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This paper presents a report on sustainability development in three companies namely, BHP Billiton, Rio Tinto, and Antam
Sustainability Development
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Abstract
This paper presents a report on sustainability development in three companies namely, BHP Billiton, Rio Tinto, and Antam. The paper provides a review of each of the company’s sustainability disclosures, assessing these disclosures from a system-oriented perspective. This perspective incorporates three aspects of sustainable development including economic, environmental, and social theories (Harris, 2000). From the economic perspective, each company will be judged on its ability to develop an economically sustainable system that can be effectively used to support the government and company stakeholders. Environmentally, each company will be analyzed on their institution of an environmentally sustainable system to avoid over-exploitation of the environment. Conclusively, the social perspective looks at a company’s socially sustainable system for the benefit of the community.
Key Words: Sustainability Development, System-Oriented Theory, Economic,
Environmental, Social
BHP Billiton: Sustainability Development Disclosure
Based on the information provided concerning BHP Billiton’s sustainability development, it is evident that the company observes the principles of sustainability development using the system-oriented approach. Notably, the company’s operations pose a threat to the environment in which they choose to operate and having recognized this, they have established three robust environmental management principles and standards (bhpbilliton.com, 2011). Since the company conducts its business operations in different countries, those in administration ensure that their respective companies abide by these rules. The company’s three main environmental sustainability initiatives include protecting biodiversity, minimizing waste, and the development of effective strategies aimed at addressing climate change.
These three initiatives define the environmental sustainability policies and standards that the company has established and instituted. With relation to social sustainability development, the company acknowledges the importance of the overall community to the society. According to the company’s sustainability development disclosure, BHP seeks to make a positive contribution to the community and society, while providing the necessary support for these communities (bhpbilliton.com, 2011). Additionally, the company recognizes the employees as being part of the community, and for that reason, the company emphasizes the need to support its employees. Economically, BHP has contributed to the economic growth and development of the nations in which each of its subsidiary companies is located (bhpbilliton.com, 2011). Accordingly, the company underlines sustainability reporting, as part of economic sustainability development to create awareness of the company’s economic activities.
Rio Tinto: Sustainability Development Disclosure
Just like the preceding company, Rio Tinto’s sustainability development disclosure reveals the application of the systems approach in the development of the company’s sustainability programs. Economically, the company aims at continuing financial success in the diverse nations where the company has opened branches through the acquisition and exploitation of various resources (riotinto.com, 2011). Remarkably, the company has managed to incorporate the environmental and social perspective in their economic sustainability, for the benefit of community and other institutions that it has entered into business with. In addition to this, the company has developed a strategy whereby they can exploit their product lifecycle to increase economic value and decrease negative economic impacts. Environmentally, the company defines their respect for the environment as the key determinant of their environmental sustainability programs.
The company acknowledges the problems associated with its activities on the environment, and for that reason, has developed programs aimed at proper environmental management including ecosystem services, climate change, air quality, and biodiversity among other things (riotinto.com, 2011). The company also emphasizes the need for constant evaluation of these programs for the improvement of the environmental management systems. Rio Tinto’s commitment to social well being of the community, especially company employees is plausible, as it discourages discrimination and is committed to the assurance of health and safety in the workplace. In addition to this, the company also emphasizes the need for constructing good relations and associations with the larger community (riotinto.com, 2011). They acknowledge the importance of social sustainability development for the acquisition of the necessary resources for the growth and progression of the company’s sustainability development activities.
Antam: Sustainability Development Disclosure
Unlike the other two companies, Antam’s sustainability development disclosure provides more detailed information concerning the company’s sustainability development system. Notably, the company’s economic responsibility system has been divided into three sections including economic performance, market presence, and indirect economic impacts (antam.com, 2011). Economic performance describes the company’s economic contributions to the society for the increment of economic independency an social welfare. By establishing a market presence, the company further secures their place in the market, which further supports the company’s economic contribution to society. Lastly, the company highlights some of the indirect economic impacts of their operations and is committed to ensuring proper economic practices in its operations (antam.com, 2011). Antam’s Environmental responsibility system covers waste management, energy production, as well as, compliance with environmental laws to reduce the risks associated with environmental damage and degradation.
