Ecology and Environment, Inc., (NASDAQ: EEI) reported revenues for the third quarter ended May 2 of fiscal year 2009, of $38.0 million, up 39% from the $27.4 million reported in the prior year. Net income for the third quarter of fiscal year 2009 was $1.7 million or $.44 per share ($.43 per share diluted), compared to net income of $123,000 or $.03 per share in the third quarter of fiscal year 2008. The third quarter of fiscal year 2009 includes a net gain of $.25 attributable to the favorable tax settlement in Kuwait, net of an additional charge to fully reserve the balance of accounts receivable from the Middle East work. Excluding this $.25 per share gain, the current quarters earnings increased to $.19 per share from $.03 per share in the third quarter of the prior year.
DETAILS
E & E reported an increase of $10.6 million in revenue during the third quarter of fiscal year 2009 compared to the third quarter of the prior year. The increase in revenue was attributable to increased work in the Companys energy, environmental restoration, and federal government sectors. We strongly believe in sustainability throughout our organization and in our financials, said President and CEO, Kevin Neumaier. At the end of the quarter, the company had cash of $13.5 million with debt of only $.7 million and available lines of credit of $37.6 million. The Companys book value was $40.3 million or $9.86 per share. In April 2009, the Company declared a dividend of $.20 per share to shareholders of both Class A and Class B common stock, which represents the 47th consecutive dividend since the Company became public in 1987 and the 14th increase in 22 years.
E & E took a step forward in Kuwait, settling the tax dispute and the related FIN 48 charges. As a result, the Company has released the remaining accrual of approximately $1.4 million (net of deferred tax) by reducing the current quarters income tax provision by $850,000 and reducing interest expense and general and administrative costs each by $275,000. In addition the Company has recorded a charge during the quarter in the amount of $925,000 to reserve the balance of accounts receivable from the work performed in the Middle East. The net impact of these actions results in a gain of approximately $.25 per share for the third quarter of fiscal year 2009. In addition to bolstering third quarter earnings, this resolution removes most of the FIN 48 issue that we have had in previous quarters, says Neumaier. Over the past two years, this matter with Kuwait has resulted in over 90% of our FIN 48 charges against earnings, and we are happy to take this step forward.
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Magnitudes of Carbon Dioxide
Ever wondered how something as little as a molecule of C02 can change the world? But more is different: CO2 turned Venus into a overheated hostile planet and without greenhouse gases Earth would be a snowball.
This post collects - without any special order - amounts, years and references and provides the facts needed to see the complete picture. Updates will happen when ever new information is available.
2005 7.85 billion tons
of carbon passed into the atmosphere
Global Carbon Project
2005379.1 ppm
Quantities of CO2 were measured at 379.1 parts per million (ppm) for 2005, up 0.53 per cent from 377.1 ppm in 2004, WMO said in its latest Greenhouse Gas Bulletin
UN News Centre
1750280 ppm
The CO2 concentration has risen from about 280 ppm in the year 1750 to about ~380 ppm today.
Postdam Institute
200650,000 tons
UK traffic lights emit about 50,000 tonnes of CO2 per year through energy use.
BBC Magazine Monitor
2006400 litre
Just one cow gives off enough harmful methane gas in a single day to fill around 400 litre bottles.
CBBC News Round
>1751315 billion tons
Since 1751 roughly 321 billion tons of carbon have been released to the atmosphere from the consumption of fossil fuels and cement production. Half of these emissions have occurred since the mid 1970s. The 2004 global fossil-fuel CO2 emission estimate, 7910 million metric tons of carbon, represents an all-time high and a 5.4% increase from 2003
Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center
1.98 g/L
gaseous CO2 has a density of 1.98 gram per litre
Wikipedia
3,000 giga tons
The mass of the Earth atmosphere is 5.14×10E18 kg, so the total mass of atmospheric carbon dioxide is 3.0×10E15 kg (3,000 gigatonnes)
Wikipedia
145-255 mill. tons
According to the best estimates, volcanoes release about 145-255 million tons of CO2 into the atmosphere each year.
Wikipedia
19972.93 tons
Marland’s estimate of the average absorption of a U.S. commercial forest is 0.8 tons of carbon/hectare/year. By converting this number into the units mentioned above, this equals 2.93 tons of CO2 /hectare/year, or 1.19 tons of CO2/acre/year.
Jerry Hannan
1 ton
One ton = 1000kgOne cubic meter = 1000litersOne mole CO2 = 44.0gOne ton contains 22730 moles of CO2One mole is 24.47LVolume of one ton CO2 = 22730moles × 24.47L/mole = 556200L = 556.2m³One ton of CO2 occupies 556.2qm of volume.
International Carbon Bank and Exchange
20078.7 mill. tons
Because the California wildfires occurred just as the study was about to be published, the researchers calculated how much carbon dioxide was likely to come from the devastating blazes Oct. 19-26. It’s a lot: 8.7 million tons.
MSNBC / AP
322 mill. tons
On average, wildfires in the United States each year pump 322 million tons of carbon dioxide. That’s about 5 percent of what the country emits by burning fossil fuels, such as gasoline and coal, according to the new research published online Thursday in the peer-reviewed journal Carbon Balance and Management.
