Creating A Positive Business Environment

The type of environment you create in your business for yourself and your employees will significantly impact how successful your business is. A generally positive environment will help your employees to be a lot more able to handle anything that comes up. Here are a couple of examples.

Let’s say that a business owner criticizes his employees, finds fault with their work, yells at them when they screw up or are late, and has policies and rules so that they are penalized for various infractions. His employees might work hard, but they will definitely not be enjoying their jobs and will often dread their interactions with the owner.

That business owner probably thinks that that is the best way to achieve the common goal that all business owners have, which is to ensure that their personnel are hard working and productive. He might feel that people have to be constantly hammered in order to work.

But let’s take a look at what’s missing from this scenario. First of all, none of the employees at that company will truly enjoy their work. They will all work but none will willingly go the extra mile for the business or for the owner. And that extra mile, that desire on the part of the employee to make the extra sale or get out that big shipment today before closing time even though it’s tough, those are the things that really make a business more successful and competitive.

Now take the opposite scenario. Let’s take a business owner who creates a positive atmosphere. He has discipline, he expects people to work hard, but he doesn’t hammer people to get them to do it. He does it by being encouraging and by telling people they are appreciated when they do a good job. Sometimes, although this isn’t the only way to do it, he pays people a bonus when they do something really spectacular for the business.

What’s the effect of all this? Employees enjoy their work more, they want to do a better and better job, and they will go the extra mile. Because they know their efforts are appreciated.

And if some emergency situation comes up, it’s the employees in the positive work environment that will move mountains to make everything go right again. The employees in the negative environment won’t bother. And it is the company with the positive work environment that has the better chance of long term survival and success.

Tyre Retreading Helps The Environment

Retreaded car tyres (or remoulds as they are sometimes better known) have been a part of the tyre market for many years. It is not that long ago that every tyre dealer in the country sold retreaded car tyres as a budget line. These days, the increased influx of cheap new tyres from China has meant that retreads are now available only through selected dealers. However, with environmental issues becoming more important to the general public, it is the retread’s status as a recycled product that is now becoming more important.

How is a Retread Made?

Firstly, the retreader takes a worn tyre casing and inspects it to check it is suitable for retreading. The remaining old tread rubber is then removed during a process called "buffing". This provides a profile and surface texture in preparation for the application of a new tread.

The tyre is then inspected for a second time and any correction work is then carried out before the next stage of the manufacturing process, which is the application of a new tread and sidewall veneer. In car tyre retreading this is done by applying uncured tread and sidewall rubber, usually by using a strip-winding machine.

The built tyre then moves on to the curing or vulcanisation process. In car tyre retreading this is carried out in individual curing moulds (similar to those used in new tyre manufacturing).

After curing, a final inspection process is carried out identify any potential defect. Unacceptable tyres are rejected and scrapped.

What is the Quality of Retreads Like?

Despite the historical image, the quality of retreaded tyres today is very good. Since 2004 all retreaded car tyres in the UK have been subject to an ECE Regulation (Reg 108), which stipulates that all retreads have to meet the same load and speed test criteria as new tyres. Each retreader has to subject a proportion of his production for testing and, if his tyres fail, he runs the risk of being closed down. Retreaded tyres not produced to ECE 108 are illegal.

One erroneously held belief is the idea that retreads cannot be used on motorways or above 50 mph. Absolute Rubbish! Most retreads sold in the UK market are rated to either T (118 mph), H (130 mph) or V (149 mph). The exception is some retreaded winter tyres which may be Q rated (99 mph) but these are mostly sold overseas.

Another myth is the belief that the discarded tread rubber from truck tyres that you see on the side of motorways is from retreads. Not true. Truck tyre failures occur primarily as a result of poor tyre maintenance, for example by running a tyre underinflated or when the tyre has suffered some kind of damage. In this case the tyre will fail regardless of whether a tyre is a retread or a new tyre.

Incidentally retreads make up about 40% of all truck tyres on the road and in many applications they routinely outperform new tyres.

How Green Are Retreads?

Retreads are extremely environmentally friendly.

Firstly, the production of a retread saves substantial amounts of fossil fuels. In fact, the manufacture of a passenger retread requires 4.5 gallons less oil than a new tyre.

Secondly, retreaded car tyres sold in the UK are almost exclusively manufactured in the UK, which means they don’t have to be shipped from the other side of the world, unlike many budget new tyres, a high proportion of which are manufactured in China and other Far East countries.

Retreading is also the best practical environmental option for tyre recycling. Every retread used means one less new tyre saving in natural resources. It also means that less tyres ultimately have to be burned (the most common form of disposal in the UK) thereby reducing pollution. In fact, a recent study by the Environmental Association found that out of all the various options for tyre recycling, retreading has the least environmental impact. So retreads really are green.

Bug Tracking In The Office Environment

Do you work in a busy office environment where everybody relies on the same computer system? Whether you're a low level employee or whether you're trying to manage such an office, you're bound to have noticed that the same software problems keep cropping up. Bug tracking offers a streamlined way to deal with them.

Bug tracking is the process by which software developers and support staff receive feedback on problems with new software. Much bug tracking takes place in a professional environment before the software is released, but there's inevitably some bug tracking left for end users to take care of. Participating in this bug tracking helps to move the development process along and speed up the appearance of service patches and similar solutions. But bug tracking isn't just useful at the development end - by applying it in your office you can dramatically increase the efficiency of your local system.

All you require for local system bug tracking is a database in which you can store bug details and a standardised method for submitting bug tracking reports. This should include a description of what the bug did, a description of what caused it (including all activity on that machine immediately beforehand, plus a note of any other programs running at the same time) and an indication of how severe the problems caused by the bug were. Once everybody in the office is familiar with this, it will be easy for them to submit bug tracking reports whenever they encounter problems. The bug tracking project administrator can then add notes when solutions for problems are found, so that there's one clear set of instructions to refer to when things go wrong. Maintaining a local bug tracking system doesn't take much time, and the amount of time it can save you in managing problems in considerable.

