Healthcare: Not just another business

Health | Ano Lobb | Friday 20th November 2009

A reader comment on a posting about electronic medical records (EMR) suggests that medicine needs to follow other industries into the digital age. This is likely inevitable: Medical record keeping is bound to become more digitized over time. The primary reasons are monetary: It facilitates the generation of bills to send to patients and payers, the jury is still out on whether it increases quali
Read More

Leading News and Opinion

	What's killing our youth Health \| Ano Lobb \| Monday 19th October 2009 A new study in the venerable medical publication The Lancet has for the first time systematically analyzed the principle causes of death among adolescents and young adults around the globe. This may seem like a rather pessimistic topic for discussion, but before investigating solutions that bolster health, we need to understand what threatens health. This will be the first in a series of entries here at Justmeans and at our companion health blog that will look at global threats to children's health. The Lancet study analyzed death rates among people aged 10 to 24 years in 78 countries during 2004. Countries were divided into two groups: high-income countries, and low- and middle-income countries. Worldwide, 2.6 million deaths occurred among the 1.8 billion people in this age group, 97% in low and middle income regions, and roughly 60% in sub-Saharan Africa and southeast Asia. The principle killers? Diseases (primarily HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, lower respiratory tract infection, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and neuropsychiatric disorders), and injuries (the major ones being traffic accidents, fire, drowning, violence and suicide). Communicable diseases were a leading cause of death among females, responsible for 48% of deaths in this age group (7% were maternity related). Among males, injuries were the leading cause, responsible for 51% of death. Unintentional and intentional injuries accounted for more than 2 in 5 deaths among males and females. Read More

	Does Your Social Venture Have Founder's Syndrome? Social Enterprise \| Marcia Stepanek \| Friday 16th October 2009 At the start of any social enterprise, the drive and vision of the founder is key: when it comes to social problem-solving, the founder is often on a crusade that has become personal and passionate. But what happens when the founder won't step out of the way of his own staff to help the organization scale? Once more today, I heard about a social enterprise CEO who was able to score some promising buy-in from potential marketers and foundations—only to end up dooming the organization after several months because he wouldn't let his newly hired staff execute on strategy. He ended up stifling innovation, staff development, and brand awareness with his inability to yield control. His lack of focus and unwillingness to abide by his staff's efforts to work with him (or around him) ended up threatening the venture's access to capital and the venture failed to make the transition from pet project to sustainable enterprise. Do you have a similar story to share? How can social ventures benefit from the vision and energy of their founders without sacrificing their ability to scale and attract/retain top talent and capital? How might recruiting a board help reign in a CEO unwilling to be challenged? Read More

	Going Green: The Hollywood Effect Ethical Consumption \| Caitlin Chock \| Friday 16th October 2009 Not too long ago the concept of 'going green' may have sparked images of a painting project gone awry, but nowadays, it seems that eco-friendly has almost become a fad. Everyone from Al Gore to Ashton Kutcher are speaking up about the importance of renewable resources and how to better protect our environment. Hollywood has blazed the way in creating a platform to urge the public to become more ethical consumers. It's ironic that a hole in the ozone layer isn't enough to sway public opinion, but when voiced from their favorite celebrities ears perk up. Take that same attitude to the business level, and now mass supermarkets such as Winco and Albertsons are promoting reusable shopping bags and even sometimes offer up discounts to shoppers who bring their own bags. How refreshing this must feel to those among us who have been dutifully recycling our cans and paper products for years. Living in Oregon, it's not an uncommon sight to see multiple colored bins depicting just which recyclable product goes where lining the streets come garbage day. Yet upon traveling outside of the 'Green' State, I was hard pressed to find even one house on the block who separated their papers from their plastics, let alone the reusable from the dinner left-overs. Read More

