

Please Read this paper by Santa Clara University, if you want read it please click on Corporate Ethics underlined

Santa Clara University: Corporate Ethics, Governance and Social Responsibility: Comparing European Practices to those in the United States.

Who are the Best?

The Americans or The Europeans ????

Thank You

Quebec Declaration on Ecotourism 19th May 2002

2006-12-29T10:47:00.000+01:00

Hi Mates,

Today I posted the Quebec Declaration on Ecotourism, and we should read it carefully, if we want to maintain our ecosisytem for our childrens

It's goal is the development of ecotourism activities in the context of sustainable development.

Useful Links about Ecotourism and Development:

The World Tourism Organisation and the World Summit on Sustainable Develolpment

http://www.world-tourism.org/sustainable/wssd/contribution.htm

Tourism Sustainable Development: A Local Authority http://www.gdrc.org/uem/eco-tour/iclei.pdf
Charter for Sustainable Tourism
http://www.gdrc.org/uem/eco-tour/iclei.pdf
Sustainable Tourism
http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1100182468244

National Responsible Tourism Development Guidelines

2006-12-29T01:11:00.000+01:00

Source: www.Icrtourism.org

NATIONAL RESPONSIBLE TOURISM DEVELOPMENT GUIDELINES

FOR SOUTH AFRICA

Provisional Guidelines

March 2002

1.0 Guiding Principles for Economic Responsibility

Tourism still plays a relatively small role in the South African economy and it has a long way to go if it is to fulfil its potential to significantly contribute to national income. Traditionally the main focus of governments has been on the growth in international arrivals and total foreign exchange earnings, and is now than on fostering entrepreneurial opportunities for the historically disadvantaged, poverty relief, employment and local economic development. Both domestic and international tourism can create employment; it is a relatively labour intensive industry and it employs a multiplicity of skills from accountants and hairdressers to tour guides and trackers. Tourism can provide very good skills development opportunities for local communities.

The White Paper concluded in 1996 that tourism development in South Africa had largely been a missed opportunity; and that the focus on a narrow market has reduced the potential of the industry to spawn entrepreneurship and to create new services, like local entertainment and handicrafts, and to drive local economic development. In fact formal tourism sector provides major opportunities for the informal sector. Tourists travel to the ‘factory’ to consume the product; they travel to the destination to enjoy their holiday. Tourism is a “final good”, all the final touches have to be provided in South Africa and so the value is captured here. The value of a taxi ride from the airport, wildlife viewing and restaurant meals all accrue to the local economy – the challenge is to maximise it by reducing leakages and developing the multiplier effect. Tourist enterprises attract domestic and international tourists and create opportunities for small entrepreneurs and economic linkages, for example agriculture, hunting, handicraft production, and a wide range of service industries which tourists are likely to consume in the destination.

South Africa is now beginning to work on maximising the local economic benefits which tourism can bring to an area, there is much to be gained from creating a more diversified tourism product and marketing a wider range of experiences, activities and services to tourists. Established enterprises can gain by encouraging and assisting the development of complementary product – the larger and more diversified the local tourism base, the more successful enterprises in the area will be. The White Paper identified a wide range of opportunities for historically disadvantaged groups ranging from small guesthouses, shebeens and restaurants with local cuisine, through community tour guiding, music, dance and story-telling, arts and crafts, traditional hunting and medicine to laundry, gardening and speciality agriculture. Tourism provides particular opportunities for local economic development in rural areas where it can provide people with an alternative to moving to urban areas. Tourism must be market related. If community-based and other tourism development processes are not planned, implemented and managed according to market demands then far too many South Africans, especially the poor, are facing not merely “missed” opportunities, but the hard realities of failed or under-performing products to which tourists simply do not come. The African cultural tourism experience needs to be woven into the fabric of the mainstream South African tourism product.

