BlogComm
COMM 3030 - Communication and Social Responsibility
My Katrina
Posted posted by Kath, Becca, and Ellie @ 8:47 PM
When the swirling August climate brought hurricane winds crashing down onto
Global Warming
Posted posted by Sherie Comish @ 1:25 PM
Global WarmingYou would think being an avid diver I would be especially concerned about Global Warming. After all, it is likely contributing to the world-wide decline of reefs. However, I seem to want my cake and eat it too. I have no interest in taking public transportation (have you seen the people waiting at the bus stop? Scary!). Downsizing my house seems too painful. Consume fewer goods? Hardly! I do not think that I am alone as my attitude seems to be fairly representative of American society.
Now before you beat me with a stick, I am only semi-serious. Global warming is an issue I take seriously, but it seems the problem and the solutions are complex. Some proposed solutions simply present an additional set of problems. For example, switching to alternative fuels. Two recent articles pointed out switching to growing corn for ethanol has driven up the price of corn, making food more expensive for developing countries. A second article stated that the production of corn ethanol makes global warming worse and contributes to water pollution because of the fertilizer the farmers are using. It makes it hard to know what I should do.
Do I want to make changes to reduce my carbon footprint? Not really, I like my life. Should I change? Yes. Will I? Probably. I have made a goal of identifying one small step I can take and have committed to purchasing blocks of wind power. I know I need to do more, but at least it is a start.
The Wal-Mart Issue
Posted posted by Mallory and Eric @ 12:32 PM
I find the issue of Wal-Mart really interesting because so many people are against it yet it is still one of the biggest companies in the world and is making massive amounts of money. I am not a supporter of Wal-Mart but I am not one of those people that will make someone feel like a bad person if they do go to Wal-mart. Who am I to say that a person should not go to a store that will save them money if that money they saved means they can spend more time at home than at work. I think it would be easy for me to say Wal-Mart is horrible and I wont shop their and neither should anyone else because unlike many of their customers I can afford not to shop at Wal-Mart. Most the people who do shop their know that Wal-Mart is not the most ethical company but they are still shopping their and that is their choice and who am I to judge them.All Problems and No Solutions
Posted posted by Cade @ 11:02 AM
Throughout all the discussions that we have had about the various topics, there has been one thing that has always come to my mind, that is, what are the solutions to these problems?I understand that most of these discussions are all about what has happened or what is going on so that we can become more aware of the situation. There really isn't a lot of discussion about what can be done to fix the problem. I was pleased with some of the suggestions in regards to global worming about what we can do to keep our carbon gas output to a minimum, but other than that I don't recall many other suggestions to solutions. Especially about Wal-Mart, there was a lot of talk about what the problems are and how one feels about them, but almost nothing was said about what to do to solve the problem.
Maybe there isn't a solution to some of these problems, maybe it is just something we will have to live with, but I don't think that is honestly true. Nothing will change by talking about what happened in the past. Little happens when we talk about what is going on, but when we start thinking about what we are going to do to make it better, that is when good solutions come about.
A Wal-Mart Opportunity
Posted posted by the johansen's @ 10:00 PM
My Dad is part owner of a small pharmaceutical company based out of Alabama. As a small company, they are always looking for opportunities to grow and expand. One day, one of his sales reps went into a Wal-Mart pharmacy. He thought that if they could get their product into stores such as Wal-Mart, that would be a huge opportunity for their company. The worth of their company would grow immensely. Wal-Mart decided to distribute their product, resulting in great things for his company. I know that most people are upset with Wal-Mart because they have lower prices that small businesses cannot compete with. However, in this case, Wal-Mart has given a small business a great opportunity to expand!Green Versus Green
Posted posted by Sawyer Pangborn @ 3:51 PM
As our class has been discussing corporate responsibility and the example of Wal-Mart, I've been thinking about the balance a company must maintain in order to be considered both responsible and profitable. There must be a fine balance between these two items in order to maintain their favorable status in both the eyes of investors, customers, and society. The balance essentially depends on the willingness of a corporation to spend more money to be responsible, thus making them less profitable. It's a tradeoff that many companies and corporations are willing to accept, due to the fact that customers and investors will prefer to put their money into a company that is socially and environmentally responsible. On the other hand, if a company puts too much money into being responsible, it may become less profitable and will look less attractive to investors. This type of balance seems to be quite easy for some companies to attain, yet difficult for others. Some examples of responsible companies come to mind like Starbucks. Starbucks obtains a huge percentage of their coffee through free trade, thus deemed "free-trade coffee." This coffee prevents coffee growers from being ripped of by corporations that aren't willing to play the cost decided by the growers. Other companies, like local grocery stores in Salt Lake City, use recycled materials for their bags and other packaging. On the other side of the coin, corporations like Wal-Mart cut corners to gain profits, leaving corporate responsibility completely out of their policies. Consumers need to notice corporations such as these and refuse to spend their money there. Doing this is a much more powerful message than to protest/boycott vocally against these companies. Vote with your wallet.
