Analysis of Australia and New Zealand Sustainability

Analysis of Australia and New Zealand Sustainability In the recent years, following increasing societal urges for responsible practices, involvement of the community, accountability, demand for more transparency, better working standards, contained GHGs emissions, and multiple other environmental and social elements (Ioannis Ioannou and George Serafeim, 2014, p.1) has given rise to a growing demand from stakeholders for corporate organisations to produce sustainable reports. Sustainable reporting as stated in the GRI 101: foundation is an organizations practice of reporting publicly on its economic, environmental, and/or social impacts, and hence its contributions positive or negative towards the goal of sustainable development (2016, p. 3). This report aims at evaluating various sustainability reporting tools and assess their impacts within the Australian context. Sustainability framework can be described as a set of guidelines put together to assist organisations producing a sustainability report with emphasis on a businesss material aspects, while focusing on the selection of the boundaries of the report. Above all, the framework highlights transparent reporting writing formats by providing technically-reviewed content and disclosure requirements (A GRI report is, 2017). These frameworks usually instigate a synoptic awareness risks and environmental impacts as well as opportunities/innovations. They additionally push for transparency regarding management strategies and quantifiable actions. They are astute about targeting areas that will have consequential impacts that ultimately translate to value for stakeholders (Some 227 members, 2016) For the purpose of this essay, the 2016 sustainability report of The Australian and New Zealand Banking Group has been studied. The report has been generated with the aid of various sustainability frameworks, however there are three major frameworks which are being considered namely DJSI (Dow Jones Sustainability Index), CDP (Carbon Disclosure Project) and GRI (Global Reporting Initiative). The DJSI is a widely used sustainability framework which has some of the most advanced ESG index solutions put at the disposal to the asset management industry through an unprecedented set of criteria for gathering, analyzing, quantifying, and distributing ESG data. It basically consists of industries specific questionnaires featuring 80-120 questions aligned with the companies financially relevant economic, environmental and social factors that accompanies the conventional financial analysis. A major part of the corporate sustainability assessment is the Media and Stakeholder Analysis (MSA) which audits publicly available information and assesses whether the companies management systems are translating into performance (The RobecoSAM Corporate, 2016). The CDP framework is a tool for decision makers for them to capitalize on opportunities and manage risks via their environmental performances (We understand that, 2017).The CDP overlaps with other framework in terms of its approach through sending out questionnaires to businesses in the denomination of the investors backing the initiative, the Carbon Disclosure Project amasses information on the companies environmental activities such as the monitoring and reduction of carbon emissions. This information accommodates the investors to make apprised, climate risk-related decisions in their investment process. Predicated on the data it has amassed, the CDP withal publishes in-depth analyses on sundry environmental subjects every year, covering a wide range of geographical regions (Samuel O. Idowu, 2013) The GRI Reporting Framework is meant to be a framework accepted by all organization for reporting on their economic, environmental, and social performance, regardless their size, sector, or location. It takes into consideration the practical issues faced by various organizations ranging ones having local operations to ones dispersing their operations internationally. The GRI Reporting Framework contains general as well as sector-specific content that has been agreed by multitude of stakeholders globally to be applied generally for reporting an organizations sustainability performance. The Sustainability Reporting Guidelines, now standards in the GRI are made up of principles for which define report content and ensure the quality of reported information. It also includes Standard Disclosures consisting of Performance Indicators and other disclosure items and guidance on specific technical topics in reporting (Sustainability Reporting Guidelines, 2016, p.3). CDP provides a framework for firms to measure and disclose their Greenhouse Gas (GHG), water, and supply chain performance. While the prime objective of CDP is climate change mitigation and protection of natural resources. GRI and DJSI, on the other hand, focus on the economic, environmental, and social impact of an organizations material activities on its stakeholders. The CDP and GRI frameworks are available to the public but for data to be submitted to DJSI, companies must be invited and the results of the analysis are not available in the public domain. (Mark Sellberg, 25 Nov 2015) These frameworks also target different audiences. While CDP and DJSI target investors as their main audience. The GRI reports primary stakeholder are based upon the material issues for the company and typically include shareholders, employees, suppliers, customers, regulators, NGOs, and local communities. In Australia sustainability reporting is voluntary. Companies choosing to do so in order to inform non-shareholder stakeholders about the companys performance with regards to the three main pillars of sustainability and setting up strategies for improve their impacts while disclosing to all stakeholders how a company is dealing with material non-financial and financial risks. According to Certified Practicing Accountants Australias (CPA Australia) 2004-2007 report Sustainability, Practice, Performance and Potential, there exists a strong correlation relating sustainability reporting and low probability of corporate distress. This relationship may also indicate the producing sustainability reports are proactive versus more prominent risks to their business and can prepare long term and integrated approach to risk benefitting both shareholders and stakeholders To address the diverse needs of Australias business community, one prime principle of sustainability was identified to be flexibility so that listed entities could first consider and then disclose sustainability or non-financial information that is pertinent to the (Ian Matheson, 2012, p.2) The ASX Corporate Governance Councils Principles of Good Corporate Governance and Best Practice Recommendations views are that if the size, structure and operations of organisations differ hence flexibility must be allowed in the structures adopted to maximise individual performance. Even though, flexibility is granted, organisations should be accountable to investors for their alternative which is the if not, why not obligation. On the other hand, multiple submitters believe that there is a need for compulsory sustainability disclosures provide stakeholders with assurance that companies are doing business accountably and transparently so that players who currently ignore CSR come up to the standard, even if it is a minimum, as it will provide authorities something against which they can hold them to account. (Rod Masson, 2012, p.42) Finally, in that sense it can be seen from the ANZ banking group sustainability report that the organization has chosen a combination of sustainability framework so as to meet answer the expectations of their different stakeholders and at the same time identify areas to improve their operational or management activities, find better managerial strategies for their non-financial risks, find new markets or business opportunities and measure their performance against their competitors. (ANZ, Corporate Sustainability Review 2016)

