Does sustainabilit reporting make successful companies?

See the full PwC GMA financial report here [pdf].

An analysis of the financial performance of CPG companies alongside sustainability reporting shows companies that report have stronger financial results. Disclosure on sustainability, particularly greenhouse gas emissions, continues to spread through the corporate world, and the information flow—whether through Bloomberg terminals, supplier sustainability scorecards, or annual reports—keeps growing. In 2010, 70% of S&P 500 companies submitted voluntary disclosures to the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP),up from 56% in 2007.

Of interest in the article: PwC looked at the financial performance of CPG companies that produced sustainability reporting, versus those that didn’t – and concluded that sustainability reporting companies were on average, more successful than their counterparts

•  Reporting companies had a high gross margin
• Reporting companies had a high median SG&A spending as a percent of sales
• Reporting companies had a higher free cash flow to sales performance
• Reporting companies had a higher return on sales

The caveat with all of this is, of course, that correlation doesn’t necessarily equal causation.

• Are reporting companies more successful because they report, or,
• Are successful companies reporting more because they have the luxury to do so; value transparency and sustainability reporting; and the capability that makes them a success financially, also makes it easier for them to produce sustainability reports (as the measuring just ain’t easy)

I’m willing to bet on the second bullet.

How Libya makes us squirm

Here is the dilemma: launch military action to save civilian lives -- and yes, civilians were threatened -- but only because they wanted to oust an autocrat (tyrant, etc.). When civilians started to march to that drum, when did they stop becoming civilians, and started to become a "rebel" military force? And are rebels owed the same protection as civilians? If the rebels were to massacred, it will be a civilian massacre. But if they win this conflict, and change the leadership in Tripoli, then they would do so as a rebel army.

It's no secret that the west would rather no deal with Gaddafi. The man easily flips between lunacy and pragmatism (yes -- remember eight years ago, when he decided to "change" his stripes). But will the west stop short of holding off Gaddafi's forces, or will they assist the rebels militarily? Will the west go all the way and enable a regime change?

Taking out Gaddafi's air force was one thing, but crippling his military is another. If it was just the air force, Gaddafi's forces could still crush the rebellion. And that's the problem. Other autocratic regimes -- the rest of the Arab world, Russia and China -- are looking on in horror. While the west would never dare run bombing campaigns against China and Russia, the rest of the Arab world may be up for grabs. And that is a bit concerning for the Arab League, and that's why they will pull support for the bombardment of Libya. Which will just position the west as again bombing the Muslim world.

Sometimes, you just can't win.
in reference to: Libya: Shifting sands | Editorial | Comment is free | The Guardian (view on Google Sidewiki)

Congratulations to the Huu-ay-aht, Ka:yu:'k't'h'/Che:k'tles7et'h', Uchucklesaht, Toquaht and Ucluelet

It is a big deal that these five first nations will finally be granted status as a people, in Canada. It ends, for these first nation people anyway, a hold over from the days of colonialism. Naturally, with great power, comes great responsibility, and that includes the responsibility not to make the same economic and environmental mistakes Canada has made in plundering this great land; and the responsibility to the children not born yet.

I wish the Huu-ay-aht, Ka:yu:'k't'h'/Che:k'tles7et'h', Uchucklesaht, Toquaht and Ucluelet all the best. They're going to need it.
in reference to:

"The Maa-nulth Treaty, Vancouver Island's first modern-day treaty, comes into effect April 1 and the five Maa-nulth First Nations from around Barkley Sound and Kyuquot Sound, are finalizing individual laws, strategizing economic development projects and planning individual celebrations as well as a joint celebration in Port Alberni on April 2."
- Citizenship at hand for five Vancouver Island bands (view on Google Sidewiki)

It's coming ...

World Habitat Day

Tomorrow, October 4th, is World Habitat Day -- a day designated by the UN to bring attention to the sorry state of housing for the world's population. Habitat for Humanity is one of those organizations that's putting sweat to the problem -- not thinking about the problem -- just working to fix it. Check out the link below for more.

in reference to:

"Every week, more than a million people are born in, or move to, cities in the developing world. As a result, the urban population of developing countries will double from 2 billion to 4 billion in the next 30 years. (Kissick, et al: 2006)   By the year 2030, an additional 3 billion people, about 40 percent of the world’s population, will need access to housing. This translates into a demand for 96,150 new affordable units every day and 4,000 every hour. (UN-HABITAT: 2005)"
- World Habitat Day Oct. 4, 2010 - Social Media News Release (view on Google Sidewiki)

Five minutes of Twisted Frosties

You go to Brampton by the 407. That's why it doesn't take you that long.
Cause they have Indian food there.
Not because your parents live there?
My parents aren't Indian.
Your parents are Canadian.
Are they?

