Purchasing from local farmers can be beneficial to the environment Essay

Purchasing from local farmers can be beneficial to the environment - Essay Example It has been estimated that food travels 1800 miles on the average (Jackson, 2008) when it is being delivered from the farms to the market. These farms are usually located in other countries that grow certain kinds of food. This 1800 mile travel can give at least 800 kgs of CO2 emissions per travel (Webber and Matthews, 2008). If the food is sourced from a local farm, which is nearer to the market and it would not be imported, it would not contribute much to the CO2 emissions of the food, because less transportation would be involved. Because of this, local farmers can be a great help in providing a sustainable alternative when it comes to marketing farm produce, and at the same time, prove beneficial to the environment. As said before, most foods in the market these days are imported from different countries. According to an article by Andy Jerardo, almost 15% of foods in the markets of the United States are imported. This rate rises continually (Brooks, et al). This means that the i mported food travel at least a thousand miles to get to the consumers’ tables. Because of that mileage, transportation takes a huge part in the marketing of foods. At the same time, the impact of transportation is big when it comes to computing a food’s carbon emissions. It is known that the carbon emission of food starts in farms, especially if livestock is the one being farmed. Since the CO2 emissions from beef and poultry are already big, adding CO2 emissions from the transportation needed from the farm to the market route is already a big factor when considering the impact of food in the environment. Therefore, if the farms are locally available, it is more logical for the people to buy there if they are actually conscious of their environment. This is because nearer farms mean low transportation costs and low carbon emissions. Low transportation costs and emissions mean cheaper food and less environmental stress. Local farming also ensures sustainable economy for farming. Since local farmers are, nearer, with figures playing within 100-150 miles from the food source to the table, the taxes that consumers pay when they buy the produce would ultimately go back to the consumers. Helping the local farms is also a good way to support the local economy since it helps in keeping the money within the market. It does not go out from the local territory, unlike in importation where the consumer pays the farmers from other countries from which the food is imported. Having a healthy local economy is good since it lessens our nation’s dependence to other countries, making the nation stronger. Another point to ponder is that local farming is also beneficial to the health of consumers, not only to the environment. It is logical: since the farms are near, the food is delivered fresh because the food does not spend days, even weeks, in a boat or truck to get transported from point A to point B. It is basically like picking foods right from your own ba ckyard. The sellers also get a reduced packaging costs and storing time because these foods have a great turnover. Having local farms are also a good way in preserving a region’s distinct culture. Since food is an extension of culture, it is inevitable for a local place not to have their own food that gives them their own unique identity. Importation with their foreign flavors, generally overtake the local culture when it comes to food. Having local far

Human Resources Management Essay Example for Free

Human Resources Management Essay Proper management of human resources is vital to being a successful business. Human resources are one of the critical departments within any organization. The purpose of this essay is to emphasize the basic principles of Human Resources Management. EEO and Affirmative Action, Human Resources Planning, Recruitment, and Selection, HRD, Compensation and Benefits, Safety and Health, and Employee and Labor Relations are the six areas of Human Resources Management that will be the focus. All of these Human Resources Management areas should be working together and should correspond with the overall business strategy. According to our text, â€Å"Human Resource Management is specifically charged with programs concerned with people the employees† (Ivancevich, 2007). It was observed by Edward L. Gubman, in the Journal of Business Strategy, that â€Å"the basic mission of human resources will always be to acquire, develop, and retain talent; align the workforce with the business; and be an excellent contributor to the business. Those three challenges will never change† (Gubman, 2006). In today’s world the terms human resource management and human resources is called personnel management or a personnel manager. â€Å"In simple words HRM means employing people, developing their capacities, utilizing, maintaining and compensating their services in tune with the job and organizational requirement† (Storey, 2007). The recognition of the importance of Human Resource Management extends to small businesses also. There for some time they did not generally have the same volume of human resources requirements as the larger organizations, but they too face personnel management issues that can have a decisive impact on the business’ health. In The Small Business Handbook Irving Burstiner stated â€Å"hiring the right people and training them well can often mean the difference between scratching out the barest of livelihoods and steady business growth personnel problems do not discriminate between small and big business, you will find them in all businesses, regardless of size† (Burstiner, 2008). The proper management of a company’s human resources is vital to the success of that company. People within an organization are the most precious and vital resource. They should be treated as such. It is important that the managing of human resources should be done correctly as it affects the overall business plan of any organization. As a person that plans to own an accounting business, this course has made realize that human resources are a very important and vital part of a company. This course has given me the tools to ensure that I have proper Human Resource Management and my employees are taken care of. There are many employers that consider themselves to be equal employment opportunity (EEO) employers. There may even be an employee within the organization that is an EEO officer or they could simply make sure they have a personnel manager, and/or other managers who understand and follow EEO. Our text stated â€Å"the human resource manager plays an important role in showing by example that each employee is important and will be treated ethically and equally† (Ivancevich, 2007). This usually means: †¢ That the employer is following the anti-discrimination laws and is ensuring that everyone within the organization understands these laws and abides by them. †¢ That the employer is preparing and implementing equal employment opportunity management plans or programs designed to ensure that everyone really does get equal opportunity within the organization. Most people know affirmative action as having to do with the development of equal opportunity plans and providing special help for minority groups with a disadvantaged past. Affirmative action programs also help give previously disadvantaged groups the skills they need to compete on equal terms with all other employees. This is a way of ensuring that there is truly equal opportunity between all potential and existing employees. There is a full-time EEO officer within my organization. It is my understanding that our EEO officer has never had anyone come to her about any discrimination that has taken place within the organization. An analysis of the job to be done, written into a job description should be written so that selectors know what physical and mental characteristics applicants must possess, what qualities and attitudes are desirable and what characteristics would be a decided disadvantage. Human resources planning usually refer to classic human resource administrative functions. The evaluation and identification of human resource requirements should meet organizational goals. Effectively, selection is essentially ‘buying’ and employee, the wage or salary multiplied by probable years of service being the price. Bad employee buys can become very expensive for any organization. For this reason, for particular jobs, some organizations may use external expert consultants for recruitment and selection. The ‘cost’ of a poor selection is a reason why those who recruit and employ should be well trained to judge the suitability of all potential applicants. The main sources of recruitment are as follows: †¢ Internal company promotions †¢ Appointment boards †¢ Agencies for the unemployed †¢ Advertising or the use of other local media. The businesses vacancy numbers should determine what line of recruitment should take place. It is important that an organization have a background check done to verify experience and statements about qualifications thoroughly before hiring a potential employee. To ensure a good recruitment process it is important to have training in interviewing and appraising candidates. This type of training usually teaches interviewers how to draw out the interviewee and how to rate the candidates. This is probably one of the most important parts of human resource management. Human Resource Development (HRD) helps employees develop their personal and organizational abilities. Opportunities for employee training, employee career development, performance management, mentoring and organizational development are included in Human Resource Development. Human Resource Development mainly focus is the development of the best employees possible. The reason for this is so that the organization and its employees can accomplish the organizational goals. Human Resource Development can be formal, such as a classroom setting or informal, such as an employee mentoring session by a manager. Organizations that are healthy believe in Human Resource Development. They also believe that the development of their employees is what makes the organization prosper. Unfortunately this is not something that takes place within my organization. It would be nice to be able to receive training that would improve my knowledge and skills and allow me to help in other areas of the organization if possible.

