The other day we were discussing the question, how do we know if corporations really care about the values they are marketing (such as recycling) or if the choices they make are based on monetary gain? I was at Disneyland over spring break and I saw the common theme of "going green", and they coupled it with Kermit the Frog; they had all sorts of merchandise plastered with Kermit the Frog and the slogan Go Green. On one hand, Disneyland has always had recycling cans so that makes me think they have always had that value, but I wonder if they are "jumping on the bandwagon" of going green for a little more profit. I don't know. But let me bring up the non-profit organizations. Their very title suggests that they aren't in it for the money...what is their motivation? Could it really be their values? Anyone?
Corporate motivation is one thing and transparently so, making profit. Non-profit organizations are political and ideological, possibly altruistic in their motivation, but in order to retain their tax-exempt status they must show that they are not engaged in political activities:
ReplyDelete"Under the Internal Revenue Code, all section 501(c)(3) organizations are absolutely prohibited from directly or indirectly participating in, or intervening in, any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for elective public office. Contributions to political campaign funds or public statements of position (verbal or written) made on behalf of the organization in favor of or in opposition to any candidate for public office clearly violate the prohibition against political campaign activity. Violating this prohibition may result in denial or revocation of tax-exempt status and the imposition of certain excise taxes."
That's a quote from the IRS site. The idea behind an environmental organization, like the Sierra Club is that their charter or constitution spell out their motivation. Like you bring up, recycling for the love of the earth is not believable, coming from Disney, Inc. In a non-profit like the Sierra Club, where they have a long tradition of environmental activism it's a different story. Their partnership with other groups to both advocate and lead policy is actually believable and evident.
I think corporations for the most part want to get involved in social issues to make a profit,but I am sure there are those who want to make a difference. Unfortunatly, it's hard to know because everything a corporation does affects their business.
ReplyDeleteI have only been to Disney Land once and while I was there I didn't concentrate on recycling. Of course I didn't spend much money there because it was expensive enough to get in. I suppose had I been there at this time when we are talking about the media and how corporations are using it then I would have noticed more. But when i was there last summer i didn't notice any thing concerning the whole going green attitude. It seems like it has gotten more prevalent with advertising in the past months or even the past year. Like I mentioned in class concerning how Walmart has marketed that we are saving money in both ways by buying bulbs there and buying the safer more efficient bulbs. Every company wants us to buy their products and the best way to do it is by following the masses, which is sad to have to say.
ReplyDeleteAs for non-profit organization, I guess the hope is that they are really doing it save the environment. If they are doing it for the right reasons, then more power to them. We just have hope that these organizations are focusing on what really needs to be fixed or taken care of. No one should ever join a non-profit organization unless they really care about what the organization stands for.
Sorry. I spelled Disneyland wrong.
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