Weather.com / AP
3,000 giga tons
The Greenland ice sheet could melt completely and irreversibly if 3,000 gigatonnes of carbon dioxide are released into the atmosphere, according to scientists.
Nature.com
475 giga tons
Next, remember atmospheric CO2 includes two oxygen atoms, and weighs 3.7x the carbon feedstock. So if there are 70 gigatons of carbon in the Amazon, for example, burning the remaining Amazonian carbon will release 2.7x that many gigatons of CO2 into the atmosphere (ref. Amazon Ecology Project). So far, tropical deforestation alone has resulted in the release of about 475 gigatons of CO2 into our atmosphere.
Ecoworld.com
20086 giga tons
Human activity generates six gigatonnes of carbon dioxide per year, while the Earth can recycle only three gigatonnes. The rest accumulates each year in the atmosphere, thus reinforcing the greenhouse effect. Remember to save energy!
EEA
205020 giga tons
As a result of the above mentioned findings, there seems to be a consensus among the leading developed countries that the temperature increase caused by global warming must not exceed 2° C (3.6° F). For example the European Union (EU) has committed itself to this threshold already in 2005. To reach this target the annual global CO2 emissions have to be reduced from about 28 Gigatons in 2006 to 20 Gigatons of CO2 by the year 2050 and to 10 Gigatons of CO2 by the year 2100 according to IPCC
Time for Change
3500 giga tonnes
The world’s coal reserves hold some 3500 gigatonnes of carbon, compared to the atmosphere currently holding around 800 gigatonnes (600 gigatonnes before the industrial revolution).
ClimateArk.org
150 bill. tonnes
Objection: According to the IPCC, 150 billion tonnes of carbon go into the atmosphere from natural processes every year. This is almost 30 times the amount of carbon humans emit. What difference can we make?
GristMill.org
1 giga ton
One gigaton is equivalent to 273 coal-fired electric generation plants with carbon capture and sequestration (CCS).
Reason.com
2002330 million metric tons
A new NOAA study, appearing in the current issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, shows how a prolonged drought in North America in 2002 cut the continent’s natural uptake of carbon dioxide (CO2) in half, leaving more than 360 million tons (330 million metric tons) more of the heat-trapping greenhouse gas in Earth’s atmosphere. The amount not absorbed that year is equivalent to annual emissions from more than 200 million U.S. automobiles.
ESRL
300 tons
Recent measurements at Mammoth Mountain indicate that the total rate of CO2 gas emission is close to 300 tons per day.
USGS
500 milli grams
For websites that are not audited, MoveNeutral offsets, on average, 500 milligrams of carbon dioxide emissions per page view.
MoveNeutral.com
0.1 gram of carbon
Here are some numbers, taken from books on exercise physiology. Fat, protein, and sugar all contain about 0.1 gram of carbon per food calorie consumed. So if you digest 2,000 calories of food (a typical daily diet for adults) then you take in about 200 grams of carbon. At rest, each breath exhales about 0.5 liter of air containing about 1 percent carbon, for about five milligrams per breath. After a day at 12 breaths per minute, you get rid of about 120 grams of carbon. Thats less than you ate, so youll gain weight.
Technology Review
This post collects - without any special order - amounts, years and references and provides the facts needed to see the complete picture. Updates will happen when ever new information is available.
2005 7.85 billion tons
of carbon passed into the atmosphere
Global Carbon Project
2005379.1 ppm
Quantities of CO2 were measured at 379.1 parts per million (ppm) for 2005, up 0.53 per cent from 377.1 ppm in 2004, WMO said in its latest Greenhouse Gas Bulletin
UN News Centre
1750280 ppm
The CO2 concentration has risen from about 280 ppm in the year 1750 to about ~380 ppm today.
Postdam Institute
200650,000 tons
UK traffic lights emit about 50,000 tonnes of CO2 per year through energy use.
BBC Magazine Monitor
2006400 litre
Just one cow gives off enough harmful methane gas in a single day to fill around 400 litre bottles.
CBBC News Round
>1751315 billion tons
Since 1751 roughly 321 billion tons of carbon have been released to the atmosphere from the consumption of fossil fuels and cement production. Half of these emissions have occurred since the mid 1970s. The 2004 global fossil-fuel CO2 emission estimate, 7910 million metric tons of carbon, represents an all-time high and a 5.4% increase from 2003
Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center
1.98 g/L
gaseous CO2 has a density of 1.98 gram per litre
Wikipedia
3,000 giga tons
The mass of the Earth atmosphere is 5.14×10E18 kg, so the total mass of atmospheric carbon dioxide is 3.0×10E15 kg (3,000 gigatonnes)
Wikipedia
145-255 mill. tons
According to the best estimates, volcanoes release about 145-255 million tons of CO2 into the atmosphere each year.
Wikipedia
19972.93 tons
Marland’s estimate of the average absorption of a U.S. commercial forest is 0.8 tons of carbon/hectare/year. By converting this number into the units mentioned above, this equals 2.93 tons of CO2 /hectare/year, or 1.19 tons of CO2/acre/year.