Can I take the 407? If I found a route on how to get there? I have to ask you, because it's a toll route. Because you're the one it's registered under.
OK.
Because the bill goes to you.
So.
So, it's common courtesy to ask before you do it.
Does it matter what I say?
Yes it does.
How so?
Because ... if you tell me no, that I can't use the 407, I won't use the 407.
Oh.
If you tell me how much it is, then I can pay you back at least a portion of it.
A lot of money.

How often do they bill you?
Hmm?
How often do they bill you? Every a month, or every time you use it?
Every month.
On average, how much do you pay?
Depends.
Course, that's why I'm asking you for an average.
I don't know, I don't have all my bills. I don't know for what period you want the average.
Oh god.

July 2010.
I can't remember what the bill was. Probably because I haven't seen it yet.
For June 2010.
It was a long time ago, I don't remember.

That's nice. There's fireworks out there.
Must be somebody's birthday.

Assassination squads in Afghanistan

War is war, but this isn't war anymore. This is just plain state-sponsored terrorism. I don't understand why the Americans can't see that they will win no friends; not secure the American homeland; and not make the world a safer place.

With the release of the top secret US military documents by Wikileaks, the world is getting a little glimpse into shadowy world of special forces operations in Afghanistan. The CIA's Special Activities Division, along with the Army Rangers, Green Berets, Navy Seals, and special operations groups from other countries, including Canada, are waging a covert war to find and kill, suspected terrorists in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and who knows where else.

Killing the bad guys isn't a problem for me. But killing innocent civilians along the way -- that just doesn't work. And as the History News Network reports, a lot of civilians are getting killed. How many is unknown, because for one, the records for the operations conducted by the special operations teams are secret -- and for another, the civilians that are being killed may not even matter enough to have their bodies counted. This isn't breaking a few eggs to make an omelette. This is children being murdered by rockets falling on schools; brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers, being slaughtered in their homes, as they conduct their daily routines. Surely, the over 3,000 that died in the 9/11 attacks have now been avenged. Surely the tens of thousands Afghan civilians and the hundreds of thousands of Iraqi civilians are enough. Surely the thousands of American soldiers are now enough.

in reference to:

"In more than 100 incident reports in the Wikileaks files, Task Force 373 is described as leading numerous “capture/kill” efforts, notably in Khost, Paktika, and Nangarhar provinces, all bordering the Federally Administered Tribal Areas of northern Pakistan. Some reportedly resulted in successful captures, while others led to the death of local police officers or even small children, causing angry villagers to protest and attack U.S.-led military forces."
- History News Network (view on Google Sidewiki)

Helping the Tanzanite Group via Kiva

My latest Kiva loan has just been given, to the Tanzanite Group of Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania -- to be repaid in about 6 months or so. Specifically, my $25 will go to Patricia Mjuni, who runs a pharmacy business, though the repayment is being guaranteed by the Tanzanite Group. Group loans, as per Kiva:

In a group loan, each member of the group receives an individual loan but is part of a group of individuals bound by a group guarantee. Under this arrangement, each member of the group supports one another and is responsible for paying back the loans of their fellow group members if someone is delinquent or defaults.

Kiva does not directly manage the disbursement of funds, but rather, leverages field partners. In this case, my loan will be administered by Tujijenge Tanzania Ltd., a micro-finance company that has been in operation for 4 years now, in Tanzania. They have given out over US$1.2M in loans, and have a return on assets of 2.03% -- coming from interests and fees charged to customers. As usual, I give all my loans to women entrepreneurs -- for one, women remain depressing disadvantaged in our world, especially the developing world; and secondly, it is my firm belief that as the core of the family, investment in women represent the best chance of sustaining success and breaking the poverty cycle. Tujijenge Tanzania Ltd. loan mix is currently at 68.58% in favour of women.


Tanzania is currently ranked near the bottom of the list on the UN Human Development Index -- country 151 of 180 countries in the world. It is one of the oldest known continuously inhabited places on Earth, yet for the past couple of hundred years it has enslaved by just about everybody that has passed through. (At one point, nearly 90% of the population of Zanzibar City was enslaved.) It has been recovering from colonization since the 1960s, when the Brits decided that they had taken all they could from the place, and should leave. More on Tanzania can be found on the CIA's World Factbook.