Felix Dodds comments on sustainable development, coffee & life

Tuesday also saw a very good article in the Guardian which raises some very serious issues relating to Save the Children’s relationship with the corporate sector. It was a good warning for all NGOs to look at who they are having funding from in the corporate world.  Be true to your vision and principles. “A world in which every child attains the right to survival, protection, development and participation.” Save the Children vision. What was interesting, and did bring a smile to my face, was the article wasn’t the same by the end of the day as it was at the beginning. The earlier version was called: ‘ Has Save the Children become too large and lost sight of what it is for?’ the later one was called: ‘Justin Forsyth: 'If NGOs stay politically correct, we won't have an impact'. Clearly the Guardian had experienced the full weight of Save the Children’s communication department. The article now told a much less critical story and was full of quotes by Justi...

I read a very interesting article on the Forbes web site this morning by Clare O'Connor about a report by the Americans for Tax Fairness - that suggests that Walmart Workers cost taxpayers $6.2 billion in public assistance. The report argues that by paying low wages the State is therefore subsidizing the company and any company with food stamps, Medicaid and subsidized housing. It is isn't something that I had seen so starkly put before but I think as we look more and more at the growing income inequality and the attacks on the state by some on the political right it is something people should be more aware of. Although the article focuses on Walmart it applies to so many companies that are paying around the minimum wage while at the same time making huge profits and paying their top management/directors very well. To put it very starkly your taxes are enabling companies to continue to pay low wages. In 2012 the gap between the richest 1 percent and the remaining ...