Domestic tourism plays an important part in the South African tourism sector and it is expected to continue to grow, as historically disadvantaged people become tourists and travellers themselves. Whether the tourists are domestic or international, their expenditure in local communities contributes to the economic development of the area. The greater the proportion of total tourism spending that stays in the local area, the stronger and more diverse the local economic base. The multiplier effect is greatest where the local linkages are strongest – the imperative is clear, source the inputs for all tourism enterprises as locally as possible in order to maximise local economic benefit and to assist in diversifying the local economy. Reducing economic leakages from the local area and increasing linkages will bring significant local economic development and assist in local economic diversification. Similarly the development of complementary product will strengthen the local economy and local enterprises, groups of established enterprises working together can make a significant difference. Strong economic linkages at the local level were identified in the White Paper as a critical success factor in the local economy.

There is an increasing aspiration for Fair Trade in Tourism in several of the international originating markets; part of a trend towards increasing demand for equitably traded products. Increasing numbers of consumers are purchasing products that demonstrably benefit local communities more fairly than competitor products. The IUCN South Africa Fair Trade in Tourism marketing initiative has identified a set of principles that embody a strong commitment to responsible tourism. It is a good example of a responsible tourism marketing association with a vision of just, participatory and ethical tourism that provides meaningful benefits to hosts and visitors alike. The principles of Fair Trade should be part of the culture of responsible tourism.

1.1 Economic Objectives and Indicators

1.1.1 Assess economic impacts as a pre-requisite to developing tourism

Extend the season of enterprises by developing new products to create better employment conditions and to provide a stronger base for local economic development. Monitor occupancies or seasonality of employment over the year to show progress in extending the season.

b. The historically disadvantaged are a significant emerging domestic tourism market. Identify and encourage commercial responses to this opportunity.

Recognise that our cultural heritage should not only be assessed in economic terms, and that tourism can create revenue from cultural heritage, traditional ways of life and wildlife and habitats.
Encourage business relationships between foreign entrepreneurs and local and emerging entrepreneurs.
Always consider the opportunity costs of tourism for local communities and their livelihoods, and be prepared to accept that there may be more appropriate economic opportunities for the area. Maintain and encourage economic diversity, avoid over-dependency on tourism.
Plan initiatives and investment to contribute to the broader local economic development strategy (for example, Integrated Development Plans (IDP’s) for the area).
Planning authorities need to consider how they can intervene to avoid tourism developments where they may cause adverse effects such as local land price inflation, loss of access to resources or undermining sustainable livelihoods.
Exercise a preference for business and land tenure arrangements that directly benefit local communities and/or conservation.
Conduct market and financial feasibility assessments before raising expectations and exposing the community or local entrepreneurs to risk.

1.1.2 Maximising local economic benefits – increasing linkages and reducing leakages

Encourage all establishments to upgrade their standards of service, particularly small, medium and micro-enterprises and emerging entrepreneurs, and to maximise their revenue earning potential by adding value.
Encourage the informal sector to become part of the formal sector.
Buy locally–made goods and use locally–provided services from locally-owned businesses wherever quality, quantity, and consistency permits. Monitor the proportion of goods and services the enterprise sourced from businesses with 50 km and set 20% target for improvement over three years.

Help local communities or emergent entrepreneurs to develop their product so that it can be more easily used by others and marketed to tourists.
Co-operate with other formal sector businesses to maximise benefits for local community enterprises – for example, a community laundry or tailoring business may only be viable if a group of enterprises commit to source supplies there. Showcase the initiative and be explicit about whether community projects are funded by tourism revenue to the enterprise, donations from tourists or tour operators, or funds from donor aid agencies.
Give customers the opportunity to purchase locally produced crafts and curios, set targets to increase the proportion of sales of goods sourced within 20 km of the enterprise. Assist local craft workers to develop new products to meet market demand as evidenced in the enterprise.

1.1.3 Ensure communities are involved in and benefit from tourism

Government and established businesses need to redress previous imbalances, and to enable the historically disadvantaged to engage in the tourism sector. For example they should source 15% of services and 15% of products, increasing by 5% per year, for 3 years, from historically disadvantaged groups, and/or individuals, and report on purchasing activities.
Work closely with local communities, small, medium and micro-enterprises and emerging entrepreneurs to develop new products that provide complementary products for formal sector tourism enterprises.

c. Develop partnerships and joint ventures in which communities have a significant stake, and with appropriate capacity building, a substantial role in management. Communal land ownership can provide equity in enterprises.

d. Identify projects that the enterprise can support that will benefit the poor. Identify at least one project.

e. Assist the development of local communities and emergent entrepreneurs with visitor feedback on their products.

