SOURCE:National Grid

DESCRIPTION:

WALTHAM, MA, June 6, 2018 /3BL Media/  – The Edison Electric Institute (EEI) today presented National Grid with the EEI Emergency Assistance Award and the EEI Emergency Recovery Award for its outstanding power restoration efforts after Winter Storm Riley, Winter Storm Quinn, and a severe wind and ice storm that impacted New York, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island in October 2017, March 2018, and April 2018.

EEI presents the awards to recognize select companies’ efforts in power restoration after service disruptions caused by severe weather conditions or other natural events. Following an international nomination process, a panel of judges selects the winners. National Grid received the awards during EEI’s Annual Convention in San Diego.

“Emergency response is a hallmark of our industry and our company. We take great pride in serving our customers in New York and New England and in supporting other utilities — within our local region and as far away as Puerto Rico — following these types of devastating weather events,” said Ken Daly, National Grid’s Chief Operating Officer- Electric. “The men and women of National Grid are honored to receive this recognition for their tireless restoration efforts and commitment to serving customers.”

In October 2017, a strong wind storm brought hurricane-force winds across areas of Massachusetts and Rhode Island, and caused service outages for more than 504,000 customers. National Grid’s swift, effective response and use of innovative technologies, such as the iRestore mobile app, gave local police, fire agencies, and other first responders the ability to relay information related to damages directly to National Grid. This ultimately ensured crews arrived on site with the resources needed to address specific outage issues. National Grid dedicated more than 91,000 man-hours to restoration efforts and restored service to 100 percent of customers within six days of the storm.

On March 1, 2018, Winter Storm Riley, followed by Winter Storm Quinn, resulted in heavy, wet snow and high winds across the Catskill and Hudson Valley regions of New York, leaving many customers without service. In response, National Grid sent 60 lineworkers to help restore power to customers over the course of eight days.

In addition to meeting a mutual assistance call to help with restoration efforts after Winter Storms Riley and Quinn, National Grid’s own service territory was impacted by the nor’easters, which caused service outages for more than 945,000 customers across New York. National Grid crews dedicated more than 212,000 total man-hours to restoration efforts and restored service to 100 percent of customers within six days of Winter Storm Riley and within five days of Winter Storm Quinn.

National Grid’s Western, Central, and Eastern New York Divisions were also impacted by a severe weather event on April 4, 2018, when extreme winds, heavy rains, and snow caused service outages for more than 216,000 customers across the region. In preparation for the storm, National Grid mobilized crews and staff across Upstate New York and within their Control Room and Contact Centers to prepare for its impact. National Grid crews dedicated more than 88,000 man-hours to restoration efforts and restored service to 100 percent of customers within three days.

“The dedicated crews from National Grid are truly deserving of this recognition for their tremendous efforts to restore service in difficult conditions and to assist neighboring electric companies in times of need,” said EEI President Tom Kuhn. “National Grid’s restoration efforts and its assistance during these storms illustrate our industry’s unwavering commitment to serving our customers and to providing mutual assistance.”

About EEI

EEI is the association that represents all U.S. investor-owned electric companies. Our members provide electricity for 220 million Americans, and operate in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. As a whole, the electric power industry supports more than 7 million jobs in communities across the United States. In addition to our U.S. members, EEI has more than 60 international electric companies as International Members, and hundreds of industry suppliers and related organizations as Associate Members.

About National Grid

National Grid (LSE: NG; NYSE: NGG) is an electricity, natural gas, and clean energy delivery company that supplies the energy for more than 20 million people through its networks in New York, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. It is the largest distributor of natural gas in the Northeast. National Grid also operates the systems that deliver gas and electricity across Great Britain. 

National Grid is transforming its electricity and natural gas networks to support the 21st century digital economy with smarter, cleaner, and more resilient energy solutions. Read more about the innovative projects happening across our footprint in The Democratization of Energy, an eBook written by National Grid’s US president, Dean Seavers. 

For more information please visit our website. You can also follow us on Twitter, watch us on YouTube, friend us on Facebook, find our photos on Instagram.

###

CONTACT: Media Relations – 781-907-3980

Tweet me:.@nationalgridus Earns EEI Emergency Assistance Award and Emergency Recovery Award for Restoration Efforts Across U.S. http://bit.ly/2LoFAwP

KEYWORDS: EEI Emergency Assistance Award, National Grid, Winter Storm Riley, Winter Storm Quinn, extreme weather

SOURCE:3BL Media, LLC

SUMMARY:

Join Aetna, The American Public Health Association, the Waco-McLennan County Public Health District, Mercy Maricopa, 3BL Media and Triple Pundit, as we discuss what it will take to ensure a #HealthierWorld! Thursday, June 7, Noon ET/9am PT/5pm BT

DESCRIPTION:

Join us on Twitter tomorrow, Thursday, June 7, at Noon ET (9:00 a.m. PT), as Aetna, along with public health leaders, share ideas and provide insight on how to build a healthier world, one community at a time. You can follow the conversation by locating the hashtag, #HealthierWorld.

Aetna, one of the leading diversified health care benefits companies in the U.S., recently released its 2016-2017 Corporate Social Responsibility report, and Thursday’s conversation in part will showcase some of the company’s latest initiatives. The one-hour #HealthierWorld chat will include additional perspectives from organizations that work with Aetna and the Aetna Foundation.

The chat is hosted by the 3BL Media’s sustainable business publication, TriplePundit. During the chat, 3BL Media’s staff will moderate this discussion on how the private sector, government and nonprofits can collaborate in building a healthier, happier society.

Organizations joining Aetna (@AetnaNews) during this Thursday’s chat will be:

• The American Public Health Association (@PublicHealth)
• Mercy Maricopa (@MercyMaricopa), a local, not-for-profit regional behavioral health authority for Arizona’s Maricopa County residents
• The Waco-McLennan County Public Health District (@Wacohealthdept)

The chat will be moderated by 3BL Media’s staff, tweeting from @3BLMedia and @TriplePundit.

Topics to be discussed during this chat with Aetna will include:

• The importance of wellness programs
• How partnerships can help improve the social determinants of health (#SDoH)
• The role stakeholders in the healthcare industry have in providing access to the country’s aging population
• Challenges in addressing inequities in healthcare access and delivery
• Taking on the nation’s opioid crisis
• What can be done to improve veterans’ healthcare

Again, be sure to follow this chat using this hashtag, #HealthierWorld.

Bring your questions to the Twitter chat, and our panelists will answer as many as possible.

WHEN: Thursday, June 7th at 9:00 a.m. PT / Noon ET / 5:00 p.m. BT

WHERE: Join the conversation on Twitter at #HealthierWorld

New to our Twitter chats? Don’t worry! Read this.

Tweet to spread the word about the #HealthierWorld Twitter chat:

Join us for a Twitter Chat with @TriplePundit, @3BLMedia, @AetnaNews, @PublicHealth, @Wacohealthdept and @MercyMaricopa as we discuss what it will take to ensure a #HealthierWorld! This Thursday, June 7, Noon ET/9am PT/5pm BT #SDoH http://bit.ly/AetnaHealthierWorld

Have a question for the panel? Send it to lkaye@3BLMedia.com or direct message @TriplePundit.