Focus on you
Posted posted by Chris Johnson @ 9:24 AM
In class we have talked about the damaging effect of green house gasses and what kind of threat they pose to future generations if not changed. There were many scholars in the class discussion who had more of an opinion than factual evidence that would support their argument toward melting ice caps and helpless artic and polar animals. Many of these students were taking the approach that everybody needs to do something and we should follow the advice that has been given to us from elected officials on saving the environment.I personally want to ask are we as a class being socially responsible with what we are saying in class? In other words have we all bought a hybrid car or paid out unearthly amounts of money (we don't have) to change our cars over to an alternative fuel source other than fossil fuels? Has everyone changed their house or appartment over to solar/wind energy and cut off their ties to the local power company. Many people have laptops that are made up of many types of plastic, plastic is a product that is manufactured from oil that is drilled and tapped from the earth. So where we think we are saving trees that are turned in to paper for us to take notes on and do our assignments on, we are really drilling for more oil. Speaking of oil; are we all growing gardens and kneeding our own bread, because many if not all products you buy at the store are shipped in from a diesel powered truck that burned diesel and not only polluted the air we breathe but filled up at Flying J with diesel which is a by-product of oil. Are all our notes that we take in class written on recycled paper or am I just going a little too far with this?
I think that if we are to get serious about sustainability we need to stop blaming the government and other people and start with ourselves.
Hurricane Katrina
Posted posted by Jennifer Jones @ 7:38 PM
Hurricane Katrina was a horrible disaster for New Orleans. Numerous people lost everything and when I look at the pictures I feel bad for the residents. However, I think many people in New Orleans relied on the government to help them, they refused to help themselves and they wouldn't leave/evacuate their homes to seek help. I don't believe we can rely on the government for help at all times. I believe the government knew the levies would break if a hurricane came through but never got around to building better levies. New Orleans wouldn't have been quite as big of a disaster had the levies not broke. The residents of New Orleans who evacuated after the disaster and found new places to live and moved on with their lives were smart because the people still waiting in New Orleans in their ruined houses don't seem to be moving on with their lives and the government hasn't been able help to everyone rebuild. I hope New Orleans is rebuilt into a better cleaner city. I've heard it used to be dirty with a lot of crime and gangs. Because New Orleans used to be a tourist city for Mardi Gras, I hope that in the future it will become a safe place for tourists to go participate in Mardi Gras being worry free. Making the city a clean and safe place will bring in money for the city which is good for the economy and the residents of New Orleans.Where is the change?
Posted posted by julie @ 8:29 AM
If the biggest problem of global warming consists of melting ice caps, gloomy polar bears, intense natural disasters, and basically disastrous consequences, then the second biggest problem is our inability to change.
According to “Is Climate Change ‘A Very Important Issue’?”
The answer to that question should be “yes!” But first two general things must be realized and accepted so we can step forward to change.
