Saturday 31 October 2015

Every time you spend a dollar purchasing - you are also voting for what you want .... with all the consequences of that decision


Buy Social: Delivering Social Impact Through Purchasing

Our purchasing decisions influence the way that supply chains develop.
Seeking the lowest price at all costs can result in supply chains with layers of hidden costs through damage to the environment and to the communities involved in that supply chain.
However, there are great examples where buyers have changed supply chains in order to deliver positive social outcomes.
One example of this has been in coffee.
When enough consumers chose to buy Fair Trade coffee, roasters altered their supply chain to accommodate demand and in so doing raised the wage levels and working conditions of coffee farmers and the communities that they live in.
As demand for Fair Trade coffee increased, production became more efficient and price declined. Fair Trade coffee now provides good coffee at competitive market prices while generating positive social outcomes.
Whether you buy for government, business or simply yourself as an individual consumer you have the power to change supply chains to generate social impact. 
What type of consumer are you?
In 2012, market research organisation Mobium undertook research into values based consumers and found that 10% of the consumer marketplace are ‘leaders’ who actively seek out products and services that deliver social benefit in production or through redistribution of profits.
The same research found that 40% of the market are ‘leaners’ who are likely to make values based purchasing decisions when they are provided with values information; and the remaining 50% of the market are ‘laggards’ who do not consider values in their purchasing decisions.
Positive impact through purchasing
Marketplaces that deliver positive social impact are beginning to emerge in Australia and across the world. While the Fair Trade movement has led the way, we are now beginning to see conscious consumers, businesses and governments choosing to disrupt the way that they traditionally buy to incorporate social benefit into their supply chain.
In 2014, Social Traders published research into social procurement in Australia’s corporate sector.  The findings identified that the mining industry had embraced and mandated social procurement as a mechanism for delivering indigenous economic development in the communities where they operated.
Of the 31 companies that were surveyed, it was found that 11 were undertaking social procurement in 2012, and 29 indicated an intention to be socially procuring by 2014.
Likewise, Governments in Australia have also begun to realise the power of social procurement.
The South Australian Government has incorporated clauses into road construction contracts specifying that 20% of the workforce should come from indigenous communities, people re-skilling from the automotive industry and the long-term unemployed.
The West Australian Government has spent over $20 million with social enterprises delivering employment for people with disabilities in the last three years. 
Both the NSW and Federal Government have set hard targets for contracts going to indigenous businesses.
Procurement spend across all levels of government in Australia alone equates to over $100 billion.  Consumer and corporate spending far outstrips Government procurement of goods and services - consumer spending alone is more than five times greater than government spending.
Put together this amounts to almost one trillion dollars of buying power that has the opportunity to deliver social benefit as well as providing required goods and services.
Purchasing to generate positive social impact through consumer spending together with public and private sector procurement, possibly represents the greatest untapped mechanism for social change in this country.
USA leads Australia
In the US the commitment to buying social has been more significant than in Australia.  Government has been the champion of social procurement, utilising legislation to mandate purchasing from minority owned business - those businesses majority owned by communities under-represented in company ownership.  This policy, introduced in 1977 now generates over $100 billion per annum in government procurement being spent with minority suppliers in the USA.
Legislation has also been enacted requiring all US Federal Departments to determine if their contract needs can be met by a social enterprise (employing people with a disability) at a competitive price, before going out to open tender.
This has resulted in social enterprises securing $2 billion per annum from government contracts, creating jobs for 50,000 people with disabilities.
The US Government is showing true leadership through its procurement policies by setting procurement targets designed to reduce inequality.  This leadership has spilled over to the private sector, where many companies are introducing social procurement policies and targets into their organisations.
We need more public and private sector leadership to Buy Social
Just as improving environmental standards over the decades has been driven by Government leadership, and then adopted by businesses, we are calling for similar commitments to social impact via procurement policies and processes in Australia.
According to the Finding Australia’s Social Enterprise Sector (FASES) research, there are an estimated 20,000 social enterprises operating in Australia.
Social Traders estimates that approximately 2,000 of these social enterprises are committed to the creation of employment for disadvantaged groups and collectively create jobs for 35,000 Australians who were previously long-term unemployed or are at risk of unemployment.
Proactive government and corporate purchasing strategies designed to increase procurement from social enterprise and similar socially focused organisations would increase turnover and allow these enterprises to contribute greater social benefit to Australia, while of course still providing the required goods and services to the purchaser.
If over time government and business committed $10 billion (1-2% of their procurement budget) per annum in spending on social enterprise, this would create up to 150,000 social enterprise jobs, with 110,000 going to the long term unemployed and those at risk of unemployment. Even accounting for displacement of some existing workers we anticipate that over 50,000 more people could become economically active, simply by changing who we buy from.
With 10% of Australians already buying from social enterprises and other organisations that generate positive social benefit, a shift towards socially conscience purchasing is already underway. The time is now ripe to increase the speed of this shift and magnify its potential.
This acceleration can be achieved through Governments embracing the concept and raising the awareness of buying socially across the broader community.
Mark Daniels is Head of Market and Sector Development at Social Traders.
 