Environment And International Project Selection

A company that chooses to implement an international project is obligated to conduct a thorough research in order to understand if such project is viable and can be brought to life in a certain country. Numerous factors have to be taken into consideration and investigated; it has to be done objectively from the point of view of the host country in which business will be performed. Thus the home company can ensure the realization of the project in specified terms with regards to projected profits and spending funds.

While analyzing foreign environment companies have to pay close attention to various factors that will effect, or help if used efficiently, future success of business in a new economy. First of all it is necessary to carefully examine the firm’s competitive position and understand if a project is able to bring profit in the global industry. Adequate financial resources, successful global ventures in the past, risk levels that a company is able to undertake and growing international demand are those few questions that need to posed before a firm can make any projections as to doing business abroad. There are also factors that are directly connected to specific projects and situations and that influence the outcome of the venture and have to be considered.

In case when a company is ready to start international project in terms of its internal situation, it has to study issues and challenges that are caused by macro economical and other environmental factors. Legal and political factors are essential for the implementation of the project abroad and each country has its own laws and regulations that could be of negative or positive influence which greatly depends on the nature of business. Economic condition of the host county is a core issue in deciding where and when project will be carried out and if it is feasible at all. Such environmental issues as GDP, inflation fluctuations and population growth have to be considered in order to comprehend conditions in which business will operate. Infrastructure and geography are among other factors that will affect the project or not allow its execution in case a host county has severe weather conditions or undeveloped infrastructure; for instance unpaved roads and no electrical power can easily fail the project in the very beginning and thus knowing such conditions is necessary. Security of the country in which project will be developed is essential as well, people make things happen and if they are in a dangerous environment it is priory impossible to do business. Workers who are knowledgeable about cultural differences in a host country are more likely to perform successfully as traditions and holidays can play a huge role in certain marketing campaigns and serve for the good image of the company.

Working in a foreign country requires a great deal of preparation and assessment of all possible differences that business is about to encounter. As was already said major role is deciding whether of not the project will be successful is comprehending macro environment of a new country. Studying its economical condition, security levels and infrastructure system is a core competence of a company who wants to be more successful that its competitors. In case when all of those factors are studied and considered advantageous for a new enterprise it is important to bear in mind that cultural differences can make all efforts void. Thus such countries as the United States must attentively analyze what changes have to be made in the business plan and what people are best suit for the its implementation. Often companies hire professionals already experienced in such ventures with foreign education who speak two or more languages. Those intermediaries who are familiar with host country’s traditions and have social connections are great helpers in establishing a good image of the company abroad and in avoiding mistakes in a setting up period.

Selecting and training employees for the international project is very important for the future success of the company. Culture shock and coping with it are issues that have to be addressed to potential workers because people who cannot sleep at night of nervous breakdown are unable to work effectively. Consequently firms need to inform and train employees how to cope with cultural diversities and benefit from them to better manage in the new environment. Multiplicity of the factors that have to be thought through by the international project managers can be outstanding but successful implementation will be rewarded by monetary and personal contentment.

Environment Friendly Home Business

Whether a person is conservative or liberal, young or old, male or female the message is the same. No matter where they live, how much money they have, education, social status, you name it, most people agree. Albeit for different reasons, people are becoming more environmentally aware. "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle" is becoming a common household and business phrase. These three "R"s will help to save the planet but there is an added benefit to your home business.

When we started applying these to our home business we achieve amazing results.

With regard to paper, we print or copy only what is absolutely necessary and then we use both sides of the paper. We provide our customers electronic information and only supply paper copies when requested (and may even charge a fee for this). We reuse paper that we receive that is only printed on one side, for notes or message taking. When we do buy paper, it is 100% recycled for only about one dollar more per ream. We recycle our paper and printer cartridges as well. Because of all these things, we contribute less to landfills and to destruction of forests and very importantly, our costs for paper and printer ink is way down. We have seen no negative consequences by taking all these steps.

To save electricity, we have replaced our light bulbs with florescent ones. They cost more initially, but our electricity costs are reduced and they last six times longer. We have a power bar on all of our electronic equipment and we turn the power bar off at night or when they otherwise won't be used for an extended period of time. This saves electric costs and I personally like the idea of having my internet modem and wireless network unavailable to hackers when I'm not using the equipment.

To save on heating and cooling, we have accepted that the temperature may not be ideal and that we can change what we are wearing (great benefit of a home business!) to become more comfortable. So the temperature range set on our thermostat is set a bit higher or lower than we used to depending on the season.

Our utilities bills continually show that we use less power or natural gas than in the same month of the preceding year and this is our goal. There is more that can be done but these simple steps described here will:

1. Help you save money on paper, ink, electricity and natural gas,
2. Impress your customers if you advertise that you are environmentally friendly,
3. Contribute less to landfills, and
4. Help to preserve the environment for future generations.

Efficient and effective use of resources should be a goal of every business. It does not cost more money to be environmentally friendly, contrary to popular belief. If we focus on efficient and effective use of nature's resources then the result has to be a positive one. One person and one business can make a difference, one person and one business at a time.

Office Space in the Changing Work Environment

Globally, companies are embracing new working practices and technologies, changing the demands placed on office design. Employees used to instant messaging and online communication, expect their jobs and office design to reflect this dynamic culture and employers are responding.

Research by residential property company, Savills, revealed understanding the needs of workers has never been more important. Its report, What Workers Want in Property, conducted by YouGov, polled more than 4,500 employees. It discovered more than 82 per cent of respondents rated immediate workspace concerns, such as comfort, heating and lighting, as the most important.

Potential employees are also changing. More job seekers are looking at a company's environmental credentials before applying for work. Savills revealed: "Where respondents rated employer image as important, 80 per cent placed the same level of importance on an employer's possession of an environmental/recycling policy."

Not only are firms looking at innovative office relocations and fresh office interior design, they are also reconsidering how they use office staff. The recent report by Sainsbury's HR director, Imelda Walsh, has been accepted by the government and business is now allowing more people to apply for flexible working conditions.

