Here's a great biodiversity gem:
"Recent studies by researchers in North America and Europe harnessing the new techniques have consistently found that 20 to 25 percent of the seafood products they check are fraudulently identified, fish geneticists say."
Here's what the director of Oceana, an American NGO, has to say about that:
"Customers buying fish have a right to know what the heck it is and where it’s from, but agencies like the F.D.A. are not taking this as seriously as they should."
5.27.2011
5.25.2011
Bonus gem
Exxon Mobil published their 'Corporate Citizenship' report today. Rather than explore it in detail, which would obviously be a waste of time, behold a gem from their dedicated 'Stakeholders' page. It provides a mini case study for each major 'stakeholder group' they engage with.
Bearing in mind that mashing NGOs and communities into one group is in itself a gem, here's the case study for it:
"Communities and NGOsGoal: Enhance trust and communication through knowledge sharing
Example: Operational transparency through guided toursThe Esso refinery and chemical facility at Fawley is the largest in the United Kingdom. Each year, employees at Fawley volunteer to participate in local community projects. To further engage the community and promote understanding of operations at the facility, guided tours are offered to local residents. Each tour provides visitors with an introductory presentation of Fawley operations, including a detailed overview of safety, in which visitors learn about the site’s safety performance as well as community emergency response procedures. In 2010, more than 500 residents toured the facility, responding positively to seeing firsthand the level of security, environmental controls, and safety procedures implemented at the site."
No comment.
Bearing in mind that mashing NGOs and communities into one group is in itself a gem, here's the case study for it:
"Communities and NGOsGoal: Enhance trust and communication through knowledge sharing
Example: Operational transparency through guided toursThe Esso refinery and chemical facility at Fawley is the largest in the United Kingdom. Each year, employees at Fawley volunteer to participate in local community projects. To further engage the community and promote understanding of operations at the facility, guided tours are offered to local residents. Each tour provides visitors with an introductory presentation of Fawley operations, including a detailed overview of safety, in which visitors learn about the site’s safety performance as well as community emergency response procedures. In 2010, more than 500 residents toured the facility, responding positively to seeing firsthand the level of security, environmental controls, and safety procedures implemented at the site."
No comment.
5.20.2011
Gem of the day
A classic gem from Ogilvy Earth, in one of their many "rigorous" studies of the elusive "green consumer":
"Green is the New Pink. The barrier is even higher for men. Fully 82% of our respondents said going green is 'more feminine than masculine.'”
One word: ugh.
"Green is the New Pink. The barrier is even higher for men. Fully 82% of our respondents said going green is 'more feminine than masculine.'”
One word: ugh.
5.19.2011
Another non-environmental wonder
Palin puts on her tiara to comment on Schwarzenegger's awkward love-child situation:
“I feel so bad for his children,” she said. “It must be quite embarrassing for them.”
If anyone knows anything about embarrassing situations, Palin sure does. Remember the newspaper incident? Right.
“I feel so bad for his children,” she said. “It must be quite embarrassing for them.”
5.18.2011
Gem of the day
If you're looking to go to a mind-blowing conference this year, this one should do the trick:
Iraq Mega Projects 2011.
"Iraq Mega Projects Conference 2011 will focus on the progress, the challenges and the solutions faced in the production of the 12 oilfields."
What a gem. But it gets even better: CSR has not gone too far afield--ahem--of their agenda:
"Corporate Social Responsibility Led by UNDP: This year's session promises to be a thought-provoking and interactive discussion. Led by the United Nations who, with their local experiences is, well placed to engineer solutions and highlight possible problem areas for companies concerned with their corporate social responsibilities."
At this point in the brochure--which landed on my desk yesterday morning--I began to wonder if this is actually real. Is it? The corporate site is a little suspect. But the organisers, the ambiguously named 'CWC Group', won a Queen's Award for Enterprise in 2011.
Long story short, I hope it's a joke.
Iraq Mega Projects 2011.
"Iraq Mega Projects Conference 2011 will focus on the progress, the challenges and the solutions faced in the production of the 12 oilfields."
