A real outsourcing story
Prosperity in one country is to the detriment of another. And vice versa. Perhaps outsourcing will activate our consumerist-driven American lives and make us realize that what we do here can be done cheaper in India. Here's
one true story about a typesetting/textbook layout company who folded and couldn't compete with India.
The best point I think he makes at the end is how Iowa was once the "outsourcing" printing location for publishers in New York. The printers could do it cheaper in Iowa and telegraphs and trains made it possible. The same is happening now, only jobs in Iowa are going to India.
LeBron won't sign the dotted line.
This isn't microfinance, but it is international. A few sites I've read have been talking about this post, in which LeBron James has refused to sign a statement against the genocide in Darfur, becoming only one of two people on the 15 man Cavs roster who didn't sign.
One reason could be is that LeBron doesn't want to offend any potential shoe buyers. Another is that he is uninformed. Third is that he knows the issue, but still doesn't care to change it. Fourth is that he (consciously or subconsciously) doesn't see the point.
Of course, this illustrates bigger issues. And though this isn't new, it re-illustrates that in America our corporate allegiances have taken over much of our collective ability to take individual stands. Corporate allegiance is now trumping patriotism, even individualism, and perhaps in LeBron's case, morality (see Enron for that last one).
LeBron of course does many "immoral" things in his life, not just this one, for we are all sinners. I would like to say that the difference here is that, just as his Nike contract is a public stance (he supports their shoes), so is the signing of a public petition (he supports/doesn't support aid for Darfur). And just as he won't sign with Reebok, he won't sign for aid with Darfur.
Many other basketball players let alone athletes do not have the same scrutiny as this. Many of them have not been challenged publicly to support aid in Darfur. Why is LeBron held to a different standard? It's how much is invested in him as a person--by Nike, by the Cleveland Cavaliers, by whoever else gives him a paycheck. Making that much money, playing everyday on national TV, makes you larger than life. and his support of aid could make a difference in the state of that region (both monetarily and in awareness), more so than my decision.
Besides choosing the clothes we wear, the music we listen to, the types of chips we buy, and now political decisions, what will corporations decide for us next?
Charlie Rose - Muhammad Yunus / Annie Leibovitz
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Segment 1: 2006 Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus, founder of Grameen Bank.
Segment 2: Photographer Annie Leibovitz talks about her life and work.
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Interesting Stuff
A new term:
Philanthropreneurs Dude, that is what I want to be when I grow up!
I started writing a paper about the "For-Good" organization, as opposed to a For-Profit or a Non-Profit. I have only written the introduction so far. If you are interested I can send the file. I would like your feedback.
- Good web site. It is about doing good and making money while you do good so that you can do more good.
It compiles knowledge, news, and ideas about sustainable business innovations and trends by firms and entrepreneurs operating in emerging markets.
- One Lap Top Per Child, the initiative launched by MIT's tech showman Nicholas Negroponte took a step nearer last week with its first test production run.
Labels: Philanthropreneur
Grameen Telecom
The name association of
Grameen Telecom is obvious, but this group of the Grameen Foundation is dedicated specifically to Village Phones, mobile phones that are shared throughout villages in Bangladesh. A woman will take out a loan for a phone, charge others in the village to use it, and then gradually pay back the loan.
The End of Poverty: Economic Possibilities For Our Time
This book was recommended to me by the organization I posted about below; I'm only 40 pages in and this book is already challenging and tremendous. It keeps a good overview of 6 different countries and their current state in extreme poverty and different countries have started to ascend from it. Jeffrey Sachs' goal is to end poverty by 2025 per the Millenium Development Goals set forth by the U.N. Sachs is the Director of the Earth Institute at Columbia University and an advisor to Kofi Anan.
Full Belly Project
The Full Belly Project is an initiative here in Wilmington to bring universal nut shellers to developing countries throughout the world. Surprisingly, much of the world gets their protein from nuts, and often these nuts have to be cracked by hand because the technology is lacking.
These machines will mechanize the process, increasing production several times over.
I'm starting to get involved with this group here in Wilmington, NC--seeing how the machines are built and making connections to help get financing for these. Contact me w/ any questions.
