A World We Dare To Imagine

Every year, 2 billion of the red cups are purchased in the United States alone. They have a wide range of applicability ranging from birthdays to barbecues to college parties and tailgates. However, despite them being designed to be disposed off, these cups are made of thermoplastic polystyrene, a plastic which stays in the environment for up to 50 years before being completely degraded. Additionally, several of these cups are usually wasted, especially by college students. These cups serve the purpose of holding ones drinks but they are often unnecessarily overused or just simply thrown away if left over. Hence this leads a significant amount wastage which results in several used cups or unused cups thrown away.

There had to be a solution to this. Hence I came up with the company - Green Cups. My company produces similar cups but with cups; however, implements key improvements on design. The cups are carved inwards at the bottom which makes space for drinks to be poured. This becomes a shot glass. Not only does the cup serve as a dual purpose but it also creates a unique idea through which I plan to sell my product. Since one cup can fulfill the role of two, mathematically this reduces the cups used by half. Hence there is less wastage. Although my cups help to reduce the waste by half I felt it was important to make changes in the way these cups affect the environment. Hence I decide to introduce another element into the product. These cups will be made of PET (polyethylene terephthalate) which is made from already used water bottles. This ensures that the company is using recycled waste hence eliminating need of additional resources. Also technically we are not creating any more waste. What waste was already generated has been recycled.

The following is the company's mission statement: Our organisation’s goal is to create a sustainable environment through promotion of renewable and reduced waste. We aim to create value in the uniqueness of the product so that its serves its purpose to people and planet.

The company's primary competitor is the Solo Cup Company. The company has been in the business for a long time, and has been successful in selling the red cups. However we have an advantage here. Not many people know about the company. Several buyers simply see red cups and do not associate with any brand. Hence he have an opprotunity to step in and take advantage of the situation. Customers will simply see an improvement on the product and purchase it. Our unique idea will also be a key selling point. Also, since we make our products from recycled water bottles we have a cheaper cost of production which translates to a reduced cost for customers.

We aim to make our sales through a strong network. College students can be a significant promotional tool. The uniqueness do the idea can serve as a marketing technique. Through word of mouth we can try to reach stores around campuses. Also collegians are encouraged to be expand out network. They receive commission if they are able to introduce is around campus stores. Currently there 4000+ campuses and 17 million + students in the US alone. We hope to spread our roots around the US especially through college students.

Green Cups  serves a very important purpose through a fun selling point. Environmental pollution is key and it is important to take matters into ones hand. Hence I believe that introducing this company and product will serve to address this problem. The world I imagine is one which applies sustainability towards environmental care. At Green Cups I believe that we can reach this goal.

The Blue Sweater - The Cost Of Silence

In an attempt to understand her story, Jacqueline visits Agnes, who is in Kigali’s Central Prison, accused of being a perpetrator of the genocide. She had allegedly made incendiary speeches, urging men to kill Tutsis and inciting women to encourage their husbands to work harder in their murderous acts.

Agnes, a born leader, serves as a reminder that power corrupts on an equal opportunity basis. She traded integrity for power. Although it is sad to see how far Agnes had gone astray from the person Jacqueline once worked with, Agnes helps Jacqueline internalize the fact that monsters do exist – in ways she had never imagined.

Jacqueline meets with Prudence, who is also in prison, accused of being a major perpetrator of the genocide. Unlike Agnes, however, Prudence is potentially neither victim nor perpetrator. Hers may have been sins of omission – of staying silent while the violence unfolded around her.

Eventually, Agnes receives a life sentence and Prudence is declared innocent and freed from prison. Both Agnes and Prudence help Jacqueline understand the disorder of human existence.

The Blue Sweater - Dancing In The Dark

In this chapter, Jacqueline Novagratz informs us about her activities with UNICEF, where in she travels around Kigali, Rwanda, Nairobi and other small cities and villages in an effort to raise the standard of living for women.

The chapter starts off with the author struck down with malaria. She decribes her troubles as she has to lie in bed for five weeks, and cannot fulfill her responsibilities. She was concerned that she was not able to manage the bank and the bakery, and that she was losing out on valuable time. She was reprimanded by her friend for being tensed and adviced to lower her pace of expectations and task. Jacqueline, who greatly differed in views, decided that she was ready to get back to work after only 3 weeks.

The author decided to move to Nairobi, which is one of the more prominent cities in Africa. The city reminded her of Manhattan, which made her feel at home and comfortable. Neverthless, she continued to work with her partner Mary. Through UNICEF, she reached out to women from villages, holding meetings with them and understanding their problems. From her travels she learns about the governments misrepresentation of data, in terms of benefits to women. Additionally, she also discovers that projects to support women are not completed or sponsored. For example, in one site near Kisumu, the author learnt about the project to aid women through construction. However, the project hit a roadblock after the foundation, and no building was constructed, After inquiring, she learnt that there was not enough cement to provide for the construction.

The Blue Sweater - Innocent Abroad

The first chapter begins with a narration of a simple yet powerful story of a blue sweater. Given as a gift by her uncle, the author, Jacqueline Novogratz describes the journey of the blue sweater from Alexandria, Virginia to Kigali, Rwanda. After being troubled at high school for wearing her sweater, the Novogratz disposed it. However, years later, when she was in Rwanda working on starting a microfinance for women, Novogratz discovered the same sweater on a boy. It was her sweater. She marvelled on the significnce the sweater bore. To find the sweater on the back of an African boy shows that the world is interconnected, and without knowing, we are seem to be in contact with people we dont even know.

