Posts Tagged ‘Environmental’

Environmental Awareness and Responsibilities

January 18th, 2011 admin
To live in the hearts of our environment, whether in our immediate neighbors and our fellow human beings, we must not only taking into account the costs of our actions. It should also be responsible for them. Our environment affects us in many ways: that which we place on ourselves and what we eat, the quality of our water, air and living space. Environmental conditions have never been so harmful to our health, if there are better options.
This century is a difficult period of exceptional challenge and change. We have seen and experienced great changes in the global economic order. However, people in rich countries are only vaguely aware of these changes. How many of us realize, for example, that the economic crisis are living in some countries more than doubled the number of people in these countries in poverty? Accordingly, we believe that children suffer from malnutrition and health problems increasingly pathetic conditions. Awareness of our activities on the environment, while the responsibility for our actions a big impact in our own backyard could have our planetary system.
SEARO is to enable the whole mission of the organization to the Member States to reduce evidence-based strategies on morbidity, mortality and health risks in the entire health service support and development of newborns, infants and children practice required and develop a means to assess the impact of determine these strategies. Its purpose is to help Member States, environmental concerns and the health of children and infant mortality in the 2 / 3 reduction for 2015 in line with the Millennium Development Goals in the Millennium Declaration.
His vision is a world in which children enjoy the highest attainable standard of health and development, a world that meets their needs, respects and protects, and respects their rights to enable them to live their full potential. Help provide information in a clean and safe environment for children to health or environmental health issues

To live in the hearts of our environment, whether in our immediate neighbors and our fellow human beings, we must not only taking into account the costs of our actions. It should also be responsible for them. Our environment affects us in many ways: that which we place on ourselves and what we eat, the quality of our water, air and living space. Environmental conditions have never been so harmful to our health, if there are better options.
This century is a difficult period of exceptional challenge and change. We have seen and experienced great changes in the global economic order. However, people in rich countries are only vaguely aware of these changes. How many of us realize, for example, that the economic crisis are living in some countries more than doubled the number of people in these countries in poverty? Accordingly, we believe that children suffer from malnutrition and health problems increasingly pathetic conditions. Awareness of our activities on the environment, while the responsibility for our actions a big impact in our own backyard could have our planetary system.
SEARO is to enable the whole mission of the organization to the Member States to reduce evidence-based strategies on morbidity, mortality and health risks in the entire health service support and development of newborns, infants and children practice required and develop a means to assess the impact of determine these strategies. Its purpose is to help Member States, environmental concerns and the health of children and infant mortality in the 2 / 3 reduction for 2015 in line with the Millennium Development Goals in the Millennium Declaration.
His vision is a world in which children enjoy the highest attainable standard of health and development, a world that meets their needs, respects and protects, and respects their rights to enable them to live their full potential. Help provide information in a clean and safe environment for children to health or environmental health issues

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Project and Program Managers’ Environmental Responsibility

November 5th, 2009 admin

Global warming and environmental consciousness is a worldwide concern that encompasses all industries — project management included. With the ongoing debate over balancing technological success with environmental health, project and program managers are called to take action. The question, however, is how. How can project managers go green?

Project and program managers are all responsible for “delivering the goods” — for delivering the products of their projects and programs on time, within budget, and to the required quality standards. For programs, “delivering the goods” also entails the broader aspects of delivering on certain strategic goals within their organization. So, where does environmental consciousness fit into this scheme of “delivering the goods” for their projects and programs?

Here are a few things that can be readily incorporated into the thinking and actions of project and program managers, and how environmental consciousness can be incorporated into any project or program – easily and inexpensively – regardless how the discussions on the issue end up.

1. Establish best practices for recycling. It is usually quite easy to appoint someone at each location to take on this small but significant responsibility.

2. Consider the environment in all decisions. In checklists and meetings, discussions and briefs, papers and documentation, it is not much more effort to include environmental considerations.

3. Practice good conservation of heat and waste management, just as everyone would or should in our homes. This can be facilitated by appointing one team member at each location to take responsibility.

4. Incorporate environmental considerations into any product design. Major changes often spring from one very simple question. Making this a standard item for consideration can have a definite impact on achieving “green design”.

5. Consider the end game on the product of the projects, such as “Will something need to be thrown away?” Doing a little brainstorming about this, perhaps at the same time other considerations are being discussed, can add a little “green consciousness” to everyone’s awareness.

