by Roy Culpeper
"Corporations are legal persons. But it is ultimately the human
personalities within corporations -- particularly their top management -- that must ultimately imbue their businesses with ethical philosophies and practices.
Good intentions are not enough, however. If corporate responsibility is going to make a difference, it will have to translate into corporate accountability. Codes of conduct and self-regulation can only go so far. I have also suggested that institutions have a vital role in making markets and market actors function equitably. To make corporations fully accountable to all their stakeholders, we will need the active engagement of governments, international organizations, and members of civil society. Many important initiatives have been launched over the last few years, but our major challenges still lie ahead.
Those of us in this room, who are committed to promoting ethical business practices in Canada and around the world, might challenge our corporate colleagues with these questions: "What kind of world do you want to live in? what kind of world do you want your children to live in? Is your corporation acting resolutely for the good, or is it content merely to be a passive witness of evil, or worse still, an accomplice?" "
Accessessed on June 14, 1999 from:
http://www.ethicscentre.com/nsi-ins.htm