Be Your Own Travel Agency Boss on January 24, 2010 Sunday

Seminar on Organizing, Operating and Managing Your Home Based Travel Business with out risks.

This is to assist entrepreneurs and others to respond to the profitable travel and tour business, a comprehensive seminar on putting up either a home based travel agency without risk or commercial-based tour agency will be held on January 24, 2010 Sunday 8am to 5pm at the Layforce Bldg., San Carlos Formation Seminary, Guadalupe, Edsa, Makati City
The travel and tour business is expected to generate not only big income for tourism, but also employ thousands of people in the industry.

The seminar is designed for would-be-retirees in the Philippines, Mothers and wife with spare time, Travel Lovers, Entrepreneurs, Overseas Filipino Workers, and those who wish to have an alternative business name by setting up a licensed travel agency with an affordable start-up capital and those who are already in the same venture but who would wish to gain additional knowledge of the many other aspects of making their travel agency operations more profitable.

Among the topics to be taken up are registration and licensing, financial and budget requirements, product development, strategic marketing, mechanics of packaging domestic and foreign tours, identifying definite sources of income, commission level for travel agents, staffing, work flow, ticketing and reservation concerns, potentials of ecotourism, and breaking the low travel season myth. This seminar will be conducted by a tourism professor and travel & tour industry practitioner and consultant.

Registration Fee (limited to 25seat only) Please see the Reservation Procedure Below

P 2,500/pax if paid on December 2009

P 2,750/pax if paid on January 1 to 10, 2010 (if there are still seats available)

P 3,000/pax if paid on January 11 to 20 (if there are still seat available)

P 3,250/pax if paid on January 21 to 23 (if there are still seats available)

P 3,500/pax for walk ins on January 24 Sunday (please call first)

LIMITED to 25 seats ONLY, First Come, First Serve Book and Buy and Reservation

Inclusions :

• Updated Travel Information Hand Outs
• Certificate of Seminar
• Unlimited FREE Continuing Advise on Travel Agency topic
• Aircon Room
• Unlimited coffee
• Ready Ecotour Travel Package for the participants to sell with automatic commission
• Option to enjoy NACCI Members Priviledge
• Ready website for the LGU/NGO/PO to sell you local EcoTour Packages at http://philecotourism.wordpress.com
• Invitation to familiarization tours in the province to get the rates directly to the suppliers
• Regular email update regarding EcoTourism Concerns
• Buffet lunch
• Am and Pm Snack
• FREE parking space

Reminders for those who took the training:

1. FREE Passport, Visa, Immigration Seminar on January 31 Sunday
2. Travel and Domestic Tour Product Packaging (TBA)

NOTES
1. Payment of Reservation at Las Pinas Home Office Mon to Fri 9am to 3pm at 18 Pioneer St., Moonwalk

Village, Las Pinas City. Pls call 5157964 or 09155101600 or 09194839250 for inquiries
OR at BDO Account Name: Nature Awareness and Conservation Club, Inc

Account number 0680755357

2. Scan Email the deposit slip at Mother_nature888@yahoo.com

3. Then we will email back the registration form for the seminar
4. Late Registrants will be accommodated if there are still space available.
5. Unused reservation fee is non refundable and non rebookable BUT transferable to another person 3

days before the seminar please notify the club, otherwise reservation and right to attend free future

trainings will be forfeited.
6. Rate is subject to change with out prior notice

7. For those who still want to attend the other topic seminar, but did not attend the travel agency

seminar will pay P 2,500/pax/topic

8. Complete Registration Form in Required in all Seminar

Thank you and GOD Bless

Violeta Imperial

Nature Awareness & Conservation Club, Inc. (NonStock, NonProfit NGO)
5157964 / 09194839250 / 09155101600
EMAIL: mother_nature888@yahoo.com
WEBSITE: http://philecotourism.wordpress.com
Volunteers & NACCI Members Group Mail: greennature@yahoogroups.com
ECOTOUR Group Mail : philippineecotourism@yahoogroups.com
http://mothernatureasia.multiply.com

The Israeli franchisee of Columbia Sportswear, a large Portland-based manufacturer of outdoor clothing, with an impressive Corporate Social Responsibility portfolio and what appears to be a rather progressive domestic client base, ran the following ad in the November 27 edition of the Jerusalem Post’s Friday Magazine.

Note the description at the bottom “for active work in various regions, including outposts.” If we have any doubt what “outposts” the ad is referring to, see the same ad in Hebrew, which ran on the same day in the Friday Political Supplement of Makor Rishon, a right-wing weekly. The Hebrew translation of “outposts” there is “gvaot” (hills) a euphemism for the illegal outposts populated by the “hilltop youth”, notorious for their violence against Palestinian civilians.

Have you had the privilege of working with a business that provides exceptional service in an ethical and socially responsible manner? Well, not only can you patronize the company – and provide valuable referrals – you can also go to the next level by nominating it for an award.

A number of programs recognize businesses that go the extra mile through corporate volunteerism and charitable contributions, as well as demonstrate a high level of ethics, community leadership and professional integrity. While recognition programs are not usually a motivation to act in an ethical manner, they can reward businesses by helping them retain customers, attract new clients and recruit quality employees. Even more important, recognition programs remind businesses that they can make a real difference in our communities.

The following are a few recognition programs that express appreciation for the positive impact of Minnesota’s businesses:

The Jefferson Awards were founded in 1972 by Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, U.S. Senator Robert Taft, Jr. and Sam Beard as a national recognition program for individual and corporate volunteerism.  Beginning in 2008, the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal teamed up with the Wilmington, Del.-based program to present awards to Twin Cities businesses for their outstanding public and community service. This year, 12 companies received the award – one per month – and will be honored at a reception at the Hotel Ivy in Minneapolis on Wednesday, Dec. 9.

The Minnesota Keystone Program recognizes and honors companies that donate at least 2% of their pre-tax earnings to the community.  The program was begun over 30 years ago and is offered through the Minneapolis Regional Chamber of Commerce. It also serves as the basis for Minnesota Business Gives, a Minnesota Chamber of Commerce Foundation initiative. Businesses that enroll in the Keystone Program can choose to participate without public recognition. In-kind donations can be considered in the calculations, and closely held businesses can include personal as well as business donations. See worksheet for more information about calculations.

Now going into its 11^th year, the Better Business Bureau Integrity Awards are presented to companies in Minnesota and North Dakota that have demonstrated a commitment to conducting daily business operations in an ethical manner. The BBB invites nominations by individuals who feel a company has shown an exceptional degree of ethics. Nominees are then categorized according to company size, based on number of employees. A panel of independent volunteer business and community leaders reviews the entries and decides on the winners.

Minnesota Business Ethics Award was established in 1999 by the Twin Cities Chapter of the Society of Financial Service Professionals and the Center for Ethical Business Cultures at the University of St. Thomas. The MBEA Program seeks to raise the standards for business ethics in Minnesota and to recognize businesses that reflect the highest standards of ethical performance.  Like the BBB’s Integrity Awards Program, MBEA recipients are selected based on company size. A business may be nominated for an award by a customer, client, employee, vendor or a private citizen who is impressed with a company’s ethical business conduct. Local finalists may also move on to compete at the national level.

- LuAnne Speeter

After over a year, the leadership blog (internal corporate blog) aimed at employees is gaining momentum at my organization. I wanted to share insights on how we began, progress we made and personal learning. In case you are planning to champion a blog in your organization (training, business, engagement, CSR among others), I hope these insights give you information you can use.

The blog (hosted on the company intranet) was initially created as a channel for the CEO to post messages and interact with employees. The company went through organizational changes and to suit the inclusive style of the new leader the blog was expanded to allow a pool of writers to contribute. The leadership team took turns to pen their thoughts on how they perceived the company through their own eyes.

Arch

The ‘leader’ blog was an attempt to capitalize on ‘personality’ within organization, open a new channel of communication and provide an opportunity to “be real” and allow interactions. We expected to measure the impact of this exercise through direct comments from readers, fruitful conversations, ‘good will’ and increased engagement.

The posts range from the leaders’ business interactions to the team’s charter, from a personal account of the Mumbai 26/11 attacks to the company’s employee volunteering initiatives. The leadership was provided access to manage the blog in a DIY (do it yourself) model with  e-mail communication templates  to use after the posts went live.

The blog gets promoted in a roll-up newsletter, in Town Hall sessions and team meetings. The blog was measured by the readership, the feedback posted and the quality of the conversations. When I created a business case for blogging internally, I leveraged this interesting blogging success formula from Inside the Cubicle: “Personal voice + Accessibility + Relevant and timely information = Employee Engagement.”

In my role as the internal communications consultant I sow ideas on blog topics and relevant themes. Also my responsibility is to review the blog draft for consistency, language, redundancy, accuracy, company verbiage and opportunity to recognize employees. That apart, I look for avenues to build a conversation, address people concerns, manage the tone of voice, add context to the current environment, link to other company updates and help improve the human connection. I believe that the personal ‘touch’ occurs only when it is penned by the leader and not ‘ghost’ written.