Tweet me:Join us for a Twitter Chat with @TriplePundit, @3BLMedia, @AetnaNews, @PublicHealth, @Wacohealthdept and @MercyMaricopa as we discuss what it will take to ensure a #HealthierWorld! This Thursday, June 7, Noon ET/9am PT/5pm BT #SDoH http://bit.ly/AetnaHealthierWorld

KEYWORDS: triplepundit, Aetna

SOURCE:Smithfield Foods

DESCRIPTION:

SMITHFIELD, Va. June 7, 2018 /3BL Media/ — The Smithfield Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Smithfield Foods, Inc., recently announced a $25,000 donation to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF). The gift will support CBF’s environmental education programs in Virginia, providing opportunities for students and teachers throughout the state.

“Outdoor learning is an opportunity to forge a real connection to Virginia’s beautiful waterways,” said Deidra Floyd, CBF Director of Field Programs. “Studies have shown that environmental education improves academic performance, increases civic engagement, and instills a belief that individuals can make a difference.”

This donation will help CBF’s award-winning environmental education programs reach more than 13,000 teachers and students in 4th through 12th grade in Title 1 schools across the state. Programs include Field Experiences that take students outside to explore the Chesapeake Bay watershed and learn how they can take action to save and protect the Bay. It also funds Teacher Professional Learning programs that focus on methods to incorporate environmental education into the core subject areas of reading, math, science, and social studies.

Stewart Leeth, vice president of regulatory affairs and chief sustainability officer for Smithfield Foods and vice president of the Smithfield Foundation, presented the donation to CBF staff and students during an environmental education field experience at the Brock Environmental Center in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

“Smithfield is proud to provide students and teachers with the tools they need to learn about the Chesapeake Bay watershed and the importance of conservation,” said Leeth. “As a company, Smithfield is passionate about educating our youth and protecting our natural environment. This partnership with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation is an incredible opportunity to help inspire the next generation of environmental stewards.”

This donation aligns with Smithfield’s efforts to support the vitality of local communities through education, and with the company’s continued environmental efforts and initiatives. Smithfield’s industry-leading sustainability program is focused on five pillars: animal care, environment, food safety and quality, helping communities, and people.

To read more about these efforts, please visit smithfieldfoods.com/2017report.

###

About Smithfield Foods

Smithfield Foods is a $15 billion global food company and the world's largest pork processor and hog producer. In the United States, the company is also the leader in numerous packaged meats categories with popular brands including Smithfield^®, Eckrich^®, Nathan's Famous^®, Farmland^®, Armour^®, Farmer John^®, Kretschmar^®, John Morrell^®, Cook's^®, Gwaltney^®, Carando^®, Margherita^®, Curly's^®, Healthy Ones^®, Morliny^®, Krakus^® and Berlinki^®. Smithfield Foods is committed to providing good food in a responsible way and maintains robust animal care, community involvement, employee safety, environmental and food safety and quality programs. For more information, visit www.smithfieldfoods.com.

Media Contacts

Smithfield Foods, Inc.

Diana Souder

dsouder@smithfield.com

(757) 357-1675

Tweet me:.@SmithfieldFoods donates $25k to @chesapeakebay ‏http://bit.ly/2sEzmlv to help fund environmental education programs in Virginia #sustainability

KEYWORDS: Chesapeake Bay Foundation, environmental education funds, Smithfield Foods, virginia, csr

This year's build will take place Aug. 26-31 in Mishawaka, Ind.

SOURCE:Whirlpool Corporation

DESCRIPTION:

Today, Whirlpool Corporation announced it will continue its longtime relationship with Habitat for Humanity through 2018. This marks the 19th year the appliance manufacturer and nonprofit organization collaboration to support families in need of affordable housing, with Whirlpool Corporation committing to providing a new range and refrigerator for every new Habitat home built in the U.S. and Canada.

“Over the years, this relationship has only grown stronger, and we’re eager to continue working with Habitat for Humanity in 2018,” said Jeff Noel, corporate vice president of communications & public affairs for Whirlpool Corporation. “Whirlpool Corporation is committed to improving people’s everyday lives, and through our work with Habitat, we’re able to make a positive impact in communities throughout the U.S. and around the world.”

Read More

Tweet me:Whirlpool Corp. announced it will continue its longtime relationship with Habitat for Humanity through 2018. This marks the 19th year the appliance manufacturer and nonprofit organization collaboration to support families in need of affordable housing. http://bit.ly/2JAMcuz

KEYWORDS: Habitat for Humanity, Jimmy Carter Work Project, NYSE:WHR, whirlpool corporation, affordable housing

SOURCE:Astellas

DESCRIPTION:

On May 22, Astellas marked the inaugural Legal Community Advocacy, Representation and Service (CARES) Day, where employees from the Legal and Intellectual Property (IP) department around the world dedicated a day to volunteering in the communities where they live and work.

This activity complements the company’s Changing Tomrrow Day, Astellas’ global day of service. The Legal CARES initiative began in January 2017, offering Astellas Legal employees the opportunity to provide charitable service work and pro bono legal services to those who need it most.

"The Legal CARES Day effort grew from our leadership's passion for service," stated Annie Morrison, Assistant General Counsel, Legal Regulatory and co-chair of Legal CARES. "As Astellas employees, we are grateful to have the support and encouragement to dedicate our resources collectively by providing service, free legal advice and education to community members." 

“It was truly a joy-filled event,” added Lisa Kistler, Associate General Counsel, Litigation and co-chair of Legal CARES. “We are excited to continue to grow this program and reach the underserved in our various local communities around the world.”    

In the U.S., Legal and IP employees left the office for the day to connect with underresourced communities across Chicagoland. Additionally, Percival Barretto-Ko, president, Americas Operations for Astellas attended the U.S. kickoff breakfast.

The projects included:

• Bernie’s Book Bank: Nine Astellas volunteers helped to process more than 17,000 books over two sessions. Between mixing, sorting and bagging, enough books were packaged to serve 2,800 children. “We are so grateful for their hard work and willingness to complete so many different tasks,” said a Bernie’s Book Bank respresentative of the Astellas volunteers.
• Northbrook District 28 Schools: Fourteen Astellas volunteers helped organize and direct the Constitutional Rights Foundation of Chicago mock trial program with 182 local fifth graders.
• Highland Park/Highwood Legal Aid Clinic: Five Astellas volunteers supported 6 seniors as they completed Power of Attorney documentation.
• Northfield Township Food Pantry: Four Astellas volunteers assisted food pantry clients and helped to organize the pantry’s inventory, including sorting donations and stocking shelves.

Astellas Legal colleagues around the world prepared for and participated in volunteer activities to mark Legal CARES Day.

"We were really excited to take advantage of the Global Legal CARES Day as the official kick off for this worthy initiative in the EMEA region, and the EMEA Legal Leadership Team were very supportive. Adam Lewington and I are working towards putting a good structure in place to make sure all team members are encouraged, and feel able to give their time and skills to those who need it, and we can't wait to get started,” said Manuela Stein, Trainee Solicitor at Astellas Pharma Europe.

In Brazil, the Legal team worked to revitalize a library and set a playroom in the Grupo de Assistência Social Casa de Emmanuel, a home that serves at-risk and socially vulnerable children and adolescents. They also donated funds needed to purchase the renovation items, including lighting, windows, shelves, paint, carpet, tables and chairs. 