	Social Enterpreneurs: Who's Left Out? Social Enterprise \| Marcia Stepanek \| Thursday 15th October 2009 There's a growing debate in the social enterprise world, not only about who's a social entrepreneur but about who's being left out of the club. True, the exceptions and misconceptions abound, but the debate settles around two main points -- that unless you're a Caucasian and unless you're an MBA, it's tougher to get support for your good work trying to start a social enterprise. Is that fair? Consider the arguments. The first point being raised by some across the sector is that MBAs seem to be preferred by social ventures and the foundations willing to fund aspiring social entrepreneurs. Employers, the argument goes, also seem to prefer MBAs, but the truth is that not everyone who can make a difference or start a social enterprise can afford business school -- nor think they should have to get an MBA in order to get funding to develop their ideas. "I have no MBA nor do I want one," says Martin Montero, the founder of Austin Social Innovation Fund. Montero tweeted me the other day in response to one of my queries about an October 15 story in the Wall Street Journal that cites the surge of interest by business school students in "socially-responsible money-making." The article also notes how business schools are being pushed to create a whole host of courses and study tracks to help MBA students sort out the best way to build companies that both make money and help to solve social problems. Montero and others, including a number of Justmeans community members who messaged me earlier this week, said the fuss over socially-minded MBAs tends to leave out a great deal of people who are not in business school but who already have been making a big difference in the sector. " We most definitely need more non-MBA social entrepreneurs," Montero wrote. Read More

	Lack of Sleep Causing Hypertension in Women Health \| Justmeans Staff \| Thursday 15th October 2009 Did you know that women are more prone to insomnia than men? Health studies have related this condition in women with premenstrual phase, reproductive and menopause cycle. Even sex hormones have been held responsible for causing insomnia in women to some extent. Health risks associated with sleep deprivation in women is also more in comparison to men. If they sleep for less than 7 hours per day, they become more prone to hypertension which leads to cardiovascular problems. It has been proved that the level of Interleukin-6 (marker related to coronary heart disease) is usually lower in women who sleep for approximately 8 hours. But the level of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) that predicts future cardiovascular morbidity is high in women who get to sleep for five hours or less. Due to the rise in stress levels, people are either facing difficulty in sleeping, waking up at night or waking up very early in the morning. Several psychiatric disorders are linked to difficulties in getting proper sleep. Lack of sleep in some women also emerges secondary to menstrual symptoms such as headache, bloating, tenderness of breasts or cramps. Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) also affects the chances of getting sound sleep. Some studies reveal the side effects of sleep deprivation in women while other studies reveal the negative effects of sleeping more than nine hours. If postmenopausal women sleep for more than nine hours, there are chances of them getting ischemic strokes. The risk is 60-70% higher in women who have gone through menopause as compared to women who sleep less than nine hours. Read More

	Sip Organic Coffee and Save the Environment Sustainable Food \| Justmeans Staff \| Thursday 15th October 2009 Did you know that the sale of organic coffee takes a third of all organic beverage sales in the United States? In 2008, import of organic coffee was the most valuable of all organic imports to North America. Valued at approximately 1.3 billion dollars, the import of organic coffee to North American market has increased 12% in the last year. So, what is special about organic coffee? According to farming experts, production of organic coffee can be considered a special practice for environment conservation. It can be effective in protecting the environment from harmful chemicals and fertilizers that cause soil erosion by polluting and destroying the groundwater. Apart from protecting the environment, production of organic coffee also reduces the chances of farmers getting cancer and other degenerative diseases. Due to the rise in consumer demands for products that are healthy for the body as well as the environment, production of organic food and beverages have been encouraged in the last few years. With the concept of sustainable food catching up in countries across the world, beverage manufacturers are realizing the benefits of going green. Coffee farmers are being encouraged to prefer organic farming methods so that less harm is caused to the soil and consumer demands are also fulfilled. The concept of organic coffee farming is catching up and emphasis is also being placed on composting, recycling, biological activities of the farm and health of the soil used for growing coffee. This contributes to the long term protection of the farms as well as the environment. It is notable that the initial investment required for growing organic coffee is less as compared to the traditional crop. This is because there is no upfront purchase of pesticides and synthetic fertilizers involved. Read More