Victim Rights Person

Victim Rights Person Victims Rights Introduction A victim is a person who has received injuries whether physical or emotionally when a crime is committed. This will include people who are physical assaulted, kidnapped, sexual assaulted, involved in domestic violence, a child abuse, a person at a motor vehicle accident or incident where a crime occurs, or get injured emotionally by witnessing this incidents. They can also be injured by another crime committed for example homicide, robbery or robbery with violence. A person who is victimized is also faced with psychologically problems he/she may lose clear line of thinking and becomes overwhelmed. In most cases the victim loses money or may be injured. The worst of all is the emotional pain that the victim undergoes. The victimized close relatives and friends can also suffer both psychologically and emotionally. It was also noted that, stress, fear, anxiety and a lot of tension is experienced by family members. The rights of the victim is an old issue that dates back since time of independence, In words for senator Feinstein, he points out that at the time of constitutions adoption, they was a few public prosecutors and crime victims were taken as parties and had to represent themselves. The founders of the nation did not have special protections given to the criminal victims. They did not foresee the modern ways where a public prosecutor acts independent of the crime victim. Nevertheless, as time passed changes in the criminal law occurred and victims had to be respected and given their rights. Accordingly, the public support also was awakened and victims rights protections become a public issue. This was witnessed in Maryland in 1994 when voters voted for state constitutional amendments that protects the right of the victim. The amendment passed by 92 percent of the total vote. This set the trend in many states as 33 states have various constitutional amendments that seek to protect victi ms. Currently all the 50 states at least have some kind of victims rights measures on the court level. As per statistics given by the department of justice, over 5 million violent crimes occur in America per year. This number is so big and human rights activists and politicians have for over 20 years been campaigning for these victims rights in the way the criminal justices process are carried on. Some of the rights they seek are: Victims should have a right to receive a public notice of events related to his criminal prosecution; this can be bail hearing date, the trial date, the sentencing date or even a parole hearing date. Victims should have a right to be present and hear the courts proceedings during their cases. They should also be heard during this process. The victims should have a right to be notified in case the criminal who victimized the victim is released on parole or he/she makes an escape from prison. Victims should be assured of their safety before a criminal is released on parole by the courts or when the criminal is released by courts. The victim should have a right to be protected against long delays caused in criminal prosecutions. The aim of these rights was to ensure that the victims are given legitimate attention consideration. This campaign and pressure lead to the passage of Victims of Crime Legislation, Bill 23, 1995; which states that, victims are entailed to the following rights: they should be shown respect, politeness and kindness. That, they should be updated on the court process about their cases. They should also be given information concerning services remedies. The victims should be informed the dates of important proceedings. That the victims should be informed when an offender is released pardoned or escapes. The victims should be interviewed by same gender officer in case the victim is sexual assaulted. The victim has a right to be compensated for injuries suffered. And that incase there was loss of property and it is recovered it should be returned without any delay. Lastly the victim should be able to be represented in the court by writing a victim impact statement. Any where, these rights have to be enforced by the courts to make them work and protect the victim. Otherwise they will be just mere words on paper. In a study carried out by National Victim Center, it found out that many victims still were being denied their rights. This occurred even in those states seen as having a strong legal protection. For example the study found out that a big number of victims from â€Å"strong† and â€Å"weak† states did not receive a notification during different stages of court process. As for bail hearing (those not notified in strong states were 37 percent and in weak states were 57 percent); as for pretrial release of suspects (the number was 62 percent in strong states and 74 percent in weak states for those who were not notified); and for sentencing hearings (those who were not notified were 45 percent in strong states and 70 in weak states). In a another report which was related to this, it was found out that racial minorities were the most serious affected by being denied their victims rights protection. According to observations, victims like to be involved in the justice process. Of particular interest is their always like to be notified of the process of their cases. Victims felt left out and were angry because they were not given information about the way their cases are progressing. It was also noted that, many victims do not want to interfere with the courts. As a victim is also important that the victim is not forces into accepting some justice program that has not chosen. However the question that is asked is whether the victims rights campaign is that necessary and important? Many people have a feeling that crime has increased for the last thirty years. Various studies carried out show an average individual (even those who have not been victimized) live in a regular fear of being victimization. Sadly, the fear of this people is true. This is because total number of crimes in United States has increased by 300% since 1965 to the present day. While violent crime has escalated to more than 600%. This has lead to a very large financial burden to the nation. As it is approximated that $450 billion is spend on crime every year. And that, 1.8 million days are lost in terms of work days, which translates to more than $55 million lost in terms of wages. It is also interesting to note that, as the laws to protect the Victims rights are passed, the crime increases. It was also noted that the percentage of those who repeated to commit a crime was high. A study carried out by University of Pennsylvania revealed that 67% of total crime committed in the nation was carried by a mere 10% of the criminal population. In other cases, the perpetrators hunted and victimized their victim for the second time. This is thought to be a result of the perpetrators not being given harsh penalties