The Corporate Citizen

BP criticised for hypocrisy

2008-01-05T07:09:00.000-08:00

Protestors today held a demonstration at the Tate art gallery in London at the apparent hypocrisy of BP.

The oil company was criiticsed for trying to improve its reputation by sponsoring the gallery and a landscape exhibition, while at the same time harming the environment.

BP has worked hard to try an improve its reputation, under its former CEO, Lord Browne, it worked tirelessly to be seen as an next generation enegy company. However many believe this was just a PR exercise as the company was fined over $500 million for failing to maintain its Texas city oil refinery, and $370 million more for an oil pipe leak in Alaska.

BP has been working with the Tate for over 15 years in its attempt to rebrand itself as Beyond Petroleum, instead of British Petroleum, and has previously been criticised for human rights abuses.

Intercall joins Green Alliance

2008-01-03T12:29:00.003-08:00

InterCall, the world's largest conferencing provider, is now a Platinum sponsor of Climate Action, a joint development of Sustainable Development International and the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) promoting environmentally-responsible business.

Through an upcoming book, Web site, and marketing program, InterCall and Climate Action will educate businesses, governments and non-profits on what they can do to reduce their carbon footprint and reduce their impact on climate change. Other environmentally friendly best practices, new technologies and practical initiatives to help companies and governments create a more sustainable business will also be shared in the publication. Features authored by government entities, intergovernmental organisations, the public and the private sector will raise awareness of the latest market trends, environmental threats and opportunities in response to climate change.

Finalists Chosen Sustainability Reporting Awards

2008-01-03T12:28:00.000-08:00

Ceres and the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) today announced the shortlist of candidate reports for the Ceres-ACCA North American Sustainability Reporting Awards for 2007. Of the 87 sustainability reports received, 21 were selected for further consideration by the judges’ panel that meets next month.

The final winners will be announced at the Ceres Annual Conference at the Renaissance Waterfront Hotel in Boston on April 29, and also at an awards ceremony in Vancouver on May 14.Now in its seventh year, the awards program is designed to highlight best practices in reporting on sustainability issues by North American organizations, and to provide guidance to other groups and companies that are publishing or intend to publish sustainability or corporate social responsibility reports.

This year's awards are sponsored by Planet 2050, Weber Shandwick's Corporate Responsibility & Sustainability practice.

New Standard for Forestry-based Carbon Projects

2008-01-03T12:27:00.000-08:00

Futuro Forestal and CO2OL-USA announced today that they are the first private forestry services company worldwide to achieve certification under the new, comprehensive, Carbon Forestry Project Standards promulgated by the Climate, Community & Biodiversity Alliance (CCBA). The CCBA is a partnership between research institutions, corporations and environmental groups, including BP, Conservation International, Intel and the Nature Conservancy. The CCB Standards demonstrate how well-designed land-management projects can deliver compelling financial, environmental and sustainable development benefits in addition to combating climate change.

AT&T Launch New Text Message Donation Program

2008-01-03T12:26:00.001-08:00

AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) has announced a new text messaging program that will support the USO -- and U.S. military families -- with free prepaid phone cards. The program launches at the AT&T Cotton Bowl in Dallas. Beginning Jan. 1, and running through March 31, 2008, customers can make a $2 donation in support of the USO by text messaging USO to short code 740 from their AT&T wireless devices. In addition to text messaging, anyone wishing to support the effort can donate online at http://www.uso.org/cottonbowl08.

Just in Case Inc. to Donate 10,000 JIC Condom Compacts to Women's Non-Profit Groups Nationwide

2008-01-03T12:25:00.001-08:00

Just in Case Inc., is CALLING FOR ENTRIES this month to find non-profit Women's Groups across the nation that serve and empower women. Two organizations from each state will be chosen to receive 100 of their JUST IN CASE compacts.

Just in time for Valentine's Day -- National Condom Day. The 10,000 compact give-away will help raise awareness that safe sex is sexy, and the time to practice safe sex is now. Just in Case, Inc. is a mother/daughter owned business based in Los Angeles. They are taking their product to the masses at a time where cases of AIDS and STD's are skyrocketing and the need for their product is at an all time high. Chic and discreet, JUST IN CASE(R) compacts come with a mirror and hidden compartment that holds two condoms.

Keeping style and discretion paramount in their designs, the gals at JIC are redefining personal care with their product and giving women a reason to carry condoms. Winners of the 2006 International Health and Beauty Packaging Award for Originality, their unique compacts are catching on.

Blackstone.... how to do it wrong.

2008-01-03T10:09:00.000-08:00

BlackStone maybe one of the worlds largest private equity companies, it may own companies such as Hilton and make billions of dollars in profit, but it appears its far too busy to get around to funding it own foundation.

Mark Thomas and Coca Cola

2008-01-03T07:56:00.001-08:00

I have to say I was a little shocked when a I watched a documentary on TV the other day, staing how evil coca cola was. The documetary was conducted by Mark Thomas, who has a long history of uncovering corporate wrongs.

Thomas basically journeyed to third world countries and filmed some of the abuses that Coca Cola was alleged to have conducted.

Coca cola and Exercise TV team up....

2008-01-03T07:54:00.000-08:00

Keen to show that its more than just a soft drink Coca Cola has teamed up with ExerciseTV in germany.

Malaria Consortium announces today three grants

2008-01-02T11:48:00.000-08:00

Malaria Consortium announced today three grants for malaria advocacy to civil society organisations covering twelve African countries.

The Innovation Grants are part of Mobilising for Malaria, an advocacy programme supported by GlaxoSmithKline’s African Malaria Partnership. They aim to boost advocacy efforts to improve Africa-to-Africa accountability for response to malaria suffering on the continent as well inspire African civil society organisations and media to become “leaders” in the fight against malaria in Francophone and Anglophone African countries.

New BP CEO renews environmental committment

2007-11-03T14:30:00.000-07:00

For years Lord Browne, the former CEO of BP worked tirelessly to make the world imagine that BP was much more than an oil company. Browne saw BP as a next generation energy company. The problem being that BP has big problems. It recently received a record fine for the Texas refinery explosion that was cited as being a direct result of lack of investment. Next came a break in the Alaskian pipeline, again as a result of lack of funding. Lord Browne suffered from a common affliction, he believed his own PR.