Ethical trading and socioeconomic transformation: critical reflections on the South African wine industry

Newly emerging ethical trade practices in the South African wine industry are examined as a way of engaging with debates about the ability of alternative trade approaches to facilitate meaningful opportunities for socioeconomic development in the global South. The South African wine industry has undergone rapid restructuring since the end of apartheid in order to meet the demands of international markets. However, transforming racially skewed ownership and skill patterns is proving a particular challenge. In this paper we outline some of the initiatives that have been introduced to stimulate socioeconomic change within the industry. By utilising analytical tools such as commodity chains, networks, and cultural approaches we demonstrate that a complex array of forces is driving change on the ground. Such forces include national imperatives derived from the legacy of apartheid and the concerns of consumers in the global North. We conclude by considering the types of local and global constraints that need to be challenged if these initiatives are to be successful in facilitating meaningful socioeconomic transformation within the wine industry

Multinationals in their communities: A social capital approach to corporate citizenship projects

The objectives of this research are to provide new ways of thinking about and measuring the extent and effectiveness of multinational company efforts to contribute to society via their corporate citizenship (CC) (or corporate social responsibility - CSR) programmes. It uses as its method of analysis the emerging literature relating to the theory and measurement of social capital. The paper summarises the findings of a forthcoming book (from Palgrave, 2007). We begin by discussing the concept of corporate citizenship in the context of the multinational. We go on to introduce the concept of social capital employed in the study. Next we summarise our case study evidence with cases from Anglo American and Diageo. Following this, we review our statistical and econometric analysis which maps the community engagements of UK multinationals in South Africa, US multinationals in Mexico and EU multinationals in Poland. We demonstrate the usefulness for analysis of social capital thinking in this context and make suggestions for future work.Social capital; Corporate citizenship; Corporate Social Responsibility; Multinational companies.

Implementation of Distributed Transactions in BPEL

Cílem této bakalářské práce je implementovat podporu distribuovaných transakcí do projektu RiftSaw tak, aby webové služby mohly být volány v rámci distribuovaných transakcí podnikovými procesy. A to pouze v tom případě, že operace webové služby vyžaduje být provedena v rámci distribuované transakce. Oproti již funkčním implementacím přináší podporu specifikace WS-BusinessActivity a jiný způsob kontroly, zda má podnikový proces použít distribuované transakce u volaných webových služeb.The goal of this work is to implement a support of distributed transactions into the project RiftSaw so that web services can be invoked within distributed transactions by business processes. And only if a web service operation requires to be performed within a distributed transaction. Comparing to already working implementations, the presented sulution brings support of WS-BusinessActivity specification and a different way of checking that a business process use distributed transactions for invoked web services.

Pricing Sustainable Shipping of Coffee: Consumers’ Preferences and Willingness to Pay for Emission Reductions and Offsets