or as a result of more liberal laws which seems to give criminals a sense that the government is soft on them and their more rights than those of the victims. These facts are chilling and the problem is touching each community. The Department of Justice shows the America is the one with highest number of violent crimes than any other country. It is estimated that the homicide crime is five times that of Europe while the Juvenile crime rate is seven times more t han that of Europe or Japan. Looking at possibility of being a victim in1996, a survey carried out by Gallup poll, showed that women feared most being victims than men. The number was 57% of women as compared to men who were at 43%. The research also found out that non white people were the one more concerned about becoming victims than the whites. The numbers were 74.8% against 46.6%. It was also noted that few people had confidence in the justice system. It is also apparent that victims are most likely not to report a crime if the perpetrator is someone they know personal. Those victims who are violently attacked are highly likely to report the crime to police if the perpetrator is a stranger. The group which is likely not to report a crime is that of young children aged between 12 and 19. For the purpose of this paper, we will examine a research carried out by The Bouverie centre, Victorias Family Institute using a method of confrontative interview. The confrontational interview carried out in response to critics from the feminist about family therapy in the area of sexual abuse. The interview is designed to address issue of control and power in a situation of victim- perpetrator relationship. In this interview the survivor is allowed to face the person who abused her and face the impact of the abuse to her life. In the interview the perpetrator sits and listens as the victim narrates her feeling. The confrontative interview is where by the victim meets her/his perpetrators, on sexual abused victims the survivors offered different answers. The research was based on four young women, who had been repeatedly sexually abused by men. In was observed that all of the four women were disturbed and even had suicidal thoughts and suffered from severe depression. The women all developed risk behaviors as two shoplifted and the other got involved in pretty crimes. One woman started abusing drugs. Each of the women reported having recurring nightmares, and a lot of fear and mistrust. It was also noted that one victim wet her bed. The research further revealed that each of the victims experienced a sense of inferior, self loathing, shame and felt responsible for the abuse. From the study it was noted that the difficult part was that of the victim accepting the abuse and knowing that she was a victim and was not to blame. According to Karren, a participant she notes that, she could not turn back because she had experienced feeling responsible. Another participant, Cate said that it was a very enormous task when it came to breaking the news to her mother. Another participant, Army described the experience as feeling stronger, he felt like she has conquered something. It was noted that all four women felt more clear when it came to the matter of responsibility upon the contfrontative interview. When the perpetrators where seen physical and when they admitted being quilt had a lot of impact on the victims. It was much important when took the responsibility. According to Cate and Karren they were less troubled and got more focused and stable in their thoughts. The interview also provided a confrontation between the victim and the perpetrator, which lead to a powerful impact on the side of the victims; they experienced a sense of externalizing the pain they suffered. And the experience of knowing who was responsible for their suffering. As the women narrated their anger and emotional turmoil they have undergone, the confrontation offered a dignified opportunity to repair their feelings. They felt that they had triumphed and reclaimed their self identity The outcome of this study was very encouraging, it leads to reduction of nightmares, self doubt, gave the victims more stability and improved their self esteem and a sense of well being. As all four women agreed the interview was used to reduce the trauma they felt. Nevertheless, the interview had its shortcoming and did not provide an immediate solution to those victimized. Each of the four women at the centre had to continue with therapy and in the months that followed they made statements to the police and the police have laid criminal charges against the perpetrators. Although, this was not the main aim of the study, the women opened up during the interview. For example Amy after realizing that she was a saviors and an innocent person who was sexually assaulted commented that, the fact that sexual abuse is wrong when done to you, and that it is a criminal offence done to you and you are just a victim is so much. And it is more important if your family is there to support you. Fro m this study it is important for the victims to come out and be heard. Conclusion Although the Victims rights issue is a very controversial debate, as many laws about the â€Å"rights of accused† and â€Å"rights of offender,† result in the victim feeling that he/she is not secure. It is paramount that the victims should be given their rights and the necessary protection they require. However these rights must be enforced by the courts to be meaningfully. However, as studies show that more rights do not reduce crime, it should be noted that, more rights result in respect and fair treatment of the victims. It is also clear that those who have been victimized require proper therapy and assistance to be able to live a normal life and be able to regain their lost dignity. In the words of Bill Clinton president of America, the government will continue to amend the crime Victims Rights by giving violent crime victims access to information and other rights, but the same time protect the rights of defendants. References Anita, B., and John, P. (1997): Improving Community Response to Crime Victims: An Eight-Step Model for Developing Protocol. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications Congressional Record, (April 25, 2000): (106th Cong., 2nd Sess.), at S2822 (discussing academic research on yearly American criminal prosecutions). Morris, A., Maxwell, G., and Robertson, J. (1993): Giving victims a voice: A New Zealand experiment. Howard Journal of Criminal Justice, 32(4), 301-321. Resick, P. (1987): Psychological effects of victimization: Implications for the criminal justice system. Crime Delinquency, 33(4), 468-478. Roach, K. (1999): Due process and victims rights, Toronto: University of Toronto Press. U.S. Department of Justice, Office for Victims of Crime, New Directions from the Field: Victims Rights, and Services for the 21st Century at 10 (1998); see Committee Report at 13-15.