Americans have a mindset of “oh that will never happen to me.” We idolize movies and their stars and dream of the lives we will be leading one day. We think we’re indestructible (but in a positive way). Seriously though, who gets in their car and thinks “I’m going to get in a car crash and kill a family today?” So why should we start thinking, “global warming is causing ocean waters to rise I’m about to kill one billion people?”
Second, Americans are about results. When we do hard work, we expect to see results (rather instantly, we live in a fast world and want fast results). However, when we think about global warming, we’re not going to necessarily see an immediate physical result or an “award” at the end of the road. Global warming is more of an idea rather than a visible object, and the lack of tangibility might not show our fast result.
We must not only find solutions to change our greenhouse gas emissions but bring change to our mindset.
Blog #2, Payam Ishani, Global warming
Posted posted by payam ishani @ 8:12 AM
Based on many scientific journals, we humans have contributed significantly to the global warming in the past few decays. And I don’t think that there is much controversy left about this fact. However there are many reasons to why this issue is kind of “left behind” and little or no action is being taken to remedy it.The first reason I believe is the lack of effective solution. There are, of course, many proposed solutions but none of them are really effective. The actual “cost” of an effective solution to lower the rate of global warming is so great that many countries and individuals simply are not willing to pay. It would involve changing our lifestyles, as well as sacrificing economical advantages and reducing consumption, each of which can be very challenging.
Another reason can be that humans are only “contributing” to global warming and are not causing it directly. This is not the first time that we see a temperature change on the surface of the earth. It is believed that the earth has gone through many cycles of such changes of temperature in the past millions of years. Other animals as well as plants also contribute to the climate change. Solar changes also play a huge role in global warming. Therefore, I think the global warming is somehow seen as a natural way that the earth works.
We should also keep this in mind that the natural resources are depleting at a high rate and probably by the year 2050 we will not drive cars that use gasoline as the source of energy because it will be much more expensive than using other alternative energy sources. Therefore I believe that we will be witnessing a significant decrease of produced greenhouse gases by humans in the near future and the temperature of the earth will not continue to increase at the current estimated rate.
Payam
Different ways to look at it
Posted posted by jsheehan @ 4:30 PM
The answer to what social responsibility is varies as you look to different people, businesses, communities and countries. To the individual this answer is largely dependent upon their own ideas, beliefs and personal history. It would not be fair for someone to say another is not socially responsible because that individual is not involved in the same sort of causes. I believe that an individual is socially responsible when they are conscious of the needs of the community around them and then take action to help solve issues that they feel strongly about. Because there are seemingly endless amounts of issues facing each community, social responsibility could not require one to engage in solving, or even engaging in, each individual problem. This might also need to include individuals refraining from activities that are detrimental to the society as a whole. Businesses fulfill their social responsibility in a variety of ways. A business is able to contribute greatly to the community simply by thriving as a company, which helps to boost the economy. It should also work to build up the community in which it thrives so that it leaves the society stronger than it would be without it. Last of all, a company must conduct itself according to the laws of the land in which it is. Communities can exercise this type of responsibility by striving to support and protect the individual citizens within its borders. This is quite a different fete for a community such as New York City when compared to a town of just a few thousand. I do believe that it is often almost impossible to look after each individual person, but if that community is responsible as a whole it will be working towards a greater life for all of their citizens, not just the upper class. Finally, nations can exhibit this responsible nature in various ways as well. Being that there are numerous countries around the world, each at their own individual level both socially and economically, I believe that there cannot be just one set of standards for all. I think that nations must first look after their own, and then, if they are able, look to the world community to see where they can be of assistance to those who are less fortunate. So the answer to what social responsibility is depends upon the group to which you are referring to. As for me, I believe that I am being socially responsible if I am consistently engaged in opportunities to serve and strengthen my family, friends and the community around me. I think that each of us should take the opportunity to enlighten other about the causes that we believe in. There are many ways to do this, writing is just one of them. After we write about it, though, it must be followed by action for our words to carry any sort of merit.Stickin up for the written...
