Willits Wildlife Rehab Team

A fresh environmental issue survey from CNN/Opinion Research finds that a majority of Americans believe that the economy should take precedence over the environment. It wasn’t by a huge number – a little more than half (51%) picked “economy: and slightly less than half (45%) picked “environment.” The margin of error was 3%.

Pollsters love this question and they’ve been asking variations of it for decades. Here is how the question was worded this time around, in this particular environmental issues survey:

“With which one of these statements about the environment and the economy do you most agree — protection of the environment should be given priority, even at the risk of curbing economic growth, or economic growth should be given priority, even if the environment suffers to some extent?”

Until recently, majorities of Americans have consistently responded that the environment takes precedence. Sometimes a large majority, sometimes a small one, but always a majority. It was that way for decades. It’s only now, during this brutal, grinding recession, that the economy has inched ahead. And it’s not just this survey, it’s others.

These poll results are disturbing, sure, but I think they are misleading, too. There’s plenty of evidence out there that everyday citizens actually reject the basic premise of that question. When I sift through my extensive collection of environmental issue surveys, I find plenty of poll questions that explore Americans’ attitudes towards the environment and their wallets in more depth.

I think you can summarize the American public’s general attitude towards the environment and their wallets in three statements:

#1) “Environmental regulations and protection don’t burden the economy much”

As a general matter, when pollsters ask Americans if they believe that environmental regulation hurts the economy, the answer is usually “no.” Here’s one example: In a 2005 study conducted by Yale University, more than 3/4 of those who responded agreed with this statement: “You don’t have to sacrifice environmental protection to get economic growth. The choice between jobs and environment is a false one: we can have both.”

Remember, most Americans work in various service industries now. Only a few of us work in mining, agriculture, commercial fishing, forestry, or other industries where environmental compliance is a daily hassle or expense. The businesses that feel the pinch directly are often very outspoken about it — but that is a minority view.

Statement #2: “Environmental regulations hurt some companies sometimes, but they can be good for the economy, too”

When EPA announced last week that it was cracking down on mountain top removal mining, West Virginia mining interests and politicians thumped the table, squealing about lost jobs and economic ruin. So you might be surprised that just a few years ago, almost half of West Virginians told pollsters they believed environmental protection are often good for the economy, and another quarter said they generally don’t have much impact. Only one in 5 reported that environmental protections were generally bad for the economy — and that’s in coal mining, tree cutting West Virginia.

I think most Americans instinctively understand that people and businesses avoid highly polluted areas, that medical costs associated with pollution-related illnesses are a drag on their families’ economic well-being, and that wasteful, polluting businesses are less competitive in the modern economy.

Statement #3: “Environmental regulations and protections may cause higher taxes”

Americans generally see that protecting the environment is a legitimate responsibility of government, and recognize that this costs money — their money. In a study conducted for Duke University’s Nicholas Institute a few years back, researchers found that voters were much more likely to believe that new environmental regulations and protections would lead to tax increases than to lost jobs.

So if everyday citizens are skeptical of the basic premise of the “environment vs. economy” poll questions, what do their answers to those questions tell us? Honestly, I’m not sure. And if everyday citizens are skeptical of the basic premise of this question, why do pollsters keep asking it this way, anyway? Again, I’m not sure.

But I think I’m on safe ground here: The economy is a disaster and few of us have escaped it completely. Everyday citizens want to see our nation’s leaders focusing their attention on getting the economy fired up and moving forward. But there is no evidence whatsoever that voters blame environmental protections for this recession — or that they believe that cutting existing environmental regulations will produce much economic stimulus, either.

Employee productivity and healthy professional environment needs to be maintained at any organization to ensure sustained growth and profit. Pre-employment drug testing helps organization maintain integrity, discipline, professionalism etc at workplace by ensuring a drug free environment. Pre-employment drug testing has become important process in many organizations as it helps to prevent employees who abuse drugs from joining the organization. Thus, it helps save costs that are lost in employee health care and compensation given to drug abusing employees.

