GSER – [Corporate] “Guidelines for Social & Ecological Responsibility”

Okay! Great New Idea here (maybe something Obama can get done?) …

Lately it seems that President Obama is having a really hard time getting Congress to pass reform bills which will benefit the American People… relating to Health Care, Lobbyists, Corporations, Government, etc. Obviously our form of Government seems to be a big failure for it’s citizens at this point, although Corporations and people in power would probably tend to argue with me : )

I want to propose a new idea that will accomplish what the government can’t seem to be getting done, but that over time will achieve the same goals. Create an independent division to establish and oversee guideline certification for Social & Ecological Responsibilities of corporations. Their seal will tell customers that they uphold these beliefs and responsibilities. There should be not more than 10 main guidelines that people can become familiar with so that they can make informed choices about who they bank with, which stores they buy products and services from, etc. With national and international recognition, even minor influences in consumer choices will bring such fear to the corporations that I believe you will see change happen quicker than you can imagine. But obviously the publicity and recognition is critical for this movement. In seeing the recent efforts to help the people of Haiti by so many influential people coming together, I’m sure it is possible …and only with a fraction of the support.

Corporate Guidelines for Social & Ecological Responsibility

This will basically be a certification and business seal that can be awarded to companies for doing the right thing socially and ecologically! Currently there are some of these companies out there, but they don’t often get recognition as compared to those who are not making the effort. We need to support the companies that support our country, the environment and our future and not their investors profits. This is especially true since exerting this extra effort does not always come free.

To give you an better idea of what I am talking about some suggestions for the Guidelines follow:

• Will the company take a pledge to make their stock shares and profits secondary to the prosperity of their employees, local communities and the environment.
• Do the company’s highest paid executives make less than 10 times (Exact factor TBD) the lowest paid employee and contracted workers in the company?
• Is the company providing a percentage (5% for example, TBD) of their profits to local communities and programs.
• Are the company’s executives covered under the same benefits as the lowest paid employees.
• Is the company’s carbon emission and energy consumption below a certain limit for their production (TBD).
• In addition, are they doing everything in their power to reduce Co2 emissions and energy consumption (regardless of costs or loss to profit).
• If the company imports goods and services from international countries, are those goods certified by organizations that oversee international environmental and humane standards.
• Does the company agree to not support lobbyist and to not make contributions to individual political parties not exceeding certain limits (TBD).
• Does the company provide incentives to employees who live within a limited distance from their offices to reduce commute times thus offering alternative commute options, such as bicycle, walking or alternative transportation like Personal Rapid Transit (PRTStrategies.com). This would get people out of their cars and reduce stress, traffic, pollution, fatalities & injuries and allow people to enjoy a more healthy lifestyle.

These are some initial ideas for the guidelines. Obviously things that individuals want to be enacted, but corporate interests are preventing from letting through.

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Does anyone else have any other ideas? Post them here and I can include them in the list.

PRT Public Transportation Letter to Governor Schwarzenegger

Dear Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger,

I would like to know your position on the new Personal Rapid Transit (PRT) public transportation systems that have been raising a lot of discussion lately. London was the first city to utilize subways and now they are starting to implement PRT into their airport network among other cities around the world. I have looked into them on the website http://prtstrategies.com and they have some amazing advantages.

I have found the top reasons why our state would be interested in them.

1. Create an entire new industry based around localized distribution hubs for potentially thousands of neighborhoods. Whether this would be FedEx/UPS/USPS hubs or independently operated, they can find better use for electrically driven short range compact cars.

2. There cost is almost 1/30 the cost of subways and can be erected much faster than subway construction. This is due to their extremely light dead load and the need for only one way loops. The most recent Fee proposal that I am aware of came in at $14.5 Million / mile where subways in Los Angeles are estimated at $450 Million / mile.

3. No operator or user error that can cause damage or injury because the entire system is computer optimized which can also allow it to run 24 hours a day. In off-peak hours it can be used for silent, emission-free cargo system to minimize the need for truck transport within the city. When this becomes mainstream it could ultimately eliminate the need for car expenses and insurance all together for those who use it.

4. Probably the most critical factor of all is the usability by the public. This will cause the system to explode in demand as soon as the system begins to be utilized. For one the ease of use and operation by simply entering your destination and not having to stop until your destination or share your transporter pod with strangers would open up the opportunity for many elderly and wealthier class of public transportation riders.

5. As a implementation incentive the system could easily be supported by third party investment by car companies because the technology and mechanisms are so simple to create. Audi/Mercedes/BMW/etc./etc. could sponsor their own stations that would have dedicated cars that could automatically return back to their network of compact stations. In addition, private investors, such as Malls and high density housing developments could now afford to incorporate the network into their projects because the cost is so much more attainable than a cost prohibitive subway system. This is without mentioning the flexibility of the system to take very sharp turns and rise up into multi level buildings to provide second or third level integrated stations for office buildings or public events like concerts or sport games.

6. Alternatives implementation which could brand the system as a futuristic green city would be to put solar panels on the elevated tracks simultaneously with miniature wind turbines by our local http://pacwind.net.

I am sure our state would want to be the first to implement this new technology and lead the country and the world in the direction we are all dreaming about. Although there are several cities around the world that have already begun to invest into this technology such as Heathrow Airport in London, Sweden and the Masdar Eco City in the UAE, we area  long way from improving our way of life and making PRTs the standard.

This technology is a no brainer, the flexibility and ease of implementation will allow a minimal investment to test the system out and once that happens, the city that begins this global trend will be seen as a leader towards environmental progress.

I personally think this is the solution to many of our national challenges that we face today, including our dependence on oil, cost of our continuously more valuable time spent in traffic, stress of driving and the secondary effects on our social and family life, cost of gas which inevitably will go back up to above $4 / gallon, fatalities from traffic accidents, and many more.

I am not affiliated with the company PRT Strategies, but they seem to be one of the most comprehensive and knowledgeable sources on PRT systems and will provide free presentations at your request.

Regards,
Edward Anastas
Urban and Architectural Design
R204 DESIGN