Oh what fun it is to ride in a manmade recycled sled!
Sledding is an activity that’s fun to do, no matter how old you are. Whether you’re a kid sledding down the slopes on a cancelled school snow day, or an adult enjoying the rush of the sled after a hard week of work, everyone should find some time to go sledding this winter.
Instead of buying a new sled this year, one thing that you and your family can do together is to build a recycled sled! By using waste items like cardboard and plastic, you can actually construct a one-of-a-kind sled that will blow any other competition away.
That’s exactly what these people have done for local sled design races and challenges. Here are 5 of the coolest and most creative designs that I came across:
1. Recycled plastic bottle sled
This sled was created for Boston’s first annual Green Sled Design Challenge ’09.
2. Recycled Cardboard Hot Dog Sled
This tasty looking recycled sled was made for the Mount Sunapee Annual ICSC ’09 Competition.
3. Recycled Cardboard “Batmobile” Sled
This ultra cool sled, accompanied by Catwoman, The Riddler and The Penguin, was made for the 2002 KBCO Cardboard Derby.
4. Reddi Wip Cardboard Sled
This “cool” sled was created for Michigan’s Intergalactic Human Sled Race at Grand Haven Winterfest.
5. Recycled Magic Carpet Sled
Here’s another creative sled made for Mount Sunapee Annual ICSC ’09 competition.
You can make a unique and innovative sled from just about anything, so get involved in the holiday spirit and see if there’s a makeshift sled competition near you. Even if you don’t win, you’ll still have fun making the sled!
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Report Exposes Poor Working Conditions at Government Contractors; New York State to Reign in Sweatshop Suppliers – Labor is Not a Commodity
“Made in USA” requirements provide little insurance against poor working conditions and low wages, according to a new report by SweatFree Communities released today, International Human Rights Day. It contends that the federal government should do more to ensure that the apparel it buys is made by labor-rights-compliant contractors.
Some states and cities have already taken action. Earlier today Governor David Paterson announced that New York is joining the Sweatfree Purchasing Consortium, a new organization that assists members in ridding sweatshops from supply chains and providing incentive for ethical business practices. Initial members are Ashland, Ore., Austin, Tex., Maine, Milwaukee, Wisc., New York, Pennsylvania, Portland, Ore., and San Francisco, which together procure over $50 million in apparel and textiles annually.
Governor Paterson said: “I believe that the Sweatfree Purchasing Consortium will serve as a crucial tool in creating and maintaining standards of workplace fairness and safety in our global economy.”
Bjorn Claeson, Executive Director of SweatFree Communities, said: “Labor rights violations are human rights violations. Today, International Human Rights Day, we call on all government agencies, including the federal government, to join with New York and the other pioneering members of the Consortium in ensuring labor rights for workers who manufacture goods purchased with our tax dollars.”
The new report, Toxic Uniforms: Behind the ‘Made in USA’ Label, exposes poor working conditions at nine government contractor factories including poverty level wages, pressure on the job, poor benefits, health and safety problems, and discrimination. Nine of the factories are sole suppliers to Propper International and one (recently shuttered) was a sole supplier to Eagle Industries, held by parent company Alliant Techsystems (ATK). Propper International is the largest manufacturer of soldiers’ uniforms for the U.S. Army. Eagle supplies the federal government and New York State. While outsourcing of jobs is prevalent in the cut-and-sew industry, as Department of Defense contractors, Eagle and Propper are required to produce in the U.S. or its territories under the Berry Amendment. However, as the new report shows, workers in Massachusetts and Puerto Rico, who manufacture goods purchased with our tax dollars, are far from immune from abusive working conditions.
Elisa Rios, who worked at Eagle’s New Bedford, Mass., factory for two years said: “Harassment, fear, desperation, sadness, unhappiness, tears – this is what we experienced daily in the factory.”