Reasons:
Pre-employment drug testing plays an important role to ensure safe and secure workplace environment.
Safety
The organizations has to make sure that the workplace environment is free from any kind of addiction related accidents, injuries, crimes etc. Pre-employment drug testing increases the safety at the job and maintains safe and secure environment. A future employee with addiction problems can be found by performing pre-employment drug testing and stopped from joining the organization. As pre-employment drug testing ensures that only productive and efficient employees join the organization, it can get assured that Federal work-safety guidelines are followed by its employees.

Helps In Effective Hiring Decision Making
The companies suffer a loss of several thousand dollars every year for hiring a drug using employee. The pre-employment drug testing helps in making effective hiring decision as companies can eliminate future employees who abuse drugs at the screening stage itself. So, the organizations finds it easier not to hire a person who abuses drugs than spending on health insurance premiums, training, and compensation on later date.

To Reduce Absenteeism
Employees who abuse drugs suffer from illnesses, injuries, depression etc that affects their productivity, punctuality, presence at workplace. They frequently remain absent from their work. Pre-employment drug testing can help point out such employees who abuse drugs and reduce absenteeism of employees.

Reduces Disciplinary Action
Pre-employment drug testing helps filter out future employees who abuse drugs that can become detrimental to the growth of organization. By filtering out such employees, organizations can ensure that there will be less workplace conflicts, accidents, unscrupulous behavior etc. Thus, the management of the organization will have to take less disciplinary action against employees. There will be less disciplinary action taken as there will be very few employees who abuse drugs.

Reduces Losses Due To Absenteeism, Theft, and Fraud
Employees who abuse drugs are likely to get indulged in workplace conflicts, absenteeism, theft, fraud etc which means significant losses for organization. These losses can be in terms of damage to equipments, machinery, vehicles, property etc. Conducting pre-employment drug testing can help reduce these losses by removing drug abusing employees.

To Increase Productivity
Drug free and healthy work environment promotes positive traits like productivity, professionalism, discipline, integrity etc. Drug abusing employee decreases productivity, corrupts workplace environment, promotes negative traits, and unprofessional behavior. Pre-employment drug testing ensures that there is healthier working environment. A healthier workplace environment means increased employee productivity and quality of work thereby increasing the profits of organization. Also, it is notice that removing drug addicted employees improves productivity of other employees and reduces workplace accidents.

Pre-employment drug testing is an effective tool to maintain a drug free and healthy environment at workplace, enhance employee productivity etc. The company can significantly reduce health costs towards medical treatment of drug abusing employees due to addiction related workplace accidents and illnesses. Recruitment costs towards hiring, firing, and training can also be saved as drug abusing employees can be filtered out through pre-employment drug testing.

The atmosphere of call centers is directly proportionate to the productivity level of employees. Ignore this, and you can see the falling of your enterprise in front of your eyes. To keep the levels of adrenaline levels high and morale boosting, motivating your call center agents is mandatory.

The high level of positivity and motivation in call center environment can bring an increase in productivity levels and customer focus. The agents work vigorously in more satisfied working ambiance because that means more happy workers which eventually lead to efficient working and results. The circle of work gets more streamlined and focused.

So, to increase the motivational level across the processes of your call centers and immune your organization against headaches of call centers such as attrition and retention, following steps are recommended:

1) Understanding the reasons: As a manager, try to delve deeper into the problem. Being a supervisor in a contact center is not a sea side walk or bed of roses. Managing an assortment of various talents, different IQs and behaviors is tough. For instance, some of your agents can be overwhelmingly happy upon receiving compliments from clients and all teary eyes after some words with a harsh client. You cannot decide who would be your next caller but you can be an attentive and encouraging boss.

2) Understanding the nature: Everyone has different capabilities, different nature and potentials. Understanding the core strength of your team can be of great help for your company.

3) Boosting Bonuses: Some kind of incentives on the basis of weekly or monthly performance can done wonder for your organization. This scheme can help you to induce the feeling of healthy competition among the team members. You can also give bonuses to members who work beyond the office hours without complaining.

