Starbucks Sustainability

I researched Starbucks, and found that they have very many regulations and accountability efforts. Starbucks pairs with Conservation International to make four major regulations: Product quality, economic accountability, social responsibility, and environmental leadership. On the website, Starbucks says that they have high standards for product quality. They also say they have economic accountability for farmers by tracking where the coffee goes, and make sure that all farmers get their fair amount. They have social responsibility that makes sure all workers are safe and make sure there is no child laborers. They have environmental leadership because they help manage waste, and conserve energy and water. They believe in major evaluation of all of their products.

Supply Chain Management

Supply chain management is the management  and the looking over of goods or inventory starting from production, going all the way to consumer. There are three flows the inventory goes through, including the product flow, the information flow, and the finances flow.
Supply Chain Management

Smoke Signals Essay

The filmmaker of Smoke Signals did a great job in displaying the real lives of Native Americans today, and showed many of stereotypes that the Indians may encounter today. Victor and Thomas are two completely different character personalities, showing the contrast between a stereotype and an Indian who really embraces the culture. The characters experience circumstances and ideas having to do specifically with Native American stereotypes all throughout the movie, which shapes each of them as a person.

   Many of these stereotypes of Native Americans are shown in the first couple of scenes, and the setting. They struggle with stereotypes, such as living on a reservation and poverty. Neither of the boys have very much money, because they feel as though they don't need it if they are living on a reservation. Thomas and Victor can barely make it to get Arnold's things, because America get's a lot more expensive and "foreign" when leaving the reservation. Another stereotype that they struggle with is alcoholism. Both of Victor's parents were heavy drinkers when he was younger, which resulted in Arnold leaving them. Another issue with their alcoholism is when Arnold got so drunk one night, that he caught a house on fire, killing Thomas' parents, and almost killing Victor. This is a huge stereotype and somewhat truth among Native American's, that Victor and Thomas had to experience. A huge stereotype that Victor endured was having to keep a warrior face. On the way down to get his father's things, Victor taught Thomas that Indians are supposed to have free flowing hair, to dress more casual, and to have a warrior face, as if they just killed a buffalo. Thomas proceeds to tell Victor that their tribe consisted of fishermen, but Victor replied by saying that a warrior face is what the Americans expect. These stereotypes shaped Victor, but Thomas was more into the meaning of his tribe, and the Native American history.

   Although stereotypes can get a hold of many Indians, most find power and meaning in their history and traditions. For example, throughout the film Thomas tells many powerful stories, that are sometimes real and sometimes not. Storytelling was a huge part of Native American culture, that had obviously been passed down to Thomas, and to Victor's father in the scene where he was telling the story of the basketball game. The Indians are very skilled in this form of art, and is clearly displayed in the movie. Another cultural identity that they display is feeling nature. Throughout the film Thomas talks about nature and how he can feel nature, which was again a huge part of the Native American culture. At the end of the movie, the filmmaker has Victor sitting on the bridge across a huge river, as was young Thomas at the beginning of the movie. This shows how connected they are, like their ancestors, to the nature in the movie. Another example of the boys embracing their Native American culture is when they are on the bus. They make up a random song, along with a beat and sing it, just as their ancestors did in rituals, or in their free time. The last example of how they find meaning in their cultural traditions is when Victor cuts his hair, after visiting Arnold's trailer. This is a symbol of mourning or loss in the Indian heritage. Native Americans take pride in their long hair, so when it is cut, it symbolizes how much grief they are going through.
 
   Overall, Thomas and Victor, especially towards the end of the film, show many characteristics of what their ancestors were like, showing how much this gets passed on through the generations. Each of these stereotypes, and cultural traditions influence how each of them behave. Each of the boys seem to really embrace their culture, especially after the journey to get Arnold's things. The filmmaker used stereotypes, along with cultural traditions to show the viewer about the history and traditions of these great tribes.

I began to research Project 562, which is a collection of photographs, taken by Matika Wilbur. Each image is of a descendent of an Indian tribe, and shows them in nature. Wilbur left her home in Seattle to travel the world to take pictures of these people. All of the tribes found it was extremely respectful, because it truly shows the face of these groups. This project address many issues, such as stereotypes in a very creative and respectful way. It is truly very beautiful.