“Pro Bono has always been important to me and I am thankful that we have the support of Astellas and our leadership team to support these important initiatives,” said Rosa Estrella, Associate General Counsel, LATAM. “Kicking off Legal CARES Day across geographical borders not only provided amazing and valuable services and support to those in need, but also was a great opportunity to integrate our LATAM Affiliates even more. The level of enthusiasm and support that I saw in Colombia and Brazil were a true reflection of the Astellas Way…everyone chipped in to make it happen and have the day be a success all around!”

In Canada, the Legal team collected 265 donation items from employees over a two-and-a-half-week period to benefit Yellow Brick House, a local shelter for survivors of domestic abuse. Rowena Borenstein, General Counsel at Astellas Pharma Canada, reflected on Legal CARES Day. “As we are a small group in Canada, we were delighted and very grateful that the entire company enthusiastically chipped in to support our local donation drive for Yellow Brick House. The generosity of our colleagues enabled us to deliver many sorely needed items for the shelter’s women and children. We are already talking about how to make next year’s event even bigger!”

Similarly, colleagues in Colombia participated in Legal CARES Day by collecting hygiene supplies, such as bath and powered soap, shampoo and toothpaste, to benefit SANAR (which means heal in Spanish), a local non-profit that has supported children with cancer and their families for more than 30 years. The Colombia Legal team also donated funds and purchased items to support SANAR.

Astellas Farma Colombia volunteers visited SANAR facilities together with their legal firm to demonstrate AFC’s commitment to both SANAR and the Legal CARES initiative. “We are so proud that the AFC team showed its commitment to Legal CARES Day by collecting so many hygiene supplies so quickly. Employees were happy to support SANAR through the collection of supplies that are useful to these families, who come from poor and rural areas searching for treatment and support for their children diagnosed with cancer. The team expressed their gratitude and happiness for being able to support these families,” said Sandra Cifuentes, General Manager of Astellas Farma Colombia.

About CSR at Astellas
Living SMART™ is the Astellas approach to preparing communities today for what can happen tomorrow. The Living SMART framework brings together the strength of the charitable Astellas USA Foundation and our Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) work to find the areas where we can make the most impact to improve lives. Astellas USA Foundation and Astellas CSR collaborate to create a positive impact on society through three overarching focus areas: health and well-being; Science WoRx (STEM education); and disaster response. To read more about Living SMART, see the Americas Corporate Social Responsibility Report Card.

KEYWORDS: astellas, Changing Tomorrow Day

Dive into key takeaways from this year's U.S. Pro Bono Summit on June 12

SOURCE:Taproot Foundation

DESCRIPTION:

The Taproot Foundation’s U.S. Pro Bono Summit is an annual gathering of leaders from across sectors and industries with a shared vision to make the talents and skills of the business community accessible to social change organizations. Over the course of two days in April, 100+ CSR, nonprofit, and government leaders from across the country gathered in San Francisco to dig into topics ranging from tackling food access through pro bono to aligning programming with talent development strategies. 

Join Taproot for a deep dive on takeaways like:

• Measuring the intangible benefits of pro bono
• Aligning pro bono and talent development stragtegies 
• Telling your pro bono story

Tuesday, June 12, 2018 
1 p.m. EST / 12 p.m. CST / 10 a.m. PST
REGISTER TODAY

Tweet me:WEBINAR: dive into key insights from @TaprootFound's 2018 U.S. Pro Bono Summit on June 12 --> http://bit.ly/2GDYRYi

KEYWORDS: Taproot Foundation

SCS helps companies navigate these risks and other potential pitfalls

SOURCE:SCS Global Services

DESCRIPTION:

With consumer demand for non-GMO foods on the rise, food companies are increasingly making the decision to formulate their products to earn Non-GMO Project Verified distinction (see VIDEO). However, as many food companies have discovered, steering clear of GMOs can be tricky, given the pervasive degree to which genetically modified commodities and their derivatives have penetrated the world market.  The Non-GMO Project identifies well-known products such as corn, soy and alfalfa as high-risk, as well as meat, dairy, eggs, natural flavors, and more.

Lucy Anderson, Technical Services Manager of SCS Global Services’ third-party Non-GMO Project Verification team, will be helping companies learn to navigate around high-risk ingredients, and avoid other pitfalls, in the quest to produce market-ready non-GMO products.  Join Lucy on July 11^th at 9:30 am Pacific time by registering for this one hour free webinar.  For more information, contact Ned Halaby at nhalaby@scsglobalservices.com, 1.510.452.6822.

Tweet me:Register https://bit.ly/2LqRoyn for free SCS webinar to reduce risk while seeking #Non-GMO Verified distinction for products. Learn to navigate around high-risk ingredients & avoid other pitfalls. July 11 9:30am Pac. VIDEO https://bit.ly/2JyBTHt DETAILS https://bit.ly/2CKzu5a

KEYWORDS: scs global services, non-gmo, genetic engineering, Supermarket, healthy food, sustainable agriculture, food manufacturer

With 99 percent of the island’s customers restored, the final work has been transferred to the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority

SOURCE:Edison International

DESCRIPTION:

When Southern California Edison asked David Elias to return to Puerto Rico for a second time this year to help restore power on the island, he had his doubts. There were family obligations. There was also the communications course he would have to drop at Copper Mountain College in Joshua Tree.

“I had all these reasons,” said Elias, an SCE supervisor in the Yucca/Twentynine Palms area, but his wife, Ali, changed his mind.

“Obviously, if they are asking you to go, it’s because they think you can make an impact,” she told him.

After Elias went back to Puerto Rico in early March, he realized how right she was. He called his work helping with feeder line restoration on the island the most fulfilling of his career because he could see how it was making a difference from the outpouring of local residents.He recalled arriving one day with a crew at a remote community that had been without power for five months. A power pole blocked the road and had prevented access since the back-to-back hurricanes hit last September. Lines were still down on the house where they originally fell.

“A woman came out and said, ‘You are the first people in authority that we’ve talked to since the hurricane,’” Elias said. “Seeing us there, they knew there was hope that power was on the way.”

Elias was on one of four rotating SCE incident management teams that joined nearly 60 investor-owned electric companies and public power utilities that helped with Puerto Rico’s power restoration.

Each SCE team stayed 30 to 45 days, working 12-hour days, seven days a week helping plan and organize the restoration effort. Their work ranged from damage assessments and mapping circuits to ordering materials, prioritizing restorations and overseeing the safe re-energizing of power lines and homes.

Like Elias, Tony Fraijo, an SCE underground general foreman in Menifee who did three tours in Puerto Rico, felt a similar sense of commitment especially after helping restore power at a school in Cayey.

When the power crew turned on the electricity, they heard clapping and cheering by teachers who they didn’t realize had been quietly meeting in a darkened classroom.

“I had a lump in my throat,” Fraijo said. “I was pretty pumped up for a long time after that — that’s what you were there for.”

The last SCE team returned home in late April, however, at the request of Puerto Rican authorities, SCE sent two additional people for continued support through May.

Kathryn Hidalgo, an SCE principal manager, was the first to return, staying until May 10. The last SCE responder, Brian D. Howard, a senior SCE manager, took over and stayed until May 26.