Increasingly powerful, networked computers and web-based applications are creating virtual offices and more employees than ever work from home.

This migration to flexible working need not be a concern for organizations according to Brendan Barber, head of the Trades Union Congress, who says employers should support it.

He recently told the Work Wise UK summit, changing working practices has to involve "drawing on a range of measures to realign employment culture and people management practices – in ways that match both the needs of the business, and the aspirations of staff for a better quality of working life".

Office interior design, like the new workforce, needs to be flexible. Professional services firm, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), recently completed a successful office relocation, having first considered the cost of moving.

Its new property at the Spencer Dock site at the North Quays in Dublin's docklands is an example of new office design. PwC established focus groups with its new office furniture designer, Steelcase and Architects Mullally Leonard Partnership. Having consulted on all aspects of the fit out, Steelhouse said it "ensured that the design was aligned closely with the actual needs and aspirations of PwC people".

One element of their office interior design is now common in new buildings and much sought after by firms conducting strategic relocations: informality.

The company incorporated a variety of social spaces in its new office design. Cafés, atriums, restaurants, even small gyms are now featuring in commercial property designs.

Working practices have also dramatically changed. Younger workers are bringing an appetite for technology into the workplace, which is challenging established methods.

Dan Rasmus, director of information worker vision at Microsoft suggests firms "capture those smart ideas and put them into practice", making use of the latest internet technology in the office. He advised companies "deploy a fluid collaboration environment where employees can work together through Web 2.0 tools such as portals, blogs, and wikis". IBM is one firm where social networking has been used as a means of augmenting office design, bringing people together with its Facebook-style tool, Beehive.

Global Environment Through Solar Power

Environmental campaigners have been trying to change the way we think for a long time. As yet I don’t think they have really succeeded. Now there is another appeal to saving the planet, it might be cheaper than letting it all go to pot! The cost of energy has been increasing for a long time and we have all simply adjusted our mindset to accept this. But there is another way. Solar power.

Solar power used to be unobtainable for most people as it was expensive to install and no one really made it seem appealing. Now it is a different story. With a little bit of research you can find amazing ways of saving money using solar power.

Getting Solar Power Installed

All the investment in solar power is up front, or so it used to be. You used to have to buy all the equipment and then pay a company to come and install it and also pay for any maintenance it needed. Now you can go about this in a different way. Some companies will actually lease you the equipment. For this you pay a deposit and then you pay a monthly amount to the company. So as long as your monthly lease is less than your current energy bills you are saving money. Another option is a grant. You will need to check the availability of grants in your area. These are basically issued to help with the initial set up costs.

Where To Start

First you need to review your energy requirements. Some areas will be easy and obvious to change. For example, are you heating a swimming pool? This is very expensive to heat traditionally and is also very simple and cheap to change to solar. If you are looking to convert you whole home then it is worth consulting one of the companies who specialize in this. They will come and see your house and will be able to advise you how to change and they can even divide the project up so that you can do it over a period of time depending on grants and personal funding.

How Does Solar Power Work.

There are two ways in which we can use the sun to reduce our energy bills. Either the heat can be used to heat water and reduce the costs of heating your home, or your can use photo voltaic panels to convert the suns light into energy. This energy can then be stored in batteries, so your home will not stop functioning when the sun goes down. If you are looking at installing photo voltaic panels you must carefully consider their location as you want them to be as efficient as possible. The best location is on a pitched roof. This tilt means that they will be able to ‘catch’ more sunlight than if they were on a flat roof. If you know the place where you want to place the panels then you can contact one of the companies who sell them and they will also be able to advise you how much energy you will be able to swap from traditional sources to solar power.

So Why Should You Be Swapping Over To Solar Power?

Well, before hand you may have thought it was all impractical, now you know that the advice, and in some cases the funding is waiting for you. With a possible global recession on its way, now it a good time to start reviewing your outgoings, and if a little investment is going to save a lot of money it has got to be worth researching. Secondly, it will only add to the value of your real estate, so your investment will be safe. Finally, you are doing your bit for the future generations.

Success Starts By Creating The Environment To Succeed

“To know and not to do is not to know.” Proverb

How many of you take a no nonsense, no excuse approach to running your business? How many of you say you know what to do to grow your business, but aren’t doing it?

Well, guess what? If you say you know and are not doing it, then you don’t know it. You might intellectually know it, but do you get it in your bones so to speak. This happened to me for a long time in my business. I knew what to do, but didn’t know how to make that happen until I got support from my coach. She provided valuable lessons which I’m going to share with you on how to ‘talk the walk and walk the talk.’

1. Shift the way you work, manage your priorities. If your number one priority is to double your business this year, then every action you take has to be in alignment with that vision. Take a look at your present commitments. Put a pause button on the things that aren’t in line with your goals especially if they’re not going to make you additional revenue. I know you know this, but are you doing it?

2. Eliminate time wasters. Are you devoting a solid 8 hours a day to your business? Being a solopreneur myself with an office at home, I know how easy it is to take time out to throw a load of laundry in the washing machine, load the dishwasher, water the plants, chit chat with a friend on the phone, or maybe even sit down to watch Oprah. I know the pull to do something else other than work is sometimes strong, but think about this. If you worked for someone else, you wouldn’t be doing those things, would you? If fear is keeping you from doing what you need to do, then get support to address and eliminate it. From here on in do only those things that move you toward achieving your goals.

3. Set boundaries in your business. I have created systems and schedules for business development and client appointments that keep me in the flow of my business. I also put a ‘Do Not Disturb’ sign on my door so that I’m not interrupted unnecessarily. I love having lunch with my friends, but if I schedule them on days that are dedicated to business development, it breaks up my day and it’s hard to get back in the groove. I now schedule those special lunch dates for my Wind Down Day which happens to be Fridays.

4. Stay true to yourself and visions. Being in business for yourself takes a lot of courage and dedication. We all get down sometimes – that’s called life. The trick is not to stay there and sabotage yourself. Make sure to surround yourself with positive people, positive affirmations, and positive actions at all times as negativity can bring you down faster than a speeding bullet.