Project and program managers’ ultimate goal is to achieve the results intended and to make sure they are documented correctly. However, it is notable that it is just as easy, if not easier, to execute on these responsibilities and still at all times maintain the highest level of accountability related to the environment. In so doing, project and program managers can leave the political debate to others, but be good “earth citizens” and make a collective contribution to environmental preservation.

John Reiling, PMP, PE, MBA is an experienced Project Manager and certified Project Management Professional. John’s web site, Project Management Training Online provides online project management training for beginning managers and for PMP exam prep and PDUs. John also writes regularly in his blog, PMcrunch.com .

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Responding to a Major Environmental Issue as a Chef

September 25th, 2009 admin

There are many environmental issues that concern everyone nowadays. Many of these problems are basically caused by human activities. Unfortunately, there are some things that you cannot altogether avoid doing. For instance, you cannot totally avoid driving your car. You cannot altogether cease using water or energy. However, there are some things that you can do in order to reduce potential environmental threats. You can deal with one major environmental issue after another. What is important is that you know these problems.

A Chef’s Major Environmental Issue

In truth, all environmental worries concern chefs. No major environmental issue is more important than the others. Of course, there are some problems that probably affect chefs more than others, but this does not change the fact that chefs need to be concern about the environment. They need to do their part in ensuring environmental health.

There are so many problems that concern you as a chef. Of course, all of these problems concern everyone. Some of these problems include global warming, bizarre and erratic climate changes, genetic erosion, habitat destruction, species extinction, coral bleaching, whaling, energy conservation, efficient use of energy, renewable energy, commercialization of renewable energy, genetically engineered pollution, irrigation, meat production, overgrazing, desertification, land pollution, soil erosion, soil conservation, soil contamination, nuclear power, pollution and all its kinds, ozone depletion, natural resources depletion, blast fishing, bottom trawling, illegal logging, deforestation, waste disposal and burials.

No major environmental issue demands more attention than the others. All of these things are your concern. Of course, as a chef, you can only do so much. You can only respond and correct those that are within your immediate control.

Responding to One Major Environmental Issue after Another

The first thing that you have to do in order to respond to environmental problems is to decide to go green. It may seem daunting because this will require lifestyle modifications, but you will eventually adapt to the changes. To make it easier for you, you can start with the simplest things first.

For instance, you can start with changing your light. Use fluorescent bulbs in your kitchen and at home. If everyone will simply choose to change his or her bulbs, just imagine the impact this would create on a major environmental issue. This would significantly reduce pollution. If you have a restaurant, you can still use fluorescent bulbs to create a warm atmosphere.

There are also several things that you can do in the kitchen in order to help resolve a major environmental issue – energy and water wastage. Adopt these activities and make them a habit. You will certainly save water if you will forego rinsing the dishes before you put them in the dishwasher. You will save gallons of water by avoiding rinsing. You will also save a lot of time and energy. As a chef, you call the shots. If you want to help save the environment, then adopt this practice.

Another way to respond to this major environmental issue is to avoid unnecessary kitchen activities like pre-heating the oven. Unless, you are going to bake breads or pastries, you should avoid pre-heating the oven. You can just simply turn it on when you place the dish inside. You will also save energy if you will avoid opening the oven’s door every time you check the dish or the food. It is advisable, therefore, to equip your kitchen with an oven with a window, so you can always just peer through the window whenever you have to check the food.

If you are in charge of menu planning, perhaps you should create a vegetarian day where you will obviously only serve vegetarian meals or dishes. This is a great way to conserve water. Imagine how many gallons of water are needed in order to produce a pound of beef. You basically need about 2,000 gallons of water for one pound. Imagine how much water you would save by devoting one day to vegetables.

Now if you have to purchase vegetables, you should definitely go organic. You will certainly address more than one major environmental issue if you choose to go organic with your purchases. It is also advisable to buy from the local market. Not only will you support the economy but you will also help in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

There are still so many things that you can do as a chef in order to help improve the environment. The little things you do in order to respond to a major environmental issue matter.

Pro Chef 360 – Created and maintained by the culinary minded

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10 Reasons Why You Must Improve the Environmental Performance of Your Business

August 21st, 2009 admin

1. You are wasting money

Between 2006 and 2008 I carried out simple half-day environmental health checks in 26 businesses ranging from catering through printing, engineering and construction to major pharmaceutical companies. I identified an average saving in waste, raw material, energy and water costs of £175,000 per annum, per company. And those health checks barely scratched the surface.