Overcoming resistance to blogging: Often leaders shy away from blogging because they think it may ‘give away’ their true self. It was a struggle initially to get leaders to understand the benefits of blogging not just to be seen as friendly and approachable but also to be known as personalities or mentors people could look up to. Often I hear the comment that employees know me already, why do I need to blog?

Verbiage and small things that matter: In a post the leader drafted a message on a recent ‘offsite’ where the team ‘had fun’. I had to step back and understand the context. Finally we edited it to make it read more appropriate ‘also had fun’. Though I would have preferred to use the phrase ‘team huddle’ instead of ‘offsite’, we let it be since we wanted to be direct and honest in our communication. During a recession, having an offsite when all funds are scrutinized can be perceived differently by your employees.

Your readers are discerning: One leader had begun his post mentioning ‘I am a facilitator of our induction program’ while he was in fact ‘one of the facilitators’. To readers, the leader would have come across as pompous though he did not mean it that way.

Demonstrate that blogging is easy: Most leaders want to know how the blogs notes evolve. I usually share work in progress drafts and inputs which I provide to enhance the notes. This aids other leaders to begin thinking in a certain direction on how to pen their own posts. I reference external blogs that are well written to stimulate their thinking as well.

Promote the blog often: I highlight the importance of the blog and employee engagement during workshops and team meetings. I try to find visible spots for the blog in the company newsletter and on the intranet. It is a widely recognized channel for interaction today in the organization.

Taking feedback seriously: As soon as we discovered a theme emerging from the comments posted, a discussion between the leadership and the internal communication team led to a concrete action plan. The feedback providers were intimated and the progress shared proactively.

In the long run, we are hoping to reduce e-mail communication and have the blog as a preferred mode of communication.

Have other ideas from your experience on leveraging an internal corporate blog? Interested to hear from you.

_______________________________________________________________________________________

PS: I am proud to announce that Intraskope completed 150 posts since I began blogging in 2006. The blog statistics report 297 comments and over 27500 page views. I would like to thank all my readers for your feedback and encouragement.

Let’s look for a moment at the value of humanity against the value of corporations.

One human, a living breathing organism, is entitled to certain rights under our legal system, usually pertaining to their right to live a happy and healthy existence free from the imposition or coercion of other human beings. Yet corporations routinely infringe upon these rights and are still permitted, if not encouraged to operate.

One corporation, a manufactured entity that creates products or services in exchange for money, is entitled to more rights than a living breathing organism. They are entitled to rights that allow them to infringe upon the rights of a human being in the name of profit or development. That insanity. It makes no sense to value a manufactured entity, a corporation, more than a human life. So why do we do it? Why do we allow them to lobby the government so that they can continue to commit crimes?

How did we get here and why is it that profit comes before human rights?

In a perfect world a corporation would not be allowed to infringe upon the rights of any human being to make their product. They should, in theory, run completely legally without interfering with any rights– or they would lose their right to exist.

Sadly, on our earth as it stands, a human’s value is often only seen as the value of their earning potential and their overall economic belongings– their homes, their cars and their toys. Not their lifestyle and choices, or morality, or work ethic, or any other positive and human quality, but a purely economic one.

Does money rule your life? What would you do for money? Would you steal from another human being? Would you hold them at gunpoint, kill or abuse them? Would you rape them and their families? What if it was for millions of dollars? How about for billions? Would that be enough?

Does money really have the ability to buy everything? Is there always a price?

Money is certainly a motivating factor in many people’s lives. It is next to impossible to live in this society without any money (although some do!). Vagrancy is often not tolerated or even punished, and one cannot always easily grow their own food if they do not own land, which requires money. Freeganism alienates you from society.

Money permeates our lifestyle and helps keep us locked into a cycle of economic violence. We become disconnected from everything else. We become a cog in a very very big wheel. We purchase products made by distant hands unaware of their effect and in doing so, say it’s ok to violate human rights.

After all, how could I “live” without a cellphone, right?

Well, maybe that’s not our intention– but there is reality behind that. To ignore a corrupt system and continue to participate in it speaks volumes.

It says, we don’t care or we don’t know what to do to change it or that we are not willing to sacrifice things ourselves to make the changes.

It can be overwhelming and you can feel like there is no choice. There is.

But you have to care enough to make the changes and sacrifices personally. You have to look into what you are buying, and say, NO. I will not buy this if I don’t know and trust the source and then write to the companies that make the products and demand alternatives. Re-use what you already have, or consider buying it used… you might even get a deal on it.

Are money and material things really worth more to you than someone’s life?

SAGADA & BONTOC in Mt. Province

With BANAWE in Ifugao Province

December 27 to 29, 2009

http://mothernatureasia.multiply.com/photos/album/3/SAGADA_Haven_in_the_Mountains

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=133925479349

SAGADA is a pleasant little tranquil community in the mountains where the people are so warm and friendly. BONTOC is the capital of Mountain Province and is right in the middle of Cordillera. Bontoc rice terraces are made of stone walls to separate their rice fields.

PARTICIPANTS are encouraged to donate educational toys &  books, any medical equipment to  Sagada Hospital or medicines. These actions will make your trip more and memorable and you spiritually and emotionally healthy.

Visit all the sites like : Banawe View Point, Bontok Museum (learn about the cultures and traditions of the People in Cordillera), SagadaTown Proper, Calvary Hills & Echo Valley with hanging coffins Hike thru magnificent Fedilisan Rice terraces going to a very refreshing and scenic Bomod-ok falls, swim or can climb the falls and jump, then adventure caving in Burial caves and Big Cave. Sagada Weaving & Kiltepan Tower for top view of Sagada. Side trip to Bontoc ukay-ukay or shop for souvenirs in Bontoc or Banawe

PHOTO http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Greennature

Banawe View Points, Banawe Museum,  & Banawe Town Proper

Bontoc Museum and Bontoc Town Proper

SagadaTown Proper, Sagada Museum, Echo Valley with hanging coffins, Burial caves and Big Cave, Bokong Waterfalls.

ITINERARY

Day 0 Dec 26 Sat  9pm Estimated Time of Departure (ETD)

Day 1  Dec 27 Sun 6 am Estimated Time of Arrival (ETA) Banawe Breakfast

Banawe to Bontoc Road Trip Tour (lunch in Bontoc)

Check in Sagada and enjoy the Town walking tour

Day 2 Dec 28 Mon  Sagada Tour

Day 3 Dec 29 Tues Sagada to Bontoc to Banawe

6pm Banawe to Manila

Day 4 Dec 30 Wed 3am Estimated Time of Arrival in Manila

PACKAGE A at St. George Back Packers Rate

P 3,999/pax for group of for group of 4 and above

P 4,500/pax for group of 1 to 3 pax

Inclusive

• Round Trip Aircon Bus,
• Jeep from Banawe to Sagada (optional to do top load adventure)
• 3days/2nights Accommodation (quadsharing/private bathroom w warm shower)
• Daily breakfast,
• 3days full tour of Mt. Province
• All entrance fee
• Local Tourguide
• Log Cabin Buffet Meal
• Wholesome and fun entertainment
• Environment fees

PACKAGE B: Sagada  with Banawe at St. Joseph Inn

P 5,888 for group of 5 and above

P 6,388 for group of 2 to 4

Inclusive

• Round Trip Aircon Bus,
• Jeep from Banawe to Sagada (optional to do top load adventure)
• 3days/2nights Accommodation (quadsharing/private bathroom w warm shower)
• Daily breakfast,
• 3days full tour of Mt. Province
• All entrance fee
• Local Tourguide
• Log Cabin Buffet Meal
• Wholesome and fun entertainment
• Environment fees

NOT Included : lunch, dinner, local guides tips, pasalubong and souvenirs

IMPORTANT NOTES

1. Always keep quiet on the trail, site & peak, so that the fog will not form & block the beautiful view, & keep the journey dry.