Posted posted by Cory Jones @ 4:18 PM
Social responsibility is the ideology that embraces a standard of ethics for public entities to live up to. It is the expectations that we have come to recognize as being morally right and beneficial to society. Though many people have written on the difference between written vs. expressed social responsibility, I would argue that both writing and expressing social responsibility can be equally beneficial/responsible to society. There is no doubt that action often speaks greater than words; though it does not always mean that words cannot have a great impact as well. Texts have the ability to educate individuals to be culturally literate. Take this class for example. All of the texts we have read for this course have taught us to be socially responsible. So I would not discount written forms of social responsibility, as long as they are genuine and serve the purpose to provide for the greater good of humanity.
Posted posted by piper kennedy @ 4:16 PM
As I sit as this computer and contemplate my day I think about what social responsibility is to me. Some say that it is the ideological theory about whether the government, a corporation, organization or and individual is responsible to society. For me I think that social responsibility is the need and the want for all of us to be responsible for our selves including each other. We have a social responsibility to protect, serve, help, or whatever we are or any other person is in need of. We have so many selfish people in this world today. Our society today screams me, me, me! Every thing we do today is how much money we make, and who has the best stuff. I have even fallen guilty to this one, who hasn’t. By helping someone even the smallest way, we are not just helping them we are helping ourselves. It is amazing the way that I feel when I have done something nice for someone. I have a very busy life with kids and school but when I see my elderly neighbor across the street struggle with a bag of groceries I find myself being happy to help her. By doing service to other I can feel better about myself and be happier.What happened to helping one another? It kind of like “Do unto others as other do unto you.” Random acts of kindness even the smallest thing can help others each day. We also have the opportunity to say to ourselves what have I done to help someone today? Or have I paid it forward. I know that we cannot be socially responsible for everyone but if everyone felt this way then we could all help each other.
A picture is worth a thousand words
Posted posted by Antok the Destroyer @ 4:07 PM
Writing is an essential part of expressing social responsibility, but contextually writing falls into the larger and more important category of creative influence. The form of creative influence I am more interested in, via expression, is art.No major movement in society can be separated from a relative art movement. Such movements include, slavery, prohibition, women’s rights, immigration, war, etc. No matter how big or how small the social issues are, art stands side by side with “Expressing Social Responsibility”.
Art is used in the same ways as writing, but it’s spoken in a different language, and there are no limits to the medium or media.
Like society, the creation of art is a journey forward. There are tangents and restraints, setbacks and leaps ahead. However, none of these actions matter if no intelligence is applied, or if nothing is learned in the process.
Salvador Dali once said, “Intelligence without ambition is a bird without wings”, and Pablo Picasso said, “Action is the foundational key to all success”.
One must have wings, and be willing to use them, if your goal is to fly. Be aware of your responsibility, be ambitious, and take action. Paint, sculpt, draw, do whatever you want, but, whether it is personal or collective success you are looking for, without action, neither will be gained.
Expression is the most important part of being human. It requires voice, the right to be heard, the requirement to listen, and without it we are silent and alone
Social Responsibility
Posted posted by natalie @ 3:39 PM
To me, social responsibility means thinking outside of yourself and making decisions based on what is good for society as a whole. As human beings, we are all connected and our actions effect others. I believe, as many others in the class, that social responsibility begins with the individual. But great change does not usually begin and end with one individual. To affect change in society, we must come together and "turn to one another". We are a society dependent upon each other and in order to begin addressing our societies problems, we must begin an open dialouge.Social responsibility begins with communication and the greatest tool of communication is writing. One persons words can educate and inspire thousands of people. The written word inspires conversation, another tool of social responsibility. More people, especially those in positions of power, need to understand the power of true conversation. True conversation is not one-sided or arugmentative, but is a way of communicating different ideas and understanding one another. Misunderstandings and lack of communication are partly at fault for problems in our society. We do not take the time to understand others that are different than ourselves. The easiest way to understand someone is to listen to them and engage them in a conversation. This is not always easy or comfortable, but we cannot solve problems when we don't even understand eachother.