4) Recognizing and Appreciation: Try to be in touch with your call centre team employees and develop bond with them. Talking to them nicely or a small ‘hello’ with their names can bring miraculous results for you. Generate a positive feedback for your team or occasionally drop some words of appreciation in their mailbox, results would surely come in.

In conclusion, motivating agents is the only way with you can bring results and money on board. The above mentioned points won’t cost you penny but will sure guarantee maximized ROI not only for you but your clients as well.

Drug addicts often do not want to get out of their addiction and get proper treatment. Intervening in those addicts’ addiction life and giving them proper treatment is the duty of the people related to them. This is the only option that they have got to get the addicts out of their addiction to deadly drugs. People must intervene in a drug addict’s personal life to save them from premature death. The rate of substance abuse is increasing at an alarming rate every year. Even after trying hard the govt. of several countries cannot stop people from taking the lethal drugs. Millions of people all over the world have got physically and mentally dependent on the deadly drugs and thousands of them die every year. The worst part is that when the govt. bans one drug, the addicts try other drugs which are legal. This way their addiction never pauses or stops.

Drug addicts often isolate themselves from the others, due to which it becomes very difficult to interact with them. But, if you really care for that person, you have to intervene in his or her life, against their will and discuss with them freely. When you get to interact with them, try to consult a doctor or any of the well known rehabs. The rehabilitation centers are the only place where a drug addicted person can get proper treatment and care. Among the hundreds of drug rehabilitation centers that have grown up in United States, the Cliffside Malibu drug rehab is often considered as one of the best. This drug rehab provides excellent treatment facilities and the medical staffs of this rehab are also much compassionate to the inpatients.

One of the best qualities of this rehab is the sober living maintained in here. The environment is extremely calm and mind soothing. When a drug addicted person goes through the treatment process, the withdrawal effects show up at large extent. These withdrawal effects are too much painful and intolerable for the patients; it has also been observed that patients run away from some rehabs being unable to tolerate the pain. During this time, the patients need a lot of attention and care. Most important of all they need a cool and calm environment. When the withdrawal effects show up, the patients get restless and sometimes get wild. They just get out of control in need of their addiction drugs. Most people, who try to heal themselves at home, fail during this time. In the rehabs, the patients are given excellent treatment and care, which helps them to fight against the pain of the withdrawal effects. This is a stage that each and every drug addict has to pass through in a treatment center and this is also the most important stage. A person who can go through this stage can get rid of their addiction, others cannot.

If you realize that any of your close people is getting addicted to any kind of drugs or has already got deeply addicted to it, get him or her admitted in a drug rehab center; it is the only option for that person’s survival.

With the ever-increasing demand for plastic bottles, plastic mold and the environment has become an increasingly important issue.

As landfills begin disappearing, more and more pressure will be put on plastic blow molders to come up with solutions.

The numbers are staggering to the mind:

In 2006, Americans recycled an average of 23%. That means that 38 billion water bottles end up in landfills.

Bottled water costs between $1 and $4 per gallon. 90% of the cost is in the packaging!

In order to manufacture a one years supply of bottled water in the US, it takes 1.5 million barrels of oil a year! You could drive 100,00 cars with that much oil.

Eight out of ten plastic water bottles end up in the dump.

All of these bottles were made by plastic blow molding, an industry that is facing this problem from several strategic positions.

What can be done by blow molders?

One approach is to use biodegradable plastics in the molding process. This is not quite as easy at it might appear, for several reasons. Biodegradable plastics are not so easy to work with. This is Rapid prototype changing, however, with the introduction of newer grades of starch based polymers to the marketplace.

The other approach is to use recycled materials. This is a very simple and practical method, but is is not very effective at the present. This is because Americans have a very poor record at recycling plastic bottles.