2. Please donate educational books & toys to the community of Sagada

3. ALWAYS ENJOY GOD’S DIVINE CREATION AND THE PEOPLE WITH YOU ON THIS CLIMB.

THINGS TO BRING PLEASE : bring all PLEASE

1. Warm clothes according to itinerary and your fashion statement

(wholesome lang po)

2 Travel Water Bottle

3. toiletries

4. Raincoat & wind breaker & sweater & Jacket

5. sunblock and lipbalm

6. trail food/snack (chocolates, chips, fruits, jelly, powerbar)

7. bonnet & mittens, hat or cap

8. Camera

9 Bags for pasalubong and souvenirs.

10. Good Happy Sense of Humor J

INQUIRIES & RESERVATION

• Please Fill up the blanks below and email to earthspirit13us@yahoo.com

Company/Group: _______________________

Contact Person :___________________________

Land Line ___________________

Cellphone :_______________________

Email Address:______________________

Target EcoTour: ___________________

Target Date of Travel :________________

Number of Participants: _______________

• Incomplete information will not be entertained
• Book and Buy Reservation, First come first serve

Carpe Diem and GOD Bless

Violet

Nature Awareness & Conservation Club, Inc. (NonStock, NonProfit NGO)

5157964 (9am to 5pm Only)  / 09194839250 / 09155101600

EMAIL: mother_nature888@yahoo.com

WEBSITE: http://philecotourism.wordpress.com

PHOTOS : http://ph.groups.yahoo.com/group/Greennature/photos

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=8004451681

http://mothernatureasia.multiply.com

Social Enterprise – வார்த்தைகளும், வார்தைகளோடினைந்த சேவைகளின் பரிமாணமும்

Some years back I happened to attend a gathering on “Social Health” to discuss about the menace of immoral trafficking. A VIP who shared his opinion in the meeting frequently used the term “vipachaarikal” (prostitutes). With all humility, I expressed that it is better to use the term “Sex Thozhilaarkal” (Commercial Sex Workers) instead of vipachaarikal. Irritated by this the VIP reacted, “if we call them as commercial sex workers will they change their style providing pleasure? ..a filthy act is always filthy in whatever way we call it…this is like putting old wine in new bottle”. I would have kept quiet. But my fate didn’t allow me to be silent. I started explaining the difference between using the term prostitute and commercial sex worker. The term commercial sex work is much more sympathetic than prostitution… appreciative of social-economic causes that forced them to take it up, much more gender sensitive, less stigmatic …but I was silenced.
Words are not mere letters…not meaningless syllables…always pregnant with meaning. It will change our perception. It liberates and empowers individuals and masses.
The world accepted the word “development” because it thought that it is better than its predecessors i.e. social evolution, social progress, modernization. Everything is changing towards better. From handicapped to differently abled ….from untouchables to dalits. Is it not?
We use certain terminologies interchangeably like voluntary organization, non govt. organization, non profit organization, third sector/ civil society organizations… and now social enterprises. Those who use social enterprises in their discourse feels that it coveys one’s desire to be practical, commercially viable, less dependency on external funding, accountability, long term sustainability, innovation and creativity, improved efficiency and above all the missionary zeal and involvement in the things they want to change /address.
Aravind Eye Hospital with which majority of Tamilians are familiar is identified as a Social Enterprise by the global service sector. For a pittance of fifty rupees one can take up an eye check up by a high profiled and experienced ophthalmologist using the state of the art instruments. This is unthinkable in any part of the world. Dr. G. Venkatasamy and the great institution he built are the symbols of dedicated service and millions have safeguarded their sight, thereby their livelihood at free of cost.
There is no doubt that the concept of social enterprise and social entrepreneurship is going to mould the character and functioning of the voluntary sector in the future and it is better to understand it.
Those who are doing their Master of Social Work (Community Development Specialization) in Madurai Kamaraj University’s affiliated colleges are studying about the subject under the new syllabus (2009-10). One can access (Scribd & wePapers) the reading material related to the subject from this blog (at the end of this post)

சமூக ஆரோக்கியத்தைப் பற்றிய ஒரு ஆலோசனைக் கூட்டம். கூட்டத்தில் பங்கேற்ற “முக்கியஸ்தர்”, prostitution ஐப பற்றி சில கருத்துக்களைச் சொன்னார். விபச்சாரம், விபச்சாரிகள் என்று அவர் அடிக்கடி சொன்னது ஒரு மாதிரியாய் இருந்தது. நான் எல்லாக் கூட்டத்திலும் அமைதியாக இருப்பது மாதிரி அந்தக் கூட்டத்திலும்   இருந்திருக்கலாம். இருப்பினும் பணிவாகவே ” prostitutes” ஐ செக்ஸ் தொழிலாளர்கள் “commercial sex workers”  என்று அழைப்பது நடைமுறைக்கு வந்துவிட்டதாலும், அவ்வார்த்தை நாகரீகமாக உள்ளதாலும், இந்தக் கூட்டத்திலும் செக்ஸ் தொழிலாளர்கள் “commercial sex workers” என்ற வார்த்தையே உபயோகப்படுத்தலாமென்றேன். என்னுடைய வேண்டுகோளை சரியான அர்த்தத்தில் புரிந்து கொள்ளாமல், கொஞ்சம் எரிச்சலுடனே, “commercial sex workers” என்றால்  வித்தியாசமாக உறவாடுவார்களா? பழைய கருமத்தைத் தானே செய்கிறார்கள்? நீங்கள் சொல்வது புதிய மொந்தையில் பழைய கள் என்பது மாதிரி பேசிவிட்டார். என்னை மட்டம் தட்டும் நோக்கமே பெரிதாகத் தென்பட்டாலும், நான் மீண்டும் பணிவுடனே, ” prostitutes” என்ற வார்த்தைக்கும் “commercial sex workers” என்ற வார்த்தைக்கும் உள்ள வித்தியாசத்தைப் பற்றி விளக்க ஆரம்பித்தேன். இரண்டும் ஒரே தொழில்தான். நாம் அதைப் பார்க்கும் பார்வை மாறவேண்டும். ஒன்றில் பெண்மையை இழிவு படுத்தி, அந்தச் செயலுக்கு அவர்கள்தான் காரணம் என்றும் கருதி அவர்களின் மனித உரிமையைப் பறிக்கின்றோம். இன்னொரு சொல்லில் அவர்களைக் கருணையுடன் புரிந்துகொள்ள முயற்சிகின்றோம். வார்த்தைகள் வேறுபடும்போது பிரச்சினையின் பரிமாணங்களும், புரிதலும் வேறுபடுகின்றது. தெளிவு பிறக்கின்றது. பிரச்சினையை சாமாளிக்கும் ஆற்றல் கூடுகிறது என்று சொல்லச் சொல்ல என்னை உட்காரச் சொல்லிவிட்டார்கள்.

வார்த்தைகள் முக்கியம். அதைவிட வார்த்தைகளுக்கு நாம் கற்பிக்கும் அர்த்தமும். இல்லையா?
Charity Organization, Voluntary Organization, Non Governmental Organization, Non profit / No profit Organization, Third Sector, Civil Society Organization  என்று பல பெயர்களில் நாம்  தன்னார்வத் தொண்டு நிறுவனங்களை அழைக்கின்றோம். ஒவ்வொரு பெயருக்கும் பின்னால் ஒரு ஆழ்ந்த அர்த்தமுண்டு . அதற்காக Charity organization எல்லாம் செயலாற்றுப் போய்விட்டது என்று சொல்லமுடியாது.Charity Organization- னின் பரிணாம  வளர்ச்சிதான் தான் Non profit / No profit Organization.கடந்த காலங்களில்  செய்த தருமத்தைப் போல நிகழ் காலத்தில் செய்யமுடியாது. தொண்டு நிறுவனங்கள் நிலைப்பட வேண்டுமென்றால், அவைகள் சுய பலத்தில் செயல்பட வேண்டுமென்றால் அணுகு முறைகள் மாற வேண்டும். அந்த மாற்றங்களெல்லாம், மாறி வரும் பிரச்னைகளின் தன்மைக்கேற்றவாறு தீர்வுகள் காணப் படவேண்டுமென்ற உத்வேகத்தில் எழுவது.
அந்த உத்வேகத்தின் ஒரு பிரதிபலிப்பே,  “Social Enterprises”  என்ற வார்த்தைப் பிரயோகம். கொஞ்சம் வியாபார நோக்கு, தன்னுடைய செயல்பாடுகளுக்கு தானே வருமானமீட்டிக் கொள்ளல், அடுத்தவர்  கையை எதிர்பார்க்கும் சார்புத் தன்மையை குறைத்துக் கொள்ளல், இத்துடன் தொண்டு நிறுவனங்களுக்கே உரிய அர்பணிப்பு இதையெல்லாம்  உள்ளடக்கியதே “Social Enterprises”. Enterprise என்ற வார்த்தையைக் கேட்டாலே ஏன்  சில பேர் எதற்கு தீ மிதித்தது மாதிரி பதறுகிறார்கள் என்று தெரியவில்லை. ஆக்கத்தையும், திறனையும் அதிகமாக முன் நிறுத்துவதாலா?
நமக்கெல்லாம் பரிச்சியமான அரவிந்த் கண் மருத்துவமனையை “Social Enterprise”  என்று உலகம் அடையாளம் காணுகிறது. Dr.வேங்கடசாமியும்  அவரால் உருவாக்கப்பட்ட ஒப்புயர்வற்ற மனித வளமும் உலகிற்கு கிடைத்த அருங்கொடை.
சுவிட்சர்லாந்து நாட்டில் வாழும் எங்கள் கல்லூரி முதல்வரின் மருமகன் சமீபத்தில் அரவிந்த் திற்கு கண் மருத்துவ பரிசோதனைக்காகச் சென்று இன்னும் அதிர்ச்சியில் இருந்து மீளவில்லை.  50  ரூபாய் கட்டணத்திற்கு அதிநவீன கருவிகளைக் கொண்டு (State of the art instruments) அனுபவம் வாய்ந்த கண்மருத்துவர்கள் பரிசோதித்து அனுப்புகிறார்கள் என்றால் அது உலகில் எங்கும் நடக்காத ஆச்சர்யம் அல்லவா?
அரவிந்த் என்னும் ” Social Enterprise” இன் திறனும், அர்பணிப்பும் எல்லாத் தொண்டு நிறுவனங்களுக்கும் கைவரப் பெற்றால் நாடு நலமாயிருக்கும்.