Robert Andrew Millikan Essay -- essays research papers

Robert Andrew Millikan In 1909 Robert Andrew Millikan set up an apparatus to measure the charge of an electron within an accuracy range of 3%. In 1913 he came out with a value of the electrical charge that would serve the world of science for a generation. Young Millikan had a childhood like most others: he had no idea what his profession would be. Once he recalled trying to jump from a rowboat to a dock, falling in the water, and almost drowning. Here he had his first account with physics - Newton’s Third Law of Motion: "For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction". Even in High School Physics courses Millikan was not so spirited, which may have had a little to do with his teacher’s habit of spending the summers using a divining rod to find water. After Millikan graduated from Maquoketa High he was accepted into Oberlin College. Robert actually began his physics career when he taught an elementary course at the request of his Greek professor during his sophomore year. He then transferred to Columbia University from which he graduated in 1893 as the only student graduate in physics. After this accomplishment Millikan travelled to Germany to study with such professors Planck and others. When this period was on his resume Millikan was offered a position in the Physics department at the University of Chicago and Millikan took it. After teaching for a period Millikan decided that physics could o...

Jesse Jame

Jesse James Paige Riley College Prep English Ms. Engel Works Cited 1881, with authorities growing suspicious, Jesse rented a house in Saint Joseph, and Missouri. â€Å"Jesse James – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. † Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. N. p. , n. d. Web. 11 Sept. 2012. <http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Jesse_James â€Å"Jesse James Biography. † Biography Base Home. N. p. , n. d. Web. 25 Sept. 2012. <http://www. biographybase. com/biography/james_jesse. html>. Bio True Story Jesse James Biography – Facts, Birthday, Life Story – Biography. om . † Bio True Story Famous Biographies & TV Shows – Biography. com . N. p. , n. d. Web. 25 Sept. 2012. <http://www. biography. com/people/jesse-james-9352646>. Green, Carl R. , and William R. Sanford. Jesse James. Hillside, N. J. , U. S. A. : Enslow Publishers, 1992. Print. Triplett, Frank, Joseph W. Snell, and Jerry Valez. The life, times and treacherous death of Jess e James. Chicago: The Swallow Press, 1970. Print. Stiles, T. J.. Jesse James: last rebel of the Civil War. New York: A. A. Knopf, 2002. Print. Jesse JamesThesis: Jesse James was definitely a rebel of his time. He was an adventurous outlaw who wasn’t scared to give the law a run for their money. Outline: I. Frank and Jesse a. Who they were b. What caused their rebellion acts II. Rebellions c. What caused them d. Who helped them Riley 1 Jesse James was the living and his younger brother, Frank were always partners in crime. The brothers got themselves in trouble on a regular basis. Running from the law was a typical thing for the James brothers. Jesse and Frank James always seemed to take the law into their own hands.The actual date Jesse James became famous is known to be December 7th, 1869. *DOC* Jesse James was definitely a rebel of his time. He was an adventurous outlaw who wasn’t scared to give the law a run for their money. Jesse killed eight men in a one day once. After the war, he returned to his home and was the leader of one of history's most notorious outlaw gangs. He was hurt while surrendering at the end of the war, and later said he had been forced into becoming an outlaw because his family had been punished for nothing in the war. The brothers were surprisingly liked all over the US.People looked at the James brothers as a type of ‘Robin Hood’ taking from the rich and giving to the poor, even though there was no real evidence to prove they did. They started robbing banks and trains, quickly spreading their popularity throughout the nation. The James gang was the most feared outlaw gang in history. There are reports that say the gang was estimated to of stolen around $200,000 from all of the bank robberies. Jesse was a very violent man. If he suspected someone to be an enemy, he would kill them right on the spot.Jesse was once reported to be getting change for a $100 bill once and shot a man in the heart because he though t the man was responsible for killing Bloody Bill. *DOC*3 Despite their criminal and often violent acts, James and his partners were much adored. Journalists were almost always excited to sell stories people of the East with tales of a wild West, exaggerated and romanticized the gang's adventures, often making James as a Robin Hood. James did mess Riley 2 with railroad workers who took private land for the railways. The gang was always a hot topic in newspapers everywhere.People feared Jesse James but at the same time he was known as a respected legendary rebel. James