Generous Corporations

The first company I looked at Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart is the biggest cash contributor in the Forbes list of most charitable companies in 2009.The discount retail chain gave $288.1 million in cash, and almost $200 million more in products. Wal-Mart Canada is involved in the protection and conservation of the environment in the communities where they have stores. To effectively manage the responsibilities and ensure the operation of all the Wal-Mart stores have as little impact on the surrounding environment as possible, they make every effort to reduce the amount of waste the stores produce and send to landfills through recovery and recycling programs for numerous materials.

Wal-Mart supports lots of community programs in Canada.

Children's Miracle Network
Since 1994 they have raised and donated close to $20 million for Canadian Children's hospitals

Breakfast Clubs of Canada
Wal-Mart Canada associates raise funds to support community-based child nutrition programs.

Canadian Red Cross
In partnership with the Canadian Red Cross our Disaster Relief Program assists victims of natural disasters in Canada. Juno Beach CentreWal-Mart Canada associates raised $1.5 million dollars to help build an interactive facility to honor Canada's participation in World War II.

http://www.forbes.com/2010/10/28/most-generous-companies-leadership-corporate-citizenship-philanthropy.html
http://www.walmart.ca/wps-portal/storelocator/Canada-About_Walmart.jsp?content=specprodserv

Second company I chose is Pfizer. New York-based pharmaceutical company Pfizer ranked No.1 in the list of the most generous corporations which gave cash and products most in 2009. The company contributed $2,346,952,232 to charities, equivalent to 24.2% of its 2008 profits. Pfizer Canada is active in the communities with a focus that reflects they core belief that, to be truly healthy, it takes more than medication. Each year, Pfizer partners with more than 1,000 non-profit organizations in the country, with most investments based upon long-term, sustained relationships and initiatives. They also provide free medications to needy Canadians and support international humanitarian missions and disaster relief efforts.
These two organizations are playing important role as sustainable companies.

http://www.pfizer.ca/en/healthier_communities/

wen zhang

Japan's Imports of Rare-Earth's From China to be Halted

September 23, 2010

When Japan refuses to free the captain of the fishing boat the collided with two Japanese Coast Guard vessels the Chinese Prime Minister has refused exports of rare earth oxide, rare earth salts. and pure rare earth metals. This rare earth are basically the back bone of product that ranges from modern technology such as electric cars, motor for wind turbines, and it reaches up to high-tech defense applications.

With this Japans economy might drop as raw materials required for the production of good that they can exports are being held from them.

http://www.popsci.com/technology/article/2010-09/china-has-halted-rare-earth-exports-japan-reports-times

July-September's GDP shrinks 0.1%

November 18, 2010

From last quarter's drop of 0.9%, Japan's GDP shrinks another 0.1% according to the data released by the Cabinet Office. July-September's Consumer spending went up by 0.3% while its capital spending dropped by 1.7% which showed a slower pace of growth at 0.7%. Imports increased by 1.9% in nominal term, GDP fell 0.5% or 2.1% annualized.

http://www.japaneconomynews.com/2008/11/18/japans-gdp-shrinks-01-in-the-july-september-quarter/

31'st Consecutive Drop on Department Store Sales

October 18, 2010

Japan Department Store Associatation released a data that states that Japans department store's sales went down nationwide by 5.2% to 446.3 billion yen this September.

Here is the breakdown of sales by individual categories:

Clothing: 34.7% of total sales, sales down 8.9% from a year ago

Personal Effects: 12.8% of total sales, down 7.2%

Miscellaneous Goods: 15.3% of total sales, down 3.5%

Household Goods: 5.2% of total sales, down 2.9%

Food: 25.3% of total sales, down 3.1%

Services: 1.2% of total sales, up 1.9%

Other: 2.3% of total sales, up 21.1%

Gift Certificates: 3.5% of total sales, up 8.2%

http://www.japaneconomynews.com/2010/10/18/japan-department-store-sales-down-for-31st-consecutive-month-in-september/#more-994