எனக்கென்னவோ மற்ற எல்லா வார்த்தைகளையும் விட (Voluntary Organization, Non Governmental Organization, Non profit / No profit Organization, Third Sector, Civil Society Organization) Social Enterprise என்ற வார்த்தையில் துடிப்பும், நிறுவனச் சுயமரியாதையும் கொஞ்சம் தூக்கலாகவே இருப்பது மாதிரி படுகிறது.

இந்தக  கல்வியாண்டு முதல் (2009-10 ) Management of Non Governmental Organization என்ற தாளுக்கு பதிலாக Introduction to Social Entrepreneurship என்ற தாள் அறிமுகமாகின்றது. அப் பாடத்திட்டத்தையும் (Syllabus)    அப் பாடத்திட்டம் சம்பந்தமான மாணவர் கையேடுகளையும் (Student’s Guide)  இந்த பிளாக்கின் மூலம்  Scribd & We Papers தளங்களில்  பார்க்கலாம்

Syllabus – Introduction to Social Entrepreneurship

Reading materials    Scribd wePapers

On Sympatico.ca this morning, I noticed that Heinz is reporting a second quarter profit drop of 16% compared to last year even though sales had climbed 2% to $2.67 billion.  Wow, that’s a lot of tomatoes.  Heinz has been around forever it seems and as an avid consumer of their ketchup, I decided to check out their web site and see how they measure up in terms of corporate social responsibility.

Very good actually!  It took a long time to read through their various programs and initiatives.  Here are a few highlights from their 2009 Corporate Social Responsibility Report:

- Heinz Micronutrient Program:  This title conjured images of genetically modified foods but thankfully I was wrong.  The program began in 2001 and distributes packets of tasteless powder packed with iron and other nutrients which are added to food.  60 packets, a year’s supply for one child, can be supplied at a cost of $1.50.  In 2003, Heinz worked with the Helen Keller Foundation to help Indonesia after the tsunami to distribute the ‘largest, most successful micronutrient program in the world.’  Heinz has reached 3 million children so far with this program.

- In the Environment section of their annual report, Heinz has created many sustainable goals with excellent results.  Here are a few examples:

1. Reduce energy consumption by 20% per metric ton of production by 2015; between 2005 and 2009, they had already reached a 15.8% reduction;
2. Reduce water use by 20% through re-use and improved technique by 2015; since 2005, they have achieved a 15.7% reduction globally;
3. Reduce solid waste by 20% by 2015 through improved recycling and re-use of waste; since 2005, they have surpassed the goal with a reduction of 27.4% globally.

There are a few countries who could learn about environmental goals and results from this company.

- Heinz donates food and money, generously around the globe.  In Venezuela, their donation program make deliveries three times a year to 29 non-profit organizations, reaching ‘nearly 1,000 children and teenagers, 280 adults and 350 elderly citizens.’

So, if you were wondering how socially responsible your Heinz ketchup was, it scores really well.  Henry John Heinz founded the company in 1869 in Pennsylvania and today they sell 650 million bottles of ketchup a year.  Perhaps one of the reasons for their long term success lies in their mission statement:  ‘As the trusted leader in nutrition and wellness, Heinz – the original Pure Food Company – is dedicated to the sustainable health of people, the planet and our Company.’  Definitely a company who looks beyond it’s boardroom and bottom line.

LIGLIGAN PARUL

Festival of Giant Lanterns of Pampamga

December 19, Saturday

During December in San Fernando, Pampanga, the city celebrates the Giant Lantern Festival, Saturday before the Christmas Eve. The festival features competition of creatively built giant lanterns. Through this, the city has earned the nickname The Christmas Capital of the Philippines.

Origin: The art of parol making tradition started way back 1928 as Francisco Estanislao made a symbol of the Star in Bethlehem when he made the first parol that has five-point star lantern, lighted by a candle or carbide lamp. Lantern-making industry in San Fernando is dramatically influenced and assisted to boost by this magnificent event, the Giant Lantern Festival. Originally named as ìLigligan Parulî or ìPista ng Parulî, the festival is said to have started in 1904.

Itinerary

2 pm Assembly and Departure in 15minutes

5 pm ETA Paskuhan Village/Road Trip Around Pampamga Barangays for Parul display

7:30 pm Dinner

9 pm Proceed to Lantern Festival

10 pm ETD back to Manila

Package Rate : P999/pax

W PROMO of 1 FREE for every group of 8pax

Inclusive of

• Round Trip Aircon Van
• Entrance at Paskuhan Village
• Healthy Authentic Kapangpangan Dinner
• Service of the Tour Coordinator
• Christmas Souvenir

Reservation and Inquiries

Book and Buy/First Come First Serve Reservation

Deadline of Reservation on December 14 Monday (if there are still seats available)

Carpe Diem and GOD Bless

Violet

Nature Awareness & Conservation Club, Inc. (NonStock, NonProfit NGO)

5157964 (9am to 5pm Only)  / 09194839250 / 09155101600

EMAIL: mother_nature888@yahoo.com

WEBSITE: http://philecotourism.wordpress.com

PHOTOS : http://ph.groups.yahoo.com/group/Greennature/photos

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=8004451681

http://mothernatureasia.multiply.com

It’s a tough proposition for company’s to engage with their employees. Non HR experts might argue otherwise… I can just hear them now: “If you want to engage with staff, why not offer them flexible working, or ooh wait, subsidized gym memberships? Or the coup de grâce … performance bonuses…a no brainer really!”

HR professionals, however, will quickly tell you that the soft fluffy stuff, although it looks and sounds great, is not likely to keep employees engaged for very long. Think tassels at the end of a very long tablecloth. A quirky initiative is no silver bullet and all that.

Speaking at the Employee Engagement Summit in the City earlier this week, Jane Sullivan, senior consultant at the Work Foundation warned HR delegates against taking a quick fix approach to employee engagement. “There is no quick fix, its more a holistic and fundamental approach,” she said, adding that there is no one size fits all model, but rather a model that works for each individual.

Mike Conder, UK HR director at financial services firm, KPMG, bigged up the value of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) as a tool to engage with employees. “Its an added opportunity to communicate with employees, and to demonstrate your care attitude.

“CSR is something most employees really care about: ‘It impacts me personally, my family, and its something I can get my head around’”.

Conder said that if used in the right way, CSR can change the perception of an organisation, while good management will also change employee perception giving them the opportunity to participate in something meaningful. “Logically it makes sense, and statistically, it’s absolutely true,” said Conder.

Source: Personneltoday.com

Be Your Own Travel Agency Boss on January 24, 2010 Sunday

Seminar on Organizing, Operating and Managing Your Home Based Travel Business with out risks.
This is to assist entrepreneurs and others to respond to the profitable travel and tour business, a comprehensive seminar on putting up either a home based travel agency without risk or commercial-based tour agency will be held on January 24, 2010 Sunday 8am to 5pm at the Layforce Bldg., San Carlos Formation Seminary, Guadalupe, Edsa, Makati City

The travel and tour business is expected to generate not only big income for tourism, but also employ thousands of people in the industry.

The seminar is designed for would-be-retirees in the Philippines, Mothers and wife with spare time, Travel Lovers, Entrepreneurs, Overseas Filipino Workers, and those who wish to have an alternative business name by setting up a licensed travel agency with an affordable start-up capital and those who are already in the same venture but who would wish to gain additional knowledge of the many other aspects of making their travel agency operations more profitable.

Among the topics to be taken up are registration and licensing, financial and budget requirements, product development, strategic marketing, mechanics of packaging domestic and foreign tours, identifying definite sources of income, commission level for travel agents, staffing, work flow, ticketing and reservation concerns, potentials of ecotourism, and breaking the low travel season myth. This seminar will be conducted by a tourism professor and travel & tour industry practitioner and consultant.