married his cousin in 1847. As feared as they were, the James brothers were both known as loving husbands and a good family man. Jesse and his cousin had two children. Jesse had plenty of money and a loving family yet he still continued his life of crime. Some people say Jesse had a â€Å"Love affair with crime† *DOC* band he just couldn’t stop because of the thrill it gave him. James and his famous gang robbed their way across the Western Frontier.They focused on robbing stagecoaches, banks, trains, and even stores. Out of all of the rebellious things Jesse did, he must have been very good at what he did considering he was never captured while doing them. In 1873 the James gang robbed a train, stealing over $3,000 which is equivalent to over $60,000 today. They tried to throw off people by wearing white masks, pretending they were from the Ku Klux Klan. This robbery made James the most famous of the former Guerillas. To show a symbol of threatening centralization the brothers derailed the Rock Island train in Adair, Iowa.Of all the train robberies the James Gang was responsible for they never were reported of stealing from the passengers. Even though they were feared outlaws the gang was surprisingly adored. Journalists and writers were always anxious to interview the gang members, especially Jesse James. The gang wasn’t afraid to go out in public and show themselves. Not st ealing from the passengers is where the Riley 3 idea of Jesse being a â€Å"Robin Hood† because he stole from the train itself, not the innocent people. The downfall of the gang began in September 1876 when they attempted to rob the First National Bank in Minnesota.After a manhunt and the robbery only Frank and James were left un caught and alive. Many of the gang members had been drinking before the robbery and this is what caused the robbery to fail. Two of the gang members were guarding the doors of the bank and this made the citizens suspicious. The cops were soon called and a manhunt began killing and capturing all but Frank and Jesse. After this tragic event Jesse had to recruit people to help him rob the Platte bank which was his last known robbing. *DOC* The James brothers were mostly involved in their gang for a ten year period from 1866 to 1876. DOC* 1 The James brothers were always moving around, avoiding the law. With his brother Frank James and other ex-Confedera tes, with Cole Younger and his brothers, the James gang robbed their way across the Western frontier aiming towards banks, trains, stagecoaches, and stores from Iowa to Texas. Escaping and hiding from even the Pinkerton National Detective Agency, the gang got away with thousands of dollars. James is believed to have carried out the first daylight bank robbery stealing over $60,000 from a bank in Liberty, Missouri.The community always protected them but they were still always on the move. Jesse and Frank planned to do one more robbery alongside Charlie and Bob Ford. Little did the brothers know that the Governor had offered a reward so big that it made the Ford’s turn their backs on the James brothers. Riley 4 On April 3rd, 1882 *DOC* 3 Bob and Jesse were talking a crooked picture on the wall in Jesse’s house. When Jesse turned to straighten the picture Bob shot him in the back of the head, immediately killing Jesse James. The shooting of Jesse caused quite the uproar i n Missouri.The community considered it â€Å"a cowardly assassination† and they were â€Å"outraged at the method used†. *DOC* 3 Frank James soon turned himself in to the police after the death of his beloved brother and partner in crime. The juries did not convict Frank of any of the crimes he was apart of and so Frank walked as a free man. After the tragic death of Jesse James the Ford brothers were hated by everyone. They were known as cowards and traitors. Frank and James had been friends with the Ford brothers for a long time and it was not expected of Bob to shoot Jesse.Bob Ford collected the $10,000 reward for the capture of Jesse James after the murder. The Ford brothers were sentenced to hang for the murder, even though there was a reward for the capture of Jesse before they killed him. The governor of Missouri pardoned the Ford brothers and gave them no punishment for the death of Jesse. Some people say the death of Jesse James was all a hoax and Jesse lived many years after his faked death. It was reported Jesse James ended up living to the age of 103, which was very old, especially back in the 1900s.Ford never admitted to killing James and this left suspicion among the people and Jesse’s loved ones. Many years after the burial of Jesse James the body was tested and it was over 99% likely to be the real Mr. James. The body of the man suspected to be the real Jesse was supposed to be tested at the same time but the bodies were switched and it never did Riley 5 get tested. Even after all of the murders and crimes Jesse James was a part of he died a feared but respected man. He truly was the living definition of a rebellious outlaw!