Choice Of Companies At Pick N Pay Business Essay

Choice Of Companies At Pick N Pay Business Essay Choosing Pick n Pay as the general retailer I would focus on for this project was very easy. Everyday families buy products from different retail stores namely Checkers, Spar, Woolworths and Pick n Pay. Because we are so involved in these shops and have such a limited choice of retail food stores I thought it would be interesting to see their contribution to corporate social responsibility. A lot of consumers are unaware of a businesses behind the scene ethical practices and I think it is important one realises the significance of large groups like The Pick n Pay Holdings limited group to give back to the community and contribute to sustainable projects. Because of such a wide range of socio-economical issues in Africa businesses need to focus on them and be able to sustain that project. I have heard a lot about Pick n Pay contributions to society and often are exposed to it by visiting their shops (bandanas for sale for the sunflower fund). CSR has a huge impact on the businesses p ublic image and I wanted to investigate why people would or would not want to support Pick n Pay as their grocery store. Introduction into businesss micro environment: A sound mission: We serve With our hearts we create a great place to be With our minds we create an excellent place to shop Key values: We nurture leadership and vision, and reward innovation We are passionate about our customers and will fight for their rights We care for, and respect each other We take individual responsibility We support and participate in our communities We are all accountable We live by honesty and integrity (Anonymous n.d) The Pick n Pay Store limited board runs on a flat organisational structure and has the overall responsibility of all the stores. The board consists of eight non-executive directors and five executive directors. Operational responsibility is divided up into three main groups: The Pick n Pay retail division, the Group enterprises division and the Franklin division. Each division has its own management board and they, as the board members believe this structure allows local operations to make decisions, be accountable for their actions and grow personally. Flat organisational structure: Some people in the lower levels are given more responsibility and fewer managers are needed Senior manager Middle managers Workers The company also believes in decentralisation and this means each store is responsible for everything they do, including budgets, marketing and operations. Each business is responsible for everything they do but run overall by the board of the Pick n Pay Holding limited group The board is assisted by groups of specialised people, one of which is the corporate governance group which ensures all the correct structures are in line with both national and international standards and are appropriate and effective Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability: Definition: Corporate social responsibility: CSR is about how companies manage the business processes to produce an overall positive impact on society. (Baker n.d.) Since 2005 Pick n Pay have published an annual report to give to suppliers, customers and employees. This focuses and is dedicated solely to their Corporate Social responsibility and sustainability plans as well as the increasing attention customers are placing on companies to be socially responsibility. Pick n Pay has a dedicated General Manger, Tessa Chamberlin whose specific task is to ensure that their sustainable strategies reach their full potential. In conjunction with this Pick N Pay, in 1990 launched their green range of products AND completed its first environmental inspection. Not only do Pick n Pay focus on outreach and community involvement, they are concerned about the sustainability of where there food products and ingredients come from. Pick n Pay are also involved and are one of the main sponsors in the carbon disclosure project which is aimed at growing and processing organic products. In 2007 Pick n Pay contributed R47 million on social initiatives. Pick N Pay stri ve to be practical on there approach to there responsibility to their consumers and communities in which they operate. Pick n Pay aims: Formulating a vision and action plan that is sustainable Appointing a General Manager that promotes sustainable development R30 million over the next 3 years to encourage broad-based black economic empowerment Investments in promoting staff training and development Looking into some of there other CSR which includes (Broader social responsibility): Activities to reduce our impact on the environment: Projects to conserve energy and water consumption A waste, energy and water assessment study . Initiatives to decrease the impacts of transportation All coolants containing CFCs have been stopped. Investigating further packaging to decrease waste produced Alternative locally produced, and more environmentally friendly Green Bag shopping bags are made available to shoppers. Corporate social investment: Total expenditure on CSI : R46 million Focusing on education and literacy; entrepreneurial development; access to primary health care; assistance to the disabled, street children, Aids sufferers; HIV/Aids prevention and support programmes; road safety; housing; feeding schemes; and sponsoring various sporting events. (Marketing division of Pick n Pay n.d.) Campaigns like the Sunflower Fund for the bone marrow registry, the Kids in Parks initiative; and the Pick n Pay School Club programme. The Board of directors, management and all employees are committed to a high standard of corporate governance. Pick n Pay take pride in moral and ethical business standards. The Pick n Pay Holdings Limited group is committed to transparent business practices. The Board is committed to complying in all material respects with the principles contained in the King II report, as well as to the additional requirements for good corporate governance stipulated in the JSE SRI Index. (Marketing division of Pick n Pay n.d.) King II Report on Corporate Governance King II states: The Board is responsible for the total process of risk management, as well as for forming an opinion on the effectiveness of the process; The Board should set the risk strategy policies in liaison with executive directors, and senior management; The Board must decide the companys appetite or tolerance for risk; The Board should make use of generally recognised risk management and internal control models and frameworks in order to maintain a sound system of risk management and internal control to provide reasonable assurance regarding the achievement of organisational objectives; and The Board is responsible for ensuring a systematic, documented assessment of the processes and outcomes surrounding key risks is undertaken, at least annually, for the purpose of making its public statement. (Marketing division of Pick n Pay n.d.) Is it Sustainable? Although a lot of Pick n Pays CSR is contributing money towards various charities and organisations, I think they are also very involved in the community. They do many projects that run once in a year for example the kids in parks project mentioned above, the Sunflower Fund for the bone marrow registry, the Quadriplegic Association of South Africa (QASA) and the Pick n Pay School Club programme. However all these projects are with -standing and are all still functioning today in society. Socio- Economic issues and strategies used: Although Pick n Pay do a lot of CSR I have decided to focus on one specific project. Pick n Pay are very involved in corporate social responsibility and address almost all socio-economic issues including education, poverty, the environment, sponsorship for sporting events and diseases like cancer (sunflower fund) I have chosen a project called Kids in Parks which Pick n Pay has been involved in and a sponsor of for 5years. This project entails both environmental and local community social responsibility and therefore addresses both environmental and underprivileged children/poverty issues. The Kids in Parks initiative uses money from plastic bag sales at Pick n Pay. R1 from every R5 bag sold is donated to a special environmental fund which is now the financial support for the Kids in Parks project. Because of the 2003 legislation put in place by government people now have to buy plastic bags. Consumers are more aware of the importance of keeping bags to re-use and therefore this has had a huge reduction in the number of plastic bags in circulation and litter in the environment. The sale of over 9 million Pick n Pay Green Bags made it possible for them to make available resources for over 20 000 children to participate in this project. Sixteen national parks are used and Pick n Pay has purchased 3 60 seater buses to transport the underprivileged children from the local community to and from the parks. Pick n Pay also sponsor meals, T- Shirts, goodie bags and equipment needed for the fun day. The children stay overnight in dorms and are provided with all the necessary learning equipment. The Kids in Parks Programme provides a unique opportunity for learners and their educators to visit a national park and learn a lot about natural and cultural heritage. The three-day programme allows for loads of discovery, learning and fun for kids.