Consider guaranteeing loans for promising projects in communities or with emerging entrepreneurs, and providing marketing, training and managerial support.
Foster the development of community-based tourism products by providing marketing and mentoring support.
Encourage visitors to spend more money in the local economy, and to visit local bars and restaurants and participate in tours to local areas, bringing business to local communities. Where appropriate treat this as part of the business of the enterprise and charge a booking fee or commission, or sell craft and local food products through the mainstream enterprise.
Encourage tour operators be more innovative in their itineraries, by for example including shebeens, local museums, arts and craft shops and local ethnic restaurants in their tour itineraries, and by doing so encourage visitor spend.
Consider using local entrepreneurs (particularly emerging and historically disadvantaged entrepreneurs), experienced consultants and non-governmental organisations in developing community initiatives.
Be transparent when reporting community benefits distinguish between

· Benefits to employees

· Benefits to emerging or community based entrepreneurs

· Community benefits, for example leasehold payments, that go to community projects (grinding mills or school books) or are distributed as household income in the local area.

Consider establishing targets to monitor progress in achieving objectives.

1.1.4 Marketing & Product Development

Lack of market access is a major constraint on the growth of new enterprises. Enterprises should provide information about local services and attractions provided in local communities, and encourage their clients (individuals and operators) to use them.

Consider co-operative advertising, marketing and the promotion of new and emerging products and attractions.
Ensure that the visual way in which the product is presented includes local cultural elements and emphasises the richness of the local complementary product.
Consider developing and marketing fairly traded tourism products.
Foster the development of access opportunities for all visitors and potential visitors, regardless of physical, or mental conditions of the visitor. Public authorities and enterprises need to understand and embrace financial incentives that enhanced accessibility will create, and the positive image such ‘access to all’ will provide.

1.1.5 Equitable Business

Enterprises should pay fair prices for local services purchased or packaged as part of mainstream itineraries. Beware of abusing market power and imposing unfair commissions or pushing down prices inequitably
Develop transparent systems of sharing the benefits of tourism through equitable contracts. (e.g. This can be applied through tendering processes.)
When entering into agreements with local communities or emerging entrepreneurs ensure that the risk is equitably shared.
Recruit and employ staff in an equitable and transparent manner and maximise the proportion of staff employed from the local community. Set targets for increasing the proportion of staff and/or of the enterprise wage bill going to communities within 20 km of the enterprise.
Develop a community labour agreement with targets for employment and for progression. Recognise that the enterprise can play a significant role in increasing the skills and capacity of the local community and that the enterprise benefits from that.
Go beyond the bare minimum wage rate and invest in local staff – quality is dependent upon well-motivated staff.

2.0 Guiding Principles for Social Responsibility

Batho Pele: Putting People First – One and all should get their fair share

Tourism and the travel industry “is essentially the renting out for short-term lets, of other people’s environments, whether that is a coastline, a city, a mountain range or a rainforest.” Tourism is dependent upon the social, cultural and natural environment within which it occurs, and its success is dependent upon the environment that it operates within. Good relationships with neighbours and with the historically disadvantaged make good business sense. These relationships need to be based on trust, empowerment, co-operation and partnerships. Too few of the benefits from tourism currently accrue to local communities whose environment is visited.

As was pointed out in the White Paper, the majority of South Africans have never been meaningfully exposed to the tourism sector. In the new South Africa, the government’s objective is to ensure that all citizens have equal access to tourism services as consumers and providers. Enterprises and communities need to identify ways in which they can provide a range of tourism experiences sufficiently wide to be accessible to the average South African. Programmes are being established to allow South Africans, and particularly front-line tourism employees, to become “tourists at home”. To this end, the notion of Batho Pele is a guiding principle.