As of May 22, the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority reported 99 percent of power had been restored to customers on the island.

SCE’s employees were among utility employees honored by the San Diego Padres June 4 for their efforts in the Puerto Rico power restoration. 

Pedro Pizarro, president and CEO of Edison International, SCE’s parent company, praised the SCE employees for their hard work, long hours and sacrifice.

He noted that they completed their initial assignment in Ponce by mid-March. SCE’s team was then reassigned to Barranquitas, Caguas and Cayey to help with restoration in those more remote mountainous areas.

“Your success at restoring power to so many customers is a real testament to the impact you had,” said Pizarro, who is originally from Puerto Rico and visited the SCE team in December. “We could not have asked for anything better.”

He also took note of the extra efforts SCE’s team went to on behalf of the local residents. The team donated money for sporting goods to be given to a school in the Cayey district. The school named its library “Biblioteca Southern California Edison Company” in response.

“It was a humanitarian effort, helping people and paying it forward,” Pizarro said.

Tweet me:.@SCE #energyrestoration wraps up in #PuertoRico with 99% of the island's customers restored http://bit.ly/2M7Vg8Y #HurricaneMaria

KEYWORDS: Hurricane Maria, SCE, Edison International, power restoration, Puerto Rico

Global CEO highlights company's sustainable growth

SOURCE:Sappi North America

DESCRIPTION:

Dear North American colleagues and stakeholders,

2017 was a good year for Sappi globally, with the focus and energy of our people enabling us to deliver another strong set of results built on the momentum of past years. In North America, good cost management and strong contributions from our Specialised Cellulose business offset some of the weak market conditions in the graphics and release businesses.

Of particular note is the exceptional safety performance displayed by the North American team, and I want to recognize the full effort and dedication this took. Globally, satisfaction with our performance must be tempered by collective grief of the four fatalities suffered this year in Africa and Europe. I am calling on our people to display the same vigour and commitment to improving our safety performance as they have shown in embracing our 2020Vision, strategic diversifi cation and values. In 2017, we continued to invest in growth in all three planks of sustainability—Prosperity, People and Planet.

Prosperity Significant investments at Somerset, both to rebuild Paper Machine 1 and to upgrade the wood room, as well as a new headbox for Cloquet Paper Machine 12 will keep those mills globally competitive and open up new packaging markets. Similar mill investments in Europe and the acquisitions of Plaxica, Rockwell, and Cham Paper Group, all of which are described further in this report, will accelerate product innovation across the globe. Collectively, these investments align with our global diversifi cation strategy and 2020Vision to grow in higher-margin growth segments.

People We continued to invest in our people with world-class training programmes, and in promoting skills and socio-economic growth in the communities close to our operations. Our customers benefi tted from more focused market-facing initiatives, new products and market-leading innovations. We also continued our collaborative work with technology partners worldwide to accelerate our move into adjacent markets and to develop more sustainable approaches to the task of balancing socio-economic growth and natural capital.

Planet As the world population approaches the eight billion mark, with concomitant pressure on natural resources, the need to use natural capital responsibly becomes increasingly important. Recognising this, we work to reduce our environmental impact across the group. In North America, good progress was made in reducing waste, improving effi ciencies and maintaining a very low carbon footprint as detailed in this report.

At Sappi we believe that sustainable growth must emanate from a solid foundation where we do not focus exclusively on profits, but rather, balance our need to generate Prosperity by promoting the interests of People while respecting the boundaries of the Planet. Our value statement “at Sappi we do business with integrity and courage, making smart decisions which we execute with speed” is guiding people towards the right behaviour and is providing the foundation for further growth.

Steve Binnie

Chief Executive Officer, Sappi Limited

Tweet me:.@SappiNA's Global CEO Steve Binnie highlights company's #sustainable growth in 2017 #sustainabilityreport: http://bit.ly/Sappi-SR17

KEYWORDS: Sappi, paper, pulp, People, planet, prosperity, growth, JSE:SAP, Steve Binnie

SOURCE:Booz Allen Hamilton

DESCRIPTION:

From a recent press release from the Student Veterans of America (SVA), Booz Allen Hamilton, and 20 of America’s largest companies recently launched the Business and Industry Roundtable, designed to provide employment and professional development opportunities to the nation’s student veterans.

A first of its kind collaboration, the group of corporations is committed -- through SVA -- to engage directly with the 100,000 veterans who graduate each year, providing a pipeline to corporate expertise in how to find and pursue career opportunities. Booz Allen and the other founding member companies will engage with SVA’s chapters nationwide.

According to SVA’s 2017 National Veteran Education Success Tracker (NVEST) research, student veterans using the Post-9/11 GI Bill are more likely to earn academically-rigorous degrees sought after by leading public and private sector employers. For example, veterans are more likely to graduate and to attain degrees in the fields of business, health, and science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), compared to their non-veteran student counterparts. Student veterans also earn on average a 3.35 GPA, compared to the national average of 3.11. These statistics demonstrate that student veterans are talent hiding in plain sight for companies across the country.

The twenty-one founding members of the Roundtable include Accenture, Aetna, Amazon, BASF, Booz Allen Hamilton, Comcast/NBC Universal, Deloitte, Edelman, Edward Jones, First Data, Gartner, General Dynamics, JPMorgan Chase & Co., LinkedIn, LMI, Lockheed Martin, Meijer, Microsoft, Prudential/PGIM, PwC and Raytheon.

About Student Veterans of America
Student Veterans of America (SVA) is the country’s premier organization for student veterans. SVA supports all veterans through their transition from the military, educational advancement, and career growth. SVA represents a network of 1,500 chapters on campuses in all 50 states and four countries representing over 700,000 student veterans at those colleges and universities. SVA is Gold Certified by Guide Star and was named Non-Profit of the Year by HillVets. For more information, visit us at www.studentveterans.org.

Learn more about Booz Allen’s commitment to military, veterans, and families here.

Tweet me:@BoozAllen joins @studentvets to Offer #Student #Veterans employment, professional development: http://bit.ly/2M6Dcfm

KEYWORDS: Booz Allen Hamilton, student veterans of america, military, veteran, hiring, professional development, job training

World Oceans Day and the Global G7 Summit provide forums for collaborative action and innovation

SOURCE:Eastman Chemical Company

DESCRIPTION:

June 8, 2018 /3BL Media/ - Eastman Foundation, in conjunction with the 2018 G7 Summit, is advocating for action in addressing challenges and identifying innovative solutions to better understand our oceans. In celebration of World Oceans Day, Eastman Foundation is pleased to introduce The Great Blue Challenge.  The Challenge is designed to spark innovation - and to find unique, creative and potentially transformative projects that will expedite ocean research. 

Why ocean science?

The ocean contains 97% of the Earth’s known water supply and is fundamental to our climate, atmospheric, weather, food, energy and water systems.  There is no place on the globe where the ocean doesn’t matter. And yet, the message is simple – we need more data to better understand the complexities of the world’s most important waters.

In short, we can’t manage what we can’t measure.

“Ocean science is challenging,” states David A. Golden, president of Eastman Foundation. “The gap between underfunded ocean science and education and the overtaxed resources expected to deliver solutions is not sustainable. The world is facing enormous challenges, and to solve those challenges we must better understand them.” 

