title: Corporate Social Responsibility Indexes: Measure for Measure

authors: Timperley, Stephen

subjects: CSR

abstract: This thesis investigates criteria used by research agencies that publish ratings of business organisations in respect of their corporate social responsibility (CSR) performance and the relationship of these criteria to underlying ethical principles.  

Companies are rated according to CSR criteria.  Observation of different rating agencies' results for the same, or similar organisations, shows a significant variation in results.  Variations in rating must result either from different criteria being applied or from criteria addressing similar topics being assessed in a different way.  Criteria from different rating agencies are found to be comparable.  Thus if rating criteria are derived from an ethical view of the responsibilities of business organisations, then inconsistent results may be explained by variations in the ethical basis of corporate social responsibility used by agencies.

Subject companies are rated under broad categories such as corporate governance, human rights and the environment.  These categories contain specific criteria.  My investigation compares the criteria used by major rating agencies and identifies the ethical basis, if any, that can be attributed to each criterion.

The study finds that there are clearly identifiable links between a number of criteria used by each rating agency and the ethical theories selected for evaluation.  Further, there is sufficient difference between the agencies to characterise each in relation to one or more of the ethical theories selected.  There is inconsistency, however, within each agency's basis of principles as well as between agencies, which indicates an unsatisfactory lack of explicit relationship between the general, and reasonably consistent, definition of corporate social responsibility and application of coherent ethical principles.

In practical terms around 10% of all investments in the United States, representing 2.3 trillion dollars, are invested in ethical or screened funds that rely on these and similar rating agencies results to determine CSR performance of firms.  The large variation in results demonstrated in my thesis suggests that very significant financial decisions are based, at least in part, on inconsistent data.   I suggest in my conclusion that if agencies were to consider, justify and clearly state the ethical basis from which their criteria derive, then investment managers and their clients could be more certain that their CSR principles were being upheld.

text: Corporate Social Responsibility Indexes: Measure for Measure This thesis investigates criteria used by research agencies that publish ratings of business organisations in respect of their corporate social responsibility (CSR) performance and the relationship of these criteria to underlying ethical principles.  

Companies are rated according to CSR criteria.  Observation of different rating agencies' results for the same, or similar organisations, shows a significant variation in results.  Variations in rating must result either from different criteria being applied or from criteria addressing similar topics being assessed in a different way.  Criteria from different rating agencies are found to be comparable.  Thus if rating criteria are derived from an ethical view of the responsibilities of business organisations, then inconsistent results may be explained by variations in the ethical basis of corporate social responsibility used by agencies.

Subject companies are rated under broad categories such as corporate governance, human rights and the environment.  These categories contain specific criteria.  My investigation compares the criteria used by major rating agencies and identifies the ethical basis, if any, that can be attributed to each criterion.

The study finds that there are clearly identifiable links between a number of criteria used by each rating agency and the ethical theories selected for evaluation.  Further, there is sufficient difference between the agencies to characterise each in relation to one or more of the ethical theories selected.  There is inconsistency, however, within each agency's basis of principles as well as between agencies, which indicates an unsatisfactory lack of explicit relationship between the general, and reasonably consistent, definition of corporate social responsibility and application of coherent ethical principles.

In practical terms around 10% of all investments in the United States, representing 2.3 trillion dollars, are invested in ethical or screened funds that rely on these and similar rating agencies results to determine CSR performance of firms.  The large variation in results demonstrated in my thesis suggests that very significant financial decisions are based, at least in part, on inconsistent data.   I suggest in my conclusion that if agencies were to consider, justify and clearly state the ethical basis from which their criteria derive, then investment managers and their clients could be more certain that their CSR principles were being upheld.

year: 2008

title: The Effect of Cell Immobilization by Calcium Alginate on Bacterially Induced Calcium Carbonate Precipitation

authors: Seifan, Mostafa

subjects: bacteria

abstract: Microbially induced mineral precipitation is recognized as a widespread phenomenon in nature. A diverse range of minerals including carbonate, sulphides, silicates, and phosphates can be produced through biomineralization. Calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) is one of the most common substances used in various industries and is mostly extracted by mining. In recent years, production of CaCO₃ by bacteria has drawn much attention because it is an environmentally- and health-friendly pathway. Although CaCO₃ can be produced by some genera of bacteria through autotrophic and heterotrophic pathways, the possibility of producing CaCO₃ in different environmental conditions has remained a challenge to determine. In this study, calcium alginate was proposed as a protective carrier to increase the bacterial tolerance to extreme environmental conditions. The model showed that the highest concentration of CaCO₃ is achieved when the bacterial cells are immobilized in the calcium alginate beads fabricated using 1.38% w/v Na-alginate and 0.13 M CaCl₂.

text: The Effect of Cell Immobilization by Calcium Alginate on Bacterially Induced Calcium Carbonate Precipitation Microbially induced mineral precipitation is recognized as a widespread phenomenon in nature. A diverse range of minerals including carbonate, sulphides, silicates, and phosphates can be produced through biomineralization. Calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) is one of the most common substances used in various industries and is mostly extracted by mining. In recent years, production of CaCO₃ by bacteria has drawn much attention because it is an environmentally- and health-friendly pathway. Although CaCO₃ can be produced by some genera of bacteria through autotrophic and heterotrophic pathways, the possibility of producing CaCO₃ in different environmental conditions has remained a challenge to determine. In this study, calcium alginate was proposed as a protective carrier to increase the bacterial tolerance to extreme environmental conditions. The model showed that the highest concentration of CaCO₃ is achieved when the bacterial cells are immobilized in the calcium alginate beads fabricated using 1.38% w/v Na-alginate and 0.13 M CaCl₂.

year: 2017

title: Taking quality work to a new brilliance: Tama Ma on tour [Review]

authors: Crawford, Terri Ripeka

subjects: Tama Ma

abstract: Choreographers: Taiaroa Royal and Taane Mete; Douglas Wright; Michael Parmenter  Okareka Dance Company at Telecom Playhouse Theatre, WEL Energy Trust Academy of Performing Arts, Hamilton
From 17 Jun 2009 to 20 Jun 2009 

Reviewed by Terri Ripeka Crawford, 22 Jun 2009.

text: Taking quality work to a new brilliance: Tama Ma on tour [Review] Choreographers: Taiaroa Royal and Taane Mete; Douglas Wright; Michael Parmenter  Okareka Dance Company at Telecom Playhouse Theatre, WEL Energy Trust Academy of Performing Arts, Hamilton
From 17 Jun 2009 to 20 Jun 2009 

Reviewed by Terri Ripeka Crawford, 22 Jun 2009.

year: 2009