Month: November 2011

In the past 5 years, green initiatives and sustainability projects haev taken fleet. Companies are being urged on by consumers and their new preferences to be socially responsible in order to sustain their brand image. In only two years, store shelves have amassed 73% more ‘greener’ products; however, TerraChoice suggests that an overwhelming majority of them are simply faking their way through the trends.

TerraChoice demonstrates in its annual report that businesses utilize wording in advertisements, develop a story behind their green movement, and make labels that connect sustainability with their products in order to attract consumer attention. The ‘greenwashing’ that business’ are embracing works itself into Milton Friedman’s view on social responsibility. He argues that the basic premise of business is to earn profits, and social responsibility is a tool used for acquiring it. In essence, consumers who want to ‘go green’ are driving the business world to ‘go greed’.

Or are they? Their efforts do threaten businesses that neglect the importance of going green. The CEOs of the Big 3 felt the heat from not doing so (or did they?) a few years back; after a bailout by the American government, they’ve made larger baby steps towards fuel efficient cars and developing technology. Ironically, midsize SUVs have shown the most growth in sales since last October, suggesting that we may not be as green as we think. Has Al Gore been shouting in vain for the last 5 years?

Storyofstuff.org – Story of Electronics

A man by the name of Walt Disney created a world within our world in 1955 . This innovative mind began his work in a garage with his brother Roy and in no time, had opened Disney Brother’s Studio to begin his career. Within a few decades, he stormed through the motion picture industry and arrived at the doorstep of his entrepreneurial venture.

John Schrumpeter would agree that Walt Disney was indeed, an entrepreneur in an industry he created. Disneyland was the first of its kind and created a whole new market; even today, it is still unmatched by other companies such as Universal Studios.

But Walt Disney Studios didn’t just stop there. Its expansion and success in motion pictures, television, celebrity endorsements, and global influence has contributed to its position as the “largest media conglomerate in the world in terms of revenue.” The company’s growth has also been achieved in an unprecedented amount of time, taking less than a century to expand from a garage to an international scope. What makes this business venture even more of a spectacle are the numerous risks involved. The extremely high start-up costs to build a fantasy world could have backfired and destroyed the potential of Walt Disney Studios. However, Disney had a vision and because of his determination and entrepreneurial qualities, we learn to value imagination as children.

What is Occupy Wall Street or Vancouver? Is Occupy a structured organization that is pressuring for a change in the roles of corporations, or are the corporations acting as a scapegoat for the population to channels their displeasures with society? Are they truly a fair representation of the ‘99%’?

With these questions in mind, there has been widespread controversy over the organization’s movement. I agree in many respects with Jasmine Yeh and her view of Occupy. The official documentation of its demands is ambiguous and lacks direction. Due to its flaws, the possible effectiveness and potential of the movement is hindered. Recent news coverage of the movement has also built a negative image surrounding it. Considering the death of a young adult due to drug overdosage in a tent in Occupy Vancouver, it is difficult to picture a structured team of revolutionaries with a focused purpose.

The movement has progressed for over a month and has accomplished little. Although some political figures have attempted to utilize Occupy in hopes of strengthening their platform, it has lost its edge as the quality of its message is deteriorating. Some who support the movement have a vague understanding of it, and entangled in the context of drugs, the 99% adrenaline rush is slowly dwindling.