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More information here.

You’ve undoubtedly realised that proceeds from the sale of this album will go to the Nature Society (Singapore) for the appreciation and study of nature at Semakau Landfill and Pulau Semakau.

Fifty lucky taxi drivers and their passengers can look forward to more comfortable rides, while at the same time, participate in an exciting initiative to reduce carbon footprint and contribute to environmental sustainability. 3M is sponsoring the installation of 3M™ Crystalline Solar Films in a fleet of 50 taxis, which will result in a natural reduction in temperature of up to 2.8 degrees Celsius in the vehicles.

“3M™ Crystalline Solar Films feature a proprietary, multi-layer optical film technology that combines over 200 layers in a film that is thinner than a Post-it® Note. Each optical layer is specially designed to reflect the infrared and UV rays while allowing visible light to pass through. This technology is the reason a clear film can reject more heat than darker films, without changing a car’s appearance. The premium product combines technology with clarity and is eco-friendly too,” said Mr Edmund Tan, General Manager of 3M Singapore’s Industrial & Transportation Business.

Solar heat comes from two primary sources, the visible light that one sees and the infrared light that one feels. Crystalline solar films reject up to 97% of the sun’s heat-producing infrared light and block up to 60% of the heat coming through the windows. These industry-leading, spectrally-selective films are designed to keep one cool, comfortable and protected. Each degree Celsius less will save about 10% on energy use.

To comply with the Land Transport Authority’s car tint law, crystalline films allow up to 90% of the natural light into the vehicle. As these films are non-metallized, there is zero interference with GPS and cell phone signals. Some 8,000 sq ft of the solar films, costing $75,000, will be used in this exercise.

“3M’s technologies are being applied by customers worldwide to enable them to meet their own environmental challenges. A vital component of 3M’s sustainability strategy is to develop product solutions, and our portfolio of hundreds of products, is a living example of our expertise in inventing products for a better tomorrow,” Mr Tan elaborated.

This green initiative is in conjunction with the launch of the 3M eCommerce Platform (www.3Mmarketplace.com.sg), where car owners can directly purchase solar films from 3M online. Members of the public can recognised the 50 designated taxis as they will carry 3M advertising with the taxi wrap media, in addition to being installed with the crystalline solar films.

Mr Soh Piak San, 54, who has been driving a Comfort Delgro cab for 11years and one of the 50 at the wheel of the designated 3M taxis, said, “Singapore is so hot and humid. We are in our taxis for at least eight hours a day. With the 3M™ Crystalline Solar Films installed, we can feel the difference – it is much cooler and helps us save energy as we don’t have to turn up the air-conditioning. Add to that, it also protects us from harmful UV rays!”

Mr Lim Ser Teck, 39, concurred, “I’ve been driving a taxi since I was 25 and 3M window films do stand out. Not only do they make the cab cooler when it’s really hot, they also do not affect radio signals and GPS unlike some other films!”

From Cleanbiz.Asia: The obsession of many ethnic Chinese for shark fin soup, primarily consumed as an ostentatious display of wealth, is the main reasons that many shark species have become a global endangered species. Pollution and habitat loss have also contributed to the problem which has led to about a third of ocean-going sharks being placed on the internationally-recognised Red List of Threatened Species.

Read the Full Story (it’s good)

“The New York Times breaks down the cost of two home-cooked meals, relative to McDonald’s. It’s no surprise the homemade stuff is healthier, but as this graphic shows, it’s also cheaper. Sometimes a lot cheaper.

“Of course, this doesn’t factor in the cost of time. And it doesn’t really deal with the fact that the up-front costs for a cart of groceries – assuming you have transportation to get to a store and time to shop in – are a lot higher for an individual meal. (You can’t actually buy 5 cents’ worth of salt or two cups of rice.) But it’s a nice illustration of the fact that it is possible to eat well on a budget, even if challenges remain.”

From The New York Times:

Personally, I’ve been trying to get back to cooking, because it’s fun and also because I have serious issues about bad food. Don’t get me started on the “restaurants” serving food fit for no one, while charging enough to finance their bosses’ Porsche. I blame Mummy, whom I love.

Ecopoint works with professionals from around the region, locals and expats, to build bridges and identify new opportunities. This site is here to help you cut across social and cultural boundaries, and progress your new green deal. It’s about forming a multi-disciplinary, multi-cultural “virtual” team of some of the best minds in the space. Find the right firm to get things done; locate the right technology for the job.

Start browsing the Ecopoint Business Directory today, or add your business to the database.

“Ethical Consumer, the UK’s leading alternative consumer organisation since 1989 recently released a report by Bryony Moore. The report entitled ‘Style over Substance‘ covers 15 designer fashion companies. Many of the high-street brands like H&M and Primark have CSR initiatives in place that ensure proper working conditions for their workers apart from supply chain accountability. However designer brands face little pressure to invest in CSR. The report calls ‘for the luxury sector to take responsibility and start reporting on its social and environmental impacts.

“According to the report, the reason why luxury brands have gotten away with the lack of CSR initiatives is that they have ‘been riding high on a reputation established years ago around high quality, crafted items.’ However, a designer item is more likely to be made in China than hand-crafted in Italy. Campaigns usually target only middle-of-the-road brands which leaves luxury brands scot-free. In 2007, WWF reported that luxury goods companies do not engage in CSR and this report shows that nothing has changed.”

So, ladies and gentlemen, fancy a branded product? Maybe a shiny new ring with more precious stones than I have facial hair?

“Many luxury brands also offer jewelry and most of them do not know where their gold and gemstones come from.”

Think twice. The cost of that branded belt or handbag isn’t just hefty on your bank account, it’s detrimental to many other people as well.

We get away with things to. It’s just human nature. We speed when there aren’t speed traps, we jaywalk when the pedestrian crossing’s a little too far away, we steal toiletries from hotels, things like that.

While jaywalking and missing toiletries might always exist, someone’s doing something about pharmaceuticals and the deeds that they are getting away with.

I have nothing against big pharma. I think that they are responsible for many great things – vaccines, cures, treatments, things like that. They have done a lot towards the extension of human life.

However, their business practices (what with the civil lawsuits and what not) have been found wanting. Transparency especially. Couple that with rumours and other such conspiracies, us folks without a medical degree can’t possibly keep up. And I need my sinus medicine!

From Fast Company:

Here comes AdverseEvents, “a California-based startup, is pushing the debate out into the open with a centralised database of how many side effects are happening from what drugs and what the patient outcomes are – and according to cofounder Brian Overstreet, ‘it scares the crap out of the pharmaceutical companies.’ “

How does it work?

“AdverseEvents’ propietary algorithm, which took 18 months to build, takes into account data from the FDA, direct patient reporting, and even information from social media sites (AdverseEvents analysts are alerted to side effect discussions on patient discussion boards, for example, and try to extract data).”

“Pharmaceutical companies are, as you might imagine, not thrilled that AdverseEvents exists; they’re used to controlling side effect information.”

Genius. I’ve bookmarked the site. I’ll also be on the lookout for the mobile app. Please offer it to BlackBerry users.