(South African National Parks 2010) The programme shows the importance of national parks to children from an underprivileged background. The children learn to identify, name and describe different fauna and flora. The children learn about biodiversity and how to sustain and look after our environment. Activities make learners aware of water conservation and also allow children to look into different environmental careers that are available. The Kids in Parks initiative is being phased in over a period of three years. Each year five different parks will welcome ten groups of 50 learners and 2 teachers. This means that eventually a total of 7 500 learners, 300 educators from 150 primary schools will have visited 15 parks. The programme is a partnership between SANParks, Pick n Pay and the departments of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT) and Education (DoE) (South African National Parks 2010) Code of Ethics Pick n Pay ensures that all employees act with the top level of honesty and respect. Pick n Pay was one of the first companies to make a real commitment to corporate social responsibility and they do this by acting in a manner which portrays good corporate governance. They are unbending in their view of their code of Ethics and ensure that all employees follow these rules. New employees are trained and are sensitive to their CSR involvement. Pick n Pay take pride in having in depth knowledge of every aspect of their business, be it operations, interaction with society, environmental involvement and customer satisfaction. This knowledge is always communicated through their comprehensive training schemes in an ethical, honest and respectful manner, whether it is with employees or suppliers, customers and the general public at large. The maintenance and on going development of their code of ethics coupled with their CSR programs is constantly monitored by their board of directors. Any d eviations from their code of ethics are addressed through their disciplinary review procedures. Choice of companies: ] Spur: I chose Spur because it is a well known, well established brand and therefore should be doing corporate social responsibility. Spur has international outlets and are aware of international standards of corporate governance. Spur South Africa has achieved huge growth this year with turnover increasing to over R2.2 billion, is an increase in corporate social responsibility and governance programs responsible for this growth? Spur targets the fast growing middle class population group in South Africa in the family sit down restaurant market. They are in an ideal position to capatalise on this market although there is huge competition in this sector. They should therefore execute social responsibility programs and show good corporate governance to keep their market share. Introduction into businesss micro environment: The Spur Corporation listed on the JSE in 1986 and currently has 240 franchised spur steak ranches The Spur Corporation assists all their franchisees both before and after opening. The well-trained operations team provides consistent back up and support to all franchises. The Spur corporation are very involved in all there franchise companies. This team ensures Spur upholds the brand name and quality food they are expected to provide. The board comprises of one independent non-executive director, three non-executive directors and six executive directors. The board meets twice annually, the non-executive directors can have direct access to management without the directors being present. This allows problems, if they do occur to be sorted out. Spur corporation is centralised as: Marketing- dedicated marketing team that come up with new ideas for all franchises to use such as promotions and flyers Procurement and manufacturing- there is a manufacturing facility which is responsible for the testing of products Training- dedicated team of trainers who ensure that the franchisees and employees have the necessary skills These divisions are headed up at the head office. Because Spur steak ranches is a franchise the board requires all franchisees to remain at the same standard, these operations named above are headed-up at the head office to ensure this does happen. This structure will minimize duplication of effort and documents. Head office Franchisees: Spur Panarottis John Dorys Vision and Mission Our vision is to be the best family sit-down restaurant in the markets in which we trade. Our mission is to be dedicated at all times to our customers and  employees to provide a taste for life for our customers and be a great place to work for our employees. (Spur Corporation,2003) Other micro- environment challenges which Spur has faced in the current year are high rentals, increased costs of electricity rates and taxes, reduced disposable income of customers, high food price inflation and increased wage demands. Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability: Spur Corporation is committed to achieving high standards of corporate governance to protect the interests of the company and its shareholders The group endorses the Code of Corporate Practices and Conduct as exemplified in the King Committee report on Corporate Governance( King 2) Governance structures are continually enhanced to take account of changes within the group and ongoing developments within corporate governance (Spur Corporation,2003) Spur is very conscious and committed to improving the lives of disadvantaged people in South African through the use of there brand. The Spur Corporation assists in the upliftment of the communities focusing mainly on people development through sport. Corporate social responsibility is an essential part of Spur. Spur has established many community-focused events for disadvantaged children. Funds generated from these events are used for a feeding initiative in rural schools. The Spur Corporation in conjunction with Joint Aid Management (Non profit organisation) provides meals to 350000 throughout SA daily. Sport and recreational events: Spur soccer Masidlale (lets play) is a series of one-day soccer learning clinics. National Schools Mountain Biking league receive continued support for the development of young cyclists Spur adventure provides a fun day for the family Rugby development- Spur is committed to transformation at a schools level partnering with FNB to present classic clashes on TV. Spur also sponsor disadvantaged rugby playing schools Annual charity golf tour- raised over R300 000 for the development of underprivileged potential players and food for many schemes HIV/AIDS: an AIDS awareness campaign has been established for the past seven years Spur, because of their adventure image have used sport as their corporate social responsibility outlet. Is it sustainable? These projects are definitely sustainable as they have long term aims of continuing the projects established. . Through sport disadvantaged children are being taught valuable life skills including team work and personal gain. Children will be able to use the skills they learn throughout their lives and will get much enjoyment out of playing sport. Often disadvantaged children are depressed and unhappy and sport can be a recreational outlet for them to enjoy. Socio- Economic issues and strategies used: Spur is very limited in the socio-economic issues they address however I decided to focus on the Spur Soccer Masidlale initiative which uses soccer as a bases to integrate