We Need to Act
Posted posted by Anonymous @ 1:39 PM
Writing and expressing social responsibility are almost two different things. We can write about being socially responsible in a certain area, and try to persuade others to be socially aware of what is affecting our own communities, and act, but if we do not practice what we preach then nothing will happen. We need to believe that we can change things, we need to own and believe in that change. We can write about issues concerning the world we live in, all we want but setting an example first is so much more powerful. How many times have we read about something that is going on in our own community, and all we can say about that issue is 'oh that's too bad, hopefully something gets worked out.' I'm not trying to say that writing about issues is not effective or powerful in any way, but the written word needs to be backed up by action. Writing about something is the first step in being socially responsible. The information needs to be put out there to start conversation, let the issue be known, and at least get people thinking. Writing can establish a sense of duty among people, and then a sense of action, comes about in that form. Sometimes we read about something that is affecting us in our own community, and that information just sticks, and won't leave our minds, instead it gnaws at us to act, to do something, or at least share our thoughts with others.A stroll of thought
Posted posted by Becky Jo @ 12:00 PM
The other day as I embarked on my daily trek into work, which just so happens to be near the Salt Lake City homeless shelter, I expectedly ran into several people asking for money. Their reasons differed though all seemed to be in need of the same basic human needs, food being the more abundant one. Of course, as many of us do, I shamefully said no to each of them knowing I had several dollars in my purse.What does this have to do with social responsibility? Well is it a human’s responsibility, to feed another human? I could have given a man a dollar, but how far would that dollar have gone? How is that making Salt Lake a better place?
Another time, a man around 35 approached me and gave me the same story about how he is homeless and hungry. Instead of just shrugging this man off, I asked him if he had ever tried getting a job. He continues to tell me that he was shot in the head with an AK47 while he was in war and since then hasn’t been able to work due to the pain medication he is on. Then I asked him if he went to church. He said no. The whole reason I am telling this is because ones purpose of social responsibility can be just helping a fellow man. I might not have fed that man that night but I gave him something to think about, maybe even hope. I think we can all show responsibility not by just helping one another but even acknowledging that we all live in the same world. We are in this together, and by showing that respectively, I think we would all be giving our part to social responsibility.
Communication: An Unparalleled Force for Change
Posted posted by Kyle @ 8:23 AM
Communication is mankind’s greatest tool for change. In our continual struggle to become better than we are and improve society, communication is the crucial bridge between one person’s idea and the actions that change and shape the world!
Communication & Social Injustice
Posted posted by allegri @ 9:48 PM
Social responsibility starts with what the main core of what this class is about, communication. Without being able to properly communicate ones desire of being socially active, the attempt is merely a blemish added on the lesion that is already present. Unfortunately, the ability to be socially responsible and active in representing the response to social injustice takes a supreme leverage of communication.In todays world, in more places across the globe, than not - social injustice occurs on a consistent basis. To be able to make a lasting difference in this globe we need to be masters at communication by taking action and gathering alike minds in our cause. By having a knowledge of communication, we are able to take the voice that began from one individual screaming of injustice and take it to the legislatures of our nation. By becoming professional communicators we can take the injustice of today across the globe, and make it yesterday's history.
Be the Change
Posted posted by anne reni @ 9:45 PM
Mahatma Gandhi said: “We must be the change we wish to see in the world.” This is the meaning of social responsibility.What does “being the change” mean”?
Everyone is going to make an impact. The choices I make today will have long-reaching effects in the future. I can choose to be mediocre or self-serving, or I can choose to be the change I would like to see.
This requires me to wake up, emerge from my world, and open my eyes, my brain, and my heart. I must encounter the world and take off the rose -colored glasses. See the problems.
Then do something about them! Effect change!
An example: I knew a woman who felt adoption was an important social issue. She began facilitating adoptions, first domestically, then internationally. She adopted and raised ten children. She became the change!
This brings us back to the question: “What is social responsibility?” It is to be the change that you want to see in the world!