	Sticking to Meatless Mondays for Health Health \| Justmeans Staff \| Thursday 15th October 2009 Health experts believe that risks related to curable chronic diseases such as diabetes, cancer, obesity and cardiovascular problems can be reduced by avoiding meat products once every week. For people like me who consume meat in their daily diet, it might be a difficult task to follow. However, one can't deny that fact that one meatless day followed by millions of people across the world can help save essential resources like fossil fuel and fresh water. Sticking to fresh and healthy vegetables instead of meat can have several benefits. Did you know that approximately one-fifth of greenhouse gas emission caused by human activities is generated from the meat industry? Even more than the pollution caused by vehicles, emission from the meat industry is causing serious issues. With the annual demand for meat products rising all over the world, the situation may worsen in the coming years. In order to make consumers aware of the benefits to skip meat consumption for a day, an international campaign named, Meatless Mondays have been started. It encourages consumers, especially meat lovers to not have meat on Mondays so that they enjoy the benefits of healthy vegetarian food and also protect the environment. Read More

	Sustainable Investment Moving Mainstream Sustainable Finance \| Justmeans Staff \| Thursday 15th October 2009 The concept of sustainable finance seems to be moving mainstream. Often considered as a mean to meet social and environmental concerns, sustainable investment is gaining tremendous popularity in all sectors. Thanks to the much needed push from the PRI (Principles for Responsible Investment) backed by the United Nations, more companies and investors have realized the benefits of going green. The present need for companies across the world is to follow the lead of successful green companies in order to invent, design and sell sustainable products and services to the consumers. Countries are encouraging investments in solar and renewable energy as these sectors hold tremendous potential for creating thousands of jobs. New regulations are being welcomed that will provide a stable environment for investment from all sectors. Many countries have created sustainable investment opportunities under which companies can enjoy transparency in rules and get the required information for investment in green economies. Besides investment companies and banks, common people can also choose stocks from green companies for investing their money. Green companies also include startups that are involved in the creation of solar panels or bio-fuels. Green stocks and bonds are playing an important role in economic, environmental and social development. Recently, with the help of green bonds, approximately 350 million dollars were raised by the World Bank. These bonds were meant for funding emission reduction projects in the developing countries and offering good returns to the investors. With the issuance of these bonds, approximately 350 million dollars were collected in the first wave. In partnership with Swedish bank SEB, these bonds of low carbon projects in developing nations were issued to several Scandinavian investors. Once the bonds mature after duration of six years, investors will get competitive returns at the rate 3.15% per annum. Read More

	How Are Social Enterprises Changing the World? Social Enterprise \| Justmeans Staff \| Thursday 15th October 2009 The prospect of making money yet making a difference can be very appealing. The failure of private sector in addressing serious social and environmental issues has led to the emergence of non-profit organizations, commonly referred to as social enterprises. Money can't be considered the sole requirement to combat such issues; however, it certainly plays an important role in the implementation of solutions. Social enterprises also make profit but unlike the private sector, the profit is reinvested for the upliftment of communities. Social enterprises all across the globe have been involved in changing the world. From creating employment opportunities to reduce poverty to providing affordable education to children from all walks of life, one can't deny the importance of social enterprises in an economy. When it comes to the access of affordable education, Aspire Public Schools has been playing an important role in the US. This non-profit organization is involved in the establishment and operation of quality charter schools all over California. Charter schools are free from any education bureaucracy and regulations applied by the state. In turn, the school is responsible for fiscal solvency and student achievements. This organization has been working hard towards the reinforcement of the possibility that every child can go to college. Read More