Jerry Hannan
1 ton
One ton = 1000kgOne cubic meter = 1000litersOne mole CO2 = 44.0gOne ton contains 22730 moles of CO2One mole is 24.47LVolume of one ton CO2 = 22730moles × 24.47L/mole = 556200L = 556.2m³One ton of CO2 occupies 556.2qm of volume.
International Carbon Bank and Exchange
20078.7 mill. tons
Because the California wildfires occurred just as the study was about to be published, the researchers calculated how much carbon dioxide was likely to come from the devastating blazes Oct. 19-26. It’s a lot: 8.7 million tons.
MSNBC / AP
322 mill. tons
On average, wildfires in the United States each year pump 322 million tons of carbon dioxide. That’s about 5 percent of what the country emits by burning fossil fuels, such as gasoline and coal, according to the new research published online Thursday in the peer-reviewed journal Carbon Balance and Management.
Weather.com / AP
3,000 giga tons
The Greenland ice sheet could melt completely and irreversibly if 3,000 gigatonnes of carbon dioxide are released into the atmosphere, according to scientists.
Nature.com
475 giga tons
Next, remember atmospheric CO2 includes two oxygen atoms, and weighs 3.7x the carbon feedstock. So if there are 70 gigatons of carbon in the Amazon, for example, burning the remaining Amazonian carbon will release 2.7x that many gigatons of CO2 into the atmosphere (ref. Amazon Ecology Project). So far, tropical deforestation alone has resulted in the release of about 475 gigatons of CO2 into our atmosphere.
Ecoworld.com
20086 giga tons
Human activity generates six gigatonnes of carbon dioxide per year, while the Earth can recycle only three gigatonnes. The rest accumulates each year in the atmosphere, thus reinforcing the greenhouse effect. Remember to save energy!
EEA
205020 giga tons
As a result of the above mentioned findings, there seems to be a consensus among the leading developed countries that the temperature increase caused by global warming must not exceed 2° C (3.6° F). For example the European Union (EU) has committed itself to this threshold already in 2005. To reach this target the annual global CO2 emissions have to be reduced from about 28 Gigatons in 2006 to 20 Gigatons of CO2 by the year 2050 and to 10 Gigatons of CO2 by the year 2100 according to IPCC
Time for Change
3500 giga tonnes
The world’s coal reserves hold some 3500 gigatonnes of carbon, compared to the atmosphere currently holding around 800 gigatonnes (600 gigatonnes before the industrial revolution).
ClimateArk.org
150 bill. tonnes
Objection: According to the IPCC, 150 billion tonnes of carbon go into the atmosphere from natural processes every year. This is almost 30 times the amount of carbon humans emit. What difference can we make?
GristMill.org
1 giga ton
One gigaton is equivalent to 273 coal-fired electric generation plants with carbon capture and sequestration (CCS).
Reason.com
2002330 million metric tons
A new NOAA study, appearing in the current issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, shows how a prolonged drought in North America in 2002 cut the continent’s natural uptake of carbon dioxide (CO2) in half, leaving more than 360 million tons (330 million metric tons) more of the heat-trapping greenhouse gas in Earth’s atmosphere. The amount not absorbed that year is equivalent to annual emissions from more than 200 million U.S. automobiles.
ESRL
300 tons
Recent measurements at Mammoth Mountain indicate that the total rate of CO2 gas emission is close to 300 tons per day.
USGS
500 milli grams
For websites that are not audited, MoveNeutral offsets, on average, 500 milligrams of carbon dioxide emissions per page view.
MoveNeutral.com
0.1 gram of carbon
Here are some numbers, taken from books on exercise physiology. Fat, protein, and sugar all contain about 0.1 gram of carbon per food calorie consumed. So if you digest 2,000 calories of food (a typical daily diet for adults) then you take in about 200 grams of carbon. At rest, each breath exhales about 0.5 liter of air containing about 1 percent carbon, for about five milligrams per breath. After a day at 12 breaths per minute, you get rid of about 120 grams of carbon. Thats less than you ate, so youll gain weight.
Technology Review
Arctic 2009: The Melting has Started
The good news is sea level will not rise if Arctic melts. Your soft drink full of ice cubes does not overflow for same reason. Instead of the Northwest and Northeast Passages will become navigable by regular ships for part of the year very soon and feeds economic and military interests.
International shipping routes between Asia and Europe will be reduced by thousands of miles. Canada could face worldwide demands on opening the Passage for international transit. The implications in terms of increased ship traffic, pollution and infrastructure development regarding Arctic’s fragile ecosystems are obviously.
Each year the Arctic undergoes the seasonal formation in winter and in summer an area of ice the size of Europe melts away to freeze again the following winter - usually.
20th September 2007 - the National Ice and Snow Data Center announced a historical arctic sea ice minimum: A loss of 4.61 million square kilometer. That means some square meters per terrestrial - compared against the 20 year average minimum. Your greenhouse gas emissions do count!
Due to the positive ice-albedo feedback effect Arctic sea ice is a sensitive tipping point in the Earth climate system. Without that ice, heat energy from the ocean would be transferred to warm the polar air. In fact, sea ice is so effective an insulator that its absence would warm the overlying air by between 20 and 40°C during winter.
