For this blog post, I will dedicate it to one of my role models, Muhammad Yunus. Professor Yunus is well known for his work with Grameen Bank. His objective was to give loans to poor people under terms suitable to them, and to empower them by educating on how to be financially stable. He was awarded with Nobel Peace Prize in year 2006 for his work to fight off poverty.

I respect Muhammad Yunus because he seems humble and genuinely willing to help the people, not just for his own profit. Also, I believe that throwing wad of cash at poor people does not solve any problems. However, Professor Yunus did not just leave the people with money. He found value in teaching these people with few basic financial principles so that they can survive on their own after recovery. Although I’m still in progress with his book “Banker To The Poor”, it has been one of the most interesting biographies I have read in my life. He is a true, respectable example of a social entrepreneur.

 Social entrepreneurs are individuals who make profit to improve and fix societal problems. Among several social entrepreneurs, perhaps the most dominant and well-known social entrepreneur would be Blake Mycoskie, founder of TOMS shoes. During Mycoskie’s trip to Argentina, he was struck by many social problems there including poverty, health issues, and most of all, he noticed that there were quite a number of children who did not own proper footwear. He was inspired to help the children in need, and started his own business with $300,000. His mission for TOMS shoes is to donate a pair of shoes to a child for every pair of TOMS sold.

Mycoskie’s 45-employee company has now raised roughly $4.6 million since the launch and donated over 115,000 pairs of shoes to children in need around the world. I strongly support social entrepreneurs and businesses such as TOMS, because it shows that the world of business still has a heart, and it’s not entirely just about money. While TOMS still makes small revenue, they are doing good for the world. In addition, their shoes have become part of a growing trend not only in America, but around the world. Living in a first world such as Canada makes me take a lot of luxuries for granted. However, companies such as TOMS demonstrates to third world countries that North America aren’t just filled with greedy, and selfish people.

Source : http://images.businessweek.com/ss/09/04/0403_social_entrepreneurs/26.htm

 Recently, McDonald’s and Target dropped their egg supplier, Sparboe Farms, after finding videos of animal cruelty at five facilities. Some of these included images of farmers swinging chickens by feet, hens crammed in to a tiny cage, and cutting off tips of the beaks of chicks. Both Target and McDonald’s expressed their disappointment and discontinuation of future business relationship with Sparboe Farms.

It is good to see justice being done towards unethical businesses. Personally, as a pet owner I have strong love for animal rights and sustainability in general. I believe that in long run, being sustainable and ethical will help a company grow bigger because it will create a better image in the market. This society is no longer just about making money, and people do not tolerate cruelty. Not only are the eggs produced by Sparboe Farms unethical, but the eggs are also contaminated at cases, and they were also found to be ‘unhealthy’ eggs due to injuries and health issues of the chickens.

Mercy for Animals video site: http://www.mcdonaldscruelty.com

Article Source : http://news.yahoo.com/mcdonalds-target-drops-egg-supplier-224502573.html;_ylt=A2KLJLog18hOo2IAwBdtzwcF;_ylu=X3oDMTRvdmJ1NXQwBGNjb2RlA2dtcHRvcDEwMDBwb29sd2lraXVwcmVzdARtaXQDTmV3cyBmb3IgeW91BHBrZwM0YTI1NmE3OC1kYzA0LTNhZWMtYTE5NS02MzExMzA2YWI2N2YEcG9zAzcEc2VjA25ld3NfZm9yX3lvdQR2ZXIDYTI4MGI4ODAtMTMwMy0xMWUxLTlmNzUtNWE4MGMyNmY3YTU5;_ylg=X3oDMTJyZ3VybmVzBGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRwc3RhaWQDNDUzYjM4NjEtYTgzYy0zZmE2LWI0ZDctYWVmY2Y0OGZhYmIxBHBzdGNhdAN1cwRwdANzdG9yeXBhZ2UEdGVzdAM-;_ylv=3

Hilton Hotel implemented a charity system recently, to recycle and donate soaps to poor countries with Global Soap Project. Prior to working with Hilton, Global Soap Project has worked with over 300 hotels. Created in 2009, Global Soap Project “uses a process of sanitizing, melting and remolding discarded soap from hotels throughout the country.”

In addition a similar non-profit organization, Clean the World, has been collecting soaps and toiletries to provide for impoverished communities. According to statistics by Clean the World, hotels across U.S. discards roughly 1million bars of partially used soaps. This is a good way for companies to do some good, without pouring in loads of cash. It is a win-win situation : hotels give away used soaps, which are bound to be thrown out anyway, and organizations will help communities in need. And it does not just end there. By participating in partnerships with  Global Soap Project, Hilton Hotel hopes to achieve reduction of waste by 20% by year 2014. To add, UNICEF stated that using soaps to wash hands can reduce the risk of getting diarrhea among children by almost 50% and respiratory infections by up to 25%. Everyone is happy in this case.

Article: http://travel.usatoday.com/hotels/post/2011/11/hilton-global-soap-project-recycling/565027/1