children from all walks of life. This initiative is part of Spur Corporations corporate social investment (CSI) This experience is a fun and interactive. Properly qualified coaches conduct the standardised drill sessions which are followed by a mini-tournament. The Spur Corporation sponsors lunch for all players, soccer kit, equipment as well as the coaches. Every child involved will receive their own soccer ball. Last year the theme of the initiative was Self discipline which is being followed up this year with the theme of Follow your leader This programme ensures the coaches revisit the schools regularly, enforcing the learning experience. Spur has collaborated once again with Joint Aid Management to feed less fortunate children which will also experience the Spur Soccer Masidlale clinics. The aim: To ensure the youth of South Africa maintain a healthy, active lifestyle. This is why Spur has partnered with the Supersport initiative, Lets Play which aims to get children into the outdoors and enjoying the fresh air. Together, with the same direction in mind they want to get children off the streets and playing sport. This project can contribute towards decreasing crime to self esteem issues. Children need a good basis of moral education and programmes like this one can provide this. Sport is fun and one has to work in a team to achieve a common goal. This program encourages children to follow their dream and introduces them to soccer at a young age. This will help them to find their own identity and promote a life free of alcohol and drugs. A participant enjoying a Spur hamburger A team wearing the sponsored soccer kit Eating a Spur hamburger Eating a Spur hamburger Code of Ethics Spur requires all their employees to maintain the highest moral and ethical standards with all stakeholders including 1) relationships with other collegues 2) interaction with suppliers in order to meet stringent supply and food safety requirements 3) Bond with customers 4) enhanced interaction with corporate governance structures and NGO groups 5) establishment of remuneration committees as part of their corporate governance program 6) interaction with employee groups for example labour unions, environmental interest groups and disadvantaged In dealing with all stakeholders Spur adheres to the principles contained in their code of Ethics, these principles are : integrity, honesty and good faith, impartiality, transparency and openness, accountability and responsibility(Spur Corporation,2003) This code of Ethics does not mention CSR but does detail how they go about dealing with society in an ethical, moral manner. Analysis of information, comparison and opinion Pick n Pay and Spur: The outlook for Spur is very positive. There financial performance is underpinned by a sound, well thought out corporate governance program, which includes: an audit committee, remuneration committee, risk committee, nominations committee and operational committee. These groups ensure the running of the company is smooth and the public can then be reassured the company is practicing ethical behavior and good governance. This linked with there proposed restaurant growth in South Africa coupled with the 2010 Fifa world Cup will mean that the potential for Spur to become more involved in CSR is there (more money to contribute and make use of) I think Spur need to make the public more aware of their CSR to boost their public image and therefore, becoming more involved will be an advantage and not seen as money spent without return on investment (ROI) However, the spur corporation as a hole focuses on growth and customers and needs to become aware of the need for the businesses to get more involved in CSR. Pick n Pay are very involved in CSR and show a real interest in giving back and doing good in the community. They show this by doing a broad range of CSR that help many different socio-economic problems. Pick n Pay are involved in projects that are not just once off and require a commitment form the business to be sustainable. The Pick n Pay holdings limited group are encouraging good corporate governance across all stores and this is proven in their code of ethics and CSR programmes. VS Discussion and Conclusion Definition: Corporate governance is the set of processes, customs, laws and institutions affecting the way a corporation (or company) is directed, administrated or controlled. Corporate governance also includes the relationships among the many stakeholders involved and the goals for which the corporation is governed. The principle stakeholders are the shareholders, management, and the board of directors. Other stakeholders include employees, customers, creditors, suppliers, and the community at large. Looking at the evidence presented above Pick n Pay is better governed. Although both companies have corporate governance programs in place one can see that Pick n Pay are more committed to their ethical behavior/ corporate governance and CSR. Spur corporations only uses sport to promote CSR where as Pick n Pay has a comprehensive list of different CSR programs they are involved in. Pick n Pay addresses a range of socio-economic issues like education, poverty, the environment and diseases, Spur focuses on the upliftment of children in South Africa. Pick n pay uses there involvement in so many CSR programmes to promote their positive image to the public and therefore having a good effect on sales. Pick n Pay have an extensive view and plan on promoting both broad based and primary bases social responsibility. They have put together a code to develop the Pick n Pay employees (as seen under the corporate social responsibility and sustainability heading). By being corporate social respons ible Pick n Pay are giving back to the society and the environment and at the same time promoting there good corporate governance. Looking at Pick n Pays social involvement and promoting the well being of their own employees who are encouraged to be ethical and work with integrity Pick n Pay does uphold corporate governance.

computer time structure :: essays research papers

What is the time structure of a computer and, more specifically on-line interactive communities? How does this structure dictate our conformity to the medium and on-line environment and what we gain and/or lose in doing so?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  When we think of modern day technology, such as computers or 2-way pagers, we know that it is all an effort to save â€Å"time†. No longer do we have to go to the library for a small amount of information, now we can just log on the internet. No longer do we have to â€Å"waste time† going to store to buy products, we can just log on the internet and buy it there. No longer do we have to pick up the telephone to call a numerous amount of people to convey a message, we just e-mail everyone. So you see, the computer is suggested to be a time saver, a device that allows you to execute tasks more efficiently and more quickly.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The time structure of a computer is described as this: â€Å"the central processor of the computer contains within it an electronic clock, whose extremely rapid pulses determine when one operation has ended and another is to begin† (J.D. Bolter). This is measured by megahertz or the newest form of speed is called gigahertz. Therefore more tasks can be executed in less time.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The computer clock is somewhat similar to a digital clock based on the fact that it can be used to measure duration, determine the present point in time, and can even act as an alarm clock. The purpose of a clock is to tell time on the outside; however, computer time is internal. The computer has its on time structure when it comes to completing tasks. For example, you might not be able to continue typing a document and save it simultaneously. On the outside, we are looking at the time we have to wait to continue our tasks but in the â€Å"computer’s microworld† this may be normal time passage. As far as the computer is concerned no extra time has been spent to complete the task. We have too many expectations of the time frame of a computer. How many times have we bombarded the computer with so much information that is freezes up or crashes? That is because we want everything to occur at that instant. Which in turn results in a high level of anxiety and anger.