Registration Fee (limited to 25seat only)

P 2,250/pax if paid on November 2009

P 2,500/pax if paid on December 2009

P 2,750/pax if paid on January 1 to 10, 2010 (if there are still seats available)

P 3,000/pax if paid on January 11 to 20 (if there are still seat available)

P 3,250/pax if paid on January 21 to 23 (if there are still seats available)

P 3,500/pax for walk ins on January 24 Sunday (please call first)

LIMITED to 25 seats ONLY, First Come, First Serve Book and Buy and Reservation

Inclusions :

• Updated Travel Information Hand Outs
• Certificate of Seminar
• Unlimited FREE Continuing Advise on Travel Agency topic
• Aircon Room
• Unlimited coffee
• Ready Ecotour Travel Package for the participants to sell with automatic commission
• Option to enjoy NACCI Members Priviledge
• Ready website for the LGU/NGO/PO to sell you local EcoTour Packages at http://philecotourism.wordpress.com
• Invitation to familiarization tours in the province to get the rates directly to the suppliers
• Regular email update regarding EcoTourism Concerns
• Healthy Buffet lunch
• Am and Pm Snack
• FREE parking space

Reminders for those who took the training:

1. FREE Passport, Visa, Immigration Seminar on January 31 Sunday
2. Travel and Domestic Tour Product Packaging (TBA)

NOTES
1. Payment of Reservation at Las Pinas Home Office Mon to Fri 9am to 3pm at 18 Pioneer St., Moonwalk

Village, Las Pinas City. Pls call 5157964 or 09155101600 or 09194839250 for inquiries
OR at BDO Account Name: Nature Awareness and Conservation Club, Inc

2. Scan Email the deposit slip at Mother_nature888@yahoo.com

3. Then we will email back the registration form for the seminar
4. Late Registrants will be accommodated if there are still space available.
5. Unused reservation fee is non refundable and non rebookable BUT transferable to another person 3

days before the seminar please notify the club, otherwise reservation and right to attend free future

trainings will be forfeited.
6. Rate is subject to change with out prior notice

7. For those who still want to attend the other topic seminar, but did not attend the travel agency

seminar will pay P 2,500/pax/topic

8. Complete Registration Form in Required in all Seminar

Thank you and GOD Bless

Violeta Imperial

Nature Awareness & Conservation Club, Inc. (NonStock, NonProfit NGO)
5157964 / 09194839250 / 09155101600
EMAIL: mother_nature888@yahoo.com
WEBSITE: http://philecotourism.wordpress.com
Volunteers & NACCI Members Group Mail: greennature@yahoogroups.com
ECOTOUR Group Mail : philippineecotourism@yahoogroups.com
http://mothernatureasia.multiply.com

Adopt a Turtle in Pawikan Conservation Center

Best of Subic/Bataan Eco Tour for Family/Company or School Field Trip

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=216897236872&index=1

Marine Turtles are transboundary creatures, they travel great distances to feed and grow. But because as hatchlings the imprint the magnetic field of area they always go back to where they were hatched after 25 to 30 years to copulate and lay their eggs.

How ever communities especially in underdeveloped countries, uninformed of their functions in the environment have hunted them down in the sea or slaughtered them while they lay their eggs in the beach for their shell and skin. While their eggs and meat are collected as food.

NACCI now promotes and support the Pawikan Conservation Center, a community based project of reformed poachers in the protection of the turtles.

Familiarize yourself with jungle survival techniques from US Navy-trained Aeta Training Officers. Visit the Mini Zoo and discover Subic’s diverse biological resources or see how the butterflies live and flourish at the Butterfly Kingdom. The sun. The sand. The sky. And a vast stretch of marvelous sea waiting for the beach bummers

PAWIKAN FESTIVAL on November 30, 2009 http://mothernatureasia.multiply.com/photos/album/22/Subic_EcoTour_Bantay_Pawikan_Conservation_Center_

ITINERARY

5am ETD Manila

8am ETA in Subic,

Slide for Life Zip Line Adventure

JEST CAMP – Jungle Environmental Survival Training,

Butterfly Garden,

Aviary,

Insectarium,

Spider World,

Subic View Deck

Bonsai Paradise

HEALTHY BUFFET LUNCH served in the traditional bamboo cooking by authentic Aeta

• Turtle Sanctuary Bantay Pawikan

Package Rate : P 2,499/pax

Inclusive of

• Round Trip Aircon Vehicle,
• Slide for Life Zip Line Adventure
• Donation to the Sactuary
• One Baby Turtle (option to adopt more at your account)
• Healthy Buffet Lunch
• Afternoon Snack
• All the entrance fees
• Trip Facilitator
• Certified Conservationist T-Shirt
• Adoption Certificate

Reservation Information

• Book and Buy Reservation
• Guaranteed minimum of 12pax departure
• Deadline of Reservation on November 27 Friday 12nn

Carpe Diem and GOD Bless

Violet

Nature Awareness & Conservation Club, Inc. (NonStock, NonProfit NGO)

5157964 (9am to 5pm Only)  / 09194839250 / 09155101600

EMAIL: mother_nature888@yahoo.com

WEBSITE: http://philecotourism.wordpress.com

PHOTOS : http://ph.groups.yahoo.com/group/Greennature/photos

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=8004451681

http://mothernatureasia.multiply.com

Oh, the banker and the bunny. God bless them all – my dear sister, you so need me; I’m so much more friendly, understanding, caring and kind. (Spot the ’80s primary school joke!)

On a more serious note, I congratulate Moody’s for seeing the light in taking the lead to foster and acknowledge the importance of purpose and mission in work-life relations.

Out of all the motivations that may drive a person, one of the strongest is the wish to see that one has accomplished or contributed something right.

Life is confusing for a lot of people; a very complex beast, so to speak. Moody’s, in creating a culture of corporate social responsibility within the corporation, has proven that while money is important, it is what we do with it that is of greater significance.

I am gratified that Moody’s has demonstrated leadership in paying attention to morale-building amongst its employees. This vouches for Moody’s as a people-centred organisation; a step on the right path and well in the right direction.

Go Pro Bono to Rescue Morale – Sylvia Ann Hewlett – Harvard Business Review:

Moody’s knows about reputational risks. In recent months, the firm (along with other rating agencies) has been criticized for a perceived failure to anticipate or ward off the current crisis. In late September, Moody’s kicked off a philanthropic program which is set to both burnish its brand and enhance its ability to hold onto top talent through a tight alignment with its core value proposition. Developed in partnership with respected nonprofit Kiva.org, the new initiative brings Moody’s expertise in assessing creditworthiness to Kiva’s large network of microfinance partners around the world. These microfinance institutions do much to alleviate poverty by serving as conduits for loans of just a few hundred dollars to individual small business owners, and also by servicing those microloans.

Nov 28 to 29 Kerygma Conference : Dream Big, Win Big For more information please call FEAST office at 9268951 and 7263926 or 7259999 or 4167809 at Araneta Coliseum Cubao QC pls check out www.kerygmaconference.com

Taal Lake Cruise and Island Tour (Daily schedule) P 1,350/pax (base minimum of 5pax) Inclusive of Round trip Boat Ride, Life vest, Horse, Horse guide, Environment fee, Healthy Buffet Lunch, Permit to climb.

Nov 30 Mon Pawikan Festival at Bantay Pawikan Conservation Center P 2,499/pax Round trip Aircon Van, Buffet Lunch prepared by Authentic Aeta. Jungle environment Survival Training, Slide for Life, Butterfly Garden, Aviary, Insectarium, Spider World, Subic View Deck, Turtle, Conservtion T-Shirt and more. Deadline of Reservation on November 27 Thur 6pm

Mt Pinatubo Four Wheel Drive Adventure and Fun Climb (min. 4pax max 5pax in the car) P 1,900/pax if you don’t have your own car, and 4WD pick up at DAU Terminal and P 1,700/pax if your group is driving up to Capas Tarlac

Dec 5 Sat Corregidor Heritage n Island Tour P 1,999/pax round trip ferry, Island tour, shrine tour, buffet lunch, service of professional Corregidor guide and P 2,499/pax overnight accommodation and above inclusions Deadline of Reservation on Dec 3 Thur 6pm

Dec 6 Sun 8^th Annual Christmas Outreach and be a Foster Parent to one of the 500 Orphans and Street kids 1:00 PM to 6:30 PM with the lighting of the Christmas Tree. It will be held at KidzWorld  Theme Parks, Amusement and Recreational Club, Inc. in Dasmarinas, Cavite. call us at 7212167 or 721 3509 and look for Mike Almariego

Dec 12 Sat Mt. Makiling Forest Reserved w Hot Spring P 1,499/pax Round trip Aircon van, trek guide, entrance fee, healthy buffet lunch, hot spring entrance fee, and wholesome fun. Deadline of Reservation on Dec 10 Thur 6pm

Dec 19 Sat Pampanga Giant Christmas Lantern Festival of Lights P 999/pax with Aircon Vehicle and Authentic Pampanga Dinner. Trip is from 2pm to 10pm. FREE 1 person for every group of 7. Deadline of Reservation on December 17 Thur (if there are still seats available)