	How Green Are Your Green Products? Ethical Consumption \| Justmeans Staff \| Thursday 15th October 2009 There are thousands of consumers across the world claiming to have joined the sustainable and ethical bandwagon by purchasing eco-friendly products. From potato chips fried in organic cooking oil to cars that don't pollute, companies are bombarding us with products labeled as 'ethical' every other day. It is great to know that business organizations are also embracing the concept of ethical consumption; however, one can't help but wonder if the products claiming to be green are really green? With consumers demanding eco-friendly products, manufacturers are trying to turn 'green' in order to cash in on the current market conditions. But not everything marketed with an eco-spin is good for our planet. Sadly, a large number of companies claiming to be green and eco-friendly are misleading the consumers. You may have spent extra bucks on buying green products but it may not be as eco- friendly as you thought. So what are consumers to do? Do we need to go through the corporate record of each and every company we choose for buying products? Experts believe that instead of spending time on research, consumers can consider few guidelines so that they end up buying products that will make a difference to the planet. Currently, labels for 'non-toxic' or 'natural' are not regulated and companies can use them for their products. Therefore, we can look for products that are labeled as 'recycled' or 'organic' because these labels are provided to companies only when the federal government verifies it. Sometimes reading the ingredients of a product will also help consumers know whether or not the said ingredients have been used in it. Don't go for the packaging with soft and clean designs. It might have been used to mislead you. There are chances that if a claim made by a product is too good to be true, it probably is. In case the required information is not present on the label, look for it on the company's website. Look for some trustworthy certifications on products and buy in bulk to reduce individual packaging. After all wouldn't you like to spend money on something that helps you and your environment instead of money making companies? Read More

Previous | 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 | Next

Quick Updates

Cisco's investment in 21st century education
Michael Stevenson, Cisco VP, Global Education, on Cisco's investment in education and how it facilitates system change.

ISSP Sustainability Professionals Need to Know Beate Weber
Darcy Hitchcock talks with Beate Weber, former mayor of Heidelberg, Germany about the profession.

Staples Receives Covalence Ethical Ranking 2008
Staples was ranked 40th on Geneva-based Covalence's 2008 Ethical Ranking list.

Pepperidge Farm "Create a House, Build a Home" Spreads Holiday Cheer
Pepperidge Farm Donates $50,000 to Help Habitat for Humanity Families in Need

Summer 2009 Summer 2009
What is a green job?

Don Shaffer at Economics of Peace Conference
RSF's President CEO, Don Shaffer, at the opening of The Economics of Peace Conference in Sonoma, California.

Climate Counts Company Scorecard Report, Nov 2009
Consumers and Companies Together Fighting to Stop Climate Change

Climate Counts 2009 3rd annual score release
The 2009

Don Shaffer at Economics of Peace Conference
RSF's President CEO, Don Shaffer, at the opening of The Economics of Peace Conference in Sonoma, California.

Climate Counts Nov 2009 Score Summary Climate Counts Nov 2009 Score Summary
Summary of 3rd annual scores for 90 companies

	What's killing our youth Health \| Ano Lobb \| Monday 19th October 2009 A new study in the venerable medical publication The Lancet has for the first time systematically analyzed the principle causes of death among adolescents and young adults around the globe. This may seem like a rather pessimistic topic for discussion, but before investigating solutions that bolster health, we need to understand what threatens health. This will be the first in a series of entries here at Justmeans and at our companion health blog that will look at global threats to children's health. The Lancet study analyzed death rates among people aged 10 to 24 years in 78 countries during 2004. Countries were divided into two groups: high-income countries, and low- and middle-income countries. Worldwide, 2.6 million deaths occurred among the 1.8 billion people in this age group, 97% in low and middle income regions, and roughly 60% in sub-Saharan Africa and southeast Asia. The principle killers? Diseases (primarily HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, lower respiratory tract infection, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and neuropsychiatric disorders), and injuries (the major ones being traffic accidents, fire, drowning, violence and suicide). Communicable diseases were a leading cause of death among females, responsible for 48% of deaths in this age group (7% were maternity related). Among males, injuries were the leading cause, responsible for 51% of death. Unintentional and intentional injuries accounted for more than 2 in 5 deaths among males and females. Read More