5. Create the environment for success to happen. I keep my goals and my vision board in front of me where I can see it clearly at all times. I write down my intentions/pledges at the beginning of my day. I read them at least twice daily to keep me focused and positive.

6. Invest in yourself. Do not be afraid to get the support you need to get where you want to go. Take courses to improve your business skills. Do whatever you need to do in order to make your business life run more smoothly. You do not have to struggle all by yourself. If at all possible, get a qualified team on board to take over some of the tasks that you find drag you down.

The steps I have given you are not new. I know you know all of this, but the question is, are you doing it? If you aren’t, then perhaps it’s time to revisit your business model and look at your bottom line a bit more carefully.

Solar Panels and the Environment

You already know that switching to solar energy can have a big effect on the environment, but you might be wondering just how big an effect. After all, can one person or one family switching to solar energy for heat and electricity really make that much of a difference on the environment?

Yes! One person or one family can save 20,000 tons of greenhouse gas from polluting the environment just by using solar energy to heat your hot water and heat your home. 20,000 tons is a lot of greenhouse gases! And that’s just if one home just switches to solar energy. Imagine the decrease in greenhouse gases that could happen if 20,000 people per year switched to using solar energy to heat their hot water and heat their home. Add to that the effects of reducing energy consumption by 50% if you use solar energy for electricity and suddenly the impact on the environment is enormous.

In addition to reducing the amount of greenhouse gases that you put out switching to solar energy has a big impact on the environment because you will be reducing the amount of fossil fuels that you are using. Fossil fuels are very bad pollutants and contribute directly to poor air quality and other environmental problems.

The environment isn’t just hurt by people burning fossil fuels for energy. The environment is also hurt by what is necessary to get those fossil fuels. Enormous portions of the earth need to be dug up, processing plants and refineries built, and natural ecosystems destroyed all over the planet just to get to the fossil fuels that are buried in the earth. Most of the pristine wilderness is gone in any country that has natural deposits of fossil fuels because of the ever-growing demand that countries around the world have for fossil fuels.

When fossil fuels are processed there is a huge amount of solid waste, much of it toxic, that is left behind. This waste takes up space in landfills and then seeps into groundwater while the runoff flows to the waterways polluting the water and the soil. The carbon dioxide and other gases that are released poison the air for miles around the processing plants of these fossil fuels.

Solar energy might not solve all of the environmental problems that we face as a result of the overuse of fossil fuel but it’s a start. Just having a few thousand people per year switch to using solar energy to heat and power their homes will be a big step towards creating a safer, cleaner environment for everyone. And since the costs of buying and installing solar panes is dropping all the time soon it will be a lot more common for homes to use solar energy for their power needs.

Some of the related articles at SolarPanelCenter.net are as follows:

* What are Solar Photovoltaic Systems?

* The History of Solar Panels

* Types of Solar Panels

* Solar Panel Shingles

* The Benefits of Using Solar Energy in Your Home

* How Much Money Can Installing Solar Panels Really Save?

* Solar Panel Use Around the World

* Solar Panel Use in the United States

* Is Using Solar Panels Right for You?

Environment – Biodiversity And Ecosystems

Our global ecosystem is home to earth’s entire collection of living organisms and the habitats in which they live. Biodiversity forms part of the earth’s ecosystem and is short for biological diversity, a term used to describe the whole variety of life on earth.

Biodiversity doesn’t just refer to rare species; it encompasses the diversity of all living things from the human race to micro-organisms. Biodiversity also refers to the amazing richness of habitats on earth such as snowfields, rain forests, mountain tops and the ocean floor. Even in a busy city park biodiversity is present as there are an enormous number of individual species living with it.

Biodiversity is a fundamental part of earth’s life support as without it we wouldn’t be able to survive. This is because no-one living organism lives in isolation; millions of organisms interact and contribute to the balance of the global ecosystem and the survival of the planet. It takes numerous organisms to regulate a natural process such as the growth cycle of plants, the mating season of animals and even our weather patterns.

Sadly however the planet is losing biodiversity at a rapid rate. Even though the normal course of evolution involves species to die out; the rate at which biodiversity is decreasing is extremely quick, much quicker than natural standards. So what is causing this decrease in biodiversity within our planet? There are a number of contributing factors that are causing biodiversity to come under threat from various dangers, sadly most of these factors are caused by the human race, an example being habitat loss and fragmentation. This is the primary cause of biodiversity loss; it refers to the clearance of vegetation for agriculture, housing, timber and industry. Habitat loss and fragmentation also refers to the draining of wetlands and the flooding of valleys to form reservoirs. By destroying habitats like this we are destroying organisms and therefore decreasing the biodiversity of our ecosystem.

Pollution is another contributing factor to the loss of biodiversity within our planets ecosystem. Pollution can affect all forms of life, whether they dwell in sea or on land. Transport, industry, construction, extraction and power generation are all contributors to the pollution of land, air and sea. These chemicals can directly affect biodiversity and cause chemical imbalances, which will kill species and there habitats.

One of the biggest threats however to biodiversity and also one of the largest environmental challenges facing the world today is climate change. Climate change is the result of co2 emissions, greenhouse gases, these gases are released when fossil fuels are burnt. Currently the world is emitting around 6.5 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere every year through burning coal, oil and gas and what is the world doing to help this? Cutting down the rainforest, destroying our landscape, getting rid of vital elements of nature that absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere – trees. The more vegetation and forestry that is destroyed, the more carbon dioxide will build up in our atmosphere.

Climate change will make our climate feel too hot for certain species and too cold for other, wiping out yet more of our biodiversity. More than 16,000 species are already endangered and the rate of extinction has been increased 1000 times. The greater demand for land within the world is threatening species. Our planets resources are already overused by about 25% and the polar bear population has declined by 30%.

The world is running up a serious ecological debt and our ecosystems are being degraded at an unprecedented rate. Climate change will cause a rise in sea levels and problems to many coastal ecosystems; the planet will suffer irreparable damage if action is not taken.

