The 7.0-magnitude earthquake that rocked Haiti on January 12, 2010 has left the country in dire need of international aid. The massive quake has taken an estimated 111,000 lives, and has left approximately 1.5 million Haitians homeless. 85% of the city of Leogane, the epicenter of the earthquake, has been destroyed.
Fortunately, to say that the plight of the Haitian people has attracted international attention and compassion is an understatement to say the least. At present, there are more than 500 international agencies in Haiti providing necessary aid, includingmedical care, heading rescue efforts, distributing donated survival goods, and managing orphaned children.
But beyond the initial donations of money, goods, and services, many worry about Haiti’s sustainability. Current efforts are dealing with the most immediate issues: searching for, and rescuing, survivors, treating patients, and keeping the survivors alive; but what happens when the so-called “compassion window” closes and Haiti must stand on its own two feet?
Randy Strash, Strategy Director for Emergency Response at World Vision, says that “In a disaster of this magnitude, charities typically have three to six weeks before the media and the public’s attention shifts… that’s how fast this ‘Window of Compassion’ closes.”
If this is true, then the Haitian government, not to mention relief efforts in the country, should begin to focus their attention not only on the “here and now” but also for Haiti’s future–giving more thoughtto the country’s infrastructure and economy.
On the bright side, Haiti now has the opportunity to re-build in a more eco-friendly manner, making use of renewable energy technology that will not only help the country’s development, but the environment as well. Several corporations have already spearheaded efforts to provide long-term aid to Haiti, including Solar Electric Light Fund, Architecture for Humanity, and Trees for the Future.
Architecture for Humanity co-founder Cameron Sinclair says, “When a disaster strikes the second disaster that looms is the efficiency and impact of the three R’s–Response, Recovery, and Reconstruction.”
Sinclair also noted the importance of careful and thoughtful post-disaster planning, the absence of which could cause yet another collapse of Haitian society. With this in mind, Sinclair says that the best move now is to work with local NGOs and the community to find the best way to reconstruct this developing country.
With aid from such forward-thinking companies, Haiti will no doubt be put on the right path towards re-development, and in the face of a natural disaster of such magnitude, this is effective CSR at work. Re-constructing Haiti will not be easy, but learning from past mistakes–such as FEMA’s failureafter Hurrican Katrina–will allow relief workers to start on the right path.
3. GRI has announced its next focus. GRI will soon begin a Supply Chain Disclosure Project with the aim of addressing what is one of the most difficult challenges for sustainability reporting organizations today. (GRI News)
It has often been said that in order to create progress, one must first look back at past mistakes and learn from them.
As we near the end of 2009, a look back at President Barak Obama’s CSR initiatives during his first year in office may seem disappointing; especially with the failed Copenhagen Accord still fresh in mind. The divide between what was promised during his campaign and what has been delivered since his taking office, has created a “success/failure dichotomy” that leaves an open invitation for criticism.
However, putting all loft aspirations aside, Obama has made several steps in the right direction, perhaps most importantly the Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which unites the country’s economic aid program with green energy, paving the way toward a low carbon economy. From this perspective, Obama is making slow progress in economic, environmental, and social reform. What remains to be seen is whether these minor shifts can create the sustainability needed to ultimately fulfill Obama’s campaign promises of change.
The partnership between the NGO and big business is a trend that is quickly gaining popularity in the CSR world. Despite past differences, both parties are recognizing that there is an opportunity for a win-win relationship if nurtured correctly.Businesses gain credibility in their CSR initiatives, and NGOs gain publicity that is necessary for their survival. With this in mind, it is only a matter of time before this partnership becomes standard procedure; and in the big picture, it’s a win-win for the economy and the environment.
Harrabin’s Notes: After Copenhagen (BBC) “World leaders know they are taking a massive risk with the climate. They know what they need to do to reduce the risk to a scientifically acceptable level.But they will not quite do it because they are hemmed in by economic and political risks. “
Copenhagen’s Conclusion (WSJ) “After two weeks of alternately smooth and rocky talks and a lengthy final day, attendees at the U.N. climate summit in Copenhagen Saturday formally “noted” but did not sign a preliminary deal key players struck Friday for combating climate change.”
Copenhagen is over, but we’re not done yet (GreenPeace) “It’s over. The fifteenth session of the Conference of the Parties has this afternoon officially drawn to a close (or rather all but collapsed), but what are we left with? Very little is the honest answer and, no matter how the politicians spin it or how the media interprets it, it sucks.”
“Author and activist Michael Pollan is a passionate advocate for sustainable food. In his compelling PopTech talk, he explores how our industrial food system keeps us overly dependent on fossil fuels, destroys our environment, and makes us sick. Breaking this cycle requires changing our relationship to food – and eating more meals together.” – PopTech
“Since 2007, most of the world’s population lives in cities. How can we make sure these urban centers are good homes for humanity? Cities from Bogota and Rio de Janeiro to Seoul are leading the way, using fresh ideas to reduce pollution and waste; provide efficient, clean transportation; and support biodiversity.” – GOOD Magazine
2. Deloitte has publishes its 2009 Corporate Responsibility Report. The hightlights include Deloitte in society - details Deloitte’s values and strategy, ethics and stakeholder engagement; Investing in Communities - unveils Deloitte21 initiative, Deloitte’s focused global commitment to education and skills building. Responding to environmental challenges – outlines Deloitte’s environmental impacts this year, as well as the ongoing establishment of sustainable workplaces. (ReportAlert)
4. Supply-Chain Labor and Human Rights Policies are Becoming the Norm for Large Cap Companies.Some 28% of global companies – including nearly half of those with market capitalizations of more than $10 billion – have labor and human rights (LHR) policies covering their global supply chains. Geographically, LHR supply-chain policies are close to the norm among European companies, but the United States and Asia lag behind. (Harvard Law School)