Read more Buy Social content at: www.socialtraders.com.au/buysocial

Thursday 29 October 2015

Damaging Australia's reputation: the dab hands of the financial & banking system, the politicians and the military.

Picture from The Age

... and, Networkers, just in case you thought it was only the politicians who are damaging Australia's reputation with corrupt activity (see link in last sentence about paying people smugglers), here is our wonderful banking system on display.  Of course, the Commonwealth Bank​ is not alone.  The organisation at the pinnacle of Austrailia's financial system, the Reserve Bank of Australia, has its problems as well. Recall the Securency scandal. And then you may also recall the NAB​ scandal. And the ANZ scandal.  And then there is Westpac and to top it all, the cream on the cake (so to speak), the millionaires club of Macquarie Bank

So - wotcha reckon, Networkers?  

Are all those previously referenced descendants of Ned Kelly​ or do they make Ned look respectable?  Just remember - these people hide behind a cloak of financial and business respectability ---- and they are trashing Australia's reputation.

To further explain how our politicians - and our military - are damaging Australia's reputation, Amnesty International has a lot to say


Wednesday 28 October 2015

Paul Joseph, Aquarius Songman - "Longtime Sunshine"



Vale Aquarius Songman. Sympathies to Graeme Dunstan and family. The song lives on.


My Aquarian brother Paul Joseph died yesterday morning. A media call alerted me. Paul had been critically ill for some...
Posted by Graeme Dunstan on Tuesday, 27 October 2015


Friday 23 October 2015

Financial porn from AdSense via Google

I have a Facebook friend who lives in Zimbabe.  I am rather fond of Zimbabwe having visited the country some years ago for a short time.  It is a beautiful place - and Harare is wonderful around this time when the Jacarandas are in bloom in streets and garden.  Zimbabwe could be a substantial food bowl. It has mineral resources. It has the marvellous Victoria Falls and other sites to attract tourists.   The people are lovely - except for those who are corrupt or have a political dictatorship mentality.

I read the article and then below the article were the click on adds
of which I have published a screenshot below.

Now I do know that there are no controls over the ads.
They come up automatically.
Were they designed to be seen only in Australia?
Or, what I believe, would be worse -
can they be seen in Zimbabe?



Inside the Jihadi Mind: Understanding ideology and propaganda

The document below comes from the Centre on Religion & Geopolitics.
The centre is part of the Tony Blair Faith Foundation.
The document can be read on line by scrolling down the sidebar.
It can also be shared and it can be downloaded.



Tuesday 20 October 2015

Dale Hess calendar week beginning 15-10-19

Wednesday 21 October 7:30 pm - 9pm: Tim Colebatch: Tax Changes or Tax Reform?  Tim Colebatch is a writer, freelance journalist, and former economics editor of the Age. In the first half of his long career, before focusing on economics, he covered many roles, including environment writer, investigative reporter, editorial writer, political and economic columnist, and Washington correspondent. 

Venue: The Study Centre Yarra Theological Union, Box Hill, Best entry via 34 Bedford Street. Entry free. Donations welcome. Refreshments afterwards. Info: 03 9890 1077 | 0409 897 971


Thursday 22 October, 7.30 pm – 9.30 pm: Syria – What is Happening? Speaker: Shahram Akbarzadeh,who is a Research Professor of Middle East and Central Asian Politics. Dr Akbarzadeh works at Deakin University. He has an active research interest in the politics of Central Asia, Islam, Muslims in Australia and the Middle East. We will give an update on the various ways Brigidine Asylum Seeker Project is helping asylum seekers and also explore the needs and what further assistance is needed. Venue: St Joseph’s Hall (beside the bluestone church), 274 Rouse Street , Port Melbourne. Contact:   03 9696 2107.