Essay about The Views and Lifestyles of Slaves During Slavery

The Views and Lifestyles of Slaves During Slavery Throughout the history of world there have been many documented cases of oppression and violence that one country or one race has forces upon another. Although the notion of slavery is thought to be gone from todays world, there are still numerous countries that force individuals to work against their will for little or no rewards. A massive area to studying and view slavery took place in the United States from the early seventieth century up to the American civil war, which ended slavery, in the middle nineteenth century. The driving force†¦show more content†¦To a further extent the material provided not only a slaves view but both pieces of material were from a womans perspective. The following critique will deal with the two pieces of literature and examine the content of both. The work by Jacobs details the life a young black girl who in the early stages of her life, although being a slave, was not subjected to the cruel treatment from her owner as so many other slaves would be. Her compassion for her owner is a rarity, as for most slaves the relationship with their masters is one of complete obedience while harboring anger within them. The following illustrates the feelings that Linda, the young slave girl, had for her mistress As I saw the cheek grow paler, and the eye more glassy, how earnestly I prayed that she might live! I loved her; for she had been like a mother to me.[1] Lindas life would change dramatically after the death of her mistress; her life now would no longer be as joyful and happy as she was to be traded to another slave owner. For Burton who is writing about herself, named Annie in the narrative, her childhood is placed in a time of change as it is during the civil war. Burtons description of her surroundings, to a certain extent, seems to be of confusion with both black and white races having difficulty coming to grips with theShow MoreRelatedRace, Ethnicity, And Culture1329 Words   |  6 Pageswere severely impacted was the African Americans in the United States during the periods from 1804-1813, 1819-1831, and 1832-1848. Based on the definitions from the Asian Pacific Americans: â€Å"Keywords,† Concepts and History, it is said that race is impossible to be defined race from the biological view, because people have been evolved so much over the years, the gene pool is so mixed that distinguishing people from the biological view is not so accurate. For example, African Americans and native AfricansRead MoreDebunking Myths on the Treatment of African Americans in Uncle Tom’s Cabin by H arriet Beecher Stowe926 Words   |  4 PagesStowe) Harriet Beecher Stowe is an author during the 1800’s, who was well known for promoting the abolition of slavery. 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The south believed that slavery was essential forRead MoreIola Leroy Essay1152 Words   |  5 Pages How does Iola’s perspective of the role of slavery and race change throughout the novel? Social Stature Francis Harper in the novel Iola Leroy suggests that social stature can change an individual and their views on race and slavery. These views change drastically during the duration of the novel. The character Iola is a prime example of how social stature can affect an individual and change their views on certain aspects of their life. The clichà © saying â€Å"you do not know what you haveRead MoreOver The Course Of Evaluating America’S History, Much Time1624 Words   |  7 PagesJefferson’s motives and actions in regards to slavery and its possible abolition. 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Seduction is used in two distinct methods which includes persuading someone for sexual pleasure or to make them act or do something they wouldn’t do normally on their own. Rosa is seduced in the idea of marrying Gerald in order to save her from being a slave and poor,Read MoreThe United States During The Civil War1045 Words   |  5 Pagesexamples are the conflicting views of slavery between numerous states during the 19th century and the different viewpoints on how the United States would treat the South after the Civil War ended. [look over old assignments and see how you expanded these] Both of these disagreements have shaped U.S. history and drastically changed the life of citizens. In the United States, one of the earliest forms of racism was the use of slavery. [how did slavery start]. By the 1800s, slavery had become a major partRead MoreThe Civil War Of North And South Essay1269 Words   |  6 Pagesdifferent views and ways of life between the North and the South. 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