One of my favourite definitions of waste is ‘anything you buy that you cannot sell’ . Savings from cutting waste (whether that is wasted materials, energy or water) comes straight off your bottom line. If your profit margin is 25%, every £1 saved in this way is equivalent to £4 worth of new sales. And unlike cutting staff, cutting waste costs improves rather than detracts from your ability to deliver value to your customers.

2. The true cost of your waste can be immense

I despair at the number of businesses who go to great lengths to manufacture a high value product and then reverse a forklift truck into it or spill it on the floor during packaging. Most businesses know how much waste costs to dispose of, but the true cost of this type of waste is much higher as it includes:

• Disposal costs;
• Raw material costs;
• Energy and other utility costs for manufacturing;
• Labour costs both from the original manufacturing and the clean up;
• The cost of the disruption required to fulfil orders including knock-on effects on other orders;
• Opportunity costs of not being able to sell that product;
• Opportunity costs from poor customer satisfaction (eg lost future orders).

3. Your energy, water and waste costs are rising

Energy costs doubled between June 2007 and 2008. Waste costs continue to rise as landfill tax escalates and the type of materials that can be landfilled are restricted. Indications from the government are that it will continue increasing the Landfill Tax by £8 per tonne each year up to a level of at least £48 per tonne (from £32 per tonne today). In areas such as the South East of England, water resources are becoming ever more scarce so costs are rising. Doing nothing on environment performance means going backwards rather than standing still.

4. Your customers or clients demand it

If you sell to the public, certain markets are going solidly green. The proportion of white goods rated A for energy efficiency sold has risen from 0 to 76% in the ten years to 2006. 70% of baby food sold in the UK is now organic.

If you sell to other businesses, then your environmental performance becomes their environmental performance. Increasingly larger organisations are demanding information on suppliers’ performance and Local Authorities and other public sector bodies are turning to ‘green procurement’ to meet Government targets.

5. Your compliance costs are rising

There are literally hundreds of pieces of environmental legislation being drafted in the EU and the UK Government. Continually shifting incrementally to keep ahead of the law is an expensive hobby whereas eradicating problems completely is cheaper in the long run and keeps you miles ahead of the lawmakers.

Regulators such as the Environment Agency are increasingly taking a risk based approach to enforcement. If you routinely store hazardous materials, or they regard your practices as poor, they’ll be knocking on your door much more often than if you have eradicated the hazards and have tip top housekeeping.

6. You may be risking prosecution

Every three years the Environment Agency surveys small business’ attitudes to the environment. In 2005 only 18% could name one piece of environmental legislation that affects them, even though every company must comply with several pieces of legislation, for example, waste management regulations .

And it is not just small business who are at risk. In the last year, I have had several arguments with major household names who have misunderstood the scope of the Waste Electronic and Electrical Equipment (WEEE). I really had to browbeat them into accepting that they were breaking the law, faced prosecution and the resulting PR fall out.

7. You are missing out on a great PR opportunity

With all the media attention on environmental issues, good environmental performance gives you a great opportunity to get good news stories into the media and advertising. Good solid green PR will impress the public, the pressure groups, your clients and customers and the regulators.

8. Pressure groups may give you a nasty surprise

In 2007, Apple Computers had it all. From their stylish iMac and MacBook computers to the revolutionary and must-have iPod and rumours of a phone abounding, their fashionable, cutting edge image appeared unassailable. That was until Greenpeace put them bottom of an environmental league table of electronics companies and set up a parody of Apple’s website to detail their environmental infractions . Apple’s legendary CEO Steve Jobs at first dismissed the campaign, but only instigated a stronger backlash . Jobs then realised the precarious position he was in, with Apple’s hip image at serious risk. He did a swift u-turn, launching a radical programme to improve environmental performance and publicised it on the company’s home page for a month.

If you are a high profile business (eg a high street retailer, an energy company, a major construction company, a motor manufacturer, a producer of household goods or in the primary sector – mining, oil, gas, forestry etc), then you are at direct risk from environmental and human rights pressure groups. These groups need high profile campaigns like the Apple example to make the mainstream media take notice and are always looking for a ‘tall poppy’ to target. If you are a smaller business, but you do business with a high profile client, then pressure groups will hold them responsible for your environmental sins. This is a very easy way to lose a major customer.