If 8 out of 10 bottles end up in the dump, that means only 20% are recycled! Some states are legislating a bottle deposit, similar to soda bottles. This is very effective and should become a federal mandate. The return rate on bottle deposits is very high and this is an easy way to manage the problem, at least in a stop-gap measure.

What can the public do?

1.Make a nationwide bottle deposit law that would create an incentive to recycle. Taxpayers have to pay for the clean up, now the costs should be shifted to the consumers.
2.Eliminate the patchwork bottle laws that vary from state to state and make it nationwide.
3.Find a way to get the manufacturers to stop opposing legislation in Congress. There has been widespread bipartisan support, but the beverage lobby groups have tremendous political influence. So, what’s new? Still, with enough pressure things could change.

It is important that your child have a private area where they are able to expand their knowledge, do their school work, and entertain their friends. The problem in some cases is that the kids’ room is much smaller than the master bedroom, and most of the space is taken up by beds, bureaus and desks, leaving little room for their friends to come and spend the night, or even a few hours. So how can you create an environment for your children that combines comfort, style, and a work space, all in a small room?

A kid’s bed is probably the biggest piece of furniture in their room, and one that is used the least often. Instead of having a bed that takes up so much of the child’s floor space, it is time to think out of the box, and get your child a loft bed instead. This lifts the bed area off the floor, and there are many different heights to choose from. You can choose a bed that is around one meter off the floor, for smaller children to have a unique play area, or even ones higher that are complete with desks, shelf space for clothes or collectables, and even a couch that can convert into a guest bed.

For an example of a cute girl’s bed, try the THUKA MAXI 10, girls bed with tower and tent. This mid sleeper bunk style bed has a tent set up underneath, complete with small windows and a door, the bunk ladder is frames by a cute pink and lavender ‘tower,’ so you little princess can climb up into her own little bed area. There are several accessories available, including a bedside clip table that attaches directly to the bed rail. There are wardrobes and pocket tidies available for this model, and can be sold as a set, or individually. This product is made from sustainably managed polar pine wood, and has a clear lacquer so it is easy to clean. This particular item retails for 538 British pounds, but can be found at some websites for under 400.

For true space saving ingenuity, try the Stompa Casa 4 Kids High Sleeper with guest bed. This is a truly unique loft style bed for many reasons. The first feature about this bed is the sofa bed beneath the loft. Not only are the cushions available in colors to match the rest of the room’s décor, but the sofa easily converts into a futon bed, complete with storage area behind for bedding. So whether your child is enjoying a break, or have company for overnighters, this is a great idea.

It doesn’t stop there either. The next feature of this piece is the pull out desk area. It is actually two desks in one. There is the main desk, with shelves above, and then there is another that you can pull out, providing extra table space, as well as ample storage underneath, all which conveniently slide under the main unit when not in use. This bed can make an excellent corner bed, or is just as attractive as a center piece to a room, along a wall. It’s sturdy pine construction is available in a wide range of colors, and is available for 1210 Pounds, before shipping.

Victoria, Australia – Melbourne Document Services supports environment protection efforts in Australia by launching their paper shredding and recycling services to hundreds of offices in the country that use paper.

According to reports, Australia discards over 1,000,000 tonnes of paper annually. The company pledges to contribute in conserving trees made into paper by offering their paper shredding services. “Document shredding process can save 14 trees, the same number of trees it takes to absorb the carbon dioxide from your car every year.”, as stated by the MDS head. Common tips on tree conservation also include having a paper bin beside any photocopying machine. This has said to be effective in reducing paper waste by 90%.

The document shredding process involves firstly, the secured acquisition of paper documents, confidential or not, from your office to be picked by the trained staff of MDS. This is the security checked team transporting your paper materials to the secured shredding facility. This step has prevented lots of companies from having their confidential documents falling into the wrong hands. Once documents are shredded, the team then provides you with a Certificate of Destruction. After which, the shredded materials are then recycled into usable paper once again – a big step towards environment protection.