There is a time lag between when emissions occur and when we begin to feel their effects, we have yet to experience the damage done from the past 30 years. This doesn’t mean climate change can be reversed, it means that everyone has to come together to make a difference now to stop the decline of our planet in years to come. Climate change cannot just be stopped by environmentalists alone; it must become the responsibility of everyone.

Parables Of A Green Environment

There are politicians who are flat-out anti-environmental---they just don't buy the argument. As long as they state their case plainly and honestly, we can at least respect their right to their opinion, however misinformed it may be. Others, however, have taken to deceit, crafting back-room deals that are a negative for the environment but then trying to sell the public on the new regulations by claiming they're an environmental improvement. We think that's a clear form of environmental hypocrisy and can be described as "listen to what I say, but don't watch what I do." Let's go through a few examples.

In campaign speeches prior to the 2000 election, George W. Bush promised to do something about global warming if elected president. The insincerity of the promise was made clear shortly after he took office when he reneged on his pledge, claiming that joining the Kyoto protocol would hurt the US economy. In reality, doing something about global warming would hurt only some industries---notably Big Energy and Big Auto, both heavy contributors to the Bush campaign. Overall, delaying action on global warming will cost us far more in the long run. Making a promise to do something about global warming without any intention of keeping the promise it was a form of environmental hypocrisy.

To those people who take a pro-life stance, we ask: Is the health of a child already born not just as important to you as the health of a child still in the womb? If so, do you voice your opinions on childhood health care and the above environmental issues as strongly as you voice your opinions on abortion?

Our intention here is not to debate the merits of pro-choice vs. pro-life but rather to say that it is hypocritical to be supremely worried about the fate of unborn children while being unconcerned about things (environmental or otherwise) that affect already-born children.

Gore and Kennedy are both doing good work on behalf of the environment—they rank in the Top 10 of the world's most effective environmental advocates. And they both no doubt make plenty of eco-friendly lifestyle choices. But to be a high-profile environmentalist and not fully walk the talk—even if only in terms of the perception they create—is hugely problematic. The public does not like hypocrites, environmental or otherwise, and giving opponents of environmental progress the opportunity to throw hypocritical mud on your righteous arguments reduces the power of your message and distracts people from the real issues. For some in the audience, these slight negatives weigh heavily against the overwhelmingly positive work Kennedy and Gore do.

We find most mainstream environmental groups to be fairly on-target with their overall goals and methods, but we think some of them act hypocritically occasionally. For instance, most major US environmental groups are silent on the issue of global population—and, more specifically, silent on the issue of US population.

Remember that one's individual environmental footprint is roughly based on the amount of energy and resources used and the amount of waste produced. The total US environmental footprint is based on the average individual environmental footprint of a US resident times the number of people in the country. Since the average individual environmental footprint in the US is very big compared to the global average, adding more people in the US is clearly an environmental negative.

Work Environment Tidbits

Color is a big factor effecting all indoor environments. Since most of us spend many hours each day at work, the coloring of the space has a big impact on us.

Monotone color schemes can over charge certain personality and behavioral patterns. The color grey can cause depression and frequent change, leading to coping actions like drinking alcohol. Too much grey [ a common business/office main color ] can also lead to unclear thoughts and actions. Sometimes in life and business things need to be simply black and white, clear and simple!

The best solution to this problem is to introduce many colors into the work space. Even small items of varied colors can do wonders, so add some to the work-business space and watch the changes.

When getting dressed for work/business each morning wear the colors that are not in the work place......that way your colors become a part of the environment, effecting both you and all those around you........you become a balancer for the colors missing at work....try it.

Stay grounded all day! That means that no matter what is going on around you [ you can't always control that stuff ] you are not so effected. This way you stay stable and help stabilize an often highly charged emotional situation. Staying grounded means to keep both feet on the floor ....no matter what happens! This can be real hard to do since many people around you will try to pull you off balance [ ungrounded ], just keep trying this and you will get better at it.

See your job/business and work place as both mundane and sacred at the same time. That means to do the job and work the space in practical ways while understanding that there is more going on then meets the surface of things. That life and work is all holy and sacred.....not just when you go to church, etc. This helps to bring a higher level of order and purpose to all you do...you tend to get better results in everything. Try it!

Keep the space clean and clear. This sounds too simple to be of real value but this is not true! Try it and watch the results........

Bring Enlightenment To Your Environment

Most self-help studies stress the need to create a perfect environment to be able to live a "successful" life. From the most famous celebrities to the most celebrated politicians, and all of us mere mortals in between! To be truly happy, therefore fulfilled and so able to share and give to our fellow humans, environment is crucial.

Whether it's a city street, a rural farm or a Hollywood stage, finding the environment that suits your character can be a lifelong search, so the journey must be enjoyed.

To be truly successful, happy, wealthy and wise, draw on all things natural around you and create a stress-free environment.

Get in touch with nature and re-assure yourself that the natural world will carry on no matter what. Draw from the creativity of a flower growing, a vegetable being formed, insects oblivious to what's on TV tonight, and water flowing over naturally formed rocks.

Try an experiment... spend a full half hour or more alone in a forest or next to the sea, or failing that, a park where you won't be disturbed. Make sure you feel safe from wild animals and humans (!) - and just let your mind wander, allow your thoughts to flow freely, call it meditation time if you need an excuse to spend some time on your own. Just enjoy and allow your thoughts to wander free and your imagination to leap into fantasies if you feel the need.

Draw from the enlightened natural energies around you and absorb the power... Got it? Great - now go home and create your own little bit of nature in your world.

Advancements in technology means food can be grown in a very small space indoors under lights if necessary. So, not having a garden isn't an excuse anymore. To fit an indoor growing system does require a little cash so you can always use that as an excuse if you want to find one!. However, the materials and set-up of a basic hydroponics system is little more than the cost of a few regular garden tools, so the choice is yours.

A balcony or roof garden can be used to grow all sorts of container plants. Most veggies and flowers will grow in containers and once set up, there is little maintenance and lots of time to enjoy the plants and absorb the creativity of it all.