Walk the Walk, Talk the Talk
Posted posted by Sawyer Pangborn @ 7:14 PM
Social responsibility is a cause of the human problem of hypocrisy. Despite all the talk about being socially responsible, not many people actually do what they say. People speak of being responsible, yet support the companies that treat their employees poorly, both at home and abroad. People talk about helping those who are economically enslaved, and yet spend an entire paycheck at Wal-Mart. This is a sign that our nation feigns belief or support in an idea that sounds good or will make them look appealing or good to others.
Social responsibility is so much more than just talking. Social responsibility is acting. Show companies you want them to change by not spending money there. Wal-Mart's decrease in profits if this were to happen would awaken the sleeping CEO's to their blunders if we were to boycott and shop elsewhere. It is a matter of acting on what you believe, rather than being a weak-spined individual scared of what people think.
My advice is to completely ignore what people think of you. They mainly gain the wrong impression of you anyways, so why should it matter? Act with your heart and mind, not your sense of popularity or sense of fashion. Wake up America, the era of apathy needs to come to an end.
Writing Isn't As Influential Anymore
Posted posted by Trevor Jones @ 6:47 PM
Thomas Paine in 1776 wrote a book called “Common Sense” that addressed the issue of declaring independence from Britain. His writing had a tremendous effect on the community and gained the support needed for the American Revolution. His writing expressed the social responsibility of these people to unite for a common cause. This example and many others display the fact that writing can be a powerful tool in expressing social responsibility. Most writing of this form is making a call to action. A call to go out and do something about the issue and challenge the status quo. Writing is a great way to express social responsibility and demonstrate the ways in which people are responsible for events that are occurring in the world. The problem with writing though, is that most people don't really sit down and read anymore. Times have changed. There's a better chance of influencing people through YouTube now days, it's sad but the truth. Mass media is the way our world is run now. I'm sure the average person would rather watch the news than read the newspaper. It's all about what's quick and easy. Reading takes more energy than vegging out in front of a screen. Writing is only effective if it is read, not depending on how good it is or who it's by. May I ask, how many articles have you read about Darfur? The problem is there and many people have written about it but writing isn't enough apparently. Back in 1776 maybe it was enough to write, but not now. The written word doesn't compare to the spoken word on film. I agree writing has a powerful influence on people but not as much as it used to.
Posted posted by L_Cacioppo @ 5:30 PM
I believe that a person cannot truly grasp what they think until they write it down. Writing involves not only research and a general knowledge of the subject, but also clear, concise thought patterns that cannot simply be organized in the mind. Personally, I come to a much better understanding of the topic while I’m learning, thinking, and writing about it. Some sort of greater knowledge emerges when you can see the words tangibly in front of you and are able to read them over and over again. In the process of searching for the right words, sentence structures, and overall form, you begin to focus your train of thought much more clearly than if you were to simply think or speak of these things.This idea becomes prevalent in many aspects, including Social Responsibility as well as personal emotion, though the two often tie together. At first glance, an idea like No Child Left Behind may seem ineffective and unimportant. However, after research, writing, and conversing with others, a stronger opinion may emerge. The same goes for gathering thoughts about anything, no matter the importance. This is the reason so many people write in journals, diaries, and blogs. Without the art of writing, no argument would be as sound, no opinion as convincing, and no thought as pure and poignant.
Social responsibilty
Posted posted by Jennifer Jones @ 5:24 PM
Social responsibility to me means a responsibility to society in any entity. Different entities have different responsibilities, but all should encourage respect for society. Social responsibility is voluntary, it is about going the extra mile to improve society. By expressing social responsibility you are helping to do away with irresponsible behavior that harms society.When you write and/or express social responsibility I believe you are taking a stand. You want to act on fixing problems in your community. You have the power to help people and the environment, you also have the power to encourage others to do the same. Helping society will than help you to feel responsible and take pride in your choice to be socially responsible.