The opportunity costs of the creation of national parks and subsequent reduced access to natural and cultural resources was often borne by local disadvantaged communities in the past. Such communities did not perceive or receive any significant direct benefits from the change in land use from conservation and tourism. Communities must be empowered to take part in the management of areas so that they can have a say in the distribution of the benefits and the sustainable use of their environment. Efforts are not being made to enable local communities to experience wildlife in the parks.

One of the key challenges for business, local government and educators is to develop knowledge amongst the historically disadvantaged regarding what tourism is, and how it can benefit local communities. In the 1996 White Paper the involvement of local communities and historically disadvantaged groups was identified as a critical success factor. Communities need to be involved in the planning, decision-making and the development of tourism; and in all operational aspects of the industry as tourists, employees and entrepreneurs. Social exclusion has contributed to the historically narrow, myopic focus of the industry in South Africa. Responsible tourism is about enabling and encouraging historically disadvantaged local communities to access lucrative tourism markets.

This is to overcome the problem of visitors being kept within the hotels and resorts and only venturing out to ‘sanitised’ places of interest. For example local shebeens and craft vendors rarely see a tourist.

One of the key challenges for the formal sector is to develop ways of engaging with community entrepreneurs and community groups to develop new products and diversify the industry. The success of township tours is one example of the product development opportunities that exist in the new South Africa. Much more effort needs to be made to improve the linkages between the formal and informal sectors of the tourism sector. The exclusion of the historically disadvantaged has contributed towards poverty and crime – the ‘township tours’ demonstrate that where local guides act as hosts, and where there are clear benefits both to communities and to historically disadvantaged entrepreneurs, tourists can have a good experience and be assured of their safety. In 1995, involving local communities in tourism, creating employment and training and awareness programmes were identified as solutions to the problem of security for tourists. There is much still to be done and this is a core challenge for responsible tourism. National priorities for action are described within 3.1: Social objectives and indicators.

The meaningful involvement of historically disadvantaged communities as employees and as entrepreneurs in South Africa is a priority. This requires both market access and capacity building. Training at all levels is essential to the development of a more inclusive industry, able to demonstrate its social responsibility and to develop new products which meet the cultural and “meet the people” interests of tourists. The development and delivery of new quality products for the changing market place is of central importance to enable the historically disadvantaged to become part of mainstream tourism. It is also required for social justice and the avoidance of exploitation of local cultures and community groups. The value of the culture of historically disadvantaged people needs to be recognised and new tourism products developed. Their awareness of the opportunities in tourism needs to be a key element in training and education, and it is important that these opportunities are presented in a realistic commercial framework.

2.1 Social Objectives and Indicators

2.1.1 Involve the local community in planning and decision-making

Understand the historical, political and cultural context of local and host communities, and historical relationships with tourism development and protected areas.
Creating opportunities and eliminating barriers to access mainstream tourism markets for local communities, historically disadvantaged people and individuals.
Understand the local, safety and security, infrastructural, resource, educational, poverty, disability and health constraints (e.g. HIV/AIDS), when designing, operating and marketing tourism.
Encourage proactive participation and involvement by all stakeholders - including the private sector, government at all levels, labour, local communities (their leaders and structures) - at all stages of the tourism life cycle.
Encourage formal and informal sector enterprises to develop effective structures, or join existing bodies, for marketing and tourism development. Create the environment to do so by providing resources, technical and management capacity.

Encourage successful entrepreneurs, particularly those from the emerging tourism fraternity, to mentor others.
Planning authorities should work to include stakeholders as part of a decision-making process at the destination level, to determine what constitutes sustainable levels of tourism in the social, natural, and economic context.
Programmes of education within school curriculums, and public awareness within communities, are needed regarding the potential positive and negative aspects of tourism.
Post employment education and training programmes within the framework of the Skills Development Act and South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) are required to educate employees regarding the potential pros and cons of tourism, and comparative costs and benefits of alternative enterprises in order to aid decision making.
Involve the local communities in growing the local tourism business by using existing facilities and by developing new activities and attractions. Individual enterprises and groups of enterprises need to develop complementary products. (Report number of new activities/ attractions; number of visitors).
Empower communities to market their cultural traditions and products as assets and enhance their economic opportunities.
Interpretation material and visitor information centres should be developed in consultation with local communities.
Integrate community development goals as identified in the Integrated Development Plan (and similar processes) into the enterprise’s social and sustainability mission and objectives.