Advocating and collaborating for action

With a prominent theme of "working together on climate change, oceans and clean energy", the G7 Summit is ideal for launching the Challenge and recognizing the opportunity to focus on solutions through education and innovation.

In the supporting publication for the Summit by Climate Change – The New Economy (CCTNE),Eastman Advocates for Action and invites individuals associated with an internationally recognized university, research center, or philanthropic scientific initiative to take part in The Great Blue Challenge.  

The Great Blue Challenge

All eligible submissions will be reviewed based on multiple criteria and finalists will have the opportunity to present their proposal in person or by videoconference to a panel of ocean science experts and business leaders. Eastman Foundation will provide up to $25,000 in grant funding through the non-profit, higher education, or charitable organization affiliated with the successful entry.

“The ocean is our greatest shared natural resource and anyone can make a difference by starting locally and making it personal,” continues Golden.  “All investments in ocean science are important.” 

To learn more about how the Eastman Foundation is encouraging innovation in ocean research and education, visit eastmanfoundation.com.

About the Eastman Foundation
The Foundation invests in initiatives that serve and strengthen communities around the world and improve the quality of life.  The Foundation focuses its resources on organizations and projects in the areas of education, environment, empowerment and economic development.  Learn more about the Eastman Foundation at eastmanfoundation.com and the company’s Corporate Responsibility initiatives at responsibility.eastman.com. 

# # #

Contact:

Great Blue Challenge
Maranda Demuth
423.229.6135 |  mdemuth@eastman.com

Tweet me:.@EastmanChemCo's Foundation, in conjunction with the 2018 #G7 Summit, is advocating for action in addressing challenges and identifying innovative solutions for better understanding our oceans. #worldoceansday #oceansciencematters http://bit.ly/2M5GWh2

KEYWORDS: Eastman Foundation, ocean, Ocean Science, G7 summit, NYSE:EMN

SOURCE:ReportAlert

DESCRIPTION:

BCE Inc. ("Bell Canada” or “Bell”) has released its 25th annual Corporate Responsibility Report, covering the company’s performance in 2017 and progress towards its short- and long-term sustainability goals.

Throughout the report, Bell demonstrates that through strong corporate responsibility practices, they are able to recruit and retain talented team members, reduce risk, build customer loyalty and long-term shareholder value, and meet our commitment to the United Nations Global Compact. Here are some highlights from Bell’s performance in 2017:

• Bell Let’s Talk commitment to Canadian mental health has reached $93,423,628.802
• Joined the 30% Club to help accelerate progress toward better gender balance at all levels of the organization
• Recertified ISO 14001-compliant environmental management system for the 8^th year in a row
• Generated 230,000 kWh of renewable energy from solar and wind power sources
• Recovered over 2.5 million used TV receivers, modems, and mobile phones

In 2017, Bell was named one of Canada’s Top Employers for Young People, and named to the Corporate Knights Best 50 Corporate Citizens in Canada list for the 5th straight year.

Bell’s full Corporate responsibility report for 2017 is available here.

Contact:
Stephanie Berger
(514) 870-6512

Read the Report

Tweet me:.@Bell publishes their latest #CorporateResponsibility Report. Read about the company’s performance in 2017 and its progress towards short- and long-term #sustainability goals: http://bit.ly/2Jqih8F via @ReportAlert

KEYWORDS: Bell Canada, ReportAlert, United Nations Global Compact Survey

by Austin Belisle

SOURCE:Cisco Systems Inc.

DESCRIPTION:

We’re just days away from the start of Cisco Live US 2018, with plenty planned for on-site attendees and those following along from home! This year’s event asks people to imagine the possibilities of a world with intuitive IT, where technology has the power to make anything possible.

We see this every day in our own corporate social responsibility (CSR) work, from our collaboration with nonprofit partners to the recent announcement of our Global Problem Solver Challenge winners. We’re excited for attendees to discover what it means to be a global problem solver throughout the week as they make a positive impact on people, society, and the planet.

Being a part of Cisco Live’s Social Impact Zone means we’re giving them an opportunity to do just that. From Monday to Thursday, we’ll be highlighting our commitment to positively impact 1 billion people by 2025 through a number of activities, presentations, and challenges. Here’s what you have to look forward to:

Vote for your favorite Global Problem Solver

Our annual Global Problem Solver Challenge calls on teams of students and recent graduates to submit their world-changing technology ideas for a chance at Cisco funding, and we’re bringing a special edition to the floor of Cisco Live.

Attendees and social media followers will have the chance to vote for one of three teams, with the top vote-getter receiving a US$25,000 prize at the end of the week. Those one site can come to the Social Impact Zone and meet each of the teams, learning more about their innovations and aspirations to solve a global problem before voting through the event’s mobile application.

Neopenda, a medical device startup for neonatal technology solutions, dot Learn, a software compression startup making online education more accessible and affordable, and Liberty Mechatronics, who are using technology to make oil filtration more efficient, will all be presenting live demos in the Social Impact Zone.

And for our Twitter followers, voting is as easy as logging in and selecting one of the teams via a conversation card. Be sure to join the conversation on @CiscoCSR and engage with us using the #GlobalProblemSolvers and #CLUS hashtags!

Global Problem Solver Question of the Day

We want to know how you’d be a global problem solver by using technology more intuitively. From Monday to Thursday, we’ll be asking attendees and social followers to answer our Question of the Day, either on our virtual reality graffiti wall or through daily Facebook polls. Those who submit compelling answers and vote for a GPS Challenger during the week will have a chance to win an Oculus Rift headset on Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday.

Women on the Front Lines of Disaster Relief

Register for a special session with Cisco Corporate Affairs Senior Vice President Tae Yoo, who will be sitting down with Lauren Woodman, CEO, NetHope and Sue-Lynn Hinson, Manager of the Cisco Tactical Operations team. They will discuss the critical role that technology plays in disaster and humanitarian response; the challenges and risks these new opportunities present; and how companies like Cisco can leverage technology to improve relief efforts, and much more. The fireside chat takes place Monday, June 11 at 01:30 pm EST.

Build a pi-top computer

In Orlando, attendees will have the opportunity to build modular laptops powered by the Raspberry Pi in our Social Impact Zone, either on Monday or Tuesday. At the end of the week, the pi-tops will be donated to local Cisco Networking Academy students, providing a transformative learning experience and empowering students to become collaborative, critical, and creative thinkers. Reserve your place in the Maker Space today!

Other highlights

Giveaways in the Social Impact Zone, including Google Cardboard headsets, global problem solver capes, Cisco CSR stickers, and more!

In partnership with Clean the World, Cisco Live set a goal to assemble 10,000 kits that include soap, shampoo, and other hygiene items that will be donated to the local community in Orlando.

Cisco endeavors to transform education and help build the workforce of tomorrow by fostering and developing IT talent. Through Valencia College in Orlando, two Cisco Networking Academy scholarships will be awarded to two students at Cisco Live 2018.

Follow all of the action on Twitter and Facebook. To join the conversation, use the #CLUS and #GlobalProblemSolvers hashtags. See you in Orlando, Florida!

Tweet me:WATCH: @CiscoCSR will be celebrating #GlobalProblemSolvers @CiscoLive http://bit.ly/2l14SGh #CLUS #socinn

KEYWORDS: NASDAQ:CSCO, cisco csr, cisco live, global problem solvers, cisco networking academy

Sustainability is not just some nice-to-have byproduct of innovation – it's the goal.

