Corpobligation is pleased to announce a new initiative in Ottawa-Gatineau, Canada, to promote Composting Now Everywhere

Corpobligation hopes to influence consumers and businesses to improve their composting efforts and exceed existing programs in cities like Toronto. The initiative will involve NGOs in the Ottawa-Gatineau area as well as business and civil society organizations.

"Composting is possible in almost any size home, business or apartment" states Mathieu Jacques, the Composting Now Everywhere Co-Coordinator, "the key is to get knowledge and composters into the hands of consumers and businesses."

"How can I compost in a business or apartment building?" "Doesn't it smell?" These are just some of the doubts that need to be overcome before composting comes into its own. Ottawa is a prime location for testing new initiatives because of its educated population and its strong connections with nature through Gatineau Park, Quebec and many outdoor sporting activies including the longest skating rink in the world (Rideau Canal) and a world class ultimate league that fields over 70,000 playes per year (OCUA).

CO: Corporations, including Shell, object to the "legalistic" terms and substance of the UN Norms.

• In the context of fierce disagreement around the drafting and review of the UN Norms on the Responsibilities of TNCS and Other Business Enterprises with Regard to Human Rights, Aram claims that the UN Norms have ‘slightly poisoned the waters’.
• ‘The problem is the legalistic form that has been used in drafting the Norms,’ he says. ‘We didn’t like the look of it. It contained too many whereases’ — the implication being that the Norms are designed to impose legal requirements.
• The ICC in this case is the International Chamber of Commerce.
  
• The interview is from 2006, but it is still worthwhile reading: the link to the interview is available at SustainAbility.
  
• Cite: Aram, R, In the Hot Seat: Robin Aram, Vice President of External Relations, Policy and Social Responsibility, Shell (24 February 2005) available at http://www.sustainability.com/network/business-leader.asp?id=219 (viewed 4 December 2006).

CO: Corruption may not inspire the same crusading spirit as torture or suppression of freedom of expression, but the impact on a countries political-economic fortunes may be huge.

• AKERE MUNA of Transparency International writes of a rare success story that saw Frederick Chiluba ordered to repay 39 million to the Zambian government for corruption.
• He calls for the G8 to take steps to clamp down on corruption: "This means co-operating with investigators in African countries to trace, freeze and return stolen assets. It also means closing loopholes in national legislation that allow the anonymous transfers of funds to offshore centres."
• Transparency International was instrumental in pushing for the United Nations Convention against Corruption, which Canada has yet to ratify.
• The downside of this anti-corruption movement is of course that it is getting harder to be a dictator...

CO: Undoubtedly, corporations taking steps to reduce their ecological footprints are a step in the right direction, but how can we judge corporate sincerity?

• “Coca-Cola, the world's largest beverage maker, intends to make up for the 290 billion liters (76 billion gallons) of water…the company and its bottlers use each year to make Coke, Sprite, Fanta and other drinks.”
• Can Coca-Cola be present in China without condoning human rights and environmental abuses?
  
• Coca Cola has a delicious flavour but it may leave a bitter taste in its workers throats, as seen in its union relations in Columbia - Coke's Columbia site
  
• Coke has stated: "Freedom of Association and Collective Bargaining
  The Company respects our employees' right to join, form or not to join a labor union without fear of reprisal, intimidation or harassment. Where employees are represented by a legally recognized union, we are committed to establishing a constructive dialogue with their freely chosen representatives. The Company is committed to bargaining in good faith with such representatives."
• Coca Cola recently won the Polaris Institute's Corporate Greenwashing Award
• ** Full disclosure, this author drinks more Coke than his teeth would prefer.
  

Conferences are a great opportunity to network and learn. Should corpobligation be there?

• Here the focus is on alternative energy sources and plans. Note the orientation of the speakers tends towards the big existing players although Bullfrog will also be present. See a related an analysis of this up and coming alternative energy company.

EECO 2007: Learn About Proactive Business Solutions that Address Environmental Issues in Ontario

(CSRwire) TORONTO, ON- May 29, 2007 - Climate change is becoming a global reality. From rapidly increasing temperatures and elevating water levels to extreme weather patterns, damaged ecosystems and declining agricultural output, it is time for individuals, businesses and governments to learn about these issues and plan for the future. Particularly, Ontario and the Great Lakes region, the industrial epicenter of North America, must discover how to balance economic growth and energy resources with clean air. While many governments and businesses have adopted environmental policies, one must ask: is this enough? Are sufficient preparations underway? How will these changes affect business and society? These important issues and more will be discussed by over 700 delegates at Ontario’s largest conference on Energy & Climate Change, EECO 2007, June 19 & 20 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.

CO: What happens when an industry-specific publication decides to define green building? Who is consulted? How does the publication's definition get legitimacy?

• Green Builder(R) Media, the leading national purveyor of information and education about residential green building and sustainable development, announces its new corporate mission: "Defining Green(TM)." - Is a trademark of a phrase like "Defining Green" fair given the interests of government, industry and consumers, all of whom will likely have something to contribute to the debate.
• "We have found that our readers and advertisers want us to take a bolder, more authoritative leadership position within the green space and to actually define what green means," says Sara Gutterman, CEO of Green Builder Media.
• This is not to criticize the concept of green building.

• US Green Building Council
• Canada Green Building Council - Canadian adaptation of the LEED standard