Monday 26 October, 7 pm – 9.30 pm: Peace in Australia: The untold story: From Military Security to Human Security: Beyond the Cold War & War on Terror. Launch of Peace Museum. The Road Taken: from Vietnam to Afghanistan and Iraq Emeritus Professor with Joseph Camilleri OAM, La Trobe University; Followed by questions and comments The Road We Must Travel:  Prof Camilleri in conversation with Prof Jacqui True, Monash University; Prof Robyn Eckersley, University of Melbourne; A/Prof Marianne Hanson, University of Queensland. Venue: Unitarian Peace Memorial Church 110 Grey Street, East Melbourne. Presented by Pax Christi Victoria for the Anzac Centenary Peace Coalition. Further information: camrita44@gmail.com

Wednesday 28 October, 10 am – 11.30 am: The Australian Climate Security Panel. Australia and its neighbours are on the frontline of climate change. Soaring temperatures, rising sea levels and increases in extreme weather events will play a role in raising the risk of conflict, increasing the displacement of people and worsening the extent of destruction caused by extreme weather events in our region Hosted by UNSW Canberra at the Australian Defence Force Academy, the panel will discuss climate change, its security implications and the steps being taken by the US and UK militaries to be prepared. Speakers: Rear Admiral David Titley, USN (Ret.), who initiated and led the US Navy’s Task Force on Climate Change whilst serving in the Pentagon; Rear Admiral Neil Morisetti, RN (Ret.), who acted as the UK Government’s Climate and Energy Security Envoy;Admiral Chris Barrie (Ret.), Australia's former Chief of Defence; Professor Will Steffen, world leading climate change expert and Climate Councillor. Where: UNSW Canberra at the Australian Defence Force Academy. Tickets are limited, click here for more information and to reserve your seat in the auditorium.

Wednesday 4 November, 6 pm to 8:30 pm: Impossible Climate: Safe Climate Restoration Under the Microscope. Advocacy for the restoration of a safe climate calls for solutions that the world does not currently possess.. The central question remains ‘is safe climate restoration possible and, if not, what level of action is now morally defensible and yet practically achievable?’ Join Breakthrough for this special forum to examine and critique the recently published discussion paper Striking Targets, with author Philip Sutton. 
FORUM PANELLISTS: Ben Courtice, Friends of the Earth Climate Campaigner; Andrea Bunting, Climate Activist, Researcher & Writer; David Spratt, Climate Policy Analyst; Mark Wakeham, CEO Environment Victoria;Adrian Whitehead, Save The Planet Campaign Manager. Venue: University of Melbourne, Ground Floor, 700 Swanston Street, Carlton, VIC 3053. Free event, donations welcome. Register:https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/im-possible-climate-tickets-19009790796
Friday 6 November – Saturday 7 November, 9.30 am – 5.30 pm: Turn Conflicts into Opportunities. Our relationships are often the most important thing in our life. But when was the last time you took the time to explore how YOU can build better relationships with yourself and others? The "Turn Conflicts to Opportunities" training is a GREAT opportunity to share in a safe and supportive space, and really dive deep into powerful, transformative tools, so that you can integrate them into your life and use them daily. Facilitator: Efrat Wolfson. At Leisure Centre, Eastwood Street, Ballarat VIC. Costs? $355 / $325 early bird special (till 5/10). For more info: For more details and testimonials - click on this link 

Monday 9 November – Tuesday 10 November, 9 am – 5 pm: Community Development: Introductory Course. Become more confident in designing & facilitating community development programs & activities. Learn practical ways of empowering communities; understand the basic concepts of Community Development; examine power and change processes; discuss community development practices; hold conversations with experienced Community Development workers; access to further learning resources; come to understand the field; use the modes of head (intellect), heart (feelings), hands (practical work with people) and feet (groundedness). Venue: 2 Minona Street, Hawthorn.

