Companies

Micro Finance in Accion

Friday, 02 November 2007

Corpobligation: Micro credit, micro finance, small holder lending, micro creditos...whatever you call it...micro finance is a big deal and ACCION International is one of the biggest organizations:

  • Micro credit organizations have moved past a donor-charity system to a sustainable financial model of helping the poorest of the poor
  • Accion International is a pioneer and strong example of the micro credit model's potential
  • Micro lending has been more successful in the "developing" world than the "developed" world, but social lending by individuals to other individuals has blossomed on the internet
  • Corporate social responsibility stumbling blocks claimed by mainstream banks are challenged by the success of micro finance...
Read more...
 

Zara quickly removes swastika bag

Thursday, 20 September 2007
Corpobligation: Quick responses to cistomer complaints may cost in the short term but they can mitigate potential long term costs.
  • Zara, a Spanish owned fashion retailer, withdrew a bag with a swastika symbol on it.swastikabag.jpg The bag was externally sourced, according to Zara's spokesperson.
  • This emphasizes the importance of supervising suppliers and quick responses to customers
BBC reports :
  • The customer, Rachel Hatton, said, "I was quite shocked - I took it back to the shop."
  • "Then obviously the shop assistants were quite shocked as well to find out this symbol was on there - it was not something that they'd noticed either straight away," she told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
Read more...
 

Novartis, India and Patents

Tuesday, 28 August 2007

Corpobligation.com: Battling PR campaigns over the future of drug access, production and patents

  • A fight over the patentability of a cancer drug (Glivic, Gleevic, Imatinib) produced by Novartis has led to a wider debate around patents over drugsglivec.jpg
  • Patents are Good: encourage innovation and risk taking, by preserving long term profits
  • Patents are Bad: prevent access to drugs because the patent holder charges more than generic drug makes would charge
  • Novartis challenged Indian patent law for failing to provide sufficient protection from the competition under WTO rules
  • Groups like Medicins Sans Frontieres (Doctors without Borders) disagreed arguing that drug access was vital for worldwide health, especially in developing countries
  • Corporate Obligation? Did Novartis do the right thing strategically? They donate many treatments in India (99% according to their site) of Glivic and they have been upfront with their position; yet, a worldwide coalition formed to attack them. How can NGOs and governments create incentives to drive drug innovation?

 

 

Read more...