If you have a garden available, the choices are so vast you can get lost in the whole garden thing. A lawn is easy and needs mowing every week or so, but apart from the exercise, this type of garden isn't fulfilling it's potential. Grow some flowers, vegetables or herbs. Create a theme or build a water feature.

Plan your garden before you start, then you'll be able to iron out any problems before they stress you out. Work out what you want to plant, what you need, and organise your time so you can spend a little time every day with your natural environment....enlightenment will follow naturally!

Good News For The Environment

As Earth Day 2006 passes, there seems to be good news on the environmental scene, which should come as welcome change to anyone concerned about the state of our Earth. That's in stark contrast to the first Earth Day, back in 1970.

Earth Day 2006 saw lakes in New England beginning to rebound from their sorry condition after being bombarded by acid rain for decades. The acid rain itself has decreased, as well, and the sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides that comprise most of our air pollution have diminished by some 50 percent--due in no small part to the fact that the burning of leaded gas is virtually a thing of the past.

Environmentalists have also been encouraged to discover that a number of endangered species, including America’s national symbol, the bald eagle, as well as wolves and grizzly bears, have begun making a promising comeback. All of that good news is even more significant when you compare today's environment to the way things were on the first Earth Day.

In Ohio, the Cuyahoga River was so polluted that it actually caught fire. In New York, all of the residents of a neighborhood called Love Canal were forced to move away forever when it was discovered that their homes had been built upon a toxic chemical waste dump. Pollution in cities was so bad that residents were told to stay inside because the air was actually hazardous to breathe during "code red" days.

The interesting thing is that the environmental improvements took place in spite of increased pressure in America. For instance, EPA statistics show that the total emissions of the six major air pollutants dropped by more than 50 percent, even though America’s population increased by 40 percent and energy consumption increased by 47 percent. Automobile hydrocarbon emissions also decreased during that time, despite the fact that both the number of vehicles and amount of miles driven more than doubled.

All in all, it appears as if America is headed in the right direction in regard to the environment. It's been a fierce, hand-to-hand battle, but the country is moving forward, thanks to dedicated environmentalists and bureaucrats at all levels of government.

However, even though American rivers don't catch fire anymore and the smog levels have decreased in most major cities, there's still a long way to go. Urban sprawl is still endangering woodlands, prairies, and farmland, and global warming is still on the rise. Even so, the overall trend is positive. But we must all work to continue the momentum set in motion by the first Earth Day in 1970.

Healthy Sleeping Environment

People who have trouble falling asleep may attribute their problem to a lot of things - a tight and busy schedule, caffeinated drinks and food, and maybe, high stress rate.

But what about the very environment that they sleep in?

A room is a reflection of one's personality. So what does a messy, dirty room say about the person sleeping inside it? It implies that his thoughts and personality are just as haphazard as his room. If a quiet, deep sleep is what you're after, then pay close attention to your sleeping environment.

There are types of therapies aimed at people with insomnia. One of them is stimulus-control therapy, which teaches them how to have a proper sleep hygiene. To learn more about this, here are some pointers.

First off, use your bed only for sleep and sex. You know that a lot of people do their homework, read, or eat on it. Don't follow them. Don't associate your bed with stress by lying on it thinking about your problems. When this happens, go out omewhere to a certain spot in the house where you can think about them. Having a designated spot where you can mediate is recommended.

There must be ventilation in your room, unless you want to wake up because it's too hot. You can open the window to let the air circulate. There are noises that easily disturb you while trying to sleep. To hypersensitive people, a short buzzing sound could easily perk them up. In that case, use earplugs. While there are disturbing sounds that are irritating to the ears, there are types of noises like that coming from the fan that doesn't disturb us at all. They are called white noise. To
prevent lights from distracting you, use eyeshades or blinds.

If you're a busy person, do your office or school work anywhere else except in your room. Computers, TV and stereos must be placed somewhere. Watching TV or surfing the 'net hours before bedtime will only stimulate your visual cortex, so avoid it.

Also, avoid caffeinated drinks and food. Why? They stimulate you which will make impossible for you to fall asleep. Unless you are one of those rare people who drink coffee and can still sleep afterwards, consume your last caffeinated drink 3 hours before your bedtime. Though alcohol can lull you to sleep, you will wake up again feeling dehydrated, which could only become worse as you try to fall asleep again.

Also, you might develop an addiction to alcohol as a form of sleep aid, which is not healthy.

Smoking is an activity that should be avoided as the hours get nearer towards your bedtime. You might wake up as your body craves for more nicotine, and besides, it’s a fire hazard.

During these hours when all you are anticipating is your sleep, you can turn off the lights so your body will start winding down just in time for sleep.

Sleeping is an activity that gives the brain ample time to rejuvenate and to revitalize the body for the next day, so treat it with utmost care. Don't neglect it, or else you'll pay for the consequences later.

Is LPG better for the environment?

The debate about the affect that car pollution is having on the environment is a major taking point in the press and with governments now being pressured into trying to alter our driving habits would a move to LPG be beneficial to the environment?

The simple answer is yes!!

Carbon Dioxide is the main greenhouse gas and the low carbon content of LPG compared with petrol helps reduce the amount of carbon dioxide being produced by vehicles which could have a huge benefit in the quality of air in built up urban areas throughout the UK. LPG fuel also burns a lot cleaner than petrol thus reducing the amount of pollution entering our environment. The table below from Autogasscotland.com shows the comparisons in the levels of pollution produced by petrol and diesel cars compared with LPG. Showing that converting to LPG can have a beneficial effect on the environment.

The Major of London has introduced congestion charge schemes in London and there are plans to introduce these zones across the UK in a bid to reduce pollution. By charging car owners a congestion charge to enter these zones the hope is to reduce the amount of vehicles on the road and thus reduce pollution. The major benefit of converting to LPG is that all LPG vehicles are immune from these charges which can create great savings for those who are entering these zones on a regular basis. LPG is the greener option and those people driving LPG cars will see benefits not only in fuel economy and savings but they will be helping the environment at the same time.