Tuesday 10 November, 6.30 pm – 8 pm: When Brunswick and Coburg voted “NO” to war. Brunswick and Coburg’s dramatic history and role in the WW1 referendums on conscription will be discussed at  a public meeting on 10 November. The people of Brunswick and Coburg voted “No” to conscription. Local leaders included John Curtin, Frank Anstey and Bella Guerin.  Anti-conscription campaigners were imprisoned in Coburg’s Pentridge Gaol both in WW1 and during the Vietnam War - including speaker Michael Hamel-Green. The inaugural meeting of the Brunswick-Coburg 1916-17 Anti-Conscription Commemoration Committee (BCCCC) -  with suggested future activities presented for discussion. All welcome.  WHERE: St Ambrose Community Centre, 287 Sydney Rd Brunswick (the centre for anti-conscription campaigners in 1916-17!). INFO: Nancy, 0490 182 041

Wednesday 11 November – Thursday 12 November, 9 am – 5 pm: Community Development: Intermediate Course. Become more confident in designing & facilitating community development programs & activities. Learn practical ways of empowering communities; understand the basic concepts of Community Development; examine power and change processes; discuss community development practices; hold conversations with experienced Community Development workers; access to further learning resources; come to understand the field; use the modes of head (intellect), heart (feelings), hands (practical work with people) and feet (groundedness). Venue: 2 Minona Street, Hawthorn.

Wednesday 11 November, 6 pm: Book launch: World War One: A History in 100 Stories by Prof Bruce Scates, Rebecca Wheatley, Laura James. The event will also feature a lecture ‘Remembering and Forgetting War’ by Jay Winter. Venue: Museum Theatre, Melbourne Museum, 11 Nicholson Street, Carlton, Victoria, 3053. Free event, but bookings essential:  ncas.enquiries@monash.edu. Refreshments provided.

Saturday 14 November – Sunday 15 November, 9.30 am – 5.30 pm: Turn Conflicts into Opportunities.Our relationships are often the most important thing in our life. But when was the last time you took the time to explore how YOU can build better relationships with yourself and others? The "Turn Conflicts to Opportunities" training is a GREAT opportunity to share in a safe and supportive space, and really dive deep into powerful, transformative tools, so that you can integrate them into your life and use them daily. Facilitator: Efrat Wolfson.At St Joseph’s Flexible Learning Centre, 385 Queensberry Street, North Melbourne. Costs? $355 / $325 early bird special (till 5/10). For more info:  For more details and testimonials - click on this link 

Saturday 14 November – Thursday 19 November: The Nonviolent Interfaith Leadership Program.Participants of the program will come together for a 5-day retreat in Melbourne at the beautiful Edmund Rice Retreat and Spirituality Centre ‘Amberley’ situated on a bend of the Yarra River in Lower Plenty. In an inspiring interfaith environment, participants will form a community of practice and together study the art of nonviolent leadership in ways that will deepen their leadership potential and expand their capacity to make vital contributions to their community and the world. A team of highly skilled, richly experienced and deeply spiritual facilitators will guide participants through a 5-day retreat. For details see:http://www.nonviolentinterfaithleadership.org/announcement-2015-program/

Friday 27 November, 5.30 pm: Climate Rally. This November, the climate talks will be held in Paris, home of the baguette, the beret and – in a foreboding symbol for heads of state – the guillotine. Of course, throughout history Paris has also been home to mass demonstrations that toppled unpopular regimes, a fact that shouldn’t be lost on leaders anxious about the outcome. As delegates arrive in Paris, Melbourne will kick off a weekend of global climate action with a People’s Climate March. Meet at the State Library, Swanston Street. Click here for more information.

Thursday 3 December and Friday 4 December, Registration at 8.45 am, program 9.30 am to 5.30 pm: Ethical Enterprise Conference 2015. The Ethical Enterprise Conference is a positive educational and networking event for ethical and social enterprises, to discuss the rewards, challenges, issues and opportunities facing ethical and social enterprises, large and small. The conference will bring together a community of professionals, business owners, managers, new social entrepreneurs, students and ethical business leaders with like-minded values. Speakers include Stephanie Woollard, Ross Honeywill, and many more. VenueThe Carlton Connect Initiative University of Melbourne, LAB-14, 700 Swanston Street, Carlton, 3053. Click here for more information

Sunday 18 October 2015

To-day is Anti-Slavery Day : Enrol in Australia's first ever free anti-slavery online course starting 22 October, UniNSW


To find out more about Anti-Slavery Australia
please go here

To-day, 18 October, is Anti-Slavery Day

Anti-Slavery Day,created in 2010 by an Act of Parliament in Britain, aims to raise awareness of modern-day slaver and to inspire people to do what they can to eliminate it. The bill defines modern-day slavery as child trafficking, forced labour, domestic servitude and trafficking for sexual exploitation.

This day is championed by Anti-Slavery International which, founded in 1839, is the world's oldest international human rights organisation and the only charity in the United Kingdom to work exclusively against slavery.  