What a gem. But it gets even better: CSR has not gone too far afield--ahem--of their agenda:
"Corporate Social Responsibility Led by UNDP: This year's session promises to be a thought-provoking and interactive discussion. Led by the United Nations who, with their local experiences is, well placed to engineer solutions and highlight possible problem areas for companies concerned with their corporate social responsibilities."
At this point in the brochure--which landed on my desk yesterday morning--I began to wonder if this is actually real. Is it? The corporate site is a little suspect. But the organisers, the ambiguously named 'CWC Group', won a Queen's Award for Enterprise in 2011.
Long story short, I hope it's a joke.
5.17.2011
Another non-environmental wonder
From a great article in the NY Times today about raising the curtain on French politicians (literally):
'During the Bill Clinton-Monica Lewinsky scandal in the United States, even some French politicians associated with Catholic causes chose to congratulate President Clinton for his strength of libido. “He loves women, this man!” Marie-Christine Boutin, a deputy in Parliament and a leader of the religious right, said. “It’s a sign of good health!"'
'During the Bill Clinton-Monica Lewinsky scandal in the United States, even some French politicians associated with Catholic causes chose to congratulate President Clinton for his strength of libido. “He loves women, this man!” Marie-Christine Boutin, a deputy in Parliament and a leader of the religious right, said. “It’s a sign of good health!"'
5.11.2011
Another non-environmental wonder
Sean Hannity: "This is a poetry event...an evening of poetry at the White House"
Karl Rove: It means "inviting a thug to the White House"
There's a 'Part 2' to the video linked to above, but I wouldn't watch it if you paid me.
Gem of the day
The CEOs of Shell, Chevron and Exxon are showing up in Congress tomorrow to testify (naturally against) cutting their billions of dollars in taxpayer subsidies. Doubtless the event will be overflowing in gems, but here's just a wee preview of what else has been going on in the background for those who can stomach it:
"As the revenues of oil companies improve, so do their stock prices. In turn, teachers, firefighters, policemen and millions of other public servants see their retirement accounts expand. And as most states are struggling to keep their pension programs solvent, oil stocks can help ease that pressure and stave off fiscal woes."
So we're supposed to feel good that the stock prices of oil companies--and therefore the wildly fluctuating price of oil--is what's underpinning the security of our entire economy and society, not just today but in the future?
Bradley's solution is predictable, but even more damning:
"Market-based policy will also promote jobs, investment and income for America at a time when they are most needed."
And when is that time exactly? How's about in ten, twenty years? Then again, there's nothing like policy suggestions from the head of an Institute which believes "government policies should be predictable, simple, and technology neutral."
- Shell is wading headfirst back into drilling in the Arctic. Their justification: “Outside of the Gulf of Mexico the next biggest resource in terms of scale is Alaska." That's right, not even blinking an eye at referring to the Gulf regon. What about the scale of oil spills, eh?
- ExxonMobil has something to say about the energy debate on Capital Hill: "All the talk in Washington about how we can lower energy prices by raising taxes on the U.S. oil industry is misleading – and, as the Wall Street Journal noted last week, “junk economic theory.” Who cares? You know what's not junk economic theory? Record profits, no matter where they come from.
"As the revenues of oil companies improve, so do their stock prices. In turn, teachers, firefighters, policemen and millions of other public servants see their retirement accounts expand. And as most states are struggling to keep their pension programs solvent, oil stocks can help ease that pressure and stave off fiscal woes."
So we're supposed to feel good that the stock prices of oil companies--and therefore the wildly fluctuating price of oil--is what's underpinning the security of our entire economy and society, not just today but in the future?
Bradley's solution is predictable, but even more damning:
"Market-based policy will also promote jobs, investment and income for America at a time when they are most needed."
And when is that time exactly? How's about in ten, twenty years? Then again, there's nothing like policy suggestions from the head of an Institute which believes "government policies should be predictable, simple, and technology neutral."
5.10.2011
Gem of the day
Seriousness--albeit predictability--of the inquiry aside, what's wrong with this sentence:
'ExxonMobil is connected to nine of the top ten authors of climate change denial papers, according to a “fact-check” website.'