In addition, there are a lot of discussions about road charging schemes that would incorporate car emissions.

Studying Your Study Environment

How familiar is this scene, “Sweetie, have you done your homework? Yeeeees Mom, I am finishing it right now!” You peek around the corner only to find the TV on, dim lighting,, and your student plopped on the couch, eyes glazed over, half asleep, but sincerely holding on to that vocabulary list or calculator, as if trying to channel the information into their mind. If your student isn’t quite old enough to realize the comfort that comes with studying this way, careful, it’s probably coming. If this scene is indeed familiar to you, don’t worry. It’s familiar to many families all across the country. The problem is that most students are never taught the practical and necessary study skills required to succeed in studying, test taking, and retention.

While there are many issues we could raise with this scene, we’re going to discuss what’s probably the most overlooked study skill that will help your student improve the way they study, and in turn improve the way they perform in school, setting a study environment.

The most obvious problem with our student’s study habits is that it, in no way-shape-or-form, mimics that of their test-taking environment. Your memory uses triggers to recall information, whether it is words, pictures or noises our minds naturally make mental associations between information intake and the environment in which it is taken. It’s similar to when you hear a song that makes you remember high school, or see a painting that reminds you of a vacation you once took. You never purposely made those connections; your brain did it automatically. It’s the same with studying.

Many students will put forth an effort to actually make triggers in order to remember information, like using acronyms or word associations. But there are many of other connections our minds make and we don’t even realize it.

Studies have shown that if students could study in the exact environment that they test in, performance would rise drastically. Why? It’s because our minds remember environment. Using this information, we can deduce that if in class you are sitting up straight, at a desk, with no distracting noises or voices, this is how you should study. While it is very rare to be able to study in the exact same environment you take tests in, every effort should be made to make it as close as possible. This may mean turning off the television, sitting at a table or desk instead of sitting on the couch, and even turning off the television. (Unless music is classical, which has shown to be beneficial when played softly in the background, music should be omitted too.)

Improving your study environment can almost guarantee better performance. Sometimes the smallest effort to improve any aspect of studying, whether it be environment or something else, can make al the difference on test day and even contribute to remembering it long after.

There are hundreds, if not thousands, of books written on study skills, promising improved performance. Chances are each and every one has something good to say, but all the books and tips in the world can’t help a student that studies in front of the television eating cookies. So often all we need is that small incremental step in the right direction to drastically improve results in the end. It’s much more effective to attempt small or practical study goals. Improving your study environment is a seemingly common sense improvement, but is overlooked by many parents. By making this effort you will be setting your student on a track for improved study habits that will stay with them and yield results for years to come.

Remove Toxins From Your Body And Environment

Natural Skin Care Products – Remove Toxins From Your Body And Environment

Why choose natural skin care products? Today, more men and women are trying to live a healthy lifestyle. They go to the gym or take yoga even if their schedule almost doesn't permit it. They buy organic food even if it's a bit more expensive. But a lot of people still don't realize that all the makeup, moisturizers and skin care products that they use could be containing extremely contaminating ingredients.

According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, almost 900 ingredients used in skin care cosmetics have been known to be toxic. Moreover, there have been hundreds of documented cases where skin care cosmetics caused a variety of ailments on users. Common makeup and skin care products are also a leading cause of accidental poisoning in small children.

Skin care should not be taken lightly. Human skin is lightly porous. By applying typical skincare products on yourself, you are allowing your skin to absorb all the toxins that such cosmetic products contain. Gels, creams and makeup can easily pass through the skin's pores. The answer is to go natural. Natural skincare products use ingredients found in nature and contain no artificially fabricated components. Consumers had better be careful, though, as many of these products claiming to be natural may not be.

Products claiming to be organic or all-natural, in fact, can have toxic chemicals. Simply adding a natural ingredient shouldn't make a product "all-natural" - unfortunately, there is no strict regulating body that monitors this. Strangely, the FDA does not regulate skin care producers. Cosmetic companies will often use the word "natural" as a marketing ploy, without truly meaning it. The best way is to study the ingredients yourself. If you have difficulty choosing which brand is the best, you should consider asking for some professional help from a skin expert. Consulting a dermatologist, of course, would be the best recourse.

Read the labels of natural beauty products and be alert for chemical ingredients. Normally, natural skin care should not contain any harsh fragrances or artificial colors. When purchasing organic shampoo, lotion, gels or creams, make sure to open the bottle and see how it smells and appears. Organic stores can be a good place to look for organic cosmetic products. While sometimes priced higher than their ordinary counterparts, most organic cosmetic products can be less expensive than high-end brands that are known to contain serious toxins.

If you are not buying makeup and all you want is skin conditioners and lotions, you can be a lot safer by making your own skin care items using all-natural home ingredients. The traditional oatmeal mask is a cliché, but it does work. Ground and rub it on your face to work as an exfoliant; or lightly cook with a small amount of water to use as a conditioning face mask. A sugar and oil rub does wonders to dry skin. Place olive oil on your face and rub table sugar on it. Your skin will be exfoliated and feel incredibly smooth. There are many homemade recipes out there on the internet available for free. Be sure to check them out.

Ordinary skin care products can actually cause skin deterioration. While most of these products tend to provide immediate noticeable results, it's because of the exfoliating or moisturizing properties of the chemical ingredients. However, such results are short-term. At worse, the harsh chemicals can even enter your body and cause health problems. Yes, natural cosmetics can be a bit more expensive, but is your health not worth it? So the next time you groom yourself, think about the many natural alternatives out there and ask yourself if a few dollars is worth the risk. Ask your dermatologist, and you will discover that all-natural skincare products can complete your healthy lifestyle.

Nature versus Nurture

The nature vs. nurture debate is one of the biggest debated issues in the child development theory. Which has more bearing on a child’s development, environment or genetics? This debate is “of the degree to which environment and heredity influences behavior” (Feldman, 2003) and whether “a child’s development is governed by a pattern built in at birth”, which is Nature, or whether it is shaped by experiences after birth”, defined as Nurture (Bee, 2000). No theorist has quite yet determined which of the two define a person’s actual behavior style, their have been many disputes whether one theory has the most influence, but no actual determination of the best theory. The Nature vs. Nurture debate has brought most theorists, researchers and teachers, to ask, "Why are people the way they are?" We wonder: Were we born that way? Were we injured by someone or something? Is it cultural? Did our parents raise us that way?” (Thurber, 2003).