Last year the September minimum did not break the latest record, on the other hand it was just a matter of a few days. What can we expect for 2009? An important factor is the thickness of the sea ice. Scientists distinguish between annual and multi-annual ice. The latter is thicker and less vulnerable to sun rays, warmer sea water or air.
Based on submarine measurements, the ice draft is reported to have thinned by 40% from the 1960s and 1970s to the 1990s. Latest satellite based analysis show Arctic is now literally on thin ice. Thicker ice, which survives two or more years, now comprises just 10 percent of wintertime ice cover, down from 30 to 40 percent.
Personally, I think Climate Change is lacking a powerful symbol. CO2 is invisible, so what can we print on T-shirts? Although measurements and graphs state a yearly sea level rise of millimeters, a temperature increase of fractions of a degree and a few ppm of CO2 molecules - does someone feels the daily impact?
The vanishing Arctic may serve as a symbol, but climate models estimate the Arctic might be completely ice free in summer in 20 or 30 years. This would be an irreversible result of uncontrolled greenhouse gas emissions and a lack of political action and responsibility. Not all aspects of the Arctic are already modeled - possibly you can book a tourist trip to North Pole much earlier. Until then you may like the idea to see and prove how Global Warming is already changing our planet.
Two NASA satellites called Aqua and Terra capture daily photos of the poles on their orbit. The MODIS Rapid Response System at NASA/GSFC combines them into a daily mosaic of the Arctic since 18th April 2009. Since a few days the mosaic from the day before is available using the Explorer here with geoLink 1650.
International shipping routes between Asia and Europe will be reduced by thousands of miles. Canada could face worldwide demands on opening the Passage for international transit. The implications in terms of increased ship traffic, pollution and infrastructure development regarding Arctic’s fragile ecosystems are obviously.
Each year the Arctic undergoes the seasonal formation in winter and in summer an area of ice the size of Europe melts away to freeze again the following winter - usually.
20th September 2007 - the National Ice and Snow Data Center announced a historical arctic sea ice minimum: A loss of 4.61 million square kilometer. That means some square meters per terrestrial - compared against the 20 year average minimum. Your greenhouse gas emissions do count!
Due to the positive ice-albedo feedback effect Arctic sea ice is a sensitive tipping point in the Earth climate system. Without that ice, heat energy from the ocean would be transferred to warm the polar air. In fact, sea ice is so effective an insulator that its absence would warm the overlying air by between 20 and 40°C during winter.
Last year the September minimum did not break the latest record, on the other hand it was just a matter of a few days. What can we expect for 2009? An important factor is the thickness of the sea ice. Scientists distinguish between annual and multi-annual ice. The latter is thicker and less vulnerable to sun rays, warmer sea water or air.
Based on submarine measurements, the ice draft is reported to have thinned by 40% from the 1960s and 1970s to the 1990s. Latest satellite based analysis show Arctic is now literally on thin ice. Thicker ice, which survives two or more years, now comprises just 10 percent of wintertime ice cover, down from 30 to 40 percent.
Personally, I think Climate Change is lacking a powerful symbol. CO2 is invisible, so what can we print on T-shirts? Although measurements and graphs state a yearly sea level rise of millimeters, a temperature increase of fractions of a degree and a few ppm of CO2 molecules - does someone feels the daily impact?
The vanishing Arctic may serve as a symbol, but climate models estimate the Arctic might be completely ice free in summer in 20 or 30 years. This would be an irreversible result of uncontrolled greenhouse gas emissions and a lack of political action and responsibility. Not all aspects of the Arctic are already modeled - possibly you can book a tourist trip to North Pole much earlier. Until then you may like the idea to see and prove how Global Warming is already changing our planet.
Two NASA satellites called Aqua and Terra capture daily photos of the poles on their orbit. The MODIS Rapid Response System at NASA/GSFC combines them into a daily mosaic of the Arctic since 18th April 2009. Since a few days the mosaic from the day before is available using the Explorer here with geoLink 1650.
Geological Map of Arctic
Available from Natural Resources Canada is this detailed geological map of the Arctic. The map was completed in November 2008 as part of a two-year, seven-nation collaboration. Resources as minerals, gas and oil could be very often found in similar geological formations.
“The Europeans, the Russians, they’ve been at it much longer than we have in terms of mineral and energy exploration in their Arctic,” said Marc St-Onge, a research scientist with the Geological Survey of Canada in an interview. “Knowing where they have their mineral deposits and gas and oil fields, we can use the geology of this consistent map … to see where else we should be looking Canada.”
The Arctic is continuously facing new claims by the surrounding countries. Russia placed a flag on the sea bed at the North Pole and recently Norway expanded its ambitions in the Barents Sea and gave a green light for a $4.2 billion project.
“Goliat is the first oil field in the Barents Sea that will be developed. Goliat is the biggest industrial project to ever be undertaken in northern Norway,” said Norway’s Oil And Energy Minister Terje Riis-Johansen in a statement.
Is there a need to model these kind of economic feedback effects on a melting Arctic? Or is the Arctic anyway ice-free , when the carbon found there is all burned?