	Does Your Social Venture Have Founder's Syndrome? Social Enterprise \| Marcia Stepanek \| Friday 16th October 2009 At the start of any social enterprise, the drive and vision of the founder is key: when it comes to social problem-solving, the founder is often on a crusade that has become personal and passionate. But what happens when the founder won't step out of the way of his own staff to help the organization scale? Once more today, I heard about a social enterprise CEO who was able to score some promising buy-in from potential marketers and foundations—only to end up dooming the organization after several months because he wouldn't let his newly hired staff execute on strategy. He ended up stifling innovation, staff development, and brand awareness with his inability to yield control. His lack of focus and unwillingness to abide by his staff's efforts to work with him (or around him) ended up threatening the venture's access to capital and the venture failed to make the transition from pet project to sustainable enterprise. Do you have a similar story to share? How can social ventures benefit from the vision and energy of their founders without sacrificing their ability to scale and attract/retain top talent and capital? How might recruiting a board help reign in a CEO unwilling to be challenged? Read More

	Going Green: The Hollywood Effect Ethical Consumption \| Caitlin Chock \| Friday 16th October 2009 Not too long ago the concept of 'going green' may have sparked images of a painting project gone awry, but nowadays, it seems that eco-friendly has almost become a fad. Everyone from Al Gore to Ashton Kutcher are speaking up about the importance of renewable resources and how to better protect our environment. Hollywood has blazed the way in creating a platform to urge the public to become more ethical consumers. It's ironic that a hole in the ozone layer isn't enough to sway public opinion, but when voiced from their favorite celebrities ears perk up. Take that same attitude to the business level, and now mass supermarkets such as Winco and Albertsons are promoting reusable shopping bags and even sometimes offer up discounts to shoppers who bring their own bags. How refreshing this must feel to those among us who have been dutifully recycling our cans and paper products for years. Living in Oregon, it's not an uncommon sight to see multiple colored bins depicting just which recyclable product goes where lining the streets come garbage day. Yet upon traveling outside of the 'Green' State, I was hard pressed to find even one house on the block who separated their papers from their plastics, let alone the reusable from the dinner left-overs. Read More

	Social Enterpreneurs: Who's Left Out? Social Enterprise \| Marcia Stepanek \| Thursday 15th October 2009 There's a growing debate in the social enterprise world, not only about who's a social entrepreneur but about who's being left out of the club. True, the exceptions and misconceptions abound, but the debate settles around two main points -- that unless you're a Caucasian and unless you're an MBA, it's tougher to get support for your good work trying to start a social enterprise. Is that fair? Consider the arguments. The first point being raised by some across the sector is that MBAs seem to be preferred by social ventures and the foundations willing to fund aspiring social entrepreneurs. Employers, the argument goes, also seem to prefer MBAs, but the truth is that not everyone who can make a difference or start a social enterprise can afford business school -- nor think they should have to get an MBA in order to get funding to develop their ideas. "I have no MBA nor do I want one," says Martin Montero, the founder of Austin Social Innovation Fund. Montero tweeted me the other day in response to one of my queries about an October 15 story in the Wall Street Journal that cites the surge of interest by business school students in "socially-responsible money-making." The article also notes how business schools are being pushed to create a whole host of courses and study tracks to help MBA students sort out the best way to build companies that both make money and help to solve social problems. Montero and others, including a number of Justmeans community members who messaged me earlier this week, said the fuss over socially-minded MBAs tends to leave out a great deal of people who are not in business school but who already have been making a big difference in the sector. " We most definitely need more non-MBA social entrepreneurs," Montero wrote. Read More