expressing your beliefs
Posted posted by tvoss @ 4:23 PM
To me writing and expressing social responsibility means that it is our privilege to be able to express what we think is in the best interest of our society. This can mean that we can choose to act on what we know (a positive proactive stance), or we can choose to not act on something that we know (a negative resistance stance). Which ever stance we choose to take is determined by whether we think acting or not acting would be in the best interest of our society as a whole. I believe that the best way for us to express our social responsibility is through writing. Through writing we are able to state exactly what we mean without any verbal confusion because we are able to actually think about what we want to say and take our time in saying it. When we deliver our message verbally it is sometimes easy to get off track and go off on irrelevant tangents that may confuse our listeners and cause them to lose interest in what we are saying. In the end I believe that social responsibility and our means of expressing it changes from person to person; it is all about what we think is in society’s best interest and not what someone else tells us to think. Some people may think that verbally expressing their thoughts is more advantageous than writing, but once again this depends on the type of person that you are.
First Blog
Posted posted by Megan @ 4:22 PM
Writing and expressing social responsibility to me, is in anyway expressing your concern of social responsibility. It could be based on anything in our society today. I find how I express social responsibility is by getting involved in matters that not only effect myself but others around the world as well. For example if everyone in the world made one little change about recycling think about what a difference that would be. Even if it were for only one day, the amount of energy we would save, or how much we would recycle. Writing i think is even easier then acting towards social responsibility. For example blogging is a big way to get your words out on issue that can reach many people. The web and internet are very powerful tools to use for things like this. I think social responsibility can only be powerful if everyone contributes, otherwise its hard to make a difference. I think the more communication between people the better, a lot more can be achieved, or even solved.
practice what you preach... the sequel.
Posted posted by tayler @ 1:47 PM
I think Chris nailed it right on the head when he titled his blog “Practice What You Preach.” Social responsibility isn’t just talking about a good cause; it’s doing it yourself and then encouraging others to do the same.A great example of someone who practices what they preach is Mayor Rocky Anderson. He and his administration set environmental goals for the city and they are accomplishing a lot behind the scenes as well as in the public eye. Just the other day I saw a story on the news about how there are 16 restaurants in Salt Lake City that have banned bottled water to support Rocky’s cause. He is being socially responsible and encouraging others to take his lead. But you don’t have to be the mayor of a city to make a change. Find a cause that you are interested in and join a group with others who share your interest, or if there isn’t a group, start your own. Chances are that you are not the only one who cares about something, especially if it has to do with making our world a better place. Who doesn’t want that, right?
Social Resoncibility
Posted posted by Mallory and Eric @ 1:01 PM
What is writing and expressing social responsibility? It is when people find something in our world that needs to be brought up, and then go share it with the rest of the world. I think to become socially responsible the first step is discovering what you consider top be an important social topic that needs to be addressed, whether that is the environment, animal rights or equality in the work place find something that you think is important. Once you have got an issue that you find important let people know and spread the word. I think it is crucial that the person who is informing others about an issue feels strongly about what they are saying. No one will take you seriously if you are wishy washy about the way you feel. Be fully invested in the cause.For instance global warming is a topic that is on everyone’s mind right now. The people who have brought this issue to our attention and have let people know about this crisis really care about it and they are fully invested in the subject. These people are being socially responsible. They have found a problem that needs to be fixed and they are doing all they can to fix it. They know they cannot stop global warming on their own so they are going out and letting people know about this so everyone can do their part.
I think knowledge is power so letting everyone know about a subject you find important can bring great things and can cause the change you want to see.
Get Active
Posted posted by too_legit @ 11:44 AM
Social responsibility is a verb, it is actively making the world a better place. It is the obligations and opportunities we have with one another. It is helping the community thrive. Your community could be your neighborhood, town, city, state, country, or even the entire world.I agree with Okie's ideas that changing the world starts small. I believe that the world does change when you help the person next to you. I believe that recycling is an example of social responsibility, and it is something small that everyone can easily do and it helps the world. Volunteering at a soup kitchen or something similar helps your city and is another example of social responsibility.
