Modern society is awash in material affluence, comfort, and convenience, and economic growth has become an end in and of itself.

Even though it is increasingly clear that global resources are not infinite, new product development proceeds at breakneck speed and companies are competing to see how quickly they can turn a profit on innovation and novelty. In the process, of course, the environment is spoiled, vast amounts of effluent and other waste are generated, global warming is accelerated, and a number of other interlocked side effects take place that ultimately threaten our species’ survival.

Corporations must bear the lion's share of the responsibility for this sad state of affairs. Indeed, the accelerated weight of industrial activity threatens to overwhelm the global ecosystem. It is high time this stopped.  Companies need to recognize their responsibility to the environment and need to work not only to stop making things worse but even to restore the environment and make things better. They need to put the global good at the top of their priorities list.

In short, they need to move beyond our competitive society and to work for a society in which all people can live healthful and cultural lives free of fear.

Kubota Tadao

NEC