international terrorism :: essays research papers

After reading Martha Crenshaw’s essay on The Causes of Terrorism, thoughts were provoked that allowed me to look at the causes of terrorism from an entirely new perspective. It took my preconceived notions and feelings towards terrorism out of the picture and really let me look at the subject from a balanced point of view. I found this appealing because I have never been able to comprehend how there could be rational justifications to such a harsh reality. It really motivated me to try and understand more about such a complex subject.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   This essay explained settings for terrorism, reasons for terrorism, and individual motivation and participation. All three of which made me think of the America before the constitution, before equal rights were assured to all individuals. These privileges did not come for free; we had to fight for them.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In settings for terrorism, the author talked about subgroups of larger populations that may be discriminated against, or suppressed and not given equal opportunity for political participation. These particular situations may be conducive to terrorist organization and activity. These were some of the same settings for the causes of wars in America’s history, from the American Revolution, to the Civil War. During the American Revolution fighters for their cause were not looked at as terrorist although they did participate in, what was considered at that time to be, unconventional warfare which most consider today to be a personality of terrorism.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Reasons for terrorism are more complex. One intention of a terrorist organization may be to provoke a counter reaction from the government, to increase publicity for the terrorists’ cause, and to demonstrate that criticism of the regime is well founded. The terrorists mean to force the state to show its true repressive face, thereby driving the people into the arms of the challengers. September 11, 2001 was an excellent example of this. After the attacks, Americans were outraged and emotional. Action had to be taken to revenge the lives lost and to ensure our national security. Everyone seemed vulnerable now, more than ever. America’s fight against terrorism led to the invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq, and at the same time America tried to spread democracy in, previously, undemocratic countries. The intention of the Al Qaeda to strike fear in their target population was only the beginning of what they were able to accomplish. Al Qaeda showed the world that their criticism of America’s attempt to force democracy throughout the world was true. international terrorism :: essays research papers After reading Martha Crenshaw’s essay on The Causes of Terrorism, thoughts were provoked that allowed me to look at the causes of terrorism from an entirely new perspective. It took my preconceived notions and feelings towards terrorism out of the picture and really let me look at the subject from a balanced point of view. I found this appealing because I have never been able to comprehend how there could be rational justifications to such a harsh reality. It really motivated me to try and understand more about such a complex subject.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   This essay explained settings for terrorism, reasons for terrorism, and individual motivation and participation. All three of which made me think of the America before the constitution, before equal rights were assured to all individuals. These privileges did not come for free; we had to fight for them.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In settings for terrorism, the author talked about subgroups of larger populations that may be discriminated against, or suppressed and not given equal opportunity for political participation. These particular situations may be conducive to terrorist organization and activity. These were some of the same settings for the causes of wars in America’s history, from the American Revolution, to the Civil War. During the American Revolution fighters for their cause were not looked at as terrorist although they did participate in, what was considered at that time to be, unconventional warfare which most consider today to be a personality of terrorism.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Reasons for terrorism are more complex. One intention of a terrorist organization may be to provoke a counter reaction from the government, to increase publicity for the terrorists’ cause, and to demonstrate that criticism of the regime is well founded. The terrorists mean to force the state to show its true repressive face, thereby driving the people into the arms of the challengers. September 11, 2001 was an excellent example of this. After the attacks, Americans were outraged and emotional. Action had to be taken to revenge the lives lost and to ensure our national security. Everyone seemed vulnerable now, more than ever. America’s fight against terrorism led to the invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq, and at the same time America tried to spread democracy in, previously, undemocratic countries. The intention of the Al Qaeda to strike fear in their target population was only the beginning of what they were able to accomplish. Al Qaeda showed the world that their criticism of America’s attempt to force democracy throughout the world was true.

