Latest news with #nonProfit
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Pro-Israel NGO protest held on Rio de Janeiro's Ipanema Beach on Sunday against Iran's policies on LGBTQ+ people
A pro-Israel non-profit organization staged a demonstration on Rio de Janeiro's Ipanema Beach on Sunday to protest Iran's policies regarding LGBTQ+ people.
Arab News
01-07-2025
- Business
- Arab News
Saudi Arabia unveils ESG-focused non-profit for industry, mining
JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia has launched a non-profit association to help industrial and mining enterprises adopt top sustainability, social responsibility, and governance standards, supporting the Kingdom's economic growth. The Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources announced the establishment of the association to raise awareness among industrial and mining enterprises and support their adoption of sustainable and responsible business practices. Saudi businesses are increasingly embracing environmental, social, and governance principles to drive sustainable growth, in alignment with Vision 2030 and the Kingdom's target of achieving net-zero emissions by 2060, reinforcing its position as a regional leader in sustainability. 'The initiative also aims to increase the sector's contributions and its direct impact on the gross domestic product of the national economy, in line with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030,' the ministry said in a statement. The press release noted that the undertaking is part of the ministry's broader efforts to empower non-profit organizations in the industry and mining sectors, underscoring its belief in their role in advancing economic and social development in the Kingdom. It added that the association will undertake specialized campaigns, implement guidance programs, and hold workshops focused on ESG indicators, and that the establishment aligns with the ministry's efforts to strengthen the non-profit sector and enhance its role in the industry and mining sector.
CTV News
23-06-2025
- Science
- CTV News
More than an eyesore: Why it pays to act early when it comes to weeds
Volunteers spent part of their weekend learning about invasive species of plants and how to manage them. Volunteers spent part of their weekend learning about invasive species of plants and how to manage them. Invasive plants are costing Alberta billions of dollars each year, and experts are hoping awareness can help get more people hands-on in the fight against weeds. According to the Alberta Invasive Species Council, plants make up the largest group of invasive species in the province by both abundance and diversity. 'It's interesting, because even though we have the most of them, they are probably the least kind talked about,' said Megan Evans, executive director of the non-profit society. Invasive plants have competitive advantages that, combined with a lack of natural predators, help them push out native species and change local landscapes – costing the Alberta economy about $2 billion each year. 'They change the way the ecosystem functions, they degrade natural habitats, and in agricultural lands, they reduce crop yields,' Evans said. 'There's also some invasive plants, like the invasive annual grasses …that can alter fire regimes,' she added. 'Where those invasive annual grasses have established and really become problematic, they see that wildfires come through more frequently.' There are 75 regulated invasive plant species in Alberta that landowners are legally required to remove or control. Spotted knapweed A large field of spotted knapweed can be seen in a photo posted to the Alberta Invasive Species Council website. (Photo: Alberta Invasive Species Council) Among some of the most prolific offenders, Evans said, are the Russian Olive (an ornamental tree currently overrunning river valleys in southeastern Alberta), spotted knapweed (a reproductive juggernaut that produces a toxin killing surrounding plants) and the pretty purple creeping bellflower (a herbicide-resistant ornamental with far-reaching roots undeterred even by concrete). Until 2010, the ubiquitous self-cloning dandelion was also on that list. Evans said its removal may lead some people to think it isn't a problematic plant, but that's far from the truth. 'It's quite to the contrary,' she said. 'They're kind of so far gone that we've lost the battle with dandelions, so they are incredibly invasive.' Dandelions Dandelions and long grass in Edmonton. (Darcy Seaton/CTV News Edmonton) In 2015, the City of Edmonton stopped using herbicide on dandelions on public property. The city said because the plants are no longer prohibited, mowing is a better management option. 'The city embraces our natural environment, and dandelions are a part of our ecosystem and are an early food source for wildlife and pollinators in the spring,' Fiona Spitzig, an invasive weed specialist, said. Evans disagrees. 'Not all pollinators can forage on dandelions. That's an important distinction,' she said. 'Lots of different plant species produce flowers that bloom all season long. For our pollinators, (when) the dandelions get in there, they could potentially out compete those native species.' What to do about weeds Because battling invasive plants doesn't always work (such as in the case of the determined dandelion), Evans said prevention and early detection are key. Evans said anything unexpectedly popping up in the garden should be identified and dug up immediately to prevent an infestation. The Alberta Invasive Species Council has a guide that can help. Other preventative measures include cleaning footwear before and after travelling, and staying vigilant when shopping, as invasive plants occasionally end up on greenhouse shelves or in wildflower mixes. 'Plant swaps are another place where we relatively commonly see some of these invasive plant species,' Evans added. 'If somebody shows up to a plant swap and they tell you they have so much of this plant and it just does so well … that might be a red flag.' Creeping bellflower The invasive hard-to-kill creeping bellflower can be seen in a picture posted to the Alberta Invasive Species Council website. (Photo: Nicole Kimmel) Evans recommends planting native species, which are lower maintenance and easier to control in the long run, not to mention being a great benefit to local pollinators such as Alberta's whopping 371 native bee species. 'You start planting these native plants and you see these native bees come, and you all of a sudden have this ecosystem in your yard,' she said. 'It's so exciting.' 'And,' she added, 'you don't have to worry about them becoming invasive and taking over and having another creeping bellflower disaster like we all have on our hands.' But what do you do when the weeds aren't coming from your own yard? While complaining about dandelions won't get you far, all other 75 prohibited weeds can be reported to the City of Edmonton by calling 311. Those calls, the city said, are investigated by staff who can then enforce bylaws and the Alberta Weed Control Act. If property owners don't comply, city crews clean up the weeds and tack the cost onto the owner's property tax bill. Last year, the city said it received 3,586 calls about weeds on private property and carried out 900 weed remediation jobs on private land. The City of Edmonton also has a program inviting residents out each weekend to pull weeds and learn to spot the plants causing problems in the city. 'Our volunteer weed pull events give people a hands-on chance to come and learn about invasive plants, actively manage them, and it's also a great opportunity to steward the landscape (and) the parks that we all share in Edmonton,' said city weed specialist Fiona Spitzag. Japanese knotweed The invasive concrete-busting Japanese knotweed can be seen in a photo posted to the Alberta Invasive Species Council website. On Saturday, volunteers learned about the fast-growing, infrastructure-busting Japanese Knotweed, which Spitzag said is near the top of the list of invasive species. 'It's a plant that is present in Edmonton in relatively small numbers, but it grows really quickly,' she said. 'Its roots can grow through tiny cracks in concrete, and as a result, it can damage infrastructure, the foundations of homes, things like that.' The City of Edmonton will hold weed pull events at different locations every Saturday until the fall, with each session focused on different problem plants. You can find more information or register for a weed pull on the City of Edmonton website.