SOURCE:UPS

DESCRIPTION:

Fred Krupp | Environmental Defense Fund

Tweet me:More than 70 percent of business leaders see greater alignment between business and environmental goals - learn about why in a new article from @UPS http://bit.ly/2kWz5WR

KEYWORDS: Environmental Defense Fund, UPS, united parcel service, NYSE:UPS

SOURCE:Duke Energy

DESCRIPTION:

Like a seatbelt, a life jacket has to be worn to be useful. Every summer, Scott Jolley goes on a mission to ensure boaters and swimmers understand the importance of wearing a life jacket.

Jolley runs Duke Energy’s free life jacket loan program in North Carolina and South Carolina. Life jacket loaner stations are at more than 20 locations at lakes, rivers and creeks, and Jolley's team plans to add more each year. 

The loaner program sprang from tragedy. Craig Keese’s son, Brian, and 8-year-old grandson, Nathan, drowned in 2010 in a boating accident in Missouri. Although neither was wearing a life jacket when their boat capsized in a storm, a child’s life jacket was found onboard.

Keese, an agricultural-chemical executive from Greenville, S.C., wanted to turn the family’s loss into something positive. For years, Duke Energy has worked with him and his wife, Jenny, to offer loaner life jackets to boaters and swimmers.

Duke Energy builds and installs the loaner stations and buys some of the jackets. The company also works with donors and community groups to acquire them. A child’s life jacket can range from $4 to $12 – they’re cheaper when bought in bulk, as Jolley strives to do – and that’s a small investment to make in something that can save a life.

Visitors borrow them on the honor system. “Some life jackets do have a way of walking off,” Jolley said. “But it almost evens out. We’ve had folks leave their own life jackets at our stations as a donation. They can appear out of nowhere.”

Safety in Spanish
The signs on the kiosks are only effective if swimmers and boaters can understand them. All signs have a universal message in English and Spanish about water safety and the importance of life jackets.

“All these incidents could have been prevented if life jackets were being worn," Jolley said. "Duke Energy is working with the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission and the S.C. Department of Natural Resources on ways to help educate non-native English speakers about boater and swimming safety. We want to do all we can to prevent a tragedy.”

North Carolina’s boating law requires anyone younger than 13 to wear a life jacket when on a “recreational vessel” that’s moving. “Anyone riding a personal watercraft or being towed by one must also wear an appropriate life jacket,” according to the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission website.

“Accidents can happen quickly and without warning,” said Major Chris Huebner, the state's boating safety coordinator says on the website. “There often isn’t time to grab a life vest and put it on properly before you are in the water. The best preparation is to wear it whenever you are underway.”

Don’t forget that kids outgrow life vests the way they do clothes and shoes. If you’re buying a life jacket for your child, check for a U.S. Coast Guard-approved label; match it to the child’s current weight and make sure it is snug but comfortable.

It’s the law to have one life jacket per person on your boat. “If you have 16 people on your pontoon boat, you’re required to have 16 life jackets,” Jolley said. And if children are on board, you need a proper-fitting life jacket for them. Jolley recommends adults wear theirs, too.

Jolley points out that life jackets have come a long way since some of us were kids. He doesn’t call them “stylish,” but he notes that the big collar is a thing of the past. “People used to complain they were cumbersome, and they were,” he said. “They’re much better fitted and comfortable now.”

But making a fashion statement isn’t the point. Saving your life is. 

Water safety tips

• Never swim alone in a pool or a lake.
• Lakes can change. Water conditions are not the same everywhere, and neither is water depth. The lake bottom can change depth quickly.
• Don’t discount fatigue. Swimming and the sun can sap your energy. A life jacket can buoy you when you’re more tired than you realize.
• Monitor alcohol use. Drinking and boating (or swimming) is like drinking and driving. Alcohol also dehydrates you. When you’re drinking alcohol and in the sun, you’ll feel tipsy faster. Be cautious.
• Designate someone to stay on shore. We’re used to designating a driver. Use the same idea when swimming. Someone from your group should remain on shore or on the dock while the rest of the group is swimming. That person should have throw rings ready. You and your group can take turns being the spotter.
• Recognize the importance of the simple life jacket. Fewer people know how to swim today than a generation ago. Scott Jolley said: “If you can’t swim but you do wear a life jacket, you’re still in good shape.” 

Life jacket loaner sites

• Catawba-Wateree Lakes (NC and SC)
• Lake Norman: Beattys Ford Access Area.
• Mountain Island Lake: Riverbend Access Area, Neck Road Access Area.
• Lake Wylie: Buster Boyd Access Area, Ebenezer Access Area, South Point Access Area.
• Lake Wateree: June Creek Access Area, Taylors Creek Access Area, Colonel’s Creek Access Area, Wateree Creek Access Area, Lugoff Access Area, Whiteoak Creek Access Area.
• Keowee-Toxaway Lakes (SC)
• Lake Keowee: South Cove Access Area, High Falls Access Area Mile Creek Park Access Area.
• Lake Jocassee: Devil’s Fork State Park.
• Nantahala Lakes (NC)
• Lake Glenville: Pines Recreation Area.
• Tuckasegee River Main Stem: East LaPorte, Locust Creek, Dillsboro (Scotts Creek), Barkers Creek.
• Bear Lake: Bear Lake Access Area. 
• Duke Energy Progress Lakes (NC)
• Hyco Lake: Hyco Lake Park Swimming Area. 

Tweet me:.@DukeEnergy operates more than 20 free life jacket loan stations at lakes, rivers and creeks in NC and SC this summer. http://bit.ly/2sQx1TH #safety #swimming #paddling

KEYWORDS: Duke Energy, paddling, canoe, kayak, swimming, summer

SOURCE:FCA US LLC

SUMMARY:

• A new rainbow-wrapped 2018 Fiat 124 Spider will serve as grand marshal vehicle for this year’s parade
• Longtime support of Motor City Pride demonstrates the Company’s support of LGBTQ employees, customers, communities and issues
• 2018 is the 11th year the Company has achieved a 100 percent on the Human Rights Campaign's Corporate Equality Index evaluating LGBTQ workplace practices

DESCRIPTION:

AUBRUN HILLS, Mich., June 8, 2018 /3BL Media/ - Detroit will again be blanketed in colors of the rainbow this weekend (June 9-10) celebrating lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) culture at Motor City Pride, an annual two-day festival and parade that is the largest LGBTQ gathering in Michigan.

As a key sponsor of the festival and the lead sponsor of the parade, FCA US LLC and the FIAT brand will celebrate their longstanding commitment to LGBTQ employees, communities, customers and issues.

A specially-wrapped 2018 Fiat 124 Spider, the brand’s roadster, will serve as the grand marshal vehicle of the Motor City Pride parade, which starts at noon on June 10 and ends at Hart Plaza. Two additional 2018 Fiat 124 Spiders and two 2018 Fiat 500X vehicles will accompany the grand marshal vehicle to lead the parade.