2.1.2 Assess social impacts as a prerequisite to developing tourism

Identify and monitor potential adverse social impacts of tourism and minimise them in the short and the long-term, and ensure that communities actively participate in the monitoring.
Larger enterprises should appoint a member of staff to take responsibility for developing better local relationships and partnerships. Implement social audits of tourism projects. These can be conducted in an inexpensive, rapid and participatory way.
Consider schemes to encourage local co-operation and civic pride like an “adopt a school” initiative or ‘adopt a street’, or other local area near the enterprise. Work with local government and the local community to identify priority sites, and make them safe and attractive for tourists.
Enterprises should develop strategies to promote equality in terms of gender, ethnicity, age, and disability, and report progress on implementation.

2.1.3 Maintain and encourage social and cultural diversity

Develop tourism with dignity, respect and nurture local cultures (including religion), so that they enrich the tourism experience and build pride and confidence among local communities.
Use tourism as a catalyst for human development, focussing on gender equality, career development and the implementation of national labour standards. (Report on gender equality and career development)
Tourism development should not compromise respect for social and cultural and religious rights, or the essential human rights of people to food, a safe and clean environment, work, health, and education.
Support the development of sustainable local handicraft enterprise by assisting with improvement of design, marketing, production and packaging skills for craft workers in relation to market demand. Consider specifically what can be done to enhance the skills and earnings of women, particularly in rural areas.
Support visits by local school children to tourism sites that promote and display their heritage.
Consider what contributions the enterprise can make to scholarships, local youth sports teams and other community causes. Monitor and report increasing contributions with respect to the number of projects and level of investment.
Showcase local cultural artefacts in your enterprise and encourage the development and sale of traditional cultural products, crafts and folklore. Aim for 25% items for sale at enterprise from within 50 km, with tours offered to local markets, and try to increase these by 25% over 3 years. Provide customer feedback in order to raise standards.
Be wary of the dangers of co modification, and encourage craft and other cultural workers to maintain the authenticity and cultural values of their products. Encourage craft workers to explain the cultural values and history of their crafts.
Give enterprises a local flavour by serving local dishes and source soft furnishings, arts and crafts locally. Monitor the proportion of local dishes on menu; and the proportion of furnishings & crafts locally made, and aim to increase these proportions by 25% over 3 years. Visitors expect to find at least one local dish their menus.
Identify cultural heritage resources in the local area and where there is sufficient demand from tourists and work with the local community to develop them as sustainable tourism attractions. Consider mission settlements, sites of slave occupation, festivals, struggle-related monuments and places, rock art sites, cultural monuments, food, drink, arts and crafts, music, dance and storytelling.

Encourage tourists to show respect by learning a few words of the local language, (and to use them when talking to local people!) and to learn about the host culture and traditions.
Share enterprise level knowledge regarding informal sector tourism skills and products. Draw the attention of ground handlers, the media and tour operators to complementary product opportunities in the local community.

2.1.4 Be sensitive to the host culture

Respect, invest in and develop local cultures and protect them from over-commercialisation and over-exploitation. Encourage workers and staff to observe their religious and cultural practises.
Respect indigenous intellectual property, especially when setting up contractual arrangements for the use of indigenous knowledge.