Nurture theorist feel that children learn as they grow and develop their personalities based on what they have learned throughout their life or the environment that they were raised in. It is impossible for one to grow up and not be influenced by their environment. “Recent behavioral genetic research has shown that genetic propensities are associated with individual differences in experiences and thus, what may appear to be environmental effects can reflect genetic influence” (Gilger, 2001). Advocates of the Nurture theory feel that learning is a step by step process that is acquired though out a child’s life. Psychologist Robert Feldman (2000) explains, “Environmental factors play a critical role in enabling people to reach the potential capabilities that their genetic background makes possible. Had Albert Einstein received no intellectual stimulation as a child and not been sent to school. It is unlikely that he would have reached his genetic potential” (Feldman, 2000). Nurture is the basis for figuring out the question of why we become who we are.

The importance of one’s environment is recognized as early as the gestational stages of life. Pregnant women are advised to use caution while they are expecting because of the idea that the intrauterine environment can affect the unborn child positively or adversely. Pregnant woman have to make sure they receive proper nutrition, exercise carefully, and not smoke or use drugs. These are precautions that are taken in order to control the environmental impact on the fetus. Environment affects our behavior even in the early stages of our lives (Feldman, 2000).

While many parents would like to believe that the type of environment that they create for their children will determine what type of person their child will grow up to be, many behavior psychologists would disagree. Since the late 1800’s scientists have been perplexed by this issue and have conducted studies on siblings, identical twins and fraternal twins in efforts to determine which factor has the most bearing on the molding of a child’s brain. Studies have consistently shown that as much as 50 percent of all temperamental and behavioral tendencies are determined by genetics (Glass, 1999). These traits include extroversion, agreeableness, neuroticism, conscientiousness and openness to experience. IQ studies show the most genetic influence of 80 percent (Glass, 1999).

Studies of twins separated at birth and raised in different environments show that the twins still end up more alike than many would predict supporting the argument that genetics play a large role in personality development (Glass, 1999). Most behavioral scientists will admit that all behavioral traits are partly heritable (Pinker, 2003). Twin studies have also revealed differences in twins reared in the same environment. One twin may be shy, while the other is extroverted. This finding shows that genes are not everything and that there are other factors that determine one’s personality that can not be explained by family environment (Pinker, 2003). Some scientists feel that the other factor that influences a child’s behavior is the unique environment that children create for themselves (McEluwe, 2003). The unique environment includes the peer groups that children seek out. For example, smart children will seek out the brainy group while aggressive children will seek out the punks. However, some scientists will say that the decisions a child makes in determining their unique environment are also determined by their genetic makeup, strengthening the argument of Nature being the prevailing influence on personality makeup (McEluwe, 2003).

Although behavioral scientists have determined that genetics play a large role in personality development, they have yet to determine how genes interact to determine a particular personality trait. What scientists have found is that there does not appear to be a single gene for a particular trait, but that genes show their effects by working together in complex combinations (Pinker, 2003). For example, there is no single gene for musical talent. Whether a child will be musically inclined will be determined by the way that child’s genes interact with one another. Some parents would like to believe that by creating an environment rich in music while the child is young will develop the child’s talent towards music. However, despite assumptions like this, there is no evidence that shows long term effects of growing up in a particular environment (Pinker, 2003).

Whichever side of the nature vs. nurture debate one favors, one can not entirely exclude one side over the other. Research has shown evidence that both a child’s genetics and environment will have some influence on that child’s personality development. This debate is not new. Philosophers have explored both sides of the debate for centuries. Recent studies show that many traits are heritable, however the question of whether genetics or environment have the most bearing on a child’s development still perplexes theorists. There is also the question of how many heritable traits remain dormant due to a child’s environment. Although there are convincing arguments for the importance of each factor, it must be recognized that both environment and genetics will ultimately have some bearing on a child’s development. As adults responsible for our youth we must take whatever measures we can to ensure that our children are given the best possible environment to cultivate their young minds to their highest potential.

Toys Market Environment In China

The number of young kids under the age of 14 and infant, toddler and preschool in China is over 300,000,000, accounting for 25 per year in the following years, and the consumption of Chinese toy market will hopefully exceed 13,000,000,000 dollars.

In recent years, it appears some characteristics for toy sales in mainland of China:

1. Model Toys

Electric model toys attract both children and adults, such as tank cars, cars installed with alarm whistle and so on. Though these toys are not cheap in price, especially the electric toys, commonly between 8-10 dollars, some even as high as 80-100 dollars, but they have a strong footing in the market.

2. RC Toys

Appeared with high technology, for instance, electronic toys that can sound or shine, rc toys and interactive toys that can speak or perform a series of actions are salable goods. Presently, various rc toys on sale in the market reach about 1 hundred kinds, mainly are variety of rc toys (remote control toys) and hobby items, such as rc car, rc helicopter, nitro rc car, rc gas boat, remote control helicopter, remote control car etc., each rc car(remote control car) costs about 20-65 dollars，rc gas boat(remote control gas boat) is about 20-50 dollars，and the price of rc helicopter differs between 450 - 2,000 dollars.

3. Plastic Toys

Plastic has taken the place of metal, wood and have become the main material for toys making, because it costs low, easily deals with, safer and light.

4. Adult Toys

Besides the children toys, adult toys in mainland of China are also have large market. According to the latest investigation of China Social Investigation Office, 33 of the whole year consumption for Chinese citizens to buy toys, and with the toy development of top grade, brightness and series, in particular, rc toys (remote control toys) and hobby items, such as rc car, rc helicopter, nitro rc car, rc gas boat, remote control helicopter, remote control car etc., the toy consumption will be in the status of advancing.