The business of water consumption Essay Example

The business of water consumption Essay In terms of the scholarly discussion on corporate social responsibility please outline the key arguments that may support the actions of the firms given in the case. Furthermore, discuss the main arguments against corporate social responsibility considering these firms’ actions. Use scholarly literature and examples from the case study to illustrate. Though water is considered as essential to survival of all life forms, getting access to quality water is increasingly becoming difficult in the under-developed world. While privatization is promoted as the solution for this crisis, previous examples of such a move have resulted in adverse results, especially for the poor. Where privatization of water has been implemented in the last 10 years, contentious debates and protestations have risen in the communities affected by the project. In the case study titled ‘The Business of Water’, we read about the activities of some of the major water and beverage companies in the world like Suez, Coca-Cola, Vivendi, etc. These companies have installed several plants in developing countries such as India, Philippines, Bolivia, Brazil, etc in the last 10-15 years. Though there are some benefits to the society, in terms of the availability of safe bottled drinking water and a better range of beverages, the communities surrounding the p lants have largely suffered as a result. In their defense, MNCs who’ve setup these plants cite various reasons behind their efforts. They point out how they bail-out financially stapped local administrative and public works bodies by putting forward a substantial amount of capital and investments. This in turn helps local municipalities to We will write a custom essay sample on The business of water consumption specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on The business of water consumption specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on The business of water consumption specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer â€Å"update the obsolete and decaying infrastructure of municipal water and sewer systems. By one federal estimate, it will require one trillion dollars over the next 20 years to replace aging sewer pipes and treatment plants. Second, many economists argue that private businesses are more cost-efficient and effective in providing services than the public sector. And third, in some quarters ideology favors downsizing government and outsourcing things to the private sector.† (Hale, 2006) Despite these advantages that are held up by pro-privatization lobbyists, the ground realities have not changed for much of the population in which these MNC’s operate. MNC’s are seen to be driven purely on profit motive and are accused of failing in Corporate Social Responsibility measure. The most publicized case in this respect is the conflict between Coca-Cola and local communities surrounding its plant in Palchimada, Kerala. The village of Palchimada is located in the South Indian state of Kerala and is chosen for its impressive groundwater reservoirs and healthy annual rainfalls. But, as it turned out, within a few years of the plant’s operation the water table fell by several tens of feet and it became very difficult for local farmers and villagers to fetch water. This is a clear case of an MNC undermining the interests of the society for the sake of its private gain. It is also an illustration of how vapid and meaningless claims of Corporate Social Respon sibility by MNCs turn out in reality. For progressive political leaders, incidents such as these across the Third World point to certain undeniable facts. They claim that MNCs exploit the dire economic situation of poor people. (Guislain, 1997) Joining ranks with MNCs are government officials, who pay scant respect to public welfare. These episodes have led some opponents of privatization, such as Maude Barlow and Tony Clarke, to draw a line in the sand, stating that â€Å"the move to commodify depleting global water supplies is wrong-ethically, environmentally, and socially. They think privatization of water resources allows allocation decisions to be made by corporations that desire to maximize profits and ignores the environmental and social consequences of water allocation policies. These companies, focused only on the bottom line, are unlikely to invest in new technology or water conservation. To Barlow and Clarke, privatization interferes with citizens’ ability to allocate and manage their own water, concentrates power in the hands of monopolist corporations, and makes it difficult for local governments to reclaim control over the water system.† (Luoma, 2005) References †¢ Glennon, R. (2005). Water Scarcity, Marketing, and Privatization. Texas Law Review, 83(7), 1873+. †¢ Guislain, P. (1997). The Privatization Challenge: A Strategic, Legal, and Institutional Analysis of International Experience (World Bank Regional and Sectoral Studies). Washington, DC: World Bank. †¢ Hale, S. I. (2006). Water Privatization in the Philippines: The Need to Implement the Human Right to Water. Pacific Rim Law Policy Journal, 15(3), 765+. †¢ Luoma, J. (2005, June). THE WATER THIEVES: Privatization of Global Water Services Benefits Only Business. CCPA Monitor, 12(2), 32+. †¢ Megginson, W. L. (Ed.). (2005). The Financial Economics of Privatization. New York: Oxford University Press. Retrieved from http://www.questia.comPrivatization: A Global Perspective. New York: Routledge. †¢ Sitaraman, S. (2008). Privatization, Efficiency, Gender, Development, and Inequality-Transnational Conflicts over Access to Water and Sanitation. Human Rights Human Welfare, 8, 91.

Senior Project Essay - How to Write a Sample Senior Project

Senior Project Essay - How to Write a Sample Senior ProjectA sample senior reflection essay should give you a taste of the kind of essay that will be required. A lot of time and attention is required when writing a senior project. Sometimes a lot of people do not have the skills or the confidence to write something with a deadline. These essays help you get your feet wet and to know what kind of materials you should use.A lot of senior projects are passed in class for the joy of learning. Writing has its own rewards, too. There is nothing wrong with your senior project being taken on by an outside party, if it is for higher education. The professor or committee may accept it, but for many it is a win-win situation.It gives them their first shot at a paper. They can work out their problems and just work and get feedback from others. Writing a senior project has to be unique to help with the judges' understanding of the individual's talent and expertise. This is why most of these essay s have essays included to help identify that talent and expertise. You do not have to worry about plagiarism issues.The other problem, many new writers face is the deadline for the paper. There are essays that you need to send out the day before the due date. There are essay samples that you need to prepare by a certain time, or you can prepare one that you send out as soon as you have completed it. Make sure you let your audience know this so they can do their own research and make an informed decision about your project. They should be able to tell if your essay is due the day before or if it is due later that same day.It is also good to do some brainstorming so you can identify your own objectives and then write about the topics that interest you. You should also be able to use some kind of graphic image to make your essay more eye-catching. Sample senior reflection essays can help you with that. Some of the topics in essays can include the nature of the economy, things that are hard to change, how students can take ownership of their projects, and your opinion on the best way to do things.Some other sections of the senior project you may want to include are personal experiences and then see how long it takes you to talk about them. At times, the people in the audience are not going to be able to relate to you if you do not discuss things that they already know. The same goes for the people who are judging your project. Being able to talk about things that they cannot relate to will help you stand out from the crowd.Also, talking about personal experiences will help you connect with people. They will feel comfortable talking about how they relate to what you are writing about. It is a common practice to include people of different backgrounds in a project. Most people do not know anyone who is a non-techie, so a lot of times that is an added asset. Writing about things that are personal to you will make the people reading it more sympathetic towards your pe rspective.As you start to write your own senior project, be sure to follow the sample instructions carefully. It is better to be safe than sorry. It can be painful to say the least to your audience if you do not come through on your promise to present a well-written senior project. If you are fortunate enough to get a thumbs up from the audience, well done!