“We are pleased to continue our leading support of Motor City Pride, the largest LGBTQ event in the state of Michigan,” said Steve Beahm, Head of Passenger Car Brands – Dodge, SRT, Chrysler and FIAT, FCA – North America. “Motor City Pride is an important way for FCA US and FIAT brand to celebrate our inclusive work culture where all employees are respected and fully engaged in the process of developing vehicles that resonate with diverse buyers and communities.”

The power behind the FCA US-FIAT brand sponsorship of Motor City Pride is the Company’s LGBTQ Business Resource Group, the Gay and Lesbian Alliance (GALA).

GALA is one of seven business resource groups at FCA US representing a range of affinity communities: African American, Hispanic, Asian, LGBTQ, Veterans, Native Americans and Women.  More than 1,000 employees are members or allies of these groups.

FCA US business resource groups are employee-directed and are each assigned an executive sponsor. These groups individually and collectively pursue initiatives that enhance the FCA US work culture by focusing on career development of members, celebrating multicultural differences and bringing value to the Company and external communities through volunteer, charitable and strategic activities.

“Motor City Pride is fueled by the longstanding support of FCA US and FIAT brand,“ said Dave Wait, Chairperson – Motor City Pride. “We are thankful for how this collaborative partnership helps fuel efforts to achieve full equality and respect for all people in Michigan.”

FCA US was recognized as a leader among U.S. employers for providing domestic partner benefits to its employees in 2000 and has achieved a perfect score of 100 percent on the Human Rights Campaign's (HRC) Corporate Equality Index 11 times since the benchmark was established.  

The HRC is the educational arm of the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, America’s largest civil rights organization, and is dedicated to achieving LGBT equality. Until recently, FCA US was the only automaker to consistently achieve a 100 percent annual CEI rating.

The Company recently earned meaningful acknowledgement of its diversity leadership when the editors of the respected DiversityInc magazine named FCA US to the magazine's 2018 list of "Noteworthy Companies for Diversity" and to the list of “Top Companies for Veterans.”

About Motor City Pride
Motor City Pride is a volunteer-driven event celebrating the lives of Michigan's Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender citizens. A weekend packed with multiple events including a family picnic, golf outing, Commitment Ceremony and parade. Motor City Pride culminates as the largest LGBTQ gathering in Michigan located in the heart of the region at beautiful and historic Hart Plaza, located on the riverfront in downtown Detroit.
 
About FCA US LLC
FCA US LLC is a North American automaker based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. It designs, manufactures, and sells or distributes vehicles under the Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep®, Ram, FIAT and Alfa Romeo brands, as well as the SRT performance designation. The Company also distributes Mopar and Alfa Romeo parts and accessories. FCA US is building upon the historic foundations of Chrysler Corp., established in 1925 by industry visionary Walter P. Chrysler and Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino (F.I.A.T.), founded in Italy in 1899 by pioneering entrepreneurs, including Giovanni Agnelli. FCA US is a member of the Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V. (FCA) family of companies. (NYSE: FCAU/ MTA: FCA).

FCA, the eighth-largest automaker in the world based on total annual vehicle sales, is an international automotive group. FCA is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “FCAU” and on the Mercato Telematico Azionario under the symbol “FCA.”

Follow FCA US news and video on:
Company blog: blog.fcanorthamerica.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FiatChrysler.NorthAmerica/
Instagram: www.instagram.com/FiatChrysler_NA
Twitter: www.twitter.com/FiatChrysler_NA
Twitter (Spanish): www.twitter.com/fcausespanol
YouTube: www.youtube.com/fcanorthamerica
Media website: media.fcanorthamerica.com

For more information, please visit the FCA US LLC media site at http://media.fcanorthamerica.com.

Contact:
Mike Palese
(248) 512-2682 (office)
(313) 930-1252 (cell)
michael.palese@fcagroup.com

Bryan Zvibleman
(248) 512-2686 (office)
(248) 761-9829 (cell)
bryan.zvibleman@fcagroup.com

Tweet me:.@FiatChrysler_NA and FIAT Brand Lead the Motor City Pride Parade http://bit.ly/2Mbe9Yl

KEYWORDS: NYSE:FCAU, Motor City Pride, FCA US

by Stephen Roberts, Sustainability Strategist

SOURCE:Dell

DESCRIPTION:

It’s hot here in Central Texas. Like 100°F hot (about 38°C). And while we sweat our way between air-conditioned locations, we’ll probably grab an ice-cold beverage. You have to stay hydrated after all.

And it’s a pretty good bet that drink will arrive with a plastic straw.

Straws with your iced coffee. Straws next to the drink machine. Straws with a glass of water at a restaurant. Straws straws straws. Every day in the United States we use an estimated 500 million single-use plastic straws. Let that sink in. Now imagine 127 school buses full of plastic straws. Or enough straws linked end-to-end to circle Earth 2.5 times. Every. Single. Day.

Do straws seem silly or insignificant?

Well, if you’ve ever seen the video of a four-inch section of straw being removed from an Olive Ridley sea turtle’s nostril in Costa Rica, you might think otherwise [warning: this video is beyond disturbing]. The straw wound up in the wrong place (the ocean) and was lodged in the turtle’s nose.

Why you are reading about straws

Single-use plastics (including straws, cutlery and containers) are contributing to the overall threat our oceans are facing. Every year, more than 8 million tons of plastic enter the seas. And no, this is not plastic that fell off a boat. It came from the land via river systems. It was carelessly littered, improperly disposed of, or escaped from our global waste management systems.

Dell first got involved in ocean-bound plastics because of our first social good advocate, actor, entrepreneur and UN Environment Goodwill Ambassador Adrian Grenier and the organization he co-founded, Lonely Whale. In addition to raising awareness about the issue, we collaborated to develop a packaging solution that could use these ocean plastics as a raw material – keeping them in the economy and out of the sea.

We launched that packaging in February 2017 and continue to work toward scaling its use as part of our commitment to circular design. We followed it up by helping create NextWave – a consortium of like-minded manufacturers, academics and nonprofits now led by Lonely Whale. The group is committed to building the first cross-industry, commercial-scale ocean-bound plastics supply chain. The group plans on diverting 3 million pounds of plastic from entering the ocean within the next five years – equivalent to keeping 66 million water bottles from washing out to sea.

Joining forces for a Strawless Ocean

Today (June 8), on World Oceans Day, I’m so excited that Dell is joining the global movement for a strawless ocean and pledging to eliminate the use of plastic straws across our global facilities by the end of the summer.

And what does that mean?

For context, Dell North America alone uses more than 50,000 plastic straws a month. They cannot be recycled, which means eliminating them will help us meet our 2020 Legacy of Good goal to reduce waste.

We are excited to work build on our work with Lonely Whale, the force behind For a Strawless Ocean, to make this transition. The effort will go into effect later this summer with a focus on removing them from our cafes, bistros and breakrooms beginning in the U.S. and expanding globally shortly thereafter. We will offer reusable alternative straws as giveaways and also offer them for purchase when the straws go away. We see this as a bold first step towards eliminating other single-use plastics across our entire operations.

What can you do?

For some people, this announcement may be the needed catalyst to support individual behavior change. If that’s you, let’s make this the summer without a straw. Skip your next plastic straw, and if someone brings a straw to you automatically, say “no thanks” (and then tell them why!). The world is waking up to the threats our oceans face and we hope other corporations will join us and take the pledge for a #StrawlessOcean.