“The Europeans, the Russians, they’ve been at it much longer than we have in terms of mineral and energy exploration in their Arctic,” said Marc St-Onge, a research scientist with the Geological Survey of Canada in an interview. “Knowing where they have their mineral deposits and gas and oil fields, we can use the geology of this consistent map … to see where else we should be looking Canada.”
The Arctic is continuously facing new claims by the surrounding countries. Russia placed a flag on the sea bed at the North Pole and recently Norway expanded its ambitions in the Barents Sea and gave a green light for a $4.2 billion project.
“Goliat is the first oil field in the Barents Sea that will be developed. Goliat is the biggest industrial project to ever be undertaken in northern Norway,” said Norway’s Oil And Energy Minister Terje Riis-Johansen in a statement.
Is there a need to model these kind of economic feedback effects on a melting Arctic? Or is the Arctic anyway ice-free , when the carbon found there is all burned?
Climate change may have been one of the reasons of the downfall of the Indus Valley Civilization
In the 19th and 20th centuries, archaeologists discovered traces of India's earliest civilization, one that developed in the fertile Indus River Valley between 3000 and 1900 BCE. Larger than either the Egyptian or Mesopotamian civilizations of the same period, the population of the Indus Valley (or Harappan) Civilization is estimated at anywhere between two and five million people. Among the civilization's 2000 major settlements were the planned cities of Harappa and Mohenjo-daro, trading and craft production centers where craftspeople and villages wrought pottery and intricate beads made of gold, copper, and ivory.
Archaeological evidence shows that after 700 years of stability, the civilization declined. Most of the Indus settlements had been abandoned or had shrunk in size by about 1800 BCE. Many factors contributed to the end of the Indus civilization, but climate change is emerging as a primary reason for its gradual demise. Geological evidence shows that the region's climate grew colder and drier, in part perhaps because of a weakened monsoon. By 1800 BCE, the Ghaggar-Hakra River, a river in the region that paralleled the Indus system and that some scholars suggest is the Saraswati, the lost sacred river of Rig Veda, was severely diminished. As a result, cities were abandoned and though some of the population remained, many migrated to more fertile lands in the east around the Ganges and Jumna River
Archaeological evidence shows that after 700 years of stability, the civilization declined. Most of the Indus settlements had been abandoned or had shrunk in size by about 1800 BCE. Many factors contributed to the end of the Indus civilization, but climate change is emerging as a primary reason for its gradual demise. Geological evidence shows that the region's climate grew colder and drier, in part perhaps because of a weakened monsoon. By 1800 BCE, the Ghaggar-Hakra River, a river in the region that paralleled the Indus system and that some scholars suggest is the Saraswati, the lost sacred river of Rig Veda, was severely diminished. As a result, cities were abandoned and though some of the population remained, many migrated to more fertile lands in the east around the Ganges and Jumna River
Vedic Management – Echoes of Corporate Social Responsibility in the Vedas
The great sages who delivered universal thoughts through the Vedas were concerned about unethical and profit driven human activities and its impact on society and the environment. This is echoed in several verses in the Vedas, especially in the Upanishads. What these great seers feared more than 5000 years ago have become a reality and we are already paying the price for such unethical and profit driven human activities. Today, many major companies around the world have realized the mistakes and there is more awareness and this has led to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).
Corporate Social Responsibility is a concept whereby organizations consider the interests of society by taking responsibility for the impact of their activities on customers, employees, shareholders, communities and the environment in all aspects of their operations. (Wikipedia)
In an article titled ‘Wisdom of the ages’ in ‘The CTO Forum’ Magazine, Dr. S. Kannan presents an overview of the Vedic vision especially with reference to the concept of ‘Corporate Social Responsibility.’
Some excerpts from the article...
Based on the Vedas, CSR can be looked at from three dimensions constituting the individual, social and cosmic perspectives.Individual Dimension
The individual dimension of CSR focuses on the concept of dharma (righteousness).The Vedas call upon one to speak the truth and follow the righteous path.One shall speak the truth. (Satyam Vada - Taittiriya Upanishad i-11)One shall follow the path of righteousness. (Dharmam cara - Taittiriya Upanishad i-11)One shall do what he speaks and what he thinks. (Taittiriya Aranyaka i-90)One shall not sin against his neighbor or a foreigner. (Rig Veda Samhita v-85-7)One who does not work is a social evil. (Rig Veda Samhita x-22-8)
Fair Means of Wealth Acquisition
The Vedas emphasize that wealth has to be earned only through fair means and one should put in his best efforts to acquire wealth through ethical and moral practices. One has to acquire wealth by ethical means.Wealth has to be won by deeds of glory. (Rig Veda Samhita vi-19-10)One shall be led by the fair path to riches. (Vajasaneya Samhita v-36)One should tread the sinless path and gather wealth. (Vajasaneya Samhita iv-9)A man shall strive to win wealth by the righteous path. (Rig Veda Samhita x-31-2)One who helps others wins wealth. (Rig Veda Samhita iv-50-9)One who gets up early morning gets the treasure. (Rig Veda Samhita i-125-1)Social Distribution of Wealth
The Vedas assert that there shall be proper distribution of wealth from the wealthy to the poor. They also condemn those who enjoy wealth without partaking it with others.One shall not be selfish and consume all by himself. (Rig Veda Sam x-117-6)Wealth accumulated through 100 hands should be distributed to 1000 hands. (Atharva Veda Samhita iii-24-5)One who eats alone is a sinner. (Rig Veda Samhita x-117-6)The leader is the distributor of wondrous wealth. (Vajasaneya Samhita xxx-4)Let the rich satisfy the poor with a broader vision. (Rig Veda Samhita x-117-5)Conservation of Resources
The Vedas advocate conservation of resources to take care of future requirements. They condemn poverty and give the clarion call to eradicate it.One shall produce fair wealth for today and tomorrow. (Rig Veda Samhita vi-71-6)Poverty should be banished. (Rig Veda Samhita x-76-4)Environment
The Vedas attach great importance to environmental protection and purity. They insist on safeguarding the habitation, proper afforestation and non-pollution.