The goal of this study is to explore whether decarbonization of maritime shipping and the full supply chain are valued in customer perception. Understanding consumers’ preferences and willingness to pay (WTP) for sustainable maritime shipping of goods can provide opportunities to spread the costs of required sectorial changes. Decarbonization labels were compared to the Fairtrade and European organic label. A discrete choice experiment (DCE) with 299 participants was performed and supporting data was considered for an exhaustive description of preferences and WTP in the exemplary use case of filter coffee. The results indicate a significant WTP premium for all labels. On average, direct reductions of all supply chain emissions were valued at 2.82€ (all values per 500g of coffee) and are thus comparable in importance to the Fairtrade label estimated at 2.77€. Maritime shipping offsets, reductions and offsets for the full supply chain were valued at average premiums of 1.79€, 1.95€ and 1.89€. Organic labelling led to an average premium of 1.61€. A random parameter logit model with correlated parameters found significant preference heterogeneity across participants for all labels. Participants preferring whole bean to ground coffee did not significantly differ in their underlying preferences for the sustainability dimensions but in their price perception and effectively displayed higher WTP for all attributes. This study contributes to current research by providing a thorough measurement of preferences and WTP for emission reductions along the supply chain and is the first to assess offsets compared to direct reductions in a controlled setting for a common product use case. Keywords: Sustainable maritime shipping; direct decarbonization; carbon offsets; discrete choice experiment; pricing.The goal of this study is to explore whether decarbonization of maritime shipping and the full supply chain are valued in customer perception. Understanding consumers’ preferences and willingness to pay (WTP) for sustainable maritime shipping of goods can provide opportunities to spread the costs of required sectorial changes. Decarbonization labels were compared to the Fairtrade and European organic label. A discrete choice experiment (DCE) with 299 participants was performed and supporting data was considered for an exhaustive description of preferences and WTP in the exemplary use case of filter coffee. The results indicate a significant WTP premium for all labels. On average, direct reductions of all supply chain emissions were valued at 2.82€ (all values per 500g of coffee) and are thus comparable in importance to the Fairtrade label estimated at 2.77€. Maritime shipping offsets, reductions and offsets for the full supply chain were valued at average premiums of 1.79€, 1.95€ and 1.89€. Organic labelling led to an average premium of 1.61€. A random parameter logit model with correlated parameters found significant preference heterogeneity across participants for all labels. Participants preferring whole bean to ground coffee did not significantly differ in their underlying preferences for the sustainability dimensions but in their price perception and effectively displayed higher WTP for all attributes. This study contributes to current research by providing a thorough measurement of preferences and WTP for emission reductions along the supply chain and is the first to assess offsets compared to direct reductions in a controlled setting for a common product use case. Keywords: Sustainable maritime shipping; direct decarbonization; carbon offsets; discrete choice experiment; pricing

Single Molecule Activation and Computing (FOCUS)

The present project, FOCUS, will build a novel generation of biologically inspired molecular devices (MDs) based on the developments of new photonic tools. These photonic tools will use Plasmon Polariton and two-photon technology, enabling focused light spots with a diameter around 10 nm. FOCUS will also develop new light sensitive molecules that will be selectively activated by our new photonic tools. These new technological innovations will provide a way to control activation of single light sensitive molecules and will allow the investigation of molecular computation in a biological environment and with an unprecedented resolution. On the basis of these investigations and by using the developed new tools, FOCUS will design and test new MDs for amplification and information processing. FOCUS will: i - provide new photonic devices to control single molecules; ii – lay out the basis for understanding molecular computation in biological systems; iii - provide proofs of concept and suggestions for designing new molecular artificial computing systems; iv- build prototypes of these new MDs. FOCUS has formed a highly interdisciplinary consortium composed of nanotechnologists able to fabricate the new photonic devices - i.e. Enzo Di Fabrizio (IIT), Alpan Bek (METU) and Marco Lazzarino (CBM), chemists able to develop the photoswitches and assemble the MDs – i.e. Pau Gorostiza (IBEC) and Ljiljana Fruk (KIT) and biologists able to understand molecular mechanisms – i.e. Vincent Torre (SISSA) and Fabio Benfenati (IIT). The two companies RappOptoElectronic and NT-MDT Europe BV will transform the new tools and devices into marketable products.EU, Funded under :FP7-ICT-2009-

Personal Training for a Campus Recreation Setting

The objective of my project was to find a way to implement personal training into Western Oregon University’s Health and Wellness Center. Personal health and wellness is a huge part of my life. I share my passion through the fitness classes I teach, working at the Health and Wellness Center, and studying Exercise Science with a minor in Health. Being a part of a college campus gym setting, I witness many students struggle to move out of their comfort zone. With no personal trainers on staff, students are left to experiment with weights, machines, and other exercise routines which may cause an injury, or give up all together because they feel discouraged. A need exists for a systematic program of fitness instruction that is available to all interested students. I strongly believe by providing resources to students they may feel more comfortable in the gym setting, and be more inclined to sustain a healthy lifestyle. Teaching students to live in good health while in college is important. It will hopefully promote a better quality of life after school. Major health implications due to lifestyle is a huge issue in our country. We can help prevent this by educating our students through private mentors for more individualized assistance with their health fitness goals.https://digitalcommons.wou.edu/maurice/1010/thumbnail.jp