Yahoo
08-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Walmart Shareholders Fail Racial Equity Audit Proposal for a Third Time
The third time was not the charm for United for Respect Education Fund. The non-profit filed a shareholder proposal asking Walmart to undergo a third-party, independent racial equity audit focused on analyzing the company's impact on Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) communities. Per the proposal, once completed, Walmart should share the results publicly on its website. More from Sourcing Journal Walmart to Bring Drone Delivery to Five Additional Cities Trump Lashes Out at Walmart, Says Retailer Should 'Eat the Tariffs' Walmart US Nearly Doubled Deliveries Made in Three Hours or Less 'Given its worker demographics and scale, we request Walmart assess its behavior through a racial equity lens to obtain a complete picture of how it contributes to, and could help dismantle, social and economic inequality,' the filers wrote in their proposal. 'A racial equity audit would help Walmart identify, remedy and avoid adverse impacts on nonwhite stakeholders, communities of color and long-term diversified shareholders. Failure to effectively address inequities in its operations exposes stakeholders, including employees, to unacceptable abuses and exposes Walmart to risks that may ultimately affect shareholder long-term value.' According to Walmart's 2024 Mid-Year Belonging Report, people of color make up 51 percent of its U.S. workforce. United for Respect Education Fund filed similar proposals in 2023 and 2024. But this time around, part of the importance for the group and its co-filers was the fact that Walmart, like several other major companies, announced late last year that it would roll back some of its diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts in favor of a theme of 'belonging.' Ultimately, the filers' argument proved unsuccessful in swaying shareholders' minds. In 2023, the proposal garnered 18.1 percent of shareholder votes; in 2024, that proportion declined to 15.4 percent. This year, the proposal received 6.9 percent of shareholder votes, according to a vote result announcement from Walmart's Thursday shareholder meeting. That's down 8.5 percentage points from last year. Like in previous years, Walmart recommended shareholders vote against the proposal. 'The Board recommends shareholders vote against these proposals because we already disclose substantial information on our people strategies, providing information about our business rationale, key metrics, progress, Board oversight and approach to continuous improvement based on stakeholder feedback and results,' the company published in its 2025 proxy statement. Ahead of the vote, Bianca Agustin, co-executive director of United for Respect, told Sourcing Journal that the organization had hoped to see at least the same percentage of shareholder votes headed their way as last year. She had also hoped that the proposal would garner one-fifth of all shareholder votes, since many proxy advisers recommend a company open formal dialogue with shareholders proposing a change if their proposition receives at least 20 percent of the total vote. Ultimately, the filers saw neither of those outcomes come to fruition this year. Nonetheless, Agustin said she hoped the proposal would bring attention to Walmart's DEI-related decisioning in recent months. 'We [wanted] to basically give a referendum on Walmart's really, really opaque decision to roll back the DEI initiatives,' she told Sourcing Journal. 'We [wanted] to send a strong message to the company that stakeholders do not agree with their decision, and that…they have a responsibility to lead in this moment of political turmoil and division. Given the demographic of their workforce and the communities they operate in, that responsibility is enhanced for Walmart.' TaNeka Hightower, a Tennessee resident who is currently on medical leave from her role at Walmart, supported the non-profit and its co-filers in re-filing the proposal this year. She said she believes a racial equity audit would help answer questions about pay equity and would provide insight into broader employee concerns about their ability to move up within the company, the treatment they receive from upper management and more. 'If we were to do a racial equity audit, it would really give an insight as to the disparity between Black and Brown workers in comparison to others,' Hightower told Sourcing Journal. 'The people up top that are the ones benefiting from all the profits, while the people that are actually doing the work to get the profits in the store aren't able to live.' Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
CTV News
05-06-2025
- General
- CTV News
Winnipeg chefs banding together to feed wildfire evacuees
Chefs in Winnipeg are stepping up to help feed wildfire evacuees, but more help is needed. A team of Winnipeg chefs and caterers have sprung into action to help feed Manitoba's wildfire evacuees. The idea came together on Sunday when a local non-profit asked for help to provide homecooked meals for those forced from their homes. So far, the chefs are cooking for more than 1,200 evacuees in Winnipeg; however, more help is needed. 'We're doing a small portion…You think 1,250 people, but there's 17,000 people (who evacuated),' said chef Allan Pineda. 'That scale is crazy. I'm sure we need a lot of cooks, a lot of restaurants, a lot of donations, a lot of support, because there's going to be more and more people coming to the city.' For those interested in helping wildfire evacuees, a list of resources can be found online.