Dec 27 to 29 SAGADA w Banawe and Bontoc

Sagada w Tour P 3,999 (if paid w/in Nov); P4,500 ( if paid w/in Dec) Inc of RT AC Bus Fare, transfers, breakfast, 3Fulldays Sagada Tour, 3days/2nights Accommodation

Sagada with all the works and pampering P 5,888 (if paid w/in Nov); P 6,388 (if paid w/in Dec), Inc of RT AC Bus fare, AC Van transfer, Accommodation at St.Joseph Inn, 3day Full Sagada Tours

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=133925479349

Puerto Princesa Beachy Escapades Package Rate : 4Qd P 5,685/pax; 3ple P 5,930/pax; Twin P 6,325/pax Inclusive of Welcome Drinks,  Round Trip Transfers (Airport/Hotel/Airport), 3 Nights 4 Days Hotel,  Daily Native Breakfast for each Pax, City Tour of Puerto Princesa (Half-day), Honda Bay Island Hopping Day Tour w/ Picnic Lunch, Underground River Day Tour w/ Picnic Lunch, Use of all Common Hotel Facilities, Boat with Life Vest
Assistance of a Tour Guide. NOT INC is the plane fare to and from Puerto Princesa

Dec 26 to 30 Scuba Diving Lesson (Open Water Course) Dive Course Fee : P 10K each(6 to 8pax), P11K/each (4to5pax), P12,500/each (2to3pax). Inclusive of dive gears, tanks, DM, etc. Resort Info and cost to follow. Not included Fare to and From the Resort. Fun divers are invited to join. (Cost of Follow)

2010

Jan 9-10 Mindoro Oriental Nature Adventure P 4,500/pax            Beach hop and snorkel the colorful marine life in Puerto Galera. Bum & relax at Bulabod. Enjoy the scenic journey as you zigzag your way from Puerto Galera to Calapan and savor the views of Batangas Strait (sometimes with dolphins), Isla Verde, Tamaraw Falls and rice fields of Baco/Calapan. Deadline of Reservation on January 4 Monday http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=175912465840&index=1

Optional FREE ENVIRONMENT AWARENESS wholesome games & CONSERVATION PROJECT Workshop FOR GROUP of 20pax & up, during or after the exclusive group or company or family outing.  (We are non stock/non profit (but for fund raising to sustain the project and operations of NACCI)  blessed NGO/travel club)

Carpe Diem and GOD Bless

Violet

Nature Awareness & Conservation Club, Inc. (NonStock, NonProfit NGO) 5157964 (9am to 5pm Only)  / 09194839250 / 09155101600

EMAIL: mother_nature888@yahoo.com

WEBSITE: http://philecotourism.wordpress.com

PHOTOS : http://ph.groups.yahoo.com/group/Greennature/photos

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=8004451681

http://mothernatureasia.multiply.com

Thursday proved emotional before we even got to the first day of the two-day forum at the Guam Legislature. The morning experiences set the stage for what we would hear at the “The 2009 Island Conference on Public Administration, The Military Buildup and Beyond: Hanasson Taotao Guahan (The Guam Perspective).”

We were drinking coffee at Dad’s “Jeff’s Pirates Cove” restaurant when employees started running and shouting about a car accident. Dad shot out of his office,  jumped in a cart, pulled me and the flip camera with him and went out to the road for the estimated thirtieth or so incident in a year’s time. Dad has a string of fishing floats along the road in front of his business to prevent such accidents, and has advocated for decades for safety on this stretch. The driver and the passenger were stunned, but fine. The car was tangled in the floats. It was pretty obvious where the car would have ended up. Earlier this year Dad worked to have a phone pole moved so it would not be yet another hazard. (Another pole nearby has been part of some pretty gruesome accidents.) This is an example of the kind of infrastructure gaps Guam grapples with in the face of a population boom that will increase numbers by 27%.

On the way to the forum I dropped off my friend for a short visit with an ailing relative in the village of Yona. Meanwhile, I visited the elementary school I attended in the 1970s: M.U. Lujan School. At the front of the campus, a flood of memories washed over me—lining up for immunizations in the cafeteria, rotating among teachers in our pod-classrooms, a bus with only five kids to-and-from school with a sweet driver, Ben. Ben became my personal bodyguard as the bus became more crowded and I found myself  subject to a few bullying incidents. I was one of two white kids who signed up for a bilingual instruction pilot program at M.U. Lujan, so teachers called in their colleagues to witness my speaking Chamorro, Guam’s native language.  (Back then, I was blonde enough to be called a tow head;  my parents confirm that my public speaking in Chamorro was quite the sight.)

Unfortunately, my village (Ipan) was redistricted after third grade and I became embarrassed to speak the language among my new school friends. On a few occasions I would let on that I knew what was being said, and it helped my survival as I migrated further and further south for my public school education, becoming more and more of a minority along the way. Later in life, as I found new languages fun and somewhat easy, I would learn that’s it’s proven bilingual education wires your brain for new languages. There are a number of immersion programs in Guam now. People talk about how grandparents are able to converse with their grandkids, but there’s a language gap in a lot of families between these generations.

As you leave the south for the capital of Guam (Hagatna) which is central, you can see that Pago Bay is being carved out for a housing development. While there are many empty executive homes on the island, this development is said to be sold by a third. Detractors are concerned that developments like these are not needed and are driving up home prices for the general population. There is also some protest surrounding evidence that the site was an ancient settlement. Just under 100 homes are planned for the community. I take  this in while I remember how near to the ocean I lived as a child. By Guam standards, we were  lucky to spend our childhood in Ipan, a small village that isn’t noted on most maps. It’s a tiny coastal community with houses mostly across the street from the ocean on hills that offer an enviable view. We lived there because that’s where our family business, Jeff’s Pirates Cove is located (next to Ipan Public Beach).

Clip from Pago Bay:

Thursday was the first day of the “other” conference related to the build up; the first was in Tumon and organized by the University of Guam. Two Guam Senators organized the free two-day event held at the Guam Legislature (I Liheslaturan Guahan). There was another conference the previous week. This one was billed as a forum for “all the voices” to be heard.

U.S. Marine Corp. leadership filled most of two and a half rows of seats at the front of the forum. I give them a lot of credit for committing to the two full days of feedback from government officials, community leaders and some clearly anti-buildup activists. Below are a few clips from the conference featuring Sen. Judith P. Guthertz (my Mom’s classmate from Academy of Our Lady of Guam) who discusses the concept of “One Guam” versus two; one inside the bases and one outside the bases. The third clip is a woman representing the Committee on Natural Resources, Civilian-Military Task Force, who warns against turning Guam into Hawaii. The last clip is an interesting segment from a longtime farmer who now runs the Farmers Co-op in Guam.

Sen. Guthertz wrap up on first day of forum:

From the Natural Resources panel (note reference to Hawaii’s lack of affordable housing):

On Agriculture (Bernard Watson, Vice President, Farmers Co-operative Association of Guam):

This is a repeat of the clip from “The 671 on Guam: Day 2″

–BAP

[This newsletter is both in Norwegian and English language. Please scroll down to read the English version/Dette nyhetsbrevet er publisert i både norsk og engelsk versjon. Engelsk versjon er gitt lenger nede i e-posten]

— Norwegian version —
Fokus på regelverk og arbeid i høyden
I dag skjer det mye rundt standardisering og regelverk for arbeid i tau og arbeid hvor ulike taubaserte systemer og sikringsutstyr benyttes som sikring mot fall (fallsikring). Standard Norge er i løpet av høsten i ferd med å ferdigstille Norsk Standard for ”Arbeid i tau (prNS 9600)”, som vil dekke alt arbeid i tau. Standarden legger opp til et skille mellom enkle – og avanserte metoder for arbeid i tau. Blant annet vil arbeid offshore klassifiseres som avansert, men også flere oppgaver på land for blant annet energibransjen, bygg og anlegg vil komme i denne kategorien.
http://www.trainingportal.no/content/view/421/1/lang,no/

OLFs kompetansekrav for arbeid med hydrokarbonførende utstyr
I forbindelse med å redusere antall gasslekkasjer i petroleumsindustrien innfører næringen nye krav til opplæring for personell som arbeider direkte med hydrokarbonførende utstyr. Fristen for sertifisering og resertifisering er utgangen av 2010.

OLFs gasslekkasjeprosjekt har som mål å redusere antall gasslekkasjer på norsk sokkel. Et av de viktigste tiltakene er å heve kompetansen til alle som opererer utstyr på hydrokarbonførende anlegg på norsk sokkel. I forbindelse med prosjektet blir det innført krav til sertifisering og re-sertifisering for hele industrien basert på læreplaner utarbeidet av gasslekkasjeprosjektet.

Foreløpig er læremateriell for flensearbeid og ventilteknikk klar for bruk.

