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(3BLMedia/theCSRfeed) November 2, 2009 - New research points to a new business imperative to begin to implement Sustainability into everyday business strategy. The "new normal" is forcing entrepreneurs to rethink — and in some cases completely reinvent — their businesses, moving from a reactive stance into a more strategic, proactive one.  

Specializing in sustainable development solutions for corporations, the Centre for Sustainability and Excellence (CSE) is hosting its North American Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) certification workshop on February 9 – 10, 2010. This unique two-day intensive program supports Executives and Sustainability professionals acquire the skills and competencies required to grow and to become qualified CSR practitioners. Sustainability can increase efficiency and be cost-effective in a growing, developing, and highly competitive industry that is dramatically shifting standards and priorities in strategic development.

"Our workshop in North America represents the culmination of years of Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability experience of CSE in the European and International markets,” says CSE President Nikos Avlonas, having worked with more than 4,000 professionals in 12 countries. Mr. Avlonas is one of the workshop trainers with extensive international experience in Strategic Sustainable Development Advisory Services .The February workshop will provide opportunities for companies to build authenticity into their CSR programs and have CSR practitioners certified by CSE and the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA), the well known international institute for environmental training. 

According to a recent study by the Natural Marketing Institute (NMI), almost 90 percent of the U.S. population believes it is important for companies to not just be profitable, but to be mindful of their impact on the environment and society. Just over 70 percent of consumers state that knowing a company is mindful of their impact on the environment and society makes them more likely to buy their products or services, and almost 50 percent indicates it makes them more likely to buy their stock.[1] 

The CSR Practitioner’s workshop is certified by the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA), and is designed for all professionals responsible for the management of CSR, Marketing, and Public Relation activities. General Managers, Public Relations Managers and Sustainability and Environmental Professionals will advance their CSR understanding, acquire the skill and knowledge that will bring added value and authenticity to their company, and also earn an official business qualification.

The ultimate goal of the CSE workshop in North America is to provide the tools and training that will instill the growing importance of corporate social responsibility into company strategy and also help them demonstrate ethical business practices. This will in turn build corporate and community recognition in sustainable business through the examination of current best practices. With specialized, detailed and highly focused training, the CSE workshop will cover: 

·      CSR & Sustainable Development Concepts

·      Global Warming & Climate Change Issues

·      Future trends & legislation in the U.S. & Worldwide on Corporate Responsibility

·      The Stakeholder Approach & CSR

·      CSR Communication & Reporting

·      Global Standards/Models/Guidelines & Tools for practical CSR integration (GRI, UN Global

       Compact, EFQM)

·      A CSR Action Plan for your organization (prerequisite for CSR practitioner Qualification)

CSE will be hosting a Sustainability Roundtable Discussion on February 9th at 5:30 p.m. at the Hotel Monaco. The event titled, “Emerging from the Economic Crisis, using Sustainability to Transform your Organization”, will help participants think about how Sustainability applies to their current business models, and discuss with other like-minded individuals the business barriers to adopting Sustainability. 

To improve your organizations’ and/or institutions’ Sustainability and bring positive impact and added value for all stakeholders, enroll in CSE’s North American Workshop at www.cse-northamerica.org, contact Nick Andrews at 773-714-5065 or via e-mail at nick@cse-northamerica.org.

About Centre of Sustainability and Excellence

CSE is a leading advising organization & Think Tank with offices in Chicago, Athens, Brussels and Cyprus specialized in providing sustainable development solutions to various corporations and institutions. It represents the outcome of the cooperation between experts and scientists, who deal with, apply and provide support in the most advanced practical methodologies towards sustainability, while adhering to social and environmental criteria. Through its network of international partners, CSE offers coaching in a vast array of advising services promoting Sustainability & Excellence to Organizations, Society and Governments. CSE is operating in more than 10 countries.  For more information please visit www.cse-northamerica.org.

The Quarter-Life Crisis
by unknown

It is when you stop going along with the crowd and start realizing that there are a lot of things about yourself that you didn't know and may or may not like. You start feeling insecure and wonder where you will be in a year or two, but then get scared because you barely know where you are now.

You start realizing that people are selfish and that, maybe, those friends that you thought you were so close to aren't exactly the greatest people you have ever met and the people you have lost touch with are some of the most important ones. What you do not realize is that they are realizing that too and are not really cold or catty or mean or insincere, but that they are as confused as you.

You look at your job. It is not even close to what you thought you would be doing or maybe you are looking for one and realizing that you are going to have to start at the bottom and are scared.

You miss the comforts of college, of groups, of socializing with the same people on a constant basis. But then you realize that maybe they weren't so great after all.

You are beginning to understand yourself and what you want and do not want. Your opinions have gotten stronger. You see what others are doing and find yourself judging a bit more than usual because suddenly you realize that you have certain boundaries in your life and add things to your list of what is acceptable and what is not. You are insecure and then secure. You laugh and cry with the greatest force of your life. You feel alone and scared and confused. Suddenly change is the enemy and you try and cling on to the past with dear life but soon realize that the past is drifting further and further away and there is nothing to do but stay where you are or move forward.

You get your heart broken and wonder how someone you loved could do such damage to you or you lay in bed and wonder why you can't meet anyone decent enough to get to know better. You love someone but maybe love someone else too and cannot figure out why you are doing this because you are not a bad person.

One night stands and random hook ups start to look cheap and getting wasted and acting like an idiot starts to look pathetic. You go through the same emotions and questions over and over and talk with your friends about the same topics because you cannot seem to make a decision.

You worry about loans and money and the future and making a life for yourself and while wining the race would be great, right now you'd just like to be a contender!

What you may not realize is that everyone reading this relates to it. We are in our best of times and our worst of times, trying as hard as we can to figure this whole thing out.

The government may not think that common people will pay special attention to the issue of corruption. They think it’s an elitist issue. But it’s not

The Jakarta Globe has a good analysis of the impact SBY's neutral stance on the KPK crisis has had on his support base.