Earth, atmosphere, sky, sun, moon, stars, waters, plants, trees, moving creatures, swimming creatures, creeping creatures all are hailed and offered oblations. (Taittiriya Samhita i-8-13)Habitation
One should protect the habitation. (Rig Veda Samhita vi-71-3)Waters as friends of man give full protection to his progenies. (Rig Veda Samhita vi-50-7)Animal welfare
One shall take care of quadrupeds. (Taittiriya Samhita iv-4-10)One shall be auspicious to animals. (Taittiriya Samhita ii-3-14)One shall not find fault with animals. (Chandogya Upanishad ii-18-2)Plant Life Welfare
The Vedas stress the need for protection and development of forests. Human beings have to safeguard the trees. They assert that the plants and trees are verily the treasures for generations.One should not destroy the trees. (Rig Veda Samhita vi-48-17)Plants are mothers and Goddesses. (Rig Veda Samhita x-97-4)Trees are homes and mansions. (Rig Veda Samhita x-97-5)Sacred grass has to be protected from man's exploitation (Rig Veda Samhita vii-75-8)Plants and waters are treasures for generations. (Rig Veda Samhita vii-70-4)Non-pollution
The Vedas give the clarion call for non-pollution of the environment. They condemn in unequivocal terms those who pollute and defile the environment. Waters are invoked to be friendly to humanity.Waters represent splendor. (Atharva Veda Samhita iii-13-5)Waters bear off all defilements and cleanse people. (Vajasaneya Samhita iv-2)Whoever injures the essence of food, kine or steeds is a robber who sinks both himself and his offspring into destruction. (Rig Veda Samhita vii-104-10)Offerings are dedicated to waters of wells, pools, clefts, holes, lakes
morasses, ponds, tanks, marshes, rains, rime, streams, rivers and ocean. (Taittiriya Samhita vii-4-13)There was only water in the beginning. (Brihadaranyaka Upanishad v-5-1)Waters and herbs should have no poison. (Rig Veda Samhita vi-39-5)Waters are to be freed from defilement. (Atharva Veda Samhita x-5-24)Waters cleanse humanity from the evil of pollution committed by it. (Atharva Veda Samhita xii-2-40)Waters are healing and they strengthen one to see great joy. (Taittiriya Samhita vii-4-19)
Dr. S Kannan is a Chartered Accountant and Management Accountant, a Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) as well as Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) of Information Systems Audit and Control Association, U.S.A
Corporate Social Responsibility is a concept whereby organizations consider the interests of society by taking responsibility for the impact of their activities on customers, employees, shareholders, communities and the environment in all aspects of their operations. (Wikipedia)
In an article titled ‘Wisdom of the ages’ in ‘The CTO Forum’ Magazine, Dr. S. Kannan presents an overview of the Vedic vision especially with reference to the concept of ‘Corporate Social Responsibility.’
Some excerpts from the article...
Based on the Vedas, CSR can be looked at from three dimensions constituting the individual, social and cosmic perspectives.Individual Dimension
The individual dimension of CSR focuses on the concept of dharma (righteousness).The Vedas call upon one to speak the truth and follow the righteous path.One shall speak the truth. (Satyam Vada - Taittiriya Upanishad i-11)One shall follow the path of righteousness. (Dharmam cara - Taittiriya Upanishad i-11)One shall do what he speaks and what he thinks. (Taittiriya Aranyaka i-90)One shall not sin against his neighbor or a foreigner. (Rig Veda Samhita v-85-7)One who does not work is a social evil. (Rig Veda Samhita x-22-8)
Fair Means of Wealth Acquisition
The Vedas emphasize that wealth has to be earned only through fair means and one should put in his best efforts to acquire wealth through ethical and moral practices. One has to acquire wealth by ethical means.Wealth has to be won by deeds of glory. (Rig Veda Samhita vi-19-10)One shall be led by the fair path to riches. (Vajasaneya Samhita v-36)One should tread the sinless path and gather wealth. (Vajasaneya Samhita iv-9)A man shall strive to win wealth by the righteous path. (Rig Veda Samhita x-31-2)One who helps others wins wealth. (Rig Veda Samhita iv-50-9)One who gets up early morning gets the treasure. (Rig Veda Samhita i-125-1)Social Distribution of Wealth
The Vedas assert that there shall be proper distribution of wealth from the wealthy to the poor. They also condemn those who enjoy wealth without partaking it with others.One shall not be selfish and consume all by himself. (Rig Veda Sam x-117-6)Wealth accumulated through 100 hands should be distributed to 1000 hands. (Atharva Veda Samhita iii-24-5)One who eats alone is a sinner. (Rig Veda Samhita x-117-6)The leader is the distributor of wondrous wealth. (Vajasaneya Samhita xxx-4)Let the rich satisfy the poor with a broader vision. (Rig Veda Samhita x-117-5)Conservation of Resources
The Vedas advocate conservation of resources to take care of future requirements. They condemn poverty and give the clarion call to eradicate it.One shall produce fair wealth for today and tomorrow. (Rig Veda Samhita vi-71-6)Poverty should be banished. (Rig Veda Samhita x-76-4)Environment
The Vedas attach great importance to environmental protection and purity. They insist on safeguarding the habitation, proper afforestation and non-pollution.