Les mer: http://www.trainingportal.no/content/view/457/1/lang,no/

Anbefaler det nye HMS-grunnkurset   
Alle bedrifter skal ha høyt fokus på HMS! Industriskolens nye HMS Grunnkurs arbeidsmiljø tilfredsstiller lovens krav til HMS-opplæring for verneombud og medlemmer av AMU. Trond Mostrøm er installasjonsleder i Fabricom og er for tiden på Snorre B plattformen i Nordsjøen, han er én av de som har benyttet Industriskolens HMS-tilbud.

Les mer: http://www.trainingportal.no/content/view/456/72/lang,no/

Effektiv opplæring i WINDOWS 7 på Trainingportal   
Windows 7 er utviklet og forbedret ut fra brukernes tilbakemeldinger. Brukerne har bedt om en PC som er enkel å bruke, raskere, mer brukervennlig og som fungerer slik brukeren vil. Derfor har Microsoft gjort hundrevis av grunnleggende forbedringer, og et par du kanskje ikke hadde forventet deg. E-læringskurs i bruk av Windows 7 lanseres på Trainingportal i desember 2009. Dette i samarbeid med DataPower Learning.

Ta kontakt for pristilbud for din bedrift allerede i dag!
Les mer: http://www.trainingportal.no/content/view/451/1/lang,no/

Kampanjetilbud på kurs i gassmåling   
Vestteknikk har i samarbeid med Mintra utviklet et e-læringskurs innen gassmåling. Kurset gir en introduksjon i forståelsen av gass i utsatte arbeidssituasjoner. Det beskriver reelle farer og forteller om de mest vanlige gassene. Kurset gir kunnskap om hvordan man kan best beskytte seg selv og andre ved bruk av riktig utstyr. Målsetningen til kurset er å gi en innføring i emner som gir økt forståelse for hvorfor gassmåling er viktig, samt innblikk i hvordan en gassmåler skal brukes på en sikker og effektiv måte.

Les mer: http://www.trainingportal.no/content/view/446/1/lang,no/

E-læring gir redusert pris kurs hos NMU   
Med e-læring hjemme første dagen + 4 dager på sikkerhetssenteret til NMU AS – så får du et 5 dagers Grunnleggende Sikkerhetskurs til tilbudspris! I vinter har NMU et tilbud (13.990,-) til deg som tar e-læring til Grunnleggende sikkerhetskurs hjemme hos deg selv. Du trenger bare en PC med internett, litt tid og….en kopp kaffe. 
 
Les mer: http://www.trainingportal.no/content/view/438/1/lang,no/

Offshore og Energibransjens HMS-konferanse – Meld deg på allerede nå!   
Hva kan oljeindustrien lære av energibransjen, og hvilket forretningspotensial har denne erfaringsoverføringen? Dette er det sentrale tema når norsk offshorevirksomhet møter landets største energiforetak på Offshore og Energibransjens HMS-konferanse i Stavanger 9-10. mars 2010. Du kan allerede nå sikre deg en plass på konferansen!

Les mer: http://www.trainingportal.no/content/view/455/59/lang,no/

Kurs i prosjektledelse høsten 2009/våren 2010
Forskning fra Project Management Institute (PMI®) angir at nær 25% av det globale brutto nasjonalproduktet skjer gjennom prosjekter. Med de samme forholdstallene beløper dette seg til 300 milliarder kroner i Norge.  Ansatte i selskap og organisasjoner med egen Trainingportal får 30 % rabatt på et utvalg av kursene som avholdes i Stavanger 2009/2010.

Les mer: http://www.trainingportal.no/content/view/420/1/lang,no/

Bestill kurskatalog på!
Trainingportal er bransjeportalen for e-læringskurs i oljeindustrien.

Du kan bestille kurskatalogen kostnadsfritt ved å sende en e-post til info@trainingportal.no. Husk å oppgi navn og adresse til hvor katalogen ønskes sendt.

Les mer: http://www.trainingportal.no/content/section/4/90/lang,no/

— English version —
Focus on Regulations for Work at Height
There is a lot happening with the standardisation and regulations for vertical rope work and work using various rope-based systems and fall safety equipment.   Over the course of this autumn, Standards Norway will be completing the Norwegian standard for “Vertical Rope Work (prNS 9600)”, which will cover all vertical rope work.  The standard will differentiate between basic and advanced vertical rope work.  Offshore work will be classified as advanced, but several types of operations on land, in the energy and construction industries, for example, will also fall into that category.

Read more: http://www.trainingportal.no/content/view/421/1/lang,en/

Safety Representative Training via E-Learning and Workshops    
Now, you can conduct mandatory working environment training for your safety representatives internally, using e-learning combined with classroom training.  The Federation of Norwegian Industries, in collaboration with Mintra, has developed an online course covering the theoretical portion of safety representative training.  Customers who choose this solution can also choose to hold internal workshops, based on an instructional outline from Mintra.

Read more: http://www.trainingportal.no/content/view/448/1/lang,en/

Effective Training in Windows 7 on Trainingportal   
Windows 7 is the most recent publicly available version of Microsoft Windows, a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptops, netbooks, tablet PCs and media center PCs.

E-learning courses on Windows 7 will be launched on Trainingportal December 2009. Please contact Mintra for further information about training in your company.

Read more: http://www.trainingportal.no/content/view/451/1/lang,en/

Special Offer on Gas Measurement Course   
In collaboration with Vestteknikk, Mintra has developed an e-learning course on gas measurement.  This course provides an introduction to the understanding of gas in high risk work situations.  It describes real dangers and explains about the most common types of gas.  The course provides knowledge of how best to protect yourself, and others, using proper equipment.  The object of the course is to introduce participants to topics that provide an increased understanding of why gas measurement is important, as well as insight into how to use gas measurement devices safely and effectively.

Read more: http://www.trainingportal.no/content/view/446/1/lang,en/
 
Offshore & Energy HSE Conference 2010 – Exchanging experience between offshore & energy   
What can the oil industry learn from the energy industry, and what is the business potential of this exchange of experience?  This will be a central theme when the Norwegian offshore sector meets the nation’s largest energy companies at the Offshore and Energy HSE Conference, in Stavanger, March 9th-10th, 2010.

Read more: http://www.trainingportal.no/content/view/447/1/lang,en/

Order the Course Catalogue now!
If you would like to receive a free copy of the course catalogue, send an email to info@trainingportal.no. Remember to include you name and postal address.

Read more: http://www.trainingportal.no/content/section/4/90/lang

Amazing, beautiful, hopeful and truthful. Speaking out of the very bottom of my mind and putting it all out there with facts, numbers, thoughts, ideas, hopes, and directions for action. This is what the 11th hour movie is like to me, now. I think you should see the movie, now. See it and see how it makes you feel, then do something about your feelings.

You can watch the 11th Hour movie online for free:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2174195060267517042&ei=344HS_KmLaKi2AKv0MHbDg&q=Leonardo+diCaprio+last+movie&hl=en#

I admit the movie greatly inspired me.
Synchronicity (Peter Senge et al) is when things come to you when you are thinking about them, when you want them at their very best, and finest, when you are ready to face them.
Law of attraction (Ronda Byrne et al) is off course the same thing under a different name, i.e., when you are thinking about and calling something in your thoughts, then it comes to you, because the wavelength of your thoughts attracts the wavelength at which the things you want are at. 
Law of attraction has been around for much longer than synchronicity btw, btw. Which came first does not matter though, what matters is that we know.
And so I’ve been thinking about complexity, systems thinking, environment, business and international organisations, and how the system in which we are all, inherently, should change and how are of the above have a role to play in all this. And then off course the 11th Hour comes to me, like an order I’d placed (a friend sent me the link, a friend I almost never talk to but we are on the same wavelength, and we know it). And so that is that, I am not at all surprised, I’ve learnt to not ignore the seemingly insignificant, and am now inspired. 

Some facts, thoughts and ideas for action that I drilled out (not that I like that verb …) from the movie:

Some facts:

A recent study in the US showed that, at a certain age, after watching on average 2.5 hours of TV per day, children in the US can recognise on average 100 corporate brands …  In other words, children grow up well tuned to a society driven by consumption, consumerism, speed, wealth, and greed (in a way, albeit not always greed in a straightforward sort of a sense). Many of them want the same things they see on TV … unless when they see through and change their thinking.

The Earth is our mother, our base, you name it. If all of the Earth life support systems were to be switched off. Today, it would cost us 35 trillion of USD per year (I think this is what it was …) to maintain our life here on Earth. Meanwhile all of the economies on Earth generate about 18 trillion USD per year. And so the Earth is super generous to us, she holds us, she protects is. Meanwhile, we’ve been driving its ecosystems out of balance. And this is a problem. It is not good behaviour. We’ve got to stop it.

The Earth is such an amazing place. Here, temperature is right for life to exist, and we can breathe oxygen from the air. The carbon dioxide we breathe out is recycled by forests and trees. A simple expression of our life in a system that is life-supporting. We are so lucky to be on this planet.