In their sustainability development disclosure, the company lists nine environmental policies that are aimed at fostering environmental sustainability. Conclusively, the company’s sustainability development disclosure highlights four approaches towards social sustainability including the recognition of human rights, labor, product responsibility, and contribution to the community. In relation to human rights, the company acknowledges the respect of human right for the promotion of social sustainability (antam.com, 2011). Product responsibility refers to the processes involved in the production of their products and ensuring that the products that the company produces do not harm consumers.
References
Faucheux, S. et al., (1997). Sustainable Development: Concepts, Rationalities, and Strategies.
New York: Springer.
Harris, J. M. (2000). Basic Principles of Sustainable Development. Retrieved from:
http://ase.tufts.edu/gdae/publications/working_papers/Sustainable%20Development.PDF
“Our Approach” (2011). riotinto.com. Retrieved from:
http://www.riotinto.com/index_ourapproach.asp
“Resourcing the Future: Sustainability” (2011). bhpbilliton.com. Retrieved from:
http://www.bhpbilliton.com/home/aboutus/sustainability/Pages/default.aspx
“Sustainable Development” (2011). antam.com. Retrieved from:
http://www.antam.com/content/view/384/6/lang,en/
This paper presents a discussion of organized crime in the USA, drawing specific attention to the origin and history
Organized Crime
This paper presents a discussion of organized crime in the USA, drawing specific attention to the origin and history of organized crime in the state.
In criminology, organized crime is defined as any criminal activity that is carried out in a systematic or organized manner for large-scale profit (Lyman & Potter, 2010). In essence, Organized crime is carried out by criminal groupings or enterprises purposely for crime and for that reason cannot be easily identified by law. Mostly conducted in business corporations organized crime can be executed at a city, interstate or international scale with most of its operations kept secret at all times. Organized crime has long been linked with the mafia, as organized crime activities were first discovered in Italy in the early 17th century. This trend in criminal activities has continued on to the 21st century and has been a bother to the different state law authorities affected. Much as the definition of organized crime has been provided in research studies, the foundations of organized crime have been misunderstood, and for that reason, there is need to describe the various conditions necessary for a criminal activity to be termed as organized crime (Kleeman, 2007).
At the outset, organized crime is founded on the need for illegal goods and services, and for that reason, the participants usually engage in activities that ensure the supply of these goods such as drugs and prostitution. However, legitimate business enterprises can be involved in organized crime by linking with criminal groups so as to acquire profit illegally so as to avoid being caught. Additionally, most organized crime activities involve the use of violence to force people into adhering to their rules and laws in the specific country in which they operate.
Organized crime gained a foothold in the United States in the early 20th century with the arrival of Italian immigrants in the country (Critchley, 2009). Palpably, these Italian immigrants settled in specific locations and for that reason were clustered in different locations in the state. Their lack of knowledge of the English language put these Italians in trepidation, as they felt threatened that they could not communicate efficiently with the American law authorities. For that reason, they felt abused by the authorities, hence felt the need to protect themselves from the intolerant American authorities. Organized crime groups were formed and gradually took over most parts of the towns where these Italians dwelled.
By mid 20th century, these organized crime groups, such as the Al’Capone of Chicago, had taken over the better part of the state (Critchley, 2009). Crest organized crime groups sought to influence government, and they focused their activities on changing the way the government was run, as well as, some of the policies that had been put in place. Fundamentally, these groups used their influence to protect their own, as well as, ensure that their criminal activities continued with minimal interference from the US authorities. As research studies explain, the prohibition era occurring in the 1920s was the primary reason for the rise of organized crime in the US. This is because of the fact that the US government had prohibited the sale and manufacture of alcoholic beverages along its border, hence making these commodities illegal and highly in demand (Critchley, 2009). However, the organization of organized crime groups in the post-Prohibition era took a much different approach, with such organizations looking into other criminal activities such as drug trafficking, credit card fraud, and prostitution among other things.