	Lack of Sleep Causing Hypertension in Women Health \| Justmeans Staff \| Thursday 15th October 2009 Did you know that women are more prone to insomnia than men? Health studies have related this condition in women with premenstrual phase, reproductive and menopause cycle. Even sex hormones have been held responsible for causing insomnia in women to some extent. Health risks associated with sleep deprivation in women is also more in comparison to men. If they sleep for less than 7 hours per day, they become more prone to hypertension which leads to cardiovascular problems. It has been proved that the level of Interleukin-6 (marker related to coronary heart disease) is usually lower in women who sleep for approximately 8 hours. But the level of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) that predicts future cardiovascular morbidity is high in women who get to sleep for five hours or less. Due to the rise in stress levels, people are either facing difficulty in sleeping, waking up at night or waking up very early in the morning. Several psychiatric disorders are linked to difficulties in getting proper sleep. Lack of sleep in some women also emerges secondary to menstrual symptoms such as headache, bloating, tenderness of breasts or cramps. Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) also affects the chances of getting sound sleep. Some studies reveal the side effects of sleep deprivation in women while other studies reveal the negative effects of sleeping more than nine hours. If postmenopausal women sleep for more than nine hours, there are chances of them getting ischemic strokes. The risk is 60-70% higher in women who have gone through menopause as compared to women who sleep less than nine hours. Read More

	Sip Organic Coffee and Save the Environment Sustainable Food \| Justmeans Staff \| Thursday 15th October 2009 Did you know that the sale of organic coffee takes a third of all organic beverage sales in the United States? In 2008, import of organic coffee was the most valuable of all organic imports to North America. Valued at approximately 1.3 billion dollars, the import of organic coffee to North American market has increased 12% in the last year. So, what is special about organic coffee? According to farming experts, production of organic coffee can be considered a special practice for environment conservation. It can be effective in protecting the environment from harmful chemicals and fertilizers that cause soil erosion by polluting and destroying the groundwater. Apart from protecting the environment, production of organic coffee also reduces the chances of farmers getting cancer and other degenerative diseases. Due to the rise in consumer demands for products that are healthy for the body as well as the environment, production of organic food and beverages have been encouraged in the last few years. With the concept of sustainable food catching up in countries across the world, beverage manufacturers are realizing the benefits of going green. Coffee farmers are being encouraged to prefer organic farming methods so that less harm is caused to the soil and consumer demands are also fulfilled. The concept of organic coffee farming is catching up and emphasis is also being placed on composting, recycling, biological activities of the farm and health of the soil used for growing coffee. This contributes to the long term protection of the farms as well as the environment. It is notable that the initial investment required for growing organic coffee is less as compared to the traditional crop. This is because there is no upfront purchase of pesticides and synthetic fertilizers involved. Read More

	Sticking to Meatless Mondays for Health Health \| Justmeans Staff \| Thursday 15th October 2009 Health experts believe that risks related to curable chronic diseases such as diabetes, cancer, obesity and cardiovascular problems can be reduced by avoiding meat products once every week. For people like me who consume meat in their daily diet, it might be a difficult task to follow. However, one can't deny that fact that one meatless day followed by millions of people across the world can help save essential resources like fossil fuel and fresh water. Sticking to fresh and healthy vegetables instead of meat can have several benefits. Did you know that approximately one-fifth of greenhouse gas emission caused by human activities is generated from the meat industry? Even more than the pollution caused by vehicles, emission from the meat industry is causing serious issues. With the annual demand for meat products rising all over the world, the situation may worsen in the coming years. In order to make consumers aware of the benefits to skip meat consumption for a day, an international campaign named, Meatless Mondays have been started. It encourages consumers, especially meat lovers to not have meat on Mondays so that they enjoy the benefits of healthy vegetarian food and also protect the environment. Read More