China rate rise triggers market falls

China's central bank raised interest rates by 0.25 percentage points for the first time in nearly three years on Tuesday. China need scale back the huge stimulus injected into its economy during the financial crisis to slow this economy down.
Jun Ma, an economist at Deutsche Bank in Hong Kong, said the decision was the start of a cycle of rate hikes. It showed that “a policy consensus has been reached to tolerate lower growth” and that the government’s willingness “to use interest rate policy to contain speculative property demand”.
However, Mark Williams at Capital Economics said that the decision was a short-term adjustment by a “government increasingly concerned about the pace of lending growth” in recent weeks and which wanted to send a strong signal to the banks. As a result, it would not lead to significantly lower growth.
http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-06-11/china-reaches-lewis-turning-point-as-labor-costs-rise-update1-.html
Wen Zhang

China keep implementing pro-growth policies

China's central bank said on Saturday it had done a good job promoting economic growth and would keep implementing pro-growth policies. "We have sent timely signals for ensuring economic growth and stabilizing market confidence, and we have forcefully promoted the stable and rapid growth of the national economy," the People's Bank of China said in a statement on its website (http://www.pbc.gov.cn/).

"Appropriately relaxed" monetary policy is one of China’s stimulus packages in the global economic downturn. I believe the "Appropriately relaxed" monetary policy can support economic growth.

In easy monetary conditions, there is an adequate money supply and low interest rates. The monetary conditions encourage more investment and domestic spending, such as real estate investments. Increased consumption creates more job opportunities. "Appropriately relaxed" monetary policy maintains the stable development of the economic and prompts the economic recovery.

Wen Zhang

People of Italy – Request for resignation

Approximately around 1,500 Italian citizens in Rome protested on Saturday in request for the resignation of the Prime Minister; Silvio Berlusconi. The rally was supposedly arranged by the “Purple People” also known as Popola Viola; which happens to be an Internet movement with no political party affliated.

These people were seen to be wearing purple clothing such as purple T-shirts and scarves. In addition, they were also carrying placards that said “Dimettiti!” and “Licenziamolo!” which means “resign” and “let’s sack him!” respectively.

Some protesters claim that nothing has been improved in Italy since last year. Protesters are also demanding for a new electoral law and early elections. On account of this, the protesters goal is to put pressure against the Parliament to focus on the real problems of Italy instead of the personal interest of the Prime Minister.

The rally consisted of speeches and a concert by lawyers, journalist, and other civil figures. A similar rally about the same situation regarding Berlusconi took place last year in December.

In comparison to both events; the event that happened this year attracted less of a turnout than last year’s event. The protesters were reported to arrive from hundreds of buses and some ferries.

Work Cited:

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5i-KMr7R6RkiJL_svD2cnGBbOdr7Q?docId=CNG.7bb3329fbab3923d23b175eda2b0410f.7b1
http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/europe/news/article_1588616.php/Thousands-take-to-streets-in-Rome-against-Berlusconi

Italy's flag in depth

National Anthem:
"Inno di Mameli Mameli's Hymm"
Official name:
Repubblica Italiana
Flag ratio:
2:3
Capital:
Rome

Each country is represented by a flag. Consequently, we should take into account the distinct meaning that each flag has.

The designs of the flags varies for every country and have a significant meaning associated with it: history, beliefs, communications, identification, values, and etc.

If we take a look at Italy's flag, we can simply say that it is made up of three different colored stripes which are vertically positioned; green, white, and red. These tricolors have been used ever since the 1700s.

Some believe that that Italian flag is based on military uniforms from Milan. In addition, The Italian flag is said to be inspired by the French tricolor.

It is also stated that when Napoleon dominated the kingdom of Northern Italy, the flag was used to represent this domain.

There is no definite meaning to the colors found in the flag of Italy. However, the following information are commonly believed of what each color represents:

The green stripe represents:
1) Hope
2) Joy
3) Italy's plains and hills

The white stripe represents:
1) Honesty
2) Peace
3) Italy's Snowy Alps

The red stripe represents:
1) Charity
2) Bravery
3) Strength
4) The blood that was lost in the Wars of the Italian Independence
5) Bravery during the Roman times.

Many Italian experts have different interpretations on the meaning of each colours. There many arguments and different perspectives regarding this situation.

Work Cited:
http://www.italylogue.com/about-italy/italian-flag-what-the-colors-mean-a-little-history.html
http://www.initaly.com/gene/flag101.htm
http://www.lifeinitaly.com/potpourri/italian-flag.asp
http://www.ehow.com/about_4578583_italys-flag.html