Maritza Vázquez, a sewing machine operator at Propper’s Lajas plant, said: “I understand that the type of labor we produce is very important because it’s a job done for the U.S. military. I think we need to be more appreciated, offered better pay and better benefits. Management should have more respect.”
In Puerto Rico workers at each of Propper’s eight plants are organizing for union representation by the labor union Workers United. While ATK closed the New Bedford Eagle factory despite protests from the workers and politicians, a committee of sewing machine operators and their supporters persuaded a new government contractor, New Bedford Tactical Gear, to open in August. This week workers voted unanimously in support of the contract negotiated between New Bedford Tactical Gear and Workers United. The union contract provides for pay increases to $10.60 in three years, a pension, an affordable health insurance plan, and more. The company currently employs fifteen former Eagle workers and is seeking additional government contracts in order to expand and hire more of the laid-off workforce.
A copy of Toxic Uniforms: Behind the ‘Made in USA’ Label, is available at www.sweatfree.org/tu.
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Stylish Avenue Green jewelry now featured on Sulusso.com | 3BL Media
(3BLMedia/theCSRfeed) December 17, 2009 – C5 company, which has become well-known for creating sustainable custom engagement and wedding rings, has recently debuted their first finished jewelry collection. Avenue Green is now exclusively available online at Sulusso.com, the premier marketplace of sustainable jewelry.
For the Avenue Green collection, C5 company created beautiful, sustainable pieces that are really easy to purchase and wear. All six pieces in the collection range from $45 to $200 and are hand-made from 100% recycled sterling silver. Though simple and sleek, the designs add a bit of personality to everyday style. The Swirl Earrings are a modern take on the classic hoop earrings and the Circle Pendant Necklace is somehow both understated and bold.
Inspiration for the Avenue Green collection came from the South Bronx where multi-cultural urban living is bordered by the incredible natural beauty of the Bronx Botanical Gardens and the Bronx Zoo.
“Now consumers can have sustainable jewelry they can feel good about purchasing, gifting or wearing, but that doesn’t look like it is sustainable,” said C5 company founder Meghan Connolly Haupt.
“There is no reason why people should have to choose between their values and luxury.”
About C5 company
C5 company is a leader in sustainable fine jewelry. We offer beautiful, well-crafted jewelry that you can feel good about purchasing, gifting and wearing.
All of our jewelry is made with 100% recycled precious metals and ethically sourced gems and diamonds (both fair-trade mined and lab-created) to ensure that C5 company jewelry has minimal environmental and social impact.
About Sulusso
Sulusso, which means “On Luxury” in Italian, is an online marketplace dedicated to sustainable jewelry. All of the items featured on the site are crafted by artisans and designers committed to creating fine jewelry with minimal social and environmental impact.
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A Rockin Facelift for AEG’s San Diego Sports Arena | 3BL Media
Melissa McGinnis and AEG’s Sports Arenas’ General Manager Ernie Hahn, takes us on a nostalgic trip down historic concert lane. The San Diego landmark has chosen the path of re-using and refurbishing to update this facility as opposed to demolishing and starting over. Join Melissa as she explores the innovation and renovation that is going into this legendary venue where The Rolling Stones, Taylor Swift, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Grateful Dead, and countless more have rocked the stage!
Greenopolis.com is dedicated to our users. We focus our attention on changing the world through recycling, waste-to-energy and conservation. We reward our users for their sustainable behaviors on our website, through our Greenopolis Tracking Stations and with curbside recycling programs.
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The Limits of Celebrity Endorsement in Volunteer Engagement | 3BL Media
Most Believe Politicians Fall Short in Promoting the Greater Good | 3BL Media
Politicians + Public Service = Oxymoron
The survey evidenced a deep-seated distrust of politicians relative to public service.
Only 16% of respondents (5% strongly and 11% somewhat) believe “politicians set a good example for the rest of us when it comes to public service.” When asked whose intentions they are most skeptical of relative to good works, 59% of survey respondents cited politicians, followed by business leaders (9%), celebrities/entertainers (9%) and religious leaders (8%).
