Heart-related illnesses due to high blood pressure present enormous medical, human and economic costs. Strokes, heart attacks and end-stage renal disease are preventable with tight blood pressure control. Controlling high blood pressure with antihypertensive medications benefits the individual and society at large through avoidance of premature death, increased life expectancy, fewer illnesses, better quality of [...]

IBM, a multinational computer technology corporation, recently announced in a press release that it plans to partner with CARE, a leading private international humanitarian organization, to jointly establish the Africa Financial Grid, an integrated data processing infrastructure that will curb costs currently incurred by microfinance institutions (MFIs) in providing financial services in Sub-Saharan Africa. The [...]

Drinks groups may stepping up their efforts to promote responsible alcohol consumption, but some of their latest advertising campaigns have been labelled as “catastrophically misconceived”, according to new research. The findings, led by professor Christine Griffin of the University of Bath, suggest that despite their intentions, alcohol producers must reassess how they are tackling [...]

Gordon Brown plans to harness at least 20 of the world’s biggest multinational companies, including Google and Vodafone, to tackle a “development emergency” in the world’s poorest countries and put the international community back on course to achieve seven UN development goals by 2015. As a UN report released today shows limited progress in hitting [...]

Underpinning CTB’s Easter activity is the company’s ‘Purple Goes Green’ initiative. For the first time, specifically for Easter, it will see a significant reduction in packaging as well as an exciting new alliance with the National Trust to emphasise the fun element of Easter. Easter is the largest occasion in spring and confectionery plays a [...]

The Council for Responsible Jewellery Practices (CRJP) took issue with a recent report published by WWF-UK (read) titled Deeper Luxury. CRJP’s CEO Michael Rae distributed a letter to the group and other NGOs, CRJP members, and the media stating the WWF-UK and its publisher “deserve the strongest condemnation for the completely undeserved and unwarranted [...]

Last week over fifty newspapers and magazines from Britain, Brazil, Australia, New Zealand, Italy and Switzerland reported on the corporate responsibility of the world’s largest holding companies of luxury brands. For the first time they had been ranked on their ethical performance in the report Deeper Luxury: Quality and Style When the World Matters, which [...]

Les marques de luxes peuvent-elles être «éthiques» ? Le respect de l’environnement (production, protection de la faune et de la flore), le comportement social de certaines maisons de luxe ont été passés aux cribles. Le rapport de la WWF (UK), écrit par Bendell and Kleanthous, est édifiant. Les meilleures notes atteignent péniblement le « C+ [...]

As Hollywood goes green, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) goes Hollywood – or not. This Friday’s release of New Line Cinema’s The Golden Compass, a fantasy adventure film starring Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig, forges a “very organic partnership” with the WWF. New Line’s efforts with the WWF seek to peak awareness about the impact [...]

When you buy expensive luxury items are you helping to kill the planet? Depending on your favorite brands you just might be. In a recent study done for WWF it came to light that many luxury brands are making use of environmentally damaging materials and practices, and although some did worse than others none of [...]