After contacting a former colleague and friend at Sony and inquiring about how they were all doing this morning, which she assured me they were doing the best they could in the wake of the current disaster and working together which made her feel quite proud…I then asked if there was news of the Corporation response…
Press Release from Sony Corporation:
Sony Support for Japan Earthquake Relief Efforts
(Tokyo, March 13, 2011) - Sony Corporation today announced that, following the devastating earthquake and tsunami that struck the northern region of Japan on March 11, Sony and its group companies will donate 300 million Japanese yen to help relief and recovery efforts in communities affected. Additionally, a disaster relief fund will collect donations across the Sony Group from employees worldwide, and their contributions will be matched by the company through a matching gifts program. The company will also donate 30,000 Sony radios to assist the relief of earthquake victims, while the Sony Group will prepare further product donations going forward, taking into account the local needs.
The Tohoku region is historically important for Sony, with a high concentration of manufacturing sites, and many employees and their families have also been affected by these devastating events.
“In times like these, we are reminded of how important and fragile we are and of the positive impact we can have - both as individuals and, collectively, as a Company - to assist those in need,” said Howard Stringer, Chairman, CEO and President, Sony Corporation. “We will continue to make the utmost effort to help the swift recovery of the affected communities in the region.”
In addition to the corporate relief efforts by Sony, who has a significant presence and interest in the immediate region, many other companies are making commitments in the millions of dollars to support Japan as it faces what is being considered the most costly and devastating natural disaster in history. See the current report from the Business Civic Leadership Center.
The Story of Stuff (via storyofstuffproject) One of my favorite videos…go to the Story of Stuff website to see what Annie is cooking up to educate the world about how we get, use and dispose of our stuff.
Wonderful video of a man who brings both great food and an ethical belief to you are what you eat! Check out Cinnamon Snail on facebook for updates and information.
See Jeff Hollender’s article for CSRwiretalkback. I am a big fan of Mr. Hollender, but one piece he left out of his 10 point plan is how to communicate to the consumer companies that are manufacturing here in the United States and how do we support those companies with our purchasing power. If you knew those details would it matter to you? Over the years we have seen “made in the U.S.” campaigns and now we have numerous certifications on “Fair Trade”, but what are we doing to keep the consumer aware of the strength of their purchasing power and how it can influence social and economic change? Keep an eye on The Good Roundup as we begin to report on the valued economy building companies in the U.S.
Jeffrey Hollender has a 10-point plan to get the U. S. economy back on track.
By Jeffrey Hollender
Don’t be fooled by the recent rise of the Dow or declining unemployment numbers – our economy is still in a terrible mess. Here’s what we need to do NOW!
Remember the time when we would see disaster and feel utter hopelessness. In the wake of the tsunami and earthquake that has hit Japan there is an immediate opportunity to be involved in a solution instead of sitting idly by feeling hopeless, or watching transfixed. See the Network for Good for a list of organizations seeking support. If money is not the answer for you call the local office of an organization, and see if they are in need of volunteers to help get relief out to those in need.
Too often we feel helpless when in actuality we can make a difference by our actions. The internet is an amazing tool for immediate opportunity in creating solutions.
If you were a woman in rural Benin today, you would spend 10 hours each week carrying food and water. As a Tanzania Masaai woman, you would walk up to 30 kilometers to collect water in the dry season and, of course, walk back…
Patagonia one of the most innovative leaders in sustainability puts their sourcing footprint and impact out there for all the world to see. It would be interesting to see this across a variety of products categories for consumers to really understand what it takes to bring each of their purchases to a reality. If we knew how all our products were made, would it change our shopping habits?
Visually explains Patagonia’s supply chain, sourcing strategy, and considerations of sustainability for a number of its products. I think this is way cool, and I wish more companies from all industries would follow Patagonia’s lead.
After a year of blogging, it was time for a little overhaul. I wanted to give Good Works Work a new look and also create community conversation around all the “Good” I have been seeing. As I have refocused my career from traditional brand licensing and brand management to non-profit and corporate social responsibility, I am intrigued by the abundance of “Good” messaging and how effective it is on us as consumers. I am also interested in the changing way that companies are building in ideals of “Good” into their business plans. So The Good Roundup is a place to have a full blown conversation around ” What is Good ? “. Is Good the new black? Are we really changing the way we build community, business and the politics of living?
A big thank you to my friend Heather Mulcahey for helping with the new icon - a bit more serious, but keeping with a little humor on a topic having such a big impact.
Please send leads and ideas that are local, national and global and email jen@thegoodroundup.com. Join in the conversation and keep coming back, this is just the beginning...