9. Your staff want you to do it

Environmental and CSR initiatives are a determining factor in employee retention and engagement rates according to the Chartered Institute for Personnel and Development (CIPD). In the US, a survey of over 4,000 people carried out by recruitment job site MonsterTRAK found that 80 per cent of young professionals are interested in securing a job that has a positive impact on the environment. Meanwhile, over 90 per cent claimed they would prefer to work for an environmentally friendly employer. In the UK, a survey of 5,000 job hunters showed that 43% would not work for a firm which had no ethical or environmental policies, even if they were offered £10,000 a year more than to work for a business with a sense of corporate social responsibility.

10. Your competitors are doing it

The 2005 NetRegs survey found that 71% of businesses had made at least one practical step to improve their environmental performance . Some sectors have seen green issues come right to the fore eg the current great green supermarket wars where Marks & Spencer, Tesco and Sainsbury’s are fighting it out to get the best green image. Sir Timothy Leahy went on the record this year to say that Tesco’s plans would not be affected by the ‘credit crunch’ as he believed consumers’ values would not change . He sees this as a serious part of maintaining Tesco’s competitive advantage over its rivals.

If your competitors have a better environmental performance than you, then compared to you they will:

• Have lower operating costs and either a higher profit margin or a more competitive pricing structure;
• Be more robust to future change: new legislation, green taxation, and customer demand;
• Have better PR and marketing opportunities;
• Have better motivated employees and will be attracting the best new recruits;
• Have less risk of prosecution, NGO campaigns and a lighter touch from the regulators.

Well, they’d be mad not to, wouldn’t they?

Gareth Kane is Director of Environmental and Sustainability Consultancy Terra Infirma. In his 11 years experience in the field, he has helped 100s of companies cut 100 000s tonnes of waste and save millions.

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Connecting with the Environment Intensely – Environmental Graduate Programs Distance Learning

July 25th, 2009 admin

Environmental graduate programs distance learning are intensive interdisciplinary programs that involve the students in social, political and educational perspectives on the environment. The range of environmental courses offered in the different universities by distance learning include environmental biology, environmental architecture/design, environmental control technologies, environmental education, environmental engineering technology, environmental health engineering, environmental psychology and environmental health. A few universities stipulate that the student opt for electives such as computer and telecommunication skills, programs in leadership, human development and family studies, enroll for an internship and submit a thesis. The programs aim to give the student theoretical foundations of environmental education and a practical means of applying the theory to daily living.

Course Content: Environmental Graduate Programs Distance Learning

The courses are constructed around the philosophy that the student needs to develop his understanding of the environment and must be equipped with skills that enable him to design and deliver environmental information as an agent of creative change. The theoretical foundations of environmental education and communication are considered an integral part of learning. Analysis and tools for analysis are considered essential for a student tackling environmental issues of the age. All the environmental graduate programs distance learning are directed towards equipping the student with the necessary skills to provide viable solutions to the environmental problems facing mankind today.

Graduate Programs by Distance Learning

Fischler School of Education and Human Services associated with The Nova Southeastern University, Florida offers an MS in Environmental studies. The Royal Roads University is a member of the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada, the Association of Commonwealth Universities and the Business Council of British Columbia. It offers a Graduate Certificate and Graduate Diploma program in Environmental Education and communication. It also has a full Master of Arts degree on the subject. The Institute of Global Education offers MS and PhD degrees in Integrated Ecology and Nature. The focus of the course is on building socially and environmentally responsible relationships. The degree is accredited to the West Coast University by International council for Open and Distance Education recognized by UNESCO and UNO. The University of Denver, the Nicholos school of Environment and Earth sciences, the Southern Methodist University, the University of Connecticut, the University of Florida and the University of Alabama are some of the other universities which offer environmental graduate programs distance learning.

The depth and range of environmental studies is only limited by the imagination of the student and the resources of the University. The student can skim the surface of the subject by selecting a broad based program or drill down to the depth on a single topic by selecting a specialized area of study. The student is the best judge of his area of interest.

Jim Zorn is web master of the Guide to Distance Learning. Please visit to learn more about online colleges and universities, distance learning degrees, majors and courses offered.

http://www.guide-to-distance-learning.com/index.html

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