“It is hugely ironic that politicians – who are, at least nominally, public servants – should be viewed so skeptically,” Densen said. “Our surveys have consistently pointed to a profound public suspicion about politicians and their motivations. The notion of politicians as public servants is bordering on the oxymoronic.”
When asked what politicians should be doing to encourage more people to contribute to the greater good, “use their actions to set a good example” was hands down the top choice, cited by 75% of those surveyed.
Respondents thought the media could do more as well to encourage good works. Eighty-five percent of respondents (46% strongly and 39% somewhat) agreed that the media does not pay enough attention to peoples’ good deeds.
“We call this ‘The New Tiger Woods Effect’ – the greater the transgressions and the larger the persona, the greater the public feeding frenzy,” Densen said. “So much attention is paid to those who fall from great heights, but not nearly enough to those who would lift up the fallen. There’s nothing wrong with a good, salacious story every now and then, but a little more attention to good works couldn’t hurt.”
Public Skepticism Extends to Obama’s Efforts to Encourage Volunteering
Three out of four Americans said they were aware of President Obama’s call for greater volunteerism, but 65% percent believe it was at least somewhat politically motivated.
Twenty-seven percent of Americans said Obama’s call to action made them more likely to volunteer and 14% said they had increased their volunteer activity since President Obama’s election. Among those who said they were more inclined to volunteer, 67% cited President Obama’s enthusiasm around the issue as a source of inspiration, 41% cited his history of community involvement, 37% cited a desire to answer a national call to action and 36% cited Michelle Obama’s active involvement in issues like kids and healthy eating.
Perhaps not surprisingly, the reaction to Obama’s call to action had a powerful break along party lines. Among Americans who were aware of Obama’s call for volunteerism, 47% of those who identified themselves as Democrats said Obama’s call to action made them more likely to volunteer but only 3% percent of Republicans and 16% of Independents said so. Similarly, less than half (47%) of Democrats thought Obama’s call was at least somewhat politically motivated while 89% of Republicans and 73% of Independents thought so.
At the same time, Americans strongly believe that political discourse has obscured the common good and that politicians should be doing a much better job – individually and together – of encouraging and facilitating good works.
“In terms of advancing the nation’s interests, the path hasn’t grown any clearer over the last three years,” said Tiller principal James Marren. “We think that reflects, in large part, the acrimony and extreme partisanship of today’s political discourse. The Republicans were in charge in 2006 and the Democrats are today. We’ve changed administrations, but the tone and tenor of the political debate remains the same – rancorous. ”
Sacrifice: An Important American Value
Politicians take note: the survey also revealed an appetite for greater sacrifice.
When asked about a law that would require U.S. citizens to either enlist in the armed forces or spend a year participating in community service upon turning 18 or graduating high school, 53% (22% strongly and 31% somewhat) said they would favor such a proposal.
Asked whether they would pay 20% more every year in taxes if it meant that poverty and hunger could be eliminated in the U.S., 40% of respondents said no, but 35% said they were not sure, and 25% said yes.
The willingness to at least consider these sorts of ambitious proposals is consistent with the fact that 69% of respondents at least somewhat agreed with the statement that “Americans today should be asked to make greater sacrifices for the good of the country.”
Finally, the survey shows signs that social media will play an increasingly important role in spreading the word on charitable and volunteer opportunities. Almost a quarter of Americans (23%) said they have learned about a cause, volunteer opportunity, or charity event through a social media tool such as Facebook or Twitter. Social media are particularly critical for younger Americans. Forty-seven percent of respondents ages 21 to 34 had used social media to learn more about a cause or charity versus only 6% of those 65+.