18 October: Anti-Slavery Day

Anti-Slavery Day, created in 2010 by an Act of Parliament in Britain, aims to raise awareness of modern-day slavery and to inspire people to do what they can to eliminate it. The bill defines modern-day slavery as child trafficking, forced labour, domestic servitude and trafficking for sexual exploitation.



Hear Anti-Slavery Australia Director Jennifer Burn talk about forced marriage in this 1800RESPECT webinar next Thursday 22 October
Register here: http://www2.redbackconferencing.com.au/1800Respect22Oct2015 
Posted by Anti-Slavery Project on Wednesday, 14 October 2015

Thursday 15 October 2015

Live exporters have no legal obligation to ensure the welfare of Australian dairy cows once overseas, leaving our animals vulnerable to rough handling, abuse and cruel slaughter.

The Dairy Loophole

This week we saw what happens to Australian animals who are ‘protected’ by live export regulations. Imagine what happens to the animals who don’t even qualify for protection.

This is the case for the 90,000 dairy cows who are exported live every year from Australia.
Even though they are exposed to the same risks and suffering as animals exported for slaughter, dairy cows and their calves are excluded from the most basic live export standards once they arrive at their destination.
Live exporters have no legal obligation to ensure the welfare of Australian dairy cows once overseas, leaving our animals vulnerable to rough handling, abuse and cruel slaughter.
These dairy cows are the forgotten victims of the live export trade. The Government says it is too hard to protect them. We say it’s time to end the trade. Add your voice to the campaign to end dairy cow exports. 

Welcome to Australia and the big walking out event "Walk Together" : #Ballarat 31 October 10.30am. See details below



This post is cross-posted from 
Born Free
Hey everyone! 
I have another exciting event for you, 
and this one is BIG!

Organised by Welcome to Australia, this huge event is being held in 20 cities around Australia! Dubbed as ‘Walk Together’, the event is going to be a synchronised national march to celebrate diversity and a “declaration that thousands of Australians believe we can become a nation known for our compassion, generosity and welcome”

I’m so happy that this event is being held in so many cities, after getting so excited about the Stand Up for Refugees Rally in Melbourne and then realising I couldn’t make it!

After a wonderful successful march in Walk Together is holding events in over 20 cities.

Details
Adelaide: Adelaide Festival Plaza 11am, walking to Whitmore Square for a picnic
Armidale: Old Courthouse, Armidale Mall, 11am
Brisbane: Kurilpa Point Park South Brisbane 11am, walking to Supreme Court Plaza George Street.
Ballarat: Indigenous Childrens Playground, Windmill Drive. 10:30am for a walk around Lake Wendouree
Cairns: Western Event Lawn, near the lagoon on The Esplanade, 11am
Canberra: Westside Action Park, 11am.
Darwin: 11am location TBC
Emerald: Botanic Gardens, 9am
Gold Coast: 11am location TBC
Hobart: 11am location TBC
Logan: 11am location TBC
Melbourne: State Library 11am, walking to Fed Square
Mildura: Mildura Lawn Tennis Club, 9:30am, walking to Nowingi Place for speakers and festivities.
Mt Gambier: 10am location TBC
Newcastle: 11am location TBC
Perth: John McMillan Park, Kent St, East Victoria Park, 10am (including free Halal BBQ!)
Rockhampton: Riverside Park, Quay Street, 11am
Sunshine Coast: 11am location TBC
Sydney: Prince Alfred Park, 11am
Toowoomba: 11am location TBC
Wagga Wagga: Lake Albert Apex Park, 10:30am for registration. Walk at 11am, followed by a BBQ!
Whyalla: This event is on Friday the 29th to coincide the theHappiest Refugee Live Show. Meeting at 6pm at Westlands food court for tea, walking at 7:10pm to Middleback Theatre for Anh Do’s show at 8pm. Tickets.
Wollongong: MacCabe Park at 11am, walking to Market Square for a family festival day of music, performances, picnic lunch (bring a plate!) and speeches.

How awesome is that! I really hope you can all make it to one of these cities on or around 31 October. Further information is still being released for many of the cities so watch this space!

I absolutely love this video with Shane Phillips and others saying welcome. I wish I had made it :)

If you’d like to volunteer to help organise (there must be a lot of organising to be done for such a large event), or if you want to host an event in one of the other cities not listed above, or if you have any questions, email walktogether@welcometoaustralia.org.au

Come together for a day out, spreading the simple message that:

‘If we’re all people, we’re all equal’.

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