Other services being offered by the company in support of environmental protection, and efficient paper management are the following:

Lockable Security Bins
Security Bags
Office Paper Management
Archive Box Destruction
X-Ray Destruction
Media Destruction
Paper Recycling
Document Scanning
Secure Document Cabinet
Plastics Shredding

Melbourne Document Services is a 100% Australian-owned family business that aims to provide fast, efficient, and secure document destruction services to offices and firms in Australia. The advantage of MDS is their reliable secured services that protect confidential data being handed over to the wrong hands. The company also gears toward supporting environmental protection by recycling shredded paper for second use.

Contact:
Lyn Macmillan
Company Director

Address:PO Box 1049, Moonee Ponds VIC 3049, Australia
Tel – 1300 132 119
Fax – 0393751533

Why Recycle Ink Cartridges:

Many ink cartridges can be used several times over by going through a process of being “remanufactured”. This process consists of cleaning, servicing, refilling, testing and repackaging used cartridges. By remanufacturing (also referred to as recycling), inkjet cartridge suppliers are able to provide a cheaper alternative product to an original cartridge, whilst at the same time limiting the number of cartridges which are thrown away and put into “land fill sites”. Many suppliers therefore run a collection program where they pay for empty/used cartridges. In addition to helping save the environment they also make a donation to charity for each empty cartridge we collect.

Financial Rewards:

Sourcing a reputable inkjet cartridge supplier can even net you a reward. Some companies will give you up to £4.00 for every suitable empty cartridge which you send to be recycled. So don’t throw your empty cartridges away – send them to be recycled and turn them into money as well as knowing you have done your bit to help save the planet!!!

How to Recycle Ink Cartridges:

Collect as may empty ink cartridges as you can, from wherever you can. Ask your family, friends, and work colleagues to collect them for you. Some people set up collection schemes simply to raise money for clubs or charities by making use of something which would normally be thrown away. This is a great idea to involve club and charity members.

When sending empty cartridges to a specified company, the following guidelines are advisable:
1. Wrap each cartridge in paper (this can be old newspaper) and put it inside a plastic bag. This will minimize the possibility of surplus ink leaking out onto the outer packaging.
2. Remember that each cartridge is to be remanufactured and resold so the casing needs to be in perfect condition. To ensure no damage is incurred whilst in transit, place all the ink cartridges in a bubble bag or, for large quantities, use a box.
3. Please complete the appropriate form which will usually be downloadable from the website of the remanufacturing company and include it in the package. Failure to include your details and details of the cartridges often results in the inability to process the empties.
4. Once the remanufacturer has received the cartridges, along with the required details, they then credit your account with their value and this will then be deducted from your next purchase of genuine or compatible inkjet cartridges.
5. If the cartridges sent are valued at more than £20, you can opt to have a direct transfer into your bank account as an alternative to being given a credit which is excellent when raising money for a club or charity.
How much do I get?

The value of empty cartridges fluctuates from week to week so the pricing will change periodically. It is mostly the case that the prices you are paid will be the ones applicable on the day your cartridges are received and will be for empty original cartridges (virgin cartridges). Some recyclers and manufacturers will accept non virgin cartridges which are those that have already been remanufactured. Please note, non virgin cartridges are usually only valued at around 10% of the virgin value. It is also important to check which brand and type of cartridges can be recycled by the company prior to being sent as those not on the list and not remanufactured into compatible inkjet cartridges they will be thrown away and not be returned.

When looking at which franking machine to purchase make sure they are manufactured with concern for the environment both during, and after, their working life. In setting its own environmental emission objectives and targets via its management system the franking machine supplier ensures that any emissions waste or usage of natural resources are controlled, monitored and reviewed so as to ensure that it continues to improve its environmental performance wherever there is the potential to do so.

Environmental policies within the workplace are becoming quite common with either in house environmental objectives or accreditations such as ISO14001 environmental management standards. Such standards help in guiding staff into being more environmentally aware and prove to customers that such practices are carried out within a company.