Use local guides, and encourage them to continually improve their quality, to ensure that the community speaks for itself and to increase the revenues going into the local community (by higher fees for quality tours). Monitor and report this economic contribution to the community and set targets to increase it annually.
Develop a local social contract for interactions and behaviour between the local community and tourists (including responsible bargaining), developed with the participation and contributions from the community, and display it prominently for visitors and publicly within the community.
Create opportunities for visitors to interact with locals in an unstructured, spontaneous manner (e.g. through sporting activities, visits to local schools, shebeens, taverns, restaurants in townships).
In accordance with the Batho Pele principle, provide visitors with inclusive, honest and reliable information about history and contemporary life in South Africa, local tourism attractions and facilities.
Promote a sound, proud, service ethic among all participants in the tourism sector.
Promote and ensure the respect and dignity of people in the development, marketing and promotion of tourism.
Ensure that tourism does not undermine the resource rights, traditional knowledge and skills of local communities.
Negative social and cultural impacts associated with tourism, such as increased crime, drug and alcohol abuse, prostitution, and crime should be monitored and be proactively addressed in cooperation with the community.
Educate tourists regarding local culture and where necessary make them aware of how they should behave to respect it.
The exploitation of human beings in any form, particularly sexual and when applied to women and children, should be energetically combated with the co-operation of all concerned.

3.0 Guiding Principles for Environmental Responsibility

Responsible tourism implies a proactive approach by the tourism sector to the environment through the promotion of balanced and sustainable tourism. This is particularly important where the focus of the tourism sector and of the activities of tourists is the natural environment, as is the case with wildlife viewing, hunting and marine tourism. There are particular challenges in making nature-based tourism sustainable. Responsible tourism development has to be underpinned by sustainable environmental practices. In the environmental sphere only conservative decisions based on the precautionary principle can be considered responsible. Cultural heritage is also part of the environment, and the responsibility of the tourism sector towards the cultural environment was considered in the social responsibility guidelines.

Central to environmental responsibility is thinking about the life cycle impact of an enterprise or product, and so these guidelines apply to the stages of design, planning, construction, operation and decommissioning. The process of managing the business should be fully integrated with environmental management, throughout the project life-cycle (from conceptualisation to decommissioning). In constructing concessions and leasehold developments it is particularly important to ensure that during decommissioning it will be possible to remove all structures and restore the area. Larger businesses should be using Environmental Management Systems to exercise environmental responsibility; for businesses above a defined size in each sector it would be irresponsible to operate without one.

All tourism enterprises can make a contribution to environmental sustainability by exercising care in purchasing decisions – by seeking out and supporting responsible producers of the products that are required to run the enterprise, and by making clients aware of the responsible purchasing policy.

The practical guidelines and indicators that follow are organised around the key environmental elements of responsible tourism identified in the 1996 White Paper.

3.1 Environmental Objectives and Indicators

3.1.1 Assess environmental impacts as a prerequisite to developing tourism

Plan new developments only in areas where the use of water and other natural resources for tourism will not conflict with local community needs, now or in the foreseeable future. Integrate environmental management into the project planning cycle.
Follow best practise guidelines on the design, planning and construction of buildings and associated infrastructure to minimise environmental impacts and to reduce energy requirements for lighting, cooling and heating.
Use local materials (where sustainable) and local architectural styles on a scale that does not create a negative aesthetic impact.
Avoid damaging the environmental quality of the enterprise’s neighbourhood by noise or light pollution.
Design buildings with natural ventilation and actively plan to reduce resource use during the construction and operational phases. Tell visitors what has been done to make the enterprise more environmentally friendly. Quantify the resources “saved”.

f. Plan new developments to have the lowest possible ecological impact, particularly in environmentally sensitive areas such as the coastal zone, indigenous forests, wildlife habitats and wetlands. Minimise the transformation of the environment around the enterprise.

g. When developing plans for a new enterprise include elements which contribute to the maintenance of biodiversity by planting local indigenous and non-invasive species which provide habitats for birds, bees, and butterflies.