So drink up, my friends, and please raise a glass to Dell and our decision to #StopSucking on single-use plastics. Tag @Dell4Good in your efforts and share your World Ocean Day pride.

Tweet me:Join @Dell on #WorldOceansDay and every day to #StopSucking for a #StrawlessOcean https://dell.to/2JydemD @LonelyWhale

KEYWORDS: Dell, world environment day, single-use plastics, Lonely Whale, nextwave, ocean plastics

SOURCE:Taproot Foundation

DESCRIPTION:

The Taproot Foundation’s U.S. Pro Bono Summit is an annual gathering of leaders from across sectors and industries with a shared vision to make the talents and skills of the business community accessible to social change organizations. At this year's Corporate Convening, atteendees engaged in a full day of sessions designed to help them maximize the impact potential of pro bono programming at their companies.

Highlights include:

• Aligning pro bono and talent development stragtegies --> read more
  A growing number of companies are running innovative pro bono initiatives and seeing great results, particularly those that are integrating pro bono as a part of their talent development strategies. See how this one company has evolved their program to support HR's objectives.
   
• Acclerating social change through pro bono --> read more
  With the rise of #MeToo, shifts in the political landscape, and increased attention to diversity and equity in the workplace, it has been a historic year for women and the organizations that serve them. Two San Francisco-based nonprofits shared how transformative pro bono can be when leveraged to drive social movements forward.
   
• Telling your pro bono story --> read more
  As the communications landscape continues to evolve on a daily basis, it can be difficult to tell a story that resonates and cuts through the clutter. Find out what factors are important to consider as you share your social impact stories.

Want to dig deeper into key insights from the U.S. Pro Bono Summit? --> register here
Explore learnings and ask questions at Taproot's free webinar. 
Tuesday, June 12, 2018 
1 p.m. EST / 12 p.m. CST / 10 a.m. PST
REGISTER TODAY

Tweet me:Images and insights from @TaprootFound's Corporate Convening at the U.S. Pro Bono Summit. http://bit.ly/2s1kLPN #PBSummit2018

Contact Info:

Taproot Foundation
pr@taprootfoundation.org
@taprootfound

KEYWORDS: Taproot Foundation

SOURCE:United Nations Global Compact

DESCRIPTION:

NEW YORK, June 8, 2018 /3BL Media/ -  Friday, on World Oceans Day,  the United Nations Global Compact launched the newly formed Sustainable Ocean Business Action Platform — a three-year global programme bringing together business, civil society, the UN and Governments to advance the ocean economy and sustainable development.

The ocean, the world's greatest common resource, holds a great potential to deliver on the 2030 Agenda and its 17 Global Goals while meeting the increasing global demand for more sustainable food, energy, minerals and transport for a growing world population.

Rooted in the Ten Principles of the UN Global Compact, the Sustainable Ocean Business Action Platform gathers leading businesses in the ocean industries together with experts, civil society, Governments and UN partners to explore and define how ocean-based companies can deliver on the Global Goals.

At the launch Friday, which took place in the United Nations Headquarters in New York, Lise Kingo, CEO & Executive Director of the UN Global Compact, said, ‘’I am truly encouraged by the huge interest of the private sector to step up and take action on delivering on the Global Goals. The ocean industries are true global companies, facing unique challenges and opportunities every day in a competitive marketplace. Balancing environmental challenges, social development and economic growth is all about understanding long-term risks and opportunities. And the biggest risk of all is not delivering the 2030 Agenda.”

Lise Kingo, CEO & Executive Director, United Nations Global Compact

Threats such as overfishing, marine litter and acidification have put the health of the world’s ocean in a very fragile state. The private sector can play a significant role in ensuring this crucial resource is sustainably managed. By contributing innovation, investment, development and providing new products, services and business models, companies can negate harmful impacts on ocean ecosystems while at the same time contributing to global economic growth.

The Norwegian Minister of Fisheries, Per Sandberg, spoke at the event Friday: “The ocean is a vital source of life, food, energy, medication and new opportunities. It is facing severe challenges that we need to find solutions to. We have to work together, and our policies for development and business have to work together. We must foster an international understanding of the fact that sustainable use of the ocean will enable higher value creation. Norway welcomes the world’s largest corporate sustainability initiative, and we will share our experiences and acquired knowledge.”  

Per Sandberg, Minister of Fisheries, Government of Norway

Peter Thompson, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for the Ocean, also spoke at the launch event, saying, "The ocean is the common heritage of humankind — we have a common responsibility for the ocean — a common responsibility to save our ocean. Goal 14 binds us all. We need to make sure there is integrity in the implementation. And the only way to do this is through partnerships. There is no way Governments can do this alone. We have to bring business — it's about the sustainable use of ocean — production and protection. [...] We may be losing the battle now, but we will win."

Peter Thompson, UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy for the Ocean

The launch was attended by 100 participants from leading ocean businesses, civil society, the UN and Government representatives. Her Excellency Fatima Kyari Mohammed, Permanent Observer of the African Union to the United Nations, gave the closing remarks, saying, "The blue economy is at the centre of the African Union Agenda 2063 — the new frontier of African renaissance. And the launch of the Sustainable Business Ocean Action Platform is an important step in the right direction — to build and strengthen global partnerships... We believe when these partnerships are fully realized, we can produce significant forward economic development and the expansion of peace and prosperity for Africa and the rest of the world as well."

H.E. Fatima Kyari Mohammed, Permanent Observer of the African Union to the UN

Over the next three years, a diverse group of multi-stakeholder platform participants will aim to deliver leading action on ocean sustainability and advance shared ocean priorities.

###

• Learn more about our Sustainable Ocean Business Action Platform
• View our Ten Principles for responsible business 
• Discover our Making Global Goals Local Business campaign

Tweet me:Just launched on #WorldOceansDay: UN @globalcompact Sustainable Ocean Business Action Platform. Explore how the private sector can leverage ocean sustainability to deliver the #GlobalGoals: https://www.unglobalcompact.org/news/4387-06-08-2018 #SaveOurOcean

Contact Info:

Colleen Connors
UN Global Compact
+1 (212) 907-1301
media@unglobalcompact.org
@globalcompact
https://www.facebook.com/UNGlobalCompact/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/united-nations-global-compact/
https://www.instagram.com/globalcompact/

KEYWORDS: Global Compact, UN Global Compact, Global Goals, Lise Kingo, Save Our Ocean, world oceans day, UNGC

SOURCE:Sea Change Radio

DESCRIPTION:

This being primary election week in California and seven other states, we thought it an appropriate time to revisit our discussion with California gubernatorial candidate, Gavin Newsom. In our discussion, which was on the heels of the election of Donald Trump in late 2016, Newsom delved into a number of important environmental policy issues ranging from California’s clean energy plan, to the Delta tunnels project, to the future of nuclear energy in the state. These issues are just as relevant as ever, and Newsom’s optimism is a salve for what the past year has wrought. Listen now to this California candidate who is known nationally as a pioneer in gay rights, a champion for the environment, and a consistently progressive Democrat.

Tweet me:This wk's @SeaChangeRadio - "@GavinNewsom: Time Waits For No One" http://www.cchange.net/2018/06/05/gavin-newsom-time-waits-no-one/

KEYWORDS: sea change radio, Gavin Newsom, California, environmental policy, primary election