The Critical Reading Response 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Critical Reading Response 2 - Essay Example In other words, global warming today is largely due to mans activities in which harmful gases were emitted into the atmosphere at unprecedented volumes, which trap the suns heat instead of reflecting it back to the outer reaches of space. Stronger typhoons, intense droughts and severe floodings in previously dry areas are clear manifestations of this altered weather pattern. Water supplies are drying up in some wet areas while existing water resources have become unusable due to pollution. In many low-lying areas, the rise in the earths surface temperatures have melted the ice caps and a serious consequence is that these low areas are now being inundated with seawater due to a rise in sea levels. Environmental experts are sounding an alarm about these changes and the culprit is Big Business which exploit and harm the environment with their activities. A rise in human populations also contributed to this degradation of the environment as people scramble to find new sources for food an d raw materials to be used in production. This paper re-examines the debate on what responsibilities should Big Business have today. The concept of corporate social responsibility (CSR) is relatively new, because it was only in the last few years that it has gained prominence in business thought. Previously, most people think of CSR or giving back to the community as an added expense or an unnecessary cost that reduces profits and affects adversely the bottom line. Shareholders years ago did not give much thought to how their business activities affected the environment. Their only concern was how to maximize profits in pursuit of capitalist goals as an offshoot of the Industrial Revolution. The attitude before was to exploit the natural resources available to the maximum but today, a new reality has set in. People now realize that resources are finite; many kinds of resources are non-renewable and other resources are nearing