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A Kinder Gentler Capitalism

Greetings!

It's official. Japan's long recession has finally ended. The small but highly productive nation has suffered enormous economic set-backs over the past two decades. To pull themselves out of the downturn, the Japanese business community and its government have followed a consistent and socially responsible course to economic recovery. The Japanese business model has emerged as an important example for how to create long-term profits while maintaining a clear code of ethics and honor.

No Apeing of America

Japan's new Financial Services Minister, Shizuka Kamei took office this past month and vowed that, "There would be no apeing of America." Kamei declared the official Japanese business model would embrace "social meaning." Mr. Kamei called for Japanese corporations to turn away from the American model of "self-interest" and return to the old spirit of "unity and cooperation" that once made Japan's economy great. "Japan became No 1 in the world and it is an objective and historical fact that Japan achieved that because of a typically Japanese style of corporate management...I insist that we should return to the traditional Japanese style of management."
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Sampoh-Yoshi: Happiness Times Three

Sampoh-Yoshi, loosely translated as the "Trinity of Bliss...of buyers, sellers, and the general public" is a business code for Japanese merchants dating back to the 12th century. In the medieval district of Ohmi, an area near Kyoto, the ancient business model of "Sampoh-Yoshi" lasted over eight hundred years." The code declared that Ohmi merchants were honor bound to customers and society alike to sell items of quality at a fair price. If customers were not happy, then merchants had failed in their basic responsibility. Equally important was the seller's obligation to the community it served. A product or business service must serve the greater society or the promise of "Sampoh-Yoshi" was unfulfilled.
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Jobs for Life

Jobs for life are becoming as quaint and old-fashioned an idea in modern Japan as they are in the United States. For three decades, the old concept of "Jobs for Life" has eroded in the U.S. only to be replaced with a brutally harsh job-cutting culture that is corporate America. In the US, companies increase earnings by slicing staff with abandon. Long term employees are famously given 10-20 minutes to pack up years of belongings and "exit the premises." To ensure compliance, uniformed security guards escort them to the door. Not so in socially conscientious Japanese corporate culture where dignity remains the word of the day.

http://3blmedia.com/theCSRfeed/Kinder-Gentler-CapitalismGreetings! It's official. Japan's long recession has finally ended. The small... more

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Obama Takes Stern Tone on N. Korea and Iran

SEOUL, South Korea — President Obama delivered a stern message on Thursday to North Korea and Iran that they risk further sanctions and isolation if they do not rein in their nuclear ambitions.

Appearing at a joint press conference with President Lee Myung-bak of South Korea, Mr. Obama singled out Iran, where leaders have apparently rejected an offer from the West to take Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium to another country to turn it into fuel rods, which would buy time for diplomatic negotiations.

“We’ve seen indications that for internal political reasons or perhaps because they are stuck in some of their own rhetoric, they are unable to get to ‘yes,’ ” Mr. Obama said. “As a consequence, we have begun discussion with our international partners” on sanctions, he said.

He said that over the next few weeks the United States would be developing a package of “potential steps we can take that will indicate our seriousness.”

Mr. Obama’s words were his strongest to date and seemed to signal that he was ready to move to sanctions.

On the North, Mr. Obama said he was sending his North Korea envoy to Pyongyang next month for talks designed to try to get the nation back to the bargaining table. But he warned that even getting the North back to the table would not be enough.

“I want to emphasize that President Lee and I both agree on the need to break the pattern that existed in the past in which North Korea behaves in a provocative fashion, then is willing to return to talks, and then talks for a while, and then leaves the talks and seeks further concessions,” Mr. Obama said.

Mr. Obama’s visit to Seoul is the last — and perhaps easiest — leg of an Asia trip in which he was forced to deal with a newly assertive Japan and an increasingly powerful China.

South Korea quickly proved true the predictions that it would be more accommodating to Mr. Obama, with whom Mr. Lee has been cooperating closely on key issues, including efforts to eventually halt North Korea’s nuclear program.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/19/world/asia/19prexy.html?ref=worldSEOUL, South Korea — President Obama delivered a stern message on Thursday to North... more

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‘Company’ to Country’ strategy leads to growth opportunities

GE and its Chinese partners that represent some of that country’s key infrastructure development goals announced the signing of a series of “Country to Company” agreements aimed at promoting collaboration between GE and Chinese public and private sector aviation, energy and transportation organizations. The announcements, which were made as part of "GE's Clean Technology Week in China" activities, included the formation of two joint ventures – in avionics and locomotive engines; and the parties’ agreements to explore future “cleaner coal” gasification and high-speed rail opportunities.

The agreements encourage active collaboration to advance clean technologies that address both long-term strategic challenges and economic opportunities for GE and China. Over time, these initiatives are expected to create and safeguard thousands of jobs in both countries.

Jeff Immelt, Chairman and CEO of GE said, “These agreements share common themes – rapid growth potential, clean technologies and job creation. Whether expanding our existing aviation, energy and transportation relationships or looking at technology collaborations to open up new growth opportunities, partnerships like these help protect and grow employment for both GE and China’s infrastructure sectors.

“We expect these investments and commitments to yield long-term benefits,” Immelt said. “New global sales will be a direct result of these collaborations – safeguarding and growing U.S. jobs while supporting Chinese growth for GE businesses and the Chinese aviation, energy and transportation industries,” Immelt said. These partnerships will also give GE the opportunity to strengthen our own local capabilities, enhancing our ability to serve our Chinese customers as that nation drives its technology initiatives.”