If I was toiling away at The Carbon Brief and it was described as a "fact-check" organisation I sure wouldn't be happy. Then again, the 'About Us' section of their site seems to be lacking a certain something...
'ExxonMobil is connected to nine of the top ten authors of climate change denial papers, according to a “fact-check” website.'
If I was toiling away at The Carbon Brief and it was described as a "fact-check" organisation I sure wouldn't be happy. Then again, the 'About Us' section of their site seems to be lacking a certain something...
5.09.2011
Another non-environmental wonder
"There are times that I have fallen short of my own standards," he said in 2007. "There's certainly times when I've fallen short of God's standards." Gingrich said at the time there was a difference between his conduct and Mr. Clinton's because Mr. Clinton had perjured himself.
Gem of the day
Anglo American published their latest sustainability report today. Surely it is bursting to the brim with all kinds of gems, but this set of contrasting statements from the CEO Interview is key. What does it remind you of?
"There’s absolutely a clear business case around sustainable development: mine safely,
responsibly and sustainably, or lose our social and environmental licence to operate."
vs.
"We’re going into more remote and challenging environments and the regulatory conditions are becoming more stringent."
Right.
"There’s absolutely a clear business case around sustainable development: mine safely,
responsibly and sustainably, or lose our social and environmental licence to operate."
vs.
"We’re going into more remote and challenging environments and the regulatory conditions are becoming more stringent."
Right.
5.06.2011
Bonus non-environmental wonder
Donald "The Duck" Trump on the very question of Obama's existence:
"Our current president came out of nowhere. Came out of nowhere," Trump said. "In fact, I'll go a step further: the people that went to school with him, they never saw him, they don't know who he is. It's crazy."
"Our current president came out of nowhere. Came out of nowhere," Trump said. "In fact, I'll go a step further: the people that went to school with him, they never saw him, they don't know who he is. It's crazy."
Another non-environmental wonder
I never get tired of classic marketing gems like this one, courtesy of a consultancy called--wait for it--Added Value. To 'solve' a critical issue for brands which in their terms 'lack character', they've created a digital Character Lab. Here's how they describe what exactly this magic machine does:
"An interactive quantitative test of brand character that makes character development simple, intuitive and compelling."
Amazing. But it gets even better in the Extreme Egocentric Marketing Jargon they use to explain the history which led up to this extraordinary brainwave:
"We used to think positioning was just about, well, positioning. After all, it's what it says in the text books.
Precision market definition. Laser-guided targeting. Nail that insight. Distil the brand benefit. Prioritise your substantiators. Be clear and concise about your personality and values."
They don't stop there. It gets even more nauseating:
"Less is more. Ideally, on one page. In an onion. Or a pyramid. Or a Steering Wheel or a Bulls-eye. (Sorry. The last two were both ours.) All to enable consistent brand behaviour. Clinical, logical, brutal. Preserved in aspic for future generations."
If anyone has the willpower to read on, incredibly enough their entire website is written in this terse, stop-and-go style. What a joyride.
"An interactive quantitative test of brand character that makes character development simple, intuitive and compelling."
Amazing. But it gets even better in the Extreme Egocentric Marketing Jargon they use to explain the history which led up to this extraordinary brainwave:
"We used to think positioning was just about, well, positioning. After all, it's what it says in the text books.
Precision market definition. Laser-guided targeting. Nail that insight. Distil the brand benefit. Prioritise your substantiators. Be clear and concise about your personality and values."
They don't stop there. It gets even more nauseating:
"Less is more. Ideally, on one page. In an onion. Or a pyramid. Or a Steering Wheel or a Bulls-eye. (Sorry. The last two were both ours.) All to enable consistent brand behaviour. Clinical, logical, brutal. Preserved in aspic for future generations."
If anyone has the willpower to read on, incredibly enough their entire website is written in this terse, stop-and-go style. What a joyride.
Gem of the day
This White House statement on the house bill passed this week, which will headlessly expand offshore drilling mostly to calm public furor over gas prices--short termism anyone?--is pretty clear about what the issue is:
"H.R. 1230 would undermine the Administration's work to ensure that environmental analysis required by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) is conducted in a rigorous manner. H.R. 1230 would hastily open areas of the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic to leasing, including requiring the Department of the Interior (DOI) to hold three lease sales in the Gulf of Mexico using outdated NEPA analysis that was conducted before the Deepwater Horizon oil spill."
