An ethically intolerable solution in the 21st century

4,900 children died every day in 2006. 1,800,000 died during that entire year. What killed them? Among several killers, the foremost is a lack of access to clean drinking water. Diarrhea is the second greatest cause of infant mortality around the world. How can we condemn an entire portion of the human race to these mortal risks? Bernardo Kliksberg believes that the issue is not linked solely to a lack of water, but is largely related to the absence of international will to find a solution. The lack of clean drinking water is an offense to mankind and is ethically intolerable especially in the technologically advanced 21st century. In Kliksberg‘s opinion, water must become a priority on our collective agenda.

A rare and poorly distributed resource

Ferran Requejo exposes the serious problem that the lack of water at the global level presents for development, growth, distribution and the environment, and that affects the dignity and human rights of more than 2 billion people. Requejo believes that there are four factors that make difficult the reduction of the number of people affected by consuming unsafe water: the lack of fresh water on the planet, the increasing population, the relation between development and contamination, and the increase in demand.

Micro-credit to fight poverty

Bernardo Kliksberg explains how Nobel Peace Prize Winner, Muhammad Yunus, founded the Grameen Bank and created a system of micro-credit in Bangladesh designed to bring hundreds of thousands of people out of poverty. Yunus, a brilliant economist with a bright future as an academic and consultant, decided to leave his comfortable life behind him in favor of mobilizing cooperation among the poor of his country. In Kliksberg‘s opinion, the time has come to apply Yunus’ successful formula to fight poverty throughout Latin America.

Bernardo Kliksberg analyzes the role that businesses play in society, pointing out that corporate responsibility not only produces benefits for the companies and institutions, but also for society as a whole. Kliksberg explains why corporate responsibility is taking on an ever more important and urgent role in developing countries, and why it is essential –in a world of increasing inequality, with over 3 billion poor– to ensure that businesses take on an active role in solving society’s problems. With corporate responsibility, everyone wins.

Bernardo Kliksberg comments on the recent mega-donation of guru of finance Warren Buffet of over 85 per cent of his fortune to humanitarian causes, and of Bill Gates‘ decision to leave his company and dedicate himself fulltime to his foundation. Kliksberg believes that it is no coincidence that the most successful businessmen of our time are fighting to uphold corporate responsibility. These leaders are giving a message for all businessmen to be conscientious of their place in the world, and of the impact that their actions have upon others. And while Buffet and Gates cannot change the world with one decision, they can begin to make a difference in the lives of many people.

Bernardo Kliksberg analyzes the importance of corporate responsibility and how ethical conduct in businesses and corporations allows everyone to win: both the society, and the businesses themselves. Kliksberg points out which countries are the most advanced in corporate responsibility, discusses how companies are competing to lead the fight for ethical business, and explains why, thanks to growing social pressure from investors and consumers, corporate responsibility has won the battle of ideas in today’s world of globalization. Far from being a passing fad, social responsibility appears to be here to stay.