Tiller, LLC is one of the nation’s leading consultancies in the creation and implementation of advocacy marketing programs for major U.S. corporations. For more information on the 2009 Tiller Social Action Survey, a checklist of 12 random acts of kindness, and contact information for volunteer opportunities, please go to the Tiller website: www.tillerllc.com.
Have some fresh, creative ideas for random acts of kindness? Please send them to actsofkindness@tillerllc.com. We will post our favorites on our website.
Mathew Greenwald & Associates is a premier full service market research firm headquartered in Washington, D.C.
For More Information:
Rob Densen/Jessica Malkin, Tiller, LLC
(212) 358-8515
Filed under: FMR, News | Tagged: Americans, Good, Politicians, President Obama, Public Service, Tiger Woods | Leave a Comment »
Survey – Despite Shaky Economy, 97% of Americans Remain Committed to the Social Good
(3BLMedia/theCSRfeed) New York, NY – DEC. 17, 2009 – Apparently a struggling economy and volatile stock market aren’t taking a toll on Americans’ inclination to do good works. Four out of five Americans who give to charity say they will donate as much if not more this year than in 2008, 59% of us perform a “random act of kindness” at least weekly, and 95% of Americans believe it’s critical to teach children the importance of giving back, according to the results of the second Tiller Social Action Survey, released here today by Tiller, LLC, a leading advocacy marketing consultancy.
An overwhelming percentage of those surveyed – 97% – said it’s at least somewhat important for Americans to contribute to the greater good; virtually the same level (98%) who responded that way in the original Tiller survey, conducted in 2006. Eighty percent said their 2009 charitable contributions would be at the same level or higher than last year and 90% said they would donate as much or more in 2010.
“It’s been a challenging year for many Americans. Unemployment hit a 25-year high and the markets hit a 12-year low, but our desire to help others has never wavered,” said Tiller Founder and CEO Rob Densen. “Our pockets may not be quite as deep as they were last year, but we’re reaching in nonetheless.”
The 2009 Tiller Social Action Survey was designed to better understand Americans’ attitudes and behaviors relative to civic and charitable activities. It was conducted via the Internet between November 27 and December 2, 2009 by the national polling firm of Mathew Greenwald & Associates. All respondents were at least 21 years of age. The margin of error for the 1,000 interviews is +/-3.1%. The original poll was conducted in October, 2006.
Commenting on the survey, Brian Perlman, partner and SVP at Greenwald & Associates, said: “According to the Tiller research, 29% of Americans will donate more this year than last; as recent data show, that’s three times the number that plan on spending more on holiday gifts. Everyone focuses on holiday sales; maybe holiday donations are the more telling numbers.”
Americans Talk the Talk, But Could Walk the Charitable Walk a Little More
When it comes to volunteering and participating in charitable causes, while Americans are well-intentioned, we are frequently constrained by work and family responsibilities.
Ninety percent of respondents (34% strongly and 56% somewhat) believe it’s more important then ever for people to volunteer, and 95% believe it’s critical to teach children the importance of giving back. But 40% of survey respondents have not volunteered in 2009, and of the 60% of respondents who have, roughly half spent two hours a week or less volunteering.
Forty-three percent of respondents expressed some disappointment in themselves for not being more involved. Among them, lack of time and the needs of family were the leading reasons for not doing more, cited by 39% and 29% of respondents respectively. Only 5% said they didn’t know what to do/where to start, down from 16% in the 2006 survey.
Fifty-seven percent of all respondents at least somewhat agreed with the statement, “I feel stretched so thin, I have nothing left to give.” On the other hand, 92% of Americans believe someone who really feels the need to help usually finds a way to do so.
Still, It’s the Small Things That Count
Of course, doing social good does not always require formal efforts.
The survey evidenced the strong sense that individual actions matter. Ninety-five percent of Americans (50% strongly and 45% somewhat) believe that doing things on a regular basis to make the world a better place is just as important as participating in a formal, organized effort. Eighty-eight percent of respondents (39% strongly and 49% somewhat) agree with the statement that “a better world will be determined more by the collective actions of individuals than by political or economic events.”