3.1.2 Use local resources sustainably, avoid waste and over-consumption

Meter the quantity of water consumed and manage consumption and leakage so as to reduce water consumption by 5% per annum for 3 years, and report water consumption and performance in monitoring .
Measure electricity consumption and introduce energy saving measures to achieve 5% reduction in use per annum over three years. This can be done by for example dimming lights, using low energy appliances and light bulbs and enhancing the use of natural ventilation
Monitor the use of diesel, paraffin and petrol and set targets to reduce consumption and switch to less polluting fuels.
Set targets to increase the proportion of energy used from renewable resources – for example solar, wind, hydroelectric (increase by 10% over 3 years). Sustainable use of wood, from indigenous and plantation forests is complex, and great care needs to be taken.
Install and showcase appropriate technology to reduce consumption of natural resources, production of waste and incidences of pollution.
Monitor the sewage system and demonstrate how pure the outflow back into the environment is. If the enterprise has one, make the reed bed a valuable habitat feature.
Set percentage targets and time scales for the reduction of waste produced, levels of recycling and reuse of waste from the enterprise. Set appropriate targets for reduction and/or recycling of waste produced per year for paper (5%), plastics (5%), metal (5%) and glass (5%). Report on progress towards 15% targets over 3 years.
Work with suppliers to minimise the amount of packaging purchased with supplies, and therefore reduce the amount of waste that needs to be disposed of. It may be appropriate for trade associations to conduct these discussions on behalf of members.
Reduce “food miles” by using locally produced food.
Enterprises should assist conservation by investing in sustainable trails, hides and interpretation. Tell visitors what the enterprise is doing, and claim credit for activities.
Encourage the use of environmentally friendly transport.

3.1.3 Maintain and encourage natural diversity

a. Encourage visitor behaviour that respects natural heritage and has a low impact upon it.

b. Discourage the purchase of products that exploit wildlife unsustainably or contribute to the destruction of species or habitats (e.g. some handicrafts; bush meat)

Look for ways in which the enterprise and its guests can assist with the conservation of natural heritage, for example through removing litter.
Invest a percentage of profits or turnover in species conservation or habitat restoration and management. Report the investment, and try to increase this by 5% per year.
Avoid pollution by using environmentally friendly chemicals, and by using biodegradable soaps and detergents – tell visitors and staff why the enterprise is doing this and how it benefits the environment.
Work with conservation authorities to ensure that visitors to natural heritage areas are aware of the impacts that they may have on the ecology of the area and how they should behave in order to minimise those impacts.
Ensure that relevant members of staff are familiar with the issues and ways of avoiding environmental impacts – they should abide by the advice and communicate it to guests, and use the services of companies that abide by local environmental Best Practise.
Do not market tourism resources to encourage tourists into ecologically sensitive areas which are vulnerable to irresponsible tourism practices, particular sports or recreational uses – discourage these activities (e.g. irresponsible 4x4 use, hunting, diving or sand boarding).

Source www.icrtourism.org

AccountAbility: The Materiality Report

2006-12-24T21:09:00.000+01:00

"9th November 2006, New York: A new AccountAbility report released today calls on companies to move beyond basic compliance approaches in dealing with social and environmental issues and to integrate them into their core business strategies and practices. "The Materiality Report: Aligning Strategy Performance and Reporting", prepared by AccountAbility in association with BT Group plc and LRQA, provides a toolkit for managers to work out which issues are ‘material’ to their underlying performance, and encourages business to focus on these issues in their public reporting."

Source: AccountAbility21.net

Please notice: The BT's Approach to Materiality, and then listen to the Podcast.

Thanxs

Food Ethics and the Environment by University of Princenton

2006-12-18T17:08:00.000+01:00

The conference will explore the broad and compelling issues and ethical dilemmas surrounding food production in the United States and the choices individuals make regarding the food they eat.

Presentations, discussions and panel debate will include:

• How industrial food production systems affect the environment, including such issues as water pollution, biodiversity and global warming.
• Comparison of locally grown and organic foods versus large scale industrial food production systems.
• Concern for the welfare of animals raised for meat, eggs and dairy products.
• Issues for institutions of scale, (e.g. universities), regarding food choices.

Source: Princenton University

See Ya

Italo

The Business of Ethics (Audio and Text)

2006-12-12T14:10:00.000+01:00

You are in business, so that means you’re in business to make money: for yourself, your bosses, your shareholders. But what about the customer and what about people who might suffer from the consequences of your activities? This is a philosophical question and it’s a question which philosophers finally starting to address.

Source Philosopher’s Zone

Thanxs