Mark Norbom, GE’s president & CEO for Greater China, said: “The deals we are signing are built upon GE's rapid growth in mainland China in the first three quarters of 2009. They not only represent tremendous growth opportunities for our China platforms but also support jobs in the United States. The partnerships we are building with the Chinese industry leaders will better position GE in strategic growth sectors in China such as aviation, transportation and energy. "
http://3blmedia.com/theCSRfeed/GE-Chinese-Partners-Sign-Agreements-Advance-Clean-Technologies-Create-JobsGE and its Chinese partners that represent some of that country’s key infrastructure... more

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BLUE AND WHITE BIRD WAS 3.8 BILLION IN RED LAST YEAR

click link for more info http://getwititmagazine.com/2009/11/17/758/

GetWitIt
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American Martial Laws: War made easy (Narrated by Sean Penn) - part 1

War Made Easy reaches into the Orwellian memory hole to expose a 50-year pattern of... more

Jenime
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immirgration problem or a non free dream...?

Some people seem to think illegal immigration isn't a problem, not to sound like a bitch but you wouldn't if you or your parents were illegals and if they weren't your grandparents. And what's with everyone saying that this country was built on the backs of immigrates, i didn't know slaves migrated to this country it was built on slavery and free labor that's the truth. Wanting a better life is great but it's hard to say i want better life and can't get to where i come from and then claim you deserve to be a citizen because all you want to do is work and have a life for your family and kids. What about the guy who's family knows nothing else besides America and also wants a better life but can't achieve that because someone says i'll do the work cheaper and longer with no health coverage and no benefits, cash only.
In no other country can illegal immigrates demand anything, only in the great USA, so i say give them their citizenship, you want to claim to be true American citizen then pay taxes, you believe you have a right to the same health care and rights then you should pay for it. If we registered every illegal immigrate and then taxed them out the ass, set in place laws that had harsher penalties like actual jail time instead of a free trip home, i bet you people would think twice about running across the border or coming to America for vacation and staying. I'm just wondering why people feel if you say "you don't deserve shit and the fact you get taken advantage of is your own fault", their a racist and that America and should be open for any and everyone.
But it is your fault you get paid low wages and have no health care and get taken advantage of, since when is anything in this world for free..? why do you think that what you go through in your country gives you a right to come to another and make it hard on another man. Mexico's president even stated to the world "that illegals take the jobs that not even blacks want"
and he's damn right we've worked them since 1506 for FREE and the little bit of minimum wage blacks fought and died for won't go up cause someone with no papers will work for anything. Rules are set in place for a reason, they might suck but you can't make a change if your willing to be happy eating shit all you do is make it stink for the rest of us.
Not only would it help us out with our hugh debt, create jobs and force us to over haul the entire system cause you know someones gonna get mad and swear a great injustice but wheres the justice for us actual tax paying, social security card carrying citizens...?
i love George Lopez but he's an idiot to think that illegal immigration only upsets white people as if AMERICANS don't need a job. He represents his country to the fullest yet we as Americans don't have the same right?. If we flooded his country and under cut his fellow men,push them out of jobs then tell them you really don't want to work this job let me do it as well as stressed the medical system and basically did what we wanted in Mexico they claim the capitalist Americanos were destroying his homeland and we'd just continue to be the big mean super power.

i think any time people think it's OK for any group of people to break the law to better your self, at the expense of others.....your the true capitalist, liar, cheat and thiefSome people seem to think illegal immigration isn't a problem, not to sound like a... more

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The 1st Weed Cafe Opens Up In America

PORTLAND, Oregon – The United States' first marijuana cafe opened on Friday, posing... more

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Can Baseball bring US and Cuba together?

"Pingpong diplomacy" thawed relations between the United States and China in 1971. Can... more

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7 days ago
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Press Conference: Rep. Courtney Announces Retroactive

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Joe Courtney was joined today by Connecticut Attorney... more

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How the U.S. Funds the Taliban | World | AlterNet

How do we ask our soldiers to sacrifice their lives to fight an enemy that we are also... more

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Feds Move To Seize 4 U.S. Mosques, NYC Building

Federal prosecutors took steps Thursday to seize four U.S. mosques and a FifthIn what... more

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Want to help our troops? Help them volunteer in the community.

The traditional approach to volunteering and our veterans has been to encourage Americans to get involved at local organizations as a way to support the troops. By partnering with organizations that deliver services and programs to vets, active military personnel, or military families, Americans can do their part to salute the men and women who protect and defend our nation.

But there's another way volunteering can help troops: by providing our active and veteran forces with ways to find meaning and purpose in our local communities after they return home.

Target and VolunteerMatch Respond to Help Returning Servicemen and Women Find Service Opportunities

On Veterans Day, VolunteerMatch and Target Corporation announced a new partnership to make it easier for veterans to find service opportunities, for citizens to support the military through community service, and for service organizations to more effectively recruit volunteers in local communities.

The partnership is a response to a new report written by Civic Enterprises and underwritten by Target and the Case Foundation that found that veterans who had participated in service opportunities since arriving home from Iraq and Afghanistan had smoother transitions than those who had not.

To make it easy for visitors to find military-related volunteer offerings, VolunteerMatch has added a new Interest Area, "Military Families & Veterans," to the VolunteerMatch system.

By choosing "Veterans & Military Families" for their listings, organizations make it possible for visitors to the VolunteerMatch Advanced Search page or any of our hundreds of network partner sites will be able to quickly find ways to get involved at thousands of local organizations.

Military service and community service are both strong in our nation, and volunteering at local organizations is a great way for these traditions to come together to strengthen local communities. We salute the men and women who defend our nation and we're proud to do our part to help ease their transition home.

http://3blmedia.com/theCSRfeed/Want-help-our-troops-Help-them-volunteer-community#The traditional approach to volunteering and our veterans has been to encourage... more