| Matthew 6:24 "No man can serve two masters. For | | | | organic products (crops produced without harmful |
| either he will hate the one, and love the other, or | | | | pesticides and herbicides) offered nationwide. |
| else he will hold to the one and despise the other. | | | | Wal-Mart has also begun to build "green" stores to |
| You cannot serve both God and money." To whom | | | | meet their energy needs. You can view more |
| do we owe our affection? Do we bless the | | | | information on how Wal-Mart is attempting to, |
| shareholders without thought of anything more, or | | | | "provide cost effective merchandise while reducing |
| do we consider ethical and environmental obligations? | | | | their environmental footprint" on their web site. With |
| Is there a balance that can be struck between the | | | | G.M. now on the environmental cleansing bandwagon, |
| two? | | | | you can expect more companies to find ways to |
| The Wall Street Journal reported Rick Wagoner, | | | | compete to provide alternatives to fossil fuel, |
| General Motor's chairman and chief executive, | | | | energy, and other resources. Countries around the |
| announced on Sunday, January 13, 2008 that the | | | | world are shifting their focus to filling the need for |
| company was purchasing an equity stake in Coskata. | | | | alternative fuel. |
| Coskata, a start-up company in Warrenville, Illinois, | | | | Published in the New York Times on the same day, |
| plans to make ethanol without the use of corn. G.M. | | | | was an article by James Kanter, Europe is considering |
| would not disclose how much it paid, nor the amount | | | | banning the imports of certain biofuel crops that lack |
| of stake they took in the company. This is the first | | | | sustainability. In countries such as Malaysia, and |
| time that a car company has gone on record to | | | | Indonesia mass deforestation is occurring in an effort |
| invest in alternative fuel sources. Was this an act of | | | | to plant palm trees for the palm oil export. Palm oil is |
| environmental obligation? "I really don't see the logic | | | | currently one of many crops that are being produced |
| of it," Christopher Flavin is quoted as saying. Flavin is | | | | for use as alternatives to fossil fuel. Although |
| the president of Worldwatch Institute, a Washington | | | | Europe's current ethanol consumption is only at 1% |
| environmental group. He believes that G.M. should | | | | as of 2005, they are thinking ahead to the impact of |
| concentrate on maximizing the fuel economy of their | | | | using food for fuel. "Farmers growing corn for ethanol |
| current line. Lee Schipper, from the University of | | | | could also be affected, because the European rules |
| California, Berkeley, has given a stamp of approval | | | | contain provisions on preserving grasslands, said Mr. |
| for the project. "Ethanol made from waste materials | | | | Drinkwater." Matt Drinkwater is biofuels analyst at |
| could result in substantially less carbon per mile." He | | | | New Energy Finance in London. |
| goes on to say later in the article, "Why wait for | | | | With all the efforts of reducing a global impact are |
| someone else to invest?" | | | | we really making any headway? "A flurry of studies |
| In a similar movement, Wal-Mart recently "helped | | | | has discredited some of the claims made by biofuel |
| reduce the package of a popular toy. As a result, | | | | producers that the fuels help reduce greenhouse |
| they were able to ship the product using 230 fewer | | | | gasses by reducing fossil fuel and growing |
| containers, saving 356 barrels of oil, and 1300 trees." | | | | carbon-dioxide-consuming plants. Growing the crops |
| Constance E. Bagley writes in his book Managers and | | | | and turning them into fuel can result in considerable |
| the Legal Environment, "Issues of social responsibility | | | | environmental harm." (New York Times, January 15, |
| arise in the areas of product safety, sweatshops, | | | | 2008). So turning food into fuel is not a good idea |
| and underpaid foreign workers, advertising, | | | | after all. |
| campaigns, antitrust violations, client conflicts of | | | | The shareholders of General Motors may not have all |
| interest, managed earnings, and Internet companies." | | | | agreed on the financial choice of Mr. Wagoner, but |
| Most companies find a large gray area in the social | | | | perhaps his announcement will help boost stocks as |
| responsibility angle. In the early 1990's, for example, | | | | perceptions of the company's standards "change." |
| Wal-Mart had made claims that products were made | | | | The goal of improving stocks could be as simple as |
| in America. In truth however, 12 year- old children | | | | showing their care about the earth. While steering |
| were making the product in a Bangladesh sweat | | | | away from biofuel, Mr. Wagoner and G.M. stepped |
| shop. Now, Wal-Mart clearly labels their products of | | | | into the unknown world of ethanol made from waste. |
| origin, and has gone to the "Save Money, Live | | | | G.M.'s equity stake purchase will most likely be |
| Better" slogan. They ease the conscience of the | | | | viewed as a very intelligent maneuver. There is a |
| consumer with the promise of living better by | | | | growing surge toward consumers demanding |
| spending less money. In recent years they [Wal-Mart] | | | | companies show their financial, and environmental |
| have adopted social and environmental standards. In | | | | responsibility. They are touted on commercials from |
| further efforts to clean-up their social policies, | | | | companies such as Subaru that have 0% waste |
| Wal-Mart has also begun to support local companies, | | | | plants. McDonalds that purchased $3 Billion in materials |
| such as Nectar of Life Coffee Company. Nectar of | | | | made from recycled products. Ford Motor Company |
| Life Coffee Company is a 100% organic and Fair | | | | has even created a new "guilt-free" luxury vehicle, |
| Trade certified coffee roaster with roots in Spokane, | | | | made from recycled materials, and "chrome-free" |
| Washington, and Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. Wal-Marts | | | | leather. It would seem only logical for companies to |
| pushed to improve their image this decade, and it is | | | | hedge their pocketbooks where America is buying. |
| paying off. They have increased the amount of | | | | Clearly, America wants good to work. |