Relative to the environment, when asked who is in the position to have the most positive impact on the environment, 53% of respondents cited individuals followed by communities (22%), business (17%) and government (8%).
“It was true in 2006 and it’s true today, Americans believe that social responsibility, like charity, begins at home,” Densen said. “You may not have the time to coach Little League, mentor a young person, or volunteer at a soup kitchen, but everyone has the time to make a donation, offer a seat to the elderly, or deposit a bottle in a recycling bin. The cumulative effects of millions of individual actions can be transformational.”
Asked about random acts of kindness – defined as a spontaneous act of kindness, frequently performed for someone you don’t know – just about three in five of us (59%) said they perform one at least weekly.
Tiller, LLC is one of the nation’s leading consultancies in the creation and implementation of advocacy marketing programs for major U.S. corporations. For more information on the 2009 Tiller Social Action Survey, a checklist of 12 random acts of kindness, and contact information for volunteer opportunities, please go to the Tiller website: www.tillerllc.com.
Have some fresh, creative ideas for random acts of kindness? Please send them to actsofkindness@tillerllc.com. We will post our favorites on our website.
Mathew Greenwald & Associates is a premier full service market research firm headquartered in Washington, D.C.
For More Information
Rob Densen/Jessica Malkin, Tiller, LLC
(212) 358-8515
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KooDooZ Joins With President Obama’s Council on Service and Civic Participation to Deliver President’s Volunteer Service Awards | 3BL Media
(3BLMedia/theCSRfeed) Santa Monica, CA – KooDooZ Inc, announced today it has teamed with the White House to become a Certifying Organization for the PRESIDENT’S VOLUNTEER SERVICE AWARD, a national program recognizing Americans who have demonstrated a sustained commitment to volunteer service. As a Certifying Organization for the Award, KooDooZ is responsible for verifying service hours, nominating potential recipients and delivering the Award.
Established in 2003, the Award was created by President George W. Bush to give presidential recognition to individuals, families and groups who meet requirements for volunteer service, measured by the number of service hours performed over 12-months.
“Young activists have long been the vehicle for change in this country,” said KooDooZ Founder, Lee Fox. “Having the ability to certify KooDooZ users will further shape KDZ as agents of change in the global world and that will in turn lead to more youth empowerment opportunities.”
“Even if you have never volunteered before, the Award is within your reach,” KooDooZ Community Outreach Coordinator Tara Treffry said. “There are so many ways to strengthen our nation, every hour dedicated to a cause makes a difference in the lives of others around you, as well as your own.”
For more information about volunteering through KooDooZ, contact Tara Treffry, Community Outreach Coordinator, at ttreffry@KooDooZ.com or 310.883.2241.
For more information on the PRESIDENT’S VOLUNTEER SERVICE AWARD, visit www.presidential serviceawards.gov or call 866.545.5307.
About KooDooZ Inc.
KooDooZ® is a digital online and real-world engagement catalyst for middle and high school students to earn rewards by furthering a cause. Designed as a “virtual meets virtuous” social networking site, KDZ (our users) participate in community events, collaborate on humanitarian causes and fulfill socially responsible goals. The mission of KooDooZ is to strengthen relations between youth and their communities by creating new programs and encouraging opportunities for youth to give back.
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CSR Minute: Doral Bank’s CSR Makeover; Fresh Harvest’s Wing of Nature Brand
Corporate Social Responsibility News: Doral Bank’s CSR Makeover; Fresh Harvest Launches Wings of Nature Brand in Cleveland
Filed under: 3BL Media CSR Minute, News, Video | Tagged: 3BL Media, Brands, Cleveland, CSR, CSR Minute, Doral Bank, Finance, Fresh Harvest, Ohio, Society, Technology, Wings of Nature | Leave a Comment »
Social Communities
