How mobile phones can reunite refugees, Amnesty’s Arabian troubles and VW under scrutiny
App helps refugees find loved ones
In partnership with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and Refugees United (RU), Ericsson, the communications infrastructure group, is helping refugees register, locate and reconnect with loved ones using a custom mobile and internet platform.
The programme got a boost this summer with the addition of Android app technology, allowing refugees to use SMS and mobile browsing to locate missing relatives – in addition to RU’s existing internet platform. Mobile functionality is particularly valuable in Africa, where mobile phone penetration is above 50%, as compared with PC-based internet at just 10%.
Ericsson helped develop RU’s web-based platform for mobile phones and connect them with global mobile operators, such as Safaricom and MTN in Africa.
Refugees United co-founder Christopher Mikkelsen says the Android app is predominantly geared towards refugees with smart phones (usually those who have already resettled) and NGO staff.
The programme is also expanding beyond the pilot in Uganda to Kenya and other “refugee-populous” host and resettlement countries.
“Realising the immense treasure trove of knowledge corporations possess, we wanted to create a hybrid between the passion of the NGO and the strategy, structure and discipline of the private sector,” Mikkelsen says.
Refugees can register for the RU platform in two ways. Those who have been resettled mainly access the database via the internet or mobile platform. People still in refugee camps, who use the service the most, register with the help of RU and partner staff.
According to Elaine Weidman, Ericsson’s vice-president of sustainability and corporate responsibility, the partnership is a natural fit with the company’s Technology for Good initiative, which “harnesses the power of informational and communication technology to address climate change and socio-economic development issues”.
VF acquires Timberland
Timberland has been snatched up by US clothing giant VF Corporation, owner of big name brands including North Face, Vans, 7 For All Mankind and Wrangler.
The acquisition marks VF’s overarching strategy to expand its outerwear brands, which VF chief executive Eric Wiseman says “will continue the transformation of VF’s portfolio, propelling VF’s Outdoor & Action Sports businesses to 50% of total revenue”.
“Timberland is proud of its rich heritage, its track record of success and its reputation as a responsible and environmentally conscious global citizen, all of which will be preserved and enhanced by becoming part of the VF family of brands,” says Jeffrey Swartz, Timberland’s chief executive.
Timberland has remained tight-lipped concerning the details of the deal, so only time will tell how this will affect Timberland’s operations (and those of VF), and its leadership position in sustainability.
Timberland made headway as a green leader with its 2006 green packaging commitment to reduce its environmental footprint and put a “nutritional label” on its packaging to educate consumers about products’ life-cycles. Timberland is a founding member of the Eco-Index, an industry-wide rating that assesses a product’s environmental impact, and has had great success with its Earthkeepers collection, which uses recycled and organic materials that are sustainably sourced.
Amnesty International blocked in Saudi Arabia
Amnesty International’s global website was temporarily blocked in Saudi Arabia in reaction to the organisation’s vocal stance against a proposed Saudi anti-terrorism law, which would sanction authorities to prosecute peaceful dissent as a terrorist crime.
Amnesty says the law “would entrench, exacerbate, and offer a cloak of ‘legality’ to long-standing oppressive measures taken by the Saudi Arabian government in the pretext of countering terrorism”. In particular, the law would allow suspects of supposed “terrorist crimes” (a term also loosely defined) to be held for an indefinite period without charge or trial, and without access to a lawyer. It would also grant tremendous power to the minister of the interior, without judicial oversight.
The Saudi government released a statement calling Amnesty’s concerns “baseless” and “completely without foundation”.
“We completely disagree,” says Amnesty’s Neil Durkin. “Meanwhile, the Saudi Arabian authorities do not seem willing to enter into a proper discussion about the issues. Blocking sites is hardly the hallmark of an open country that welcomes free debate.”
There have also been reports that Amnesty’s UK site was blocked. The Arabic script of the anti-terror law has since been transferred to Amnesty’s blog protectthehuman.com.