Before she gained such persepective on life, she had struggles of her own. Born in a not so well off family, she began to do chores for money from the age of 10. From shovelling off snow during winter to being a bartender, she tried to earn money to support her siblings and family. She also took loans to finance her education in University of Virginia. Having got a degree, she felt she had the tools to combat the world. However, she felt the need to support women in financing their lives. Hence, drawing inspiration from the Graheem microfinancing in Bangladesh, she began to encourage microfinancing to provide the tools to support women in achieving their goals. 

Mahatma Gandhi - Father Of The Nation

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was the leader of the Indian independence movement against the British. Gandhi carried the India's movement for freedom for over 20 years upholding values of non-violence and peace. Winning a battle without raising a hand at your enemy is a feat not many could accomplish; but Gandhi did, earning him the title Mahatma, or the revered one.

Although his morals were imbibed in him since birth, his strive for freedom was not. It was in Africa, when he was studying law, where he was kicked out of a first class compartment becasue of his brown color, despite having a ticket. Gandhi realised the need for freedom not just for himself but the billion people suffering under the British regime back in India. He abandoned his studies and travelled back to India to spark the freedom movement, which was a 20 year peaceful war waged against the British.

Gandhi's policy of non-violence and peace were intially condemned, but holding strong to his beliefs he eventually gained several supporters which continued to multiply with every movement. He intiated satyagraha, the practice of buring British goods sold in India. Furthermore, Gandhi encoruaged Indians to boycott foreign goods which the British sold in India. This was a direct attack on the British as it hurt the growth of British companies. 

When the British raised the tax on salt, Gandhi led a group of followers towards the Arabian Sea, a treck which covered 240 miles. This was a campaign of tax resistance, where in Gandhi and his followers would illegally produce salt from seawater. Although Gandhi's methods were peaceful, his enemies weren't. The British continued to use violence to supress the movement, with several killings, including the massacre in Punjab, which was a public shooting of 1000 innocent men, women and children in closed quarters. Even in times of such brutality, Gandhi urged his followers to stick to their morals.

Despite the resistance, Gandhi contined to intiate several movements targeted towards the British regime. His followers grew in numbers, causing an intially weakened India to stand strong against the face of British oppression. On August 15, 1947, he earned India its independence. The man was justly called the 'Father of the Nation'.

Genius of Money - An Interview With Krystyna Jurzykowski

Krystyna is self aware women who has decdicated herself to philanthropic activities. She is currently the co-owner and head of operations at Fossil Rim Wildlife Center , a social enterprise that she intitiated. The firm established in Texas, has 3000 acres of land and bears home to over 1100 animals. This wildlife preserve is closest to and Afircan preserve, harbouring an environment to support antelopes, rhinos, giraffes and several other species.

Krystyna highlights the importance of passion and commitment in achieving ones task. She also mentions the significance of destiny which led her to work in this field. Her initial period in Fossil Rim was marked with several challenges but her commitment kept her to her goals. She also mentions that money can be used as a tool to achieve ones philanthropic goals if used correctly. Her belief as a child was that money leads to greed, which can negatively impact ones relationship with others. However, under her husband's guidance, she realised that money can serve to fulfill one's ambitions.

Money is not the only source of philantrophic activities; Krystyna believes that an individual could also devote his time and energy towards a good cause. She draws on her previous emphasis on commitment and passion towards any activity. Only if you have the passion for a particular objective will you achieve to accomplish it. Irrespective of the numerous challenges you overcome, having commitment to the goal will encourage you to counter all difficulties.

Finally, Krystyna talks about self awarenes, which can be achieved to sprititual and financial means. Being aware of yourself leads you do understand what you want to achieve. She quotes Gandhi, "Be the change you want to be", which emphasizes on the importance of displaying the qualities you want to see in the world. It is important for people to understand and reflect on their goals and objectives, leading them to be passionate about what they do. This way they will meet people in the same field as them, who are also equally passionate.

The Genius of Money - Chapter 10

The chapter focuses on the importance of paintings. Through the painting presented in the chapter, John Bloom describes to us the significance of paintings in describing the period they were painted. John Bloom refers to a painting from the 17th century, which portrays a woman sobbing in front of man. The picture describes a setting, in which the woman's husband may have passed away, and now she must fulfill his financial obligations. However, she is unable to get a job to do so, and is left confronting an unemotional creditor demanding his money.

The painting speaks volumes about the era. The 17th century, as depicted through the picture, emphasises on the partriarchal society. Mercantilism was practiced, a philosophy that favored men over women in all fields. Being a male dominated society, woman did not have much influence in society in regards to politics and economics and were left under the rule of men. Hence, through the image of the woman unable to pay her creditor, the chapter captures its point.

It is striking how an image can inform its audience so much about a period it was painted in. The painting of a particular period reflects the painters philosophy on life based on what he or she sees or experiences. Thus the painting ends up educating its audience on the culutre, society, politics and economy of the period.