Ah yes, outdated analysis. The foundation of the oil industry.
"H.R. 1230 would undermine the Administration's work to ensure that environmental analysis required by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) is conducted in a rigorous manner. H.R. 1230 would hastily open areas of the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic to leasing, including requiring the Department of the Interior (DOI) to hold three lease sales in the Gulf of Mexico using outdated NEPA analysis that was conducted before the Deepwater Horizon oil spill."
Ah yes, outdated analysis. The foundation of the oil industry.
5.05.2011
Bonus bonus gem
This intro to a new McKinsey study, which glosses over the fabled lust after emerging markets from your favorite multinationals, is a true classic:
"Creating a powerful emerging-market strategy has moved to the top of the growth agendas of many multinational companies, and for good reason: in 15 years’ time, 57 percent of the nearly one billion
households with earnings greater than $20,000 a year will live in the developing world. Seven emerging economies—China, India, Brazil, Mexico, Russia, Turkey, and Indonesia—are expected to contribute about 45 percent of global GDP growth in the coming decade. Emerging markets will represent an even larger share of the growth in product categories, such as automobiles, that are highly mature in developed economies."
Ah yes, product categories such as automobiles. Because clearly repeating the exact same mobility problems in countries which are vastly more populous than their US and European counterparts is a good--let alone a feasible--idea. Beijing traffic, anyone?
And then there's fun with growth. As Paul Gilding has been saying for years, all these calculations predicting the GDP growth share of emerging markets are based on historic growth patterns. Not on the gross uncertainties--and what Gilding believes is a certain calamity--of a future where this rapidity of growth isn't possible.
"Creating a powerful emerging-market strategy has moved to the top of the growth agendas of many multinational companies, and for good reason: in 15 years’ time, 57 percent of the nearly one billion
households with earnings greater than $20,000 a year will live in the developing world. Seven emerging economies—China, India, Brazil, Mexico, Russia, Turkey, and Indonesia—are expected to contribute about 45 percent of global GDP growth in the coming decade. Emerging markets will represent an even larger share of the growth in product categories, such as automobiles, that are highly mature in developed economies."
Ah yes, product categories such as automobiles. Because clearly repeating the exact same mobility problems in countries which are vastly more populous than their US and European counterparts is a good--let alone a feasible--idea. Beijing traffic, anyone?
And then there's fun with growth. As Paul Gilding has been saying for years, all these calculations predicting the GDP growth share of emerging markets are based on historic growth patterns. Not on the gross uncertainties--and what Gilding believes is a certain calamity--of a future where this rapidity of growth isn't possible.
Bonus gem
The American political scene on all things climate and energy is no joyride for anyone who actually wants to do something progressive about such topics right now--let alone someone who was headhunted from Lawrence Berkeley lab to face an uphill battle trying to convince lawmakers who think oil comes out of trees. Which is why this gem, unearthed by the Guardian last week, can't be a surprise:
"When US energy secretary Steven Chu visited, someone who found themselves in conversation with the two energy secretaries heard Chu say he wouldn’t mind going back to academia."
"When US energy secretary Steven Chu visited, someone who found themselves in conversation with the two energy secretaries heard Chu say he wouldn’t mind going back to academia."
Gem of the day
As Joe Romm reports, Sarah Palin is test-driving the GOP's 'ingenius' new talking point to defend oil subsidies (how has the debate even gotten this twisted?)
"As for the government subsidies that we’re hearing Obama flirting with right now, and wanting to decrease those or eliminate those, we’re only talking about four billion dollars. Compare that to the 14 trillion dollar debt that he our president has certainly contributed to."
It can only get more awkward from here, right?
"As for the government subsidies that we’re hearing Obama flirting with right now, and wanting to decrease those or eliminate those, we’re only talking about four billion dollars. Compare that to the 14 trillion dollar debt that he our president has certainly contributed to."
It can only get more awkward from here, right?
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