“As to the likelihood of it being passed – it’s extremely difficult to say,” Durkin says. “Other punitive laws have come into force in Saudi Arabia in recent years, but also much of its legal code is either kept secret or is governed by pronouncements – fatwas – by the Council of Senior Ulema. It’s true to say, indeed, that the entire justice system remains largely secretive.” Amnesty says it will continue to monitor the situation closely.
InterfaceFlor launches another first
InterfaceFlor, the modular flooring division of US-based sustainability leader Interface, has developed one of its most environmentally friendly products to date.
The new line, Biosfera I, is the first carpet collection to use 100% recycled yarn, and is independently verified to boot.
In the 2011 line, 30% of the yarn comes from post-consumer-recycled raw materials such as reclaimed commercial fishing nets, textile and plastic waste, and materials from InterfaceFlor’s products. The remaining 70% of recycled material mainly comes from pre-consumer external sources. The line uses as little yarn as possible to reduce emissions and waste.
InterfaceFLOR also uses its Cool Carpet practice to calculate and offset the greenhouse gas emissions of every consumer product. And all this is achieved while maintaining competitive prices.
“Strategic, long-term collaboration is key to the success of a sustainable future,” says InterfaceFlor’s Deepa Vyas. “Establishing a mutual relationship with suppliers on sustainability initiatives can help to make your own products and business moreresilient and sustainable.”
Bloomberg donates to anti-coal campaign
The Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal campaign just got a $50m boost from New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg’s philanthropic arm, Bloomberg Philanthropies.
The Beyond Coal campaign was launched in 2002 and predominantly focused on preventing 153 new coal-fired plants from being developed under the Bush administration (only one actually broke ground).
The campaign is now working to retire one-third of America’s coal fleet by 2020, and put clean energy projects in their stead. With Bloomberg’s sizable grant over the next four years, the non-profit group can now double its staff, expand the campaign from 15 to 45 states, and boost membership from 1.4 million to 2.4 million.
“Michael Bloomberg is very focused on outcomes and metrics to assess a problem and how we can fix it,” says Bruce Nilles, founder of the Beyond Coal campaign. “Our work is a measurable way to reduce carbon pollution one plant at a time, and that mirrors the type of work he is doing in New York with the Plan NYC green initiative.”
The Sierra Club works closely at the state level and with union leaders to ensure no one gets laid off as a result of the plant closures. For example, workers can be transferred to another part of the facility, be moved to another plant, or get trained in alternative energy technology.
Nilles is also quick to point out that new wind and solar facilities generate more jobs than coal. Plus, the majority of states currently import millions of dollars worth of coal, but if they could keep money in-state and create new clean energy jobs, that’s a win-win.
“When there is an absence of movement on key issues at a state, federal or international level, supporting efforts that are being driven at a local level – by communities, towns and cities – can have a cumulative, significant and measurable impact globally,” says Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Michael Marinello.
Greenpeace targets Volkswagen
Greenpeace spoofed Volkswagen’s highly successful “The Force” advert (a take on the Star Wars tale) with its “Away from Darkside” campaign to challenge the company’s green commitments.
Volkswagen Group is the world’s second largest car manufacturer. According to Greenpeace’s Leila Deen, VW holds the most board seats on the powerful European Automobile Manufacturers Association, which “has been leading the charge against strong fuel efficiency standards in Europe and pushing hard to block key climate laws”.
Greenpeace is also asking VW to include its impressive efficiency technology on all vehicles as the norm, rather than an added cost. “[If] they desire to be the most eco-friendly, they have an obligation to set standards,” says Deen.
The campaign, launched in June, is now in 15 countries and has more than 250,000 supporters.
“Our shift to a low carbon future is full of opportunity, and corporate advisers should be pushing companies to focus on thinking afresh about their business model, getting ahead in the race for low carbon technology, rather than spending money on trying to hold back an inevitable tide,” Deen says. “Otherwise EU and US companies will find themselves left behind by the more ambitious companies of newly developing countries, such as China, who have already seen and acted on the opportunities this transition affords.”