Earth, atmosphere, sky, sun, moon, stars, waters, plants, trees, moving creatures, swimming creatures, creeping creatures all are hailed and offered oblations. (Taittiriya Samhita i-8-13)Habitation
One should protect the habitation. (Rig Veda Samhita vi-71-3)Waters as friends of man give full protection to his progenies. (Rig Veda Samhita vi-50-7)Animal welfare
One shall take care of quadrupeds. (Taittiriya Samhita iv-4-10)One shall be auspicious to animals. (Taittiriya Samhita ii-3-14)One shall not find fault with animals. (Chandogya Upanishad ii-18-2)Plant Life Welfare
The Vedas stress the need for protection and development of forests. Human beings have to safeguard the trees. They assert that the plants and trees are verily the treasures for generations.One should not destroy the trees. (Rig Veda Samhita vi-48-17)Plants are mothers and Goddesses. (Rig Veda Samhita x-97-4)Trees are homes and mansions. (Rig Veda Samhita x-97-5)Sacred grass has to be protected from man's exploitation (Rig Veda Samhita vii-75-8)Plants and waters are treasures for generations. (Rig Veda Samhita vii-70-4)Non-pollution
The Vedas give the clarion call for non-pollution of the environment. They condemn in unequivocal terms those who pollute and defile the environment. Waters are invoked to be friendly to humanity.Waters represent splendor. (Atharva Veda Samhita iii-13-5)Waters bear off all defilements and cleanse people. (Vajasaneya Samhita iv-2)Whoever injures the essence of food, kine or steeds is a robber who sinks both himself and his offspring into destruction. (Rig Veda Samhita vii-104-10)Offerings are dedicated to waters of wells, pools, clefts, holes, lakes
morasses, ponds, tanks, marshes, rains, rime, streams, rivers and ocean. (Taittiriya Samhita vii-4-13)There was only water in the beginning. (Brihadaranyaka Upanishad v-5-1)Waters and herbs should have no poison. (Rig Veda Samhita vi-39-5)Waters are to be freed from defilement. (Atharva Veda Samhita x-5-24)Waters cleanse humanity from the evil of pollution committed by it. (Atharva Veda Samhita xii-2-40)Waters are healing and they strengthen one to see great joy. (Taittiriya Samhita vii-4-19)
Dr. S Kannan is a Chartered Accountant and Management Accountant, a Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) as well as Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) of Information Systems Audit and Control Association, U.S.A
VEDAS AND ENVIRONMENT
Human beings are never alone as a species in the Universe. They are also inter-connected with the Earth, Sun, Moon and other planets orbiting in their appointed domains. In the ultimate reality, nothing remains unconnected in the cosmos. Aligning one’s consciousness in line with the principles of natural law, he can march towards perfection and maximise his efficiency as well as effectiveness. Maintenance of natural order and pristine ecological balance is the sine qua non for ensuring human well-being.The Vedas specify four types of living beings, namely, andaja (born of eggs), jivaja (born of womb), svedaja (born of moisture) and udbhija (born of earth) and declare that these are impelled by Prajnanam (consciousness) .The Vedas deal exhaustively with the splendors of the cosmos in a wholesome manner. They unravel the mysteries of the vast and unexplored forests.The Vedas present picturesque, spectacular and diversified range of fauna and flora. They urge the human beings to protect, preserve, nurture and nourish the environment and natural habitation in its pristine glorious form.1.1 Environment managementThe Vedas attach great importance to environmental protection and purity. They insist on safeguarding the habitation, proper afforestation and non-pollution.For the welfare of all the humans and other beings, the Vedas seek a sweet and pleasant environment consisting of sweet breeze, sweet flowing rivers, sweet and beneficial herbs, sweet day and night, sweetness of earth particles, sweet fruit bearing trees, sweet and beneficial Sun and sweet bearing cows.1.1.1 HabitationThe Vedas insist that one shall protect the habitation.One should protect the habitation.There should be a fair and spacious habitation.Waters as friends of man give full protection to man's progenies.1.1.2 AfforestationThe Vedas stress the need for protection and development of forests. Human beings have to safeguard the trees. The Vedas assert that the plants and trees are verily the treasures for generations.1.1.2a Vedic quotes on afforestation1. One shall not destroy the trees.2. One shall delight in plants and waters.3. Plants are mothers and deities.4. Trees are homes and mansions.5. Gods delight themselves in plants and waters.6. Let plants be friendly to us.7. Speech is the voice of the trees, the voice that is heard in the drum, the lute and the flute.8. Trees are connected with Visnu.9. Plants and waters are treasures for generations.1.1.3 Non-PollutionThe Vedas give the clarion call for non-pollution of the environment. They condemn in unequivocal terms those who pollute