A franking machine protects the environment by actively:

* Checking that all machines manufactured since June 1st 2006 are RoHs compliant
* Reducing pollution by recycling and minimising landfill
* Using recyclable packaging wherever possible
* Using incoming delivery boxes to ship goods out wherever possible
* Remanufacturing machines and parts to very high standards, reducing the amount sent to landfill
* Encouraging staff to be energy efficient

Even after their life, old machines can be sent back to the factory to constituent parts and reuse or recycle and ink cartridges are re-cycled. Ink cartridges count for a huge amount of landfill waste so by recycling even the small cartridge, it is further enhancing the environmental responsibilities of a franking machine.

When franking machines are sourced from a specialist supplier they are still the very competitively priced and the added environmental services and features do not add to the cost. It is often the case that a product whether it be for the workplace, home or a food item is more expensive if it has green credentials. This is something that has to change, especially in the current economic climate when money saving is a must for most consumers and businesses.

Franking mail ensures that business expenditure is kept under control and reduced whenever possible. Franking machines can save on average at least 2p on a first class, 3p on a second class and 6p on large letters and at the same time, giving mail a professional image. A professional image on an envelope could give you the edge when tendering for new business for example with personalisation of the franking imprint.

A franking machine saves instantly on postage costs but also labour costs compared with the process of weighing and sticking individual stamps on. That coupled with the more professional look mean franking machines are the way forward for today’s businesses.

Security is high on business agendas and many franking machines use modern encryption technology and fulfills the highest security requirements. A digital, thermotransfer print head and integrated security device create a universal partner for your franking needs. A high quality, immediately smear-proof indicium can include your company advert and ensure that your outgoing mail is an advertisement for your business further enhancing professionalism. This is also another feature that helps reduce waste and unnecessary production of labels as the transfer goes directly onto the mailed item.

Today building “green” is a burgeoning industry that’s quickly becoming the new wave of the future, and also one that offers many varied benefits, not only for homeowners, but for the precious environment as well. As energy costs continue to raise steadily right along with growing reports of global warming and air pollution, more and more of us are looking for active ways of making a change for the better and for our children’s futures.

Building new homes or commercial establishments accounts for a large portion of all greenhouse gas emissions with most reports estimating this number as high as thirty percent. Greenhouse gas emissions such as carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, and methane all have a highly detrimental effect on the atmosphere by trapping heat and contributing toward air pollution. Thanks to these startling facts, building green is becoming more common, which is beneficial both for the planet and our uncertain economy.

As we know, the price of both heating and cooling our homes has risen significantly just in recent years alone, spawning a bevy of more efficient options to consider such as harnessing and utilizing solar power. Water furnaces and heaters powered by solar energy, although a bit more expensive outright, have the potential to save a considerable amount of money throughout the course of just one year as well as lessening our dependency on natural gas and our environmental impact.

Using windows with low-E (low emissivity) coatings along with specially constructed glass with protective layers in between the panes can greatly lower your cooling and heating costs as would installing special roof shingles that are heat resistant.

Lumber for building materials that’s harvested by environmentally responsible growers along with engineered woods and wood fiber composites are becoming more and more popular in the green building industry for walls and flooring. OSB, or Oriented Strand Board, is also used in the majority of homes and buildings constructed today instead of the usual materials we’ve used in the past helping to cut down on the number of waning forests around the world.

Recycled materials and wood such as bamboo are great alternatives to traditional flooring options and either can cost either the same or less than the usual hardwood floors. And, the use of soybeans to create a spray foam insulation is a far better alternative than the chemical filled insulators we’ve relied upon before.

Going green should also apply to the outsides of our homes including certain landscaping techniques that will help to lessen our environmental impact such as correcting damaging drainage issues, using turf grass and native plant life, or eliminating the use of harmful, chemical laden pesticides and fertilizers.

Although experts agree that implementing green building practices into your next project has the potential to add ten percent to the overall cost, the money you’ll be able to save throughout the years is immeasurable, not to mention doing your part for helping the world around us to become a healthier, better place to live.