An honest assessment for how to determine your individual relationship with charitable giving in today’s world From world-renowned philanthropists Charles Bronfman and Jeffrey Solomon of the Andrea and Charles Bronfman Philanthropies comes a comprehensive guide on how to be a canny, street-smart, effective philanthropist, regardless of your income level. It is also a perfect companion for nonprofit program and development executives who would like to introduce donors to their (more…)

In an era when corporations are under increasing pressure to be stewards of the environment and society as they pursue profits, business expert Bob Willard provides a practical benefit-by-benefit guide for assessing all three areas as a win/win/win proposition. Written in the pragmatic language of business leaders, this book is the first to present compelling and quantitative bottom-line evidence of the profitability of social and environmental initiatives.

About the (more…)

Not until the 1990s did a serious social/environmental paragraph in business plans and prospectuses became apparent, and was the positive effect on business performance acknowledged. During this time, socially responsible mutual funds, or social funds were starting to emerge. In the years since the number of social funds has increased significantly, and not for no reason, as proven by the Domini 400, a benchmark that measures the impact of social screening on financial performance. Since its start in 1990 the index has continuously outperformed the S&P 500. The companies in this basket just seem to adapt to volatile market conditions better than ordinary companies.

The way typical corporations develop their business can expose them to risks that may not be detectable using conventional techniques of financial analysis. Extra-financial factors – such as environmental, social or governance performance – are those which are likely to have at least a long-term effect on business results, but which lie outside the customary span of variables that get integrated into investment decisions, irrespective of whether they are part of the research process. Such an enhanced analysis or more holistic investment approach improves the longer-term performance of a companys assets on behalf of its shareholders by helping to generate increased out-performance, but also by improving overall market returns by ensuring more efficient allocation of capital and eventually more profit.

Though, on a more critical note, more extensive studies are needed to explore the causal mechanisms linking SRI to profitability and to determine whether or not those relationships individually hold up consistently over time. The source of the connection between SRI and profitability has rarely been systematically investigated. It will also be important to investigate the timing in the relationship, since it would be valuable to investigate and to ascertain how long it takes for the impact of SRI on financial performance to be revealed.

Nonetheless, the current financial crisis has put a spotlight on some of the worst practices on Wall Street, many of which socially conscious investors have worked to remedy over the years. Therefore a more socially responsible approach to investing canand shouldplay a role in helping to transform the investment sector, into a more conscious world that is less exposed to risks undetected by its traditional habit of shortsighted analysis.

Invigorating kneading discs. Strong kneading discs that squeeze and penetrates deeply into the muscles. Helps relieve tension, improve circulation, and energize muscles.

Pressure nodes located under the soles of your feet stimulate the vital reflexology pressure points. Three kneading massage programs and auto vibration mode. Auto shut-off feature, after the massager has been in used for 15 minutes.

A pair of detachable fabric foot covers (with zipper) for e (more…)

Mayon has awoken once again as it began rumbling last month sending lava and plumes of ash into the air. At night the volcano’s famous cone glows with hot lava.

Now, more than 47,000 people living within a 5 mile (8 kilometer) danger zone around the volcano have fled to evacuation centers with the help of Philippine soldiers and the solders are still trying to evacuate several hundred of the closest residents who have refused to leave their homes. While Philippine vulcanologist may lower the alert level around the 8,070-foot (2,460-meter) volcano, Mayon still remains a viable threat.

The mere threat of eruption can displace local villagers for months at a time. Mayon, which is about 200 miles (330 kilometers) southeast of Manila, has erupted 48 times in recorded history. In 1814, more than 1,200 people were killed when lava flows buried the town of Cagsawa. It last erupted for two months in 2006, although no one was directly killed, a powerful typhoon burying entire towns with volcanic debris from Mayon’s slopes and killing over 1,000 people three months after the eruption.

The Philippine people living in the shadow of this most dynamic and active volcano can only wait and see if Mount Mayon returns to sleeping or continues with another violent episode.

Anyone traveling to Antalya in Turkey and expecting to find the typical tourist resort will not be disappointed but they will be surprised to find theres much more to this city that meeting the needs of holidaymakers.

Antalya is an important hub of Turkeys agricultural industry and the wholesale market in the city provides more half of all the fruit and vegetable requirements of the country.

The older part of Antalya, known as Kalecei, is a warren of narrow cobbled streets flanked by a mix of architecture dating back to various historical periods including the Roman and Byzantine periods.

Like most coastal towns along this Turkish coast, Antalya has a marina, but the one here is not a modern construction rather an older, more charming, harbor dating back to Roman times. It is quite small and seems more integrated into the town itself. There are plenty of cafs and restaurants around the marina where one can relax and watch the world go by.

There are very few beaches to be found near the main town, with some having only private access, so holidaymakers looking for more beach time may want to select a hotel located on either of the Konyaalti or Lara beaches to the west of the town. It is in this area where you will find the larger hotels that cater for many of the tourists visiting the town. The beach along the coast here stretches for almost 5 kilometers with views of mountains dominating the skyline in the south. The beach is a mix of pebbles and different colored sands, with a huge choice of serviced beach areas, so there is plenty of room for everyone.