and defile the environment. Waters are invoked to be friendly to humanity.1.1.3a Vedic quotes on Water1. This Universe was only water in the beginning.2. Waters and herbs should have no poison.3. Waters are to be freed from defilement.4. Waters cleanse humanity from the evil of pollution committed by it.5. Waters have satisfying savour of the honey-mixed with splendor.6. Waters bear off all defilements and cleanse people.7. Waters and plants shall be friendly to people.Vedas contain reference to a wide variety of animals and urge humanity to safeguard their well-being. Protection of animal welfare is considered important for proper human welfare. Three-fold divisions of animals are seen in the Vedas in terms of those of the air (vayavya), those of the jungle (aranya) and those of village (gramya).1.2a Vedic quotes on animals1. Let the animals of the earth and heaven, wild beasts of the forest and winged birds protect humanity from calamity.2. So many are animals, bipeds and quadrupeds.3. Prayers are offered for the welfare of animals and men.4. As haya (steed) it carries the gods, as arvan (courser) the asuras, as vajin (racer) the gandharvas and as asva (horse) the men.5. Homage is paid to the serpents on the earth, in the atmosphere in the sky, among the trees and in the wells and waters.6. Happiness is sought for quadrupeds.7. All bipeds and quadrupeds shall be free from disease.8. One shall not find fault with the animals.9. One shall increase the cattle wealth.1.3 Plant lifeThe Vedas call upon the human beings to safeguard and nourish plants and trees. The Vedas mention about plants and trees.1.3a Vedic quotes on Plant lifeThe Vedas hail the trees, the roots, the panicles, the corona, the branches, the leaves, the flowers and the fruits.Let plant and creepers grow upwards.One shall not damage the roots of the plant.Herbs have remedial powers.May fruit-bearing plants ripen.1.4 Panca bhutaThe Vedas specify the cosmic Panca bhutas ( five elements). These are akasah (space), vayuh (air), Agnih (fire), apah ( water) and Prithivi (earth).Earth, air, space, water and fire are the five great elements.The link between the Panca bhutas and men is clearly established by the following Vedic expression.From space, air.From air, fire.From fire, water.From water, earth .From earth, the herbs.From herbs, food.From food, man.1.4.1 SpaceThat which accommodates is space.Vedic quotes on Space1. Akasa is the body of the Brahman.2. This space is honey to all beings and all beings are honey to this space.1.4.2 AirThe Vedas declare that air is sweet and pleasant . It has healing powers.Vedic quotes on Air1. This air is honey to all beings and all beings are honey to this air.2. May wind blow pleasantly for us .3. Wind blows healing balm, blows all disease away.1.4.3 FireThe Vedas eulogise Agni (fire) in the form of an important cosmic force. Fire is considered to be the bestower of wealth. It is only through fire that all the oblations to the deities and forefathers are offered.Vedic quotes on Fire1. This fire is honey to all beings and all beings are honey to this fire.2. Agni is worshipped for increase in wealth and riches.3. Riches, heroes, food, progeny and longevity are sought from Agni.4. Agni is worshipped for bliss.5. Agni slays the foes.6. Agni purifies one and drives ill-fortune far away.7. One shall be victorious through the victory of Agni.8. Agni is the Brahman.1.4.4 WaterThe Vedas declare that all that is seen is water and that they are the nectar conferring happiness to all. With a social objective, they emphasise that the waters are common resources to be used by all. Water is the essence of food.Vedic quotes on water1. This water is honey to all beings and all beings are honey to this water.2. Water is mother.3. The divine water full of sweetness averts the diseases of men.4. Waters are the nectar.5. Waters are propitiated for being friendly.6. Waters are healing.7. Waters are verily bliss-conferring.8. Verily all this is water; All the created beings are waters; The vital breaths are waters; The quadrupeds are waters; Edible crops are waters; Ambrosia is water; The creator is water ; Man is water; Metres are waters; Vedic formulas are waters; Truth is water; All the desires are waters; Three worlds earth, sky and heaven are waters; Plants are waters.9. Water when drunk gets divided into three parts; The grossest ingredient is urine; The middling is blood; the subtlest is Prana.1.4.5 EarthThe Vedas glorify the earth as one’s mother and advise one not to cause injury to the earth. They proclaim that earth is the bestower of happiness, sustainer and supporter of all forms of life.Vedic quotes on Earth1. The Earth is the mother.2. The Earth makes one sharpened and brilliant3. The Earth is adorned with variegated things.4. The Earth is the giver of happiness, the sustainer of life and the supporter of all living beings5. This earth is honey to all beings and all beings are honey to this earth.
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