Organic Food †Is It Worth Its Price? Essay

Organic farming began in the late 1940’s in the United States, and in recent years it has seen a dramatic increase in popularity (Rubin 1). The sales of organic food have been increasing by about 20 percent a year over the past decade (Marcus 1). That is over ten times the rate of their conventional counterparts (Harris 1). There are 10 million consumers of organic food in the United States, yet organic food represents only one percent of the nation’s food supply. This year organic food sales are expected to rise to six billion dollars (Rubin 1). So what is organic food? Organic food is that which are grown without hormones, pesticides, or synthetic fertilizers. Also, the soil in which organic food are grown must be â€Å"clean† for three years (Howe 4). Nearly 70 percent of the American public believes that the organic label on food products means they are safer to eat and better for the environment according to a survey by the National Center for Public Policy (Cummins 1). Organic farming does have its advantages: it conserves water and soil resources, recycles animal waste, releases fewer chemicals, improves soil fertility, promotes diversity of crops, and protects farm workers, livestock, and wildlife from potentially harmful pesticides (Rubin 4). But is organic food safer than conventional foods? Not only can organic food be contaminated with bacteria and pesticides, but also they are more expensive than conventional foods, yet do not offer a better nutritional value or significantly better taste. Sir John Krebs, a zoologist appointed to head the Food Standards Agency in the United Kingdom said that â€Å"people who bought organic food thinking it was safer or more nutritious were wasting their money† (Jones 1). Critics of organic farming claim that it is dangerous, environmentally damaging and, above all, incapable of feeding an overpopulated world because crop yields are lower than in conventional agriculture (Jones 2). If you are looking for health benefits from organic food, save your money. Organic food is not necessarily safer than conventional foods. Eileen White, owner of a health food store that sells organic products, says, â€Å"I can’t guarantee that organic food is safer than regular foods, but that is just a risk that some consumers are willing to take. † ABC’s â€Å"20-20† reported finding higher concentrations of bacteria on organic produce than on conventional produce (Tierney 1). Organic food can be contaminated with salmonella, Listeria, or E. coli. These microorganisms can cause illness and even death (Rubin 2). Also, since organic food is grown with manure, there is a greater risk of bacterial contamination. Animal waste is used as a fertilizer instead of synthetic chemicals on organic food, and this animal waste may contain dangerous bacteria (Tierney 1). Although the manure is composted to kill the bacteria, uncertified farmers may not always follow the proper procedure. Dean Cliver, a professor of food safety at the University of California at Davis, states: â€Å"We know that animals are shedding bacteria that can make people sick if the manure hasn’t been treated properly. Personally, if I knew something was grown with conventional chemical fertilizers, I would feel extra safe. But we don’t have any data to show that organic food is more or less safe† (Tierney 2). Many consumers buy organic food because they think that they are pesticide free, but this is not true. Organic farmers can use natural pesticides such as sulfur, copper, nicotine, and plant extracts (Rubin 2). Synthetic pesticides can also be found on organic food. Synthetic pesticides can be carried by wind, ground water, rain, or soil from other farms to organic farms and contaminate the organic food being grown there (Rubin 2). Eighty-nine to ninety percent of all pesticides drift from their point of application, which increases the risk of nearby areas being exposed (Howe 2). Also, synthetic pesticides used before may not have disappeared from the soil and therefore can contaminate organic crops (Rubin 2). Many people do not notice a significant difference in the taste of organic food and conventional foods. Some organic food taste very different as compared to conventional foods, like organic milk (White). Sue Gebo, author of â€Å"What’s Left to Eat? † explains: â€Å"studies do not show a significant taste difference between organic and conventional crops† (Rubin 3). U. S. News held a blind taste test to determine if organic food tasted better than conventional foods. Winter tomatoes, both organic and conventional, were equally tasteless. Conventional carrots and blueberry yogurt tasted better than their organic counterparts, but organic orange juice tasted better than conventional orange juice (Marcus 3). Agricultural Secretary Dan Glickman states that organic food is no more wholesome or nutritious than conventional foods (Marcus 1). Although organic food is almost completely free from synthetic chemicals found in synthetic foods, they are no richer in vitamins, antioxidants, and other nutrients. They are not less likely to make a person sick either (Marcus 2). The higher grocery price only buys a person peace of mind, not better nutrition. The cost of organic food can be 20 percent to 50 percent more than conventional foods due to limited supply, special handling, and required certification (Rubin 1). All organic food must be produced without synthetic pesticides and genetic engineering. The use of sewage sludge as fertilizer and irradiating food to preserve it will be banned also, as will hormones and antibiotics in organic meat and dairy products (Marcus 1). Not using these technologies makes organic farming more labor intensive, therefore making organic food more expensive. Organic food also has other disadvantages. One disadvantage is a short shelf life. Cereals, breads, nuts, seeds, and oils should be refrigerated. Also, meats cured without nitrates and nitrites should be frozen (Rubin 2). Organic farming also yields fewer crops because insects, weeds, and fungi often damage a larger portion of organic crops than conventionally grown crops (Howe 5). Finally, only about half of the states regulate organic food and little exists to stop organic farmers from labeling any food they wish as â€Å"organic† (Howe 4). Recently, the safety of conventional foods has been questioned. The use of pesticides supplies higher crop yields, reduces the cost and labor of farming, and produces relatively unblemished, visually appealing produce (Howe 3). However, some scientists think that pesticide residues in conventional foods could, over many years, raise the risk of cancer and other illnesses. Hard evidence of this is scarce (Marcus 1). Pesticides are only dangerous if they are present in toxic amounts. Our food supply is safe because the Environmental Protection Agency controls the levels of pesticides used (Rubin 2). A panel of the National Research Council concluded in 1996 that tiny levels of chemicals in the food supply are â€Å"unlikely to pose an appreciable cancer risk† (Tierney 2). A similar report released in the same year by the National Academy of Sciences stated that pesticides pose little risk to humans because they are consumed at such low levels (Rubin 2). The health benefits of eating fruits and vegetables such as lower rates of cancer, stroke, and other diseases far outweigh any potential risks. Still, the thought of pesticides on fruits and vegetables may still concern some consumers, so here are some ways to reduce exposure to pesticides. One should choose foods that are free of dirt, cuts, insect holes, decay, and mold. Also, selecting produce that has thick skins, husks, or hulls (like bananas, melons, and citrus fruits) reduces exposure to pesticides because the skins are harder to permeate. Before eating fruits and vegetables, they should be scrubbed using a hard produce brush and washed under cold water. Cooking or baking foods will also reduce pesticide residues, as will canning, freezing, or drying foods. Finally, one should eat a varied diet to reduce exposure to any single pesticide (Rubin 3). It is foolish for one to believe that just because a product is natural it is better than conventional products. E. coli and other microorganisms are natural too. Organic food is not any safer than conventional foods. They still can contain bacteria and pesticides, and are no more nutritious or delicious than conventional foods. Yet people are still willing to spend nearly twice as much on organic food. If one wants to buy foods that are more environmentally friendly, then organic food would be a good choice; but if one is looking for immediate health benefits, save your money. An apple is an apple, whether it is organic or not, and people should not have to pay twice as much for peace of mind.