Interview with Steve D’Esposito on Fair Trade Jewelry

I conducted this interview with Steve D’Esposito: MC: Given EARTHWORKS’ highly charged “Dirty Gold” campaign which many perceived as hostile to the jewelry industry, how it is now that you have now coalesced support to sponsor this jewelry summit? Can you outline, briefly, what led you to this position and the role of the Madison Dialogue? SD: That’s a misperception. The campaign calls for “No Dirty Gold.” It’s not a campaign against gold. It’s... Read more »

Interview with Carmen Iezzi

In 2006, Carmen Iezzi, was named executive director of the Fair Trade Federation, which represents more than 250 fair trade businesses in North America. An Alumni of American University, she knew she had an important and significant job to do. She envisioned her role as the youngest person there; to lead the group with fresh eyes and new energy, working towards an important cause during a key time of growth. I conducted this interview with her over the telephone and through email: FJ: Please give... Read more »

Children Traveling By Air Alone

There has been great cause for concern recently due to the fact that many children are traveling alone on an aircraft. Due to work requirements or budget restrictions, parents are choosing to allow their children to go on short airline flights without the supervision of a family member. This is possible because most airlines offer escort services that will make sure that children change planes where they are supposed to. Most parents are very cautious when making these air travel arrangements. They... Read more »

What Can BPM and BPI Do For You?

Ever wonder if the latest greatest technology can help you? Do you wonder what would happen if you step back and took a look at your business process workflow in an end to end manner? Would you learn how to be more efficient and more profitable? When you hear business process improvement (BPI) and business process management (BPM), do you know the difference between the two? If you do know, then are you like most business owners, wondering what problems could be solved and what components are part... Read more »

Developing Trust in Business

The 21st century has revolutionized the way business in conducted worldwide. The world wide web connects nearly every home to companies in foreign nations as well as the teenager with a blog. The internet is the most powerful form of communication in the world and is the best tool for building a business. Unfortunately, scams, liars, and cheats also recognize the power of the web and use it to attack honest folks. How can your business separate itself from the cheats? There is a saying that Zig... Read more »

Finding a Great Audio Book Download

The internet has added a whole new level of success to many industries, including the audio book download industry. Because anybody with an internet connection and a computer can easily get a wide selection of MP3 books, the sales and popularity of this niche has only increased over the years. This industry has been especially useful for business people who travel frequently and families who go on long trips often with their children. The audio book industry has something to suit the needs of any... Read more »

Value Creation Creates Wealth

One of the greatest fallacies pervading in the middle and low classes is the assumption that wealthy people have done something illegal or immoral or both to get the wealth that they possess. On the contrary. In general, rich people have found a way to create so much value for other people that other people are willing to give there money to the rich people for what ever service or commodity the rich people provide. If you truly want to be rich then you need to find a way to create as much value... Read more »

Turning Led into Gold: Ethics in the Jewelry Industry

“The death of one man is a tragedy. The death of millions is a statistic.” - Joseph Stalin “We’ve dodged the bullet,” is the consensus opinion of the Jewelers Vigilance Committee, according to Frank Dallahan. “A job well done,” though, as the title of the opinion piece suggests, “The Gun Is Still Pointed at Us” by “arrogant” NGOs. Blood Diamonds got mediocre reviews and was not widely seen and has had no real effect on diamond purchases.... Read more »

Buying A Fairly Used Auto Accessory! Is It Worth The Value?

Most people will always want to go in for less expensive items. This is a quality of the human person and we must all accept it. While circumstances plunge some to do so, others are doing all what it takes to save their money. This is also true when shopping for auto accessories. The cheapest way to get them is to look for fairly used ones. But is worth the pain? Fairly used accessories are unarguably cheap, but you must never be misled by the price. It is true that you will save more money and even... Read more »

When The Boss Finds Mold In The Workplace

Mold is a serious problem, not only in homes, but also in the places where we work. Employers and landlords should take special care to make sure their properties are not infested with mold and they should do this not only because the value of their property will decrease as the infestation spreads. Also because anyone working or living in the property will suffer adverse health effects. All kinds of medical conditions can be attributed to mold: development of asthma, bleeding in the lungs,... Read more »