	Sustainable Investment Moving Mainstream Sustainable Finance \| Justmeans Staff \| Thursday 15th October 2009 The concept of sustainable finance seems to be moving mainstream. Often considered as a mean to meet social and environmental concerns, sustainable investment is gaining tremendous popularity in all sectors. Thanks to the much needed push from the PRI (Principles for Responsible Investment) backed by the United Nations, more companies and investors have realized the benefits of going green. The present need for companies across the world is to follow the lead of successful green companies in order to invent, design and sell sustainable products and services to the consumers. Countries are encouraging investments in solar and renewable energy as these sectors hold tremendous potential for creating thousands of jobs. New regulations are being welcomed that will provide a stable environment for investment from all sectors. Many countries have created sustainable investment opportunities under which companies can enjoy transparency in rules and get the required information for investment in green economies. Besides investment companies and banks, common people can also choose stocks from green companies for investing their money. Green companies also include startups that are involved in the creation of solar panels or bio-fuels. Green stocks and bonds are playing an important role in economic, environmental and social development. Recently, with the help of green bonds, approximately 350 million dollars were raised by the World Bank. These bonds were meant for funding emission reduction projects in the developing countries and offering good returns to the investors. With the issuance of these bonds, approximately 350 million dollars were collected in the first wave. In partnership with Swedish bank SEB, these bonds of low carbon projects in developing nations were issued to several Scandinavian investors. Once the bonds mature after duration of six years, investors will get competitive returns at the rate 3.15% per annum. Read More

	How Are Social Enterprises Changing the World? Social Enterprise \| Justmeans Staff \| Thursday 15th October 2009 The prospect of making money yet making a difference can be very appealing. The failure of private sector in addressing serious social and environmental issues has led to the emergence of non-profit organizations, commonly referred to as social enterprises. Money can't be considered the sole requirement to combat such issues; however, it certainly plays an important role in the implementation of solutions. Social enterprises also make profit but unlike the private sector, the profit is reinvested for the upliftment of communities. Social enterprises all across the globe have been involved in changing the world. From creating employment opportunities to reduce poverty to providing affordable education to children from all walks of life, one can't deny the importance of social enterprises in an economy. When it comes to the access of affordable education, Aspire Public Schools has been playing an important role in the US. This non-profit organization is involved in the establishment and operation of quality charter schools all over California. Charter schools are free from any education bureaucracy and regulations applied by the state. In turn, the school is responsible for fiscal solvency and student achievements. This organization has been working hard towards the reinforcement of the possibility that every child can go to college. Read More

	How Green Are Your Green Products? Ethical Consumption \| Justmeans Staff \| Thursday 15th October 2009 There are thousands of consumers across the world claiming to have joined the sustainable and ethical bandwagon by purchasing eco-friendly products. From potato chips fried in organic cooking oil to cars that don't pollute, companies are bombarding us with products labeled as 'ethical' every other day. It is great to know that business organizations are also embracing the concept of ethical consumption; however, one can't help but wonder if the products claiming to be green are really green? With consumers demanding eco-friendly products, manufacturers are trying to turn 'green' in order to cash in on the current market conditions. But not everything marketed with an eco-spin is good for our planet. Sadly, a large number of companies claiming to be green and eco-friendly are misleading the consumers. You may have spent extra bucks on buying green products but it may not be as eco- friendly as you thought. So what are consumers to do? Do we need to go through the corporate record of each and every company we choose for buying products? Experts believe that instead of spending time on research, consumers can consider few guidelines so that they end up buying products that will make a difference to the planet. Currently, labels for 'non-toxic' or 'natural' are not regulated and companies can use them for their products. Therefore, we can look for products that are labeled as 'recycled' or 'organic' because these labels are provided to companies only when the federal government verifies it. Sometimes reading the ingredients of a product will also help consumers know whether or not the said ingredients have been used in it. Don't go for the packaging with soft and clean designs. It might have been used to mislead you. There are chances that if a claim made by a product is too good to be true, it probably is. In case the required information is not present on the label, look for it on the company's website. Look for some trustworthy certifications on products and buy in bulk to reduce individual packaging. After all wouldn't you like to spend money on something that helps you and your environment instead of money making companies? Read More