There are various interesting locations that can quickly be reached from either Antalya or Dalaman airports. One favourite would be Patara with its ancient Lycian ruins. There are also ruins of an amphitheater here and a holiday here can be made complete with lazy days on the lovely beaches in the area. The Patara beach has been voted by some as the best beach in the world, with 18 kilometers of white soft sand to enjoy. Strict conservation laws are in place here and there are no buildings along the coast to spoil this very special beach. If you are lucky enough to be here at the right time of year you may experience the amazing sight of Loggerhead turtles coming ashore to lay their eggs on the beach, although the beaches are highly protected and are often closed to the public during the hours of darkness when the turtles normally come ashore.

Other resorts within reach of a short transfer from Antalya along the Lycian coast include Kemer, Finike and Kas. These towns all lie on the Lycian Way, an ancient footpath that meanders through cedar forests, rocky gorges, mountainside tracks and summer pasture land. Kas is a small coastal town with a picturesque marina. It is located approximately 100 miles west of Antalya and has only a few small hotels, making it a perfect location for a quiet, relaxing holiday. Visitors to Kas normally choose the location for the wealth of ancient monuments in the surrounding area or for its fantastic location as a base for scuba diving. The attractive Kaputas beach sits between Kas and the nearby town of Kalkan. Mass tourism has yet to reach Kalkan although there are quite a few private villa developments around the town that are attracting those seeking a second or holiday home in the area.

Further towards Antalya, the town of Finike owes its history to its past as a trading port and still supplements its economy with its busy yacht marina. Another part of the areas commercial interest is citrus fruit agriculture and oranges and other fruits are exported from the area to all over the world. There are many small beaches and coves along the coast around Finike and several are stopping points of the Blue Cruises that sail along the coast. Like Patana, however there are concerns about protecting the natural habitats of sea turtles which use the beaches to come ashore and lay their eggs. In the hills behind Finike there are a wealth of ancient ruins and monuments to explore and the town itself also has city walls and ruins of a Roman theater to show its past.

So you can see that Antalya is a gateway to sun and sunshine as well as an abundance of history and ancient architecture. A great mix for a fantastic holiday.

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Put your iPod in the lap of luxury. Your cup holder is a great place for your iPod on the road, but it can still slide around, fall out, and even be scratched. And trying to use a charging cable really complicates things.Enter the PodPod. The PodPod holds your iPod or iPod mini at an easy-to-see angle. The material won’t scratch the iPod’s surface, and while we haven’t rolled any cars, we know that your iPod isn’t likely to fall out. The PodPod also leaves room on the inside for (more…)

1. Mt. Yushan

Don’t miss seeing the Jade Mountain, Mt. Yushan, which is Northeastern Asia’s highest peak. Exercise your limbs by climbing this 3,952-meter-high mountain. You’ll be treated to crisp mountain air and a breathtaking view at the top.

2. Yang Min Shan National Park

This a favorite place due to its hot springs, wonderful flora and wildlife and spas. Its mineral springs are popular with people from Taipei. Just 45 minutes by bus or 70 minutes by train, visitors can go hiking or have a picnic here.

3. Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall

This palatial structure is also known as the National Taiwan Democracy Memorial Hall. Built to commemorate Chiang Kai Shek, the building represents the flag of Taiwan with its blue roofs, red flowerbeds, and white walls. Lush gardens flank the hall, and it is located close to the National Theatre and National Concert Hall.

4. Penghu

Penghu is an archipelago of 64 islands between Taiwan and the mainland. It has sandy beaches, fishing villages, and delicious seafood. Its only city of Makung is a beautiful place with an outdoor market, fishing harbor, and temples.

5. Tienhsiang

Located in Tienhsiang is the Taroko Gorge, probably Taiwan’s most beautiful tourist attraction. It is 19 km long with cliffs dropping away to a rushing river of water. The Eternal Spring Shrine straddles a waterfall and is a memorial to the 450 workers who died constructing the Taroko Highway.

6. Lung Shan Temple

Also known as the Dragon Mountain Temple, this temple is very impressive for its architecture and religious practices where worshipers give offerings to the various gods here, the main one being the Goddess of Mercy. Offerings such as fruit, flowers, and money are made here to the deities, and this is done by burning paper money or putting it in the offertory box. The temple is situated in the Wanhua district, just near the Huashi Night Market.

7. Sun Yat Sen Memorial Hall

Don’t miss this great hall where a 30-foot statue of Dr. Sun Yat Sen, who played a pivotal role in Taiwanese history, adorns the entrance. Tourists can watch the changing of the guard. They can also watch world-class shows in the theater on the upper floors.

8. The National Palace Museum

Comparable to the best museums in the world like the Louvre, the National Palace Museum contains one of the most extensive collections of Chinese artifacts and objects d’art. It is twin to the Palace Museum in Beijing, which was split in twain by the civil war, which also resulted in the formation of Taiwan. It contains masterpieces which provide glimpses of Chinese craftsmanship.

9. Taipei 101

Taipei 101 is the tallest building in the world standing at 509 meters. Opened in November 2003, it is shaped like a Chinese pagoda with 8 floors in each pagoda roof and was designed according to traditional feng shui principles. It is situated near the Taipei Exhibition Convention Center, the Grand Hyatt Hotel, and the Japanese department stores of Sogo and Mitsukoshi.

10. Guang Hua Night Market

This is a street food market made up of food stalls catering to local residents. This exciting array of snack shops offer tasty and cheap treats such as soup made from beef bone stock and different kinds of dumplings, pancakes with tangy sauce, and roti bread. In the market you will find locals who come here to grab a bite or buy food to take home.