We, people, are disconnected from nature and all other species. We keep thinking we are the most supreme species on Earth, and so can rule over, govern everything else. And so we exploit everything else, including we ourselves as people. (I think of New York, a city where I would quite like to go to, and think there such disconnection would be at its finest.) However, such disconnection is far from true. We are inter-dependent on everything else, on every animal, every plant, every insect, on the water we drink and bathe into, on the air we breathe … the cells we are made of give out and take back from our environment. We live in a system, we are part of a system.
Some of us would be taken aback by such a statement, some would agree in theory, and some, and I think we should all be like those last some, would not only agree, they would feel their inter-connectedness throughout the system of life down to their very bones, and heart, and mind. And every day, they would want to do something about that, every single day!

People have been expanding on Earth, but the Earth itself has not been expanding. Sure this is not sustainable. Sure we must do something about this.

One day, things will be green, and replenished on Earth. Balance will be restored. And you know why? Because the Earth has all the time in the world, whereas we don’t.

Some thoughts:

Global warming, climate change, and the like: these are symptoms, not causes. symptoms of how we think and feel, how we see life. The outside reflects the inside and vice versa. And so, it is not global warming and climate change we should care about, the most. It is how we think and feel that we should care about.
What is this about, at the end of the day? Money? Work? Ambition? Achievement? Sure it would be about those things, but motivated by what? I think it is mostly about responsibility to ourselves and our loved ones and then every other person on Earth. By what we do and how we do it, and how we think as by how we think we make things happen, too, we make things happen in a certain way. Firstly and most importantly, it is about seeing and understanding life as part of a system, and being humble, and happy. Then things happen as they should, and so not only individually but also (and importantly) collectively.
(Is this the above a distinctly female way of looking at things? Perhaps it is. … And both women and men can do it, it is not just women who can be feminine … and not just men who can be masculine. I mean actions, approaches, thoughts and ideas.)

If all people were to rise their level of awareness of not just global warming and climate change as issues but also and more importantly of what makes them happen collectively as part of a system, then people would be empowered to act by feeling, thinking, and doing. The biggest challenge for humankind, today, and for the future is learning to feel, think and behave collectively, be an organism, just like your body is. We must recognise that nature has rights, too … and so then That is evolution of mind which comes next for the human species. As they’ve been saying, the Earth will survive because it has all the time in the world. We don’t have all the time in the world and so it is time to recognise how small we are and so then how big we can be.

Culturally, almost everywhere on Earth, people are being cultivated into achieving more, into doing more, into making money, into progressing, into exploiting resources. I guess you can call this greed, drive, etc. Greed is perhaps the very worst, negative end of this spectrum … And, greed is institutionalised in corporations, and business, oil companies, food companies, travel companies, banks … So what do we do? Corporations are systems within the system that are eating it up, that are destroying it. This is OK actually, it is just that people may not be in the system once it’s been destroyed and transformed.

Some ideas for action:

How to make evolution of the human mind happen? Wanting it is the very first step. Educating oneself and others is the next step. Cultivating one’s feelings and intuitions is yet another step, like when you know about something taking place when it is, without nobody telling you. Then you move towards collective consciousness. I know that, have experienced it many times, mostly when facilitating meetings and group events. And, have you seen The Men Who Stare at Goats …? Another great one, see it and think about what it’s telling you.

How could we change our minds, and hearts, understand our part of the big system, and do something about it, every single day …? Well, it may sound a little hippie (well, to some of you Westerners … not to some of you Easterners) and I am sorry if it would do that, but the one thing that would make all of that happen is love. Sure love for your friends and family, and culture, and all that you care for. But not just that, love for people, for humanity, for high values, for what you are passionate about. Love that motivates all that you do and drives your passions. Love that makes you feel good. Love when you think, love when you dream, just love. It is a simple foundation for a number of complicated, complex, chaotic sorts of endeavours through which we can influence the system(s) in which we live.
(Oups, is this a feminine way of looking at things, again? Sorry boys, you can do it too though. It is easy. Guys can be a lot more feminine than ladies actually. It is all in the mind.)

Follow your passions, always. Find what you are passionate about when it comes to sustainability, and do it, everyday. Push for your workplaces to be conducive of your passions and dreams. (See what I wrote about this, here.) Be creative, feel the energy that’s coming your way when you are and create more in a positive spiral of some sort. This is what it takes, this is what makes us human … love, passion and high values all in one motivating what we do.

On a more practical side, slow movement seems to give many useful directions. Disengage from consumerism, do not want more than what you can responsibly handle (in terms of money and wealth), eat local food, take time out to spend with friends ad family (and so no need to make money, all the time), be frugal, i.e., use money wisely and thoughtfully, with an ethical strategy in your mind. I do that, try do, when I shop. Always wonder where the ingredients and the materials come from.

On a global level, it would take the tweaking of policies here and there for individuals and corporations to start walking an ethical journey. It would take willingness and courage to do this. Hopefully that will happen, it must.

What a beautiful movie and how it unleashed thoughts I’ve been having, for a while. Long live beautiful movies, long live life, and Earth.

What is the environmental impact of producing a movie of this sort? I don’t know. I would imagine not much. Not much, if as many as possible people see it and choose to change how they think, feel and behave.

By: Sonny Zulhuda *

The tremendous participation of companies in technological race and in exploiting the cyberspace is often marked with over-excitement and the sense of lawlessness. This is not true if one regards the cyberspace as a space without rule. The fact remains that there are rules in cyberspace just as people have rules in the real physical world.

When it comes to the notion of corporate social responsibility (‘CSR’), the matter may become more confusing: what kind of responsibility companies could have, and to whom they owe such responsibility. Assume that an online business entity does not have a physical presence – not physically registered, therefore not legally incorporated: does it assume a corporate status to subject it to the CSR? As for the incorporated ones, question may arise as to what responsibilities they bear when embarking in the online environment and to whom they are owed.

Indeed, the discussion of CSR in the cyberspace era is duly warranted because cyber world is, more often than not, misunderstood as somehow law-free and ethics-free. This may lead corporations to believe that they can do so many things in cyberspace which are otherwise prohibited in physical world. Hence CSR could be for them another myth of cyberspace, and as a result, online consumer protection could be negated, law compliance ignored, and communal interests were left behind. All what they can do is to gain on others’ pain.

This paper seeks to establish this relationship; that CSR does exist in the cyberspace. Companies that conduct their commercial activities within or through the cyberspace shall remain committed about their social responsibility, amid in different context. There are rules that companies must live by even when they are totally online. Even though the rules may vary in different jurisdictions, the ethical principles would remain universal. And some of them had even been given a universal platform such as corporate behavior on data security and privacy protection. It is this fundamental understanding that this paper wish to create.

*) This paper abstract was presented the 6^th International Conference of Corporate Social Responsibility, 11-14 June 2007, Kuala Lumpur.

Improvement Skills Consulting is pleased to be able to support The Rory Peck Trust.  Working with Tina Carr (Director) and her team at The Rory Peck Trust is part of our commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility.

The 2009 Rory Peck Award winners were announced on Thursday November 19th at a ceremony in London.  The Awards Ceremony is a high profile event, attended by key media figures from senior broadcasters to freelancers, bureau chiefs, commissioning editors and journalists.  It is a moving celebration which honours their skill and initiative, independence and, above all, their courage.

You can find full details of the winners and watch clips of their films here.

Cross-posted from SturdyRoots.com

It is not something most of us think about: our mobile phones and their contribution to global warming.

iPhones, Crackberries, and PDAs don’t produce emissions like motor vehicles and thankfully they don’t have smokestacks.

But when they get plugged in for a re-charge, they draw electricity which more often than not comes from coal-fired power plants.

I feel all sooty just thinking about it…

Now, a new product allows mobile phone users to mitigate their devices’ impact on global warming. And it’s available just in time for the holidays!

Renewable Choice Energy has introduced GREEN YOUR PHONE, a product that provides a novel and easy way to carbon-offset mobile phones.

From the website:

Burning fossil fuels to create electricity causes air pollution and contributes to climate change. To live in harmony with nature, we need to find new sustainable solutions to enjoy our modern lifestyles with less impact on the environment. That’s why Renewable Choice has teamed up with Best Buy to offer the GREEN YOUR PHONE product which provides consumers with a simple and effective way to address the impact their mobile phones have on the environment.

A $10 GREEN YOUR PHONE card covers roughly 500 kilowatt-hours of energy production , that is the amount of energy required to power two “typical” mobile phones over a two-year period.

But wait. There’s more!

Check out the GREEN YOUR PHONE viral video:

With the holidays fast-approaching, GREEN YOUR PHONE helps reward your staff while reducing their mobile phones’ impact on the planet. Plus, it makes a great green stocking-stuffer!