References
Critchley, D. (2009). The origin of organized crime in America: the New York City mafia, 1891
1931. New York: Taylor & Francis.
Kleemans, E. R. (2007). Organized Crime, Transit Crime, and Racketeering. Crime and Justice,
35(1): 163-215.
Lyman, M. D. & Potter, G. W. (2010). Organized Crime. Canada: Pearson Education.
This paper presents a critical examination of the relationship between Jo, Amy and Laurie in the novel, Little Women by Louis
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Little Women
This paper presents a critical examination of the relationship between Jo, Amy and Laurie in the novel, Little Women by Louisa May Alcott.
Apart from the obvious family relationship and ties that exit between Jo Amy and Laurie, these three characters in the novel, inherently, bring out and build each other with relation to the novel. Alcott has used each of the characters in her novel to bring out the various themes of the novel, as well as, help in the development of the story. Jo, who is evidently the central character of the story, is Amy’s elder sister, and she is seen as the character who sets the pace for all other characters in the novel. At the outset, as the girls’ parents wish to teach the girls lessons regarding poverty, she is the first one to learn and catch what their parents are trying to teach them. She is very outspoken and outgoing, and for that reason, helps the readers understand the natures and characters of other people in the novel.
When she came out as the first sister to help Laurie when he was sick, and also as the first sister to develop an intimate relationship with him, most readers assume that these two characters will eventually marry each other. However, they do not marry each other, and instead she marries her professor who is atud bit older than her. Arguably, readers can see that her actions towards Laurie during the time of need, were a way of setting an example for her younger sister Amy, as to which actions are moral and good. Observably, Jo is quick to take on the role of a mother in her mother’s absence, something that Amy may not have been so amused about. For that reason, Jo can be considered also as a guide and parental figure to Amy, as well as, the other March sisters. In the development of Jo’s character, Alcott created her as a strong and independent woman, which in turn, illustrates her relation to Laurie as a character. She rebelliously refuses Laurie’s offer of marriage, which sequentially breaks his heart and compels him to look for marriage from the other sister in the family. He does eventually gain the love of Amy, which in turn builds on Jo’s character as a pacesetter and a guide.
The second character in the novel is Amy who is the youngest March sister. As a character, she is quite manipulative and she, in one way or another, influences most people in the book to do things her way. However, because Jo steps in to act as her mother, she is unable to manipulate Jo, and for that reason, the readers are exposed to a number of fights and disagreements between the two. She is a people pleaser, which explains, her relationship with Laurie. Readers can assume that being the youngest March sister, she observed how Jo treated Laurie and emulated these actions to make him fall in love with her. Fundamentally, her relationship with Jo and Laurie can be observed from two different perspectives. Whereas she accentuates Jo’s character in the novel, and provides a contrast between the natures of women, her relationship with Laurie carries plenty of romantic connotations. Amy is a lovable character, which helps reader understand why Laurie fell in love with her in the first place. By the novel’s end, she bares a child for Laurie, hence bringing out another relationship to him, as the mother of his child.
Laurie is the last character in the Novel who clearly has been brought out as having a unique relationship between the two sisters Jo an Amy. In both cases, the relationship with the two sisters is that of a romantic love, with an added friendship between himself and Jo. As a character, Laurie is intelligent and charming, which in turn explains why the sisters grew fond of him throughout the novel. The readers first observe his relationship with Jo in the first sections of the book, where the two experience a strong friendship with each other. They are there for one another at all times, especially in times of sorrow, thus illustrating the deepness of their friendship. However, their relationship to each other takes a turn where the two do not get married, as readers would expect. Arguably, this illustrates the strength of the bond between these two characters, as one can see that they are more than lovers, and are the best of friends. Readers may assume that this relationship is based on the similarity in their personal lives where they both struggle to become what the society expects them to be. As for his relationship with Amy, readers can see that the two are romantically involved as they fall in love and get married. The two also start a family with each other, further illustrating their relationship with each other. They have no ill feeling regarding Jo, and for that reason bring out the theme of family and its importance in the novel.