Writing and expressing yourself are the beginnings of social responsibility. They are the opportunity you have with others to share knowledge. Whether you write it, sing it, or hold up signs at a protest it's a part of social responsibility. I believe it's important to make a voice for yourself, and for others, especially those who have little or no power of voice. Examples of people with little or no voice include, homeless people, trans gender, and the oh so controversial animals. when you share your ideas with others they may learn from you, you may have ideas that help make the community a better place. When others share their ideas they may help you understand new things. It is important to share ideas because every action first came from a thought or idea. If no one knew about the victims of hurricane Katrina, no one would have rushed to their aide, or sent donations, or help them rebuild their homes and lives. Where would they be now?
Express Yourself...
Posted posted by the johansen's @ 12:35 PM
Every person has the ability to express themselves. They are able to express their feelings and emotions. Every person also has the ability to be socially responsible. I believe that being socially responsible means to form an opinion on a topic, and take a stand on that topic to better the community. "A writer doesn't solve problems, he allows them to emerge" -Anonymous. Writing allows us to express ourselves, form our own opinions on different issues, and take a stand on these social problems. When you write your thoughts and opinions and allow others to read them, you could impact their opinions and you could have a positive affect on the community. Never be afraid to write your feelings down...You never know how many people it could affect in the long run!"Make the Change"
Posted posted by Kath, Becca, and Ellie @ 7:17 PM
I don't have the cure to global warming or poverty. I can't end the war in Iraq. I can't stop all of the violence in our streets, nor do I have the answers to the various other questions that plague the human race. If I focus on what I can’t do, it makes me feel overwhelmed with the state of the world.
But there are things I CAN do. I can recycle. I can volunteer. I can vote. I can educate myself. I can smile at strangers. I can help my little sister with her homework. There are several things I CAN do. No, these things won't solve the world's problems all at once but it is a conscious step in the right direction.
I never thought I would quote the lyrics to a Michael Jackson song to define my idea of social responsibility, but the message rings true: “I’m starting with the (one) in the mirror/ I’m asking (them) to change (their) ways/…If you want to make the world a better place/ take a look at yourself and make the change”.
Posted posted by Sherie Comish @ 6:59 AM
To me being socially responsible involves the concept that every person should consider the impact their words and actions have on others. While it sounds simple, it actually involves a fair amount of work. In order to gauge your impact, you must first educate yourself about and then be willing to see the value in people and cultures that are unlike your own. It involves a willingness to be open-minded and tolerant. This applies to all levels be it individual, community, religious, corporate, or political. It can also be applied to any social issue.Take the current debate over immigration. American law restricts the number of Mexican nationals that can obtain a Visa so they can legally enter America. One might think that is a wise application of our sovereign right to manage our borders. Think, though, about what happens when a Mexican national is severely injured while in America. Mexican nationals sometimes wait weeks for approval of the Visa. What happens if it is denied? How does their family rush to their side? Imagine lying in a hospital bed in a foreign country hurt and all alone. Imagine being the family member desperately trying to reach them. Is this really what we have in mind when we advocate for stricter border controls?
While considering your impact does not require you to change your thoughts or actions; it does require that you carefully consider the consequences and weigh them against your own needs.
Social Responsibility ... my first blog ever
Posted posted by julie @ 10:01 AM
“We don’t have to start with power, only passion,” (Wheatley 25). Margaret Wheatley’s book, Turning to One Another, advocates for each individual to use the power of communication to heal, teach, and grow together. Her message talks to the individual at a personal level but hopes to reach the community, society, and world as we communicate and express our feelings, ideas, and passions. These expressions lead to our own social responsibility as humans as we open each other and ourselves to the world beyond our own minds.
Before when I thought of the words, social responsibility, I remembered my high school years spent in speech and debate. We argued about values such as justice, societal welfare, and social responsibility. I recall thinking that I really didn’t have the best understanding of what I was arguing (probably why I did much better at speech events).
But what is the best way to explain social responsibility? Should we look to such figures as Gandhi who was a leader for
Social responsibility rather than being some fancy idea of the betterment of society, is an idea of one individual expressing, writing, and contributing his or her ideas to the world. When we express and give new views and voices, we make one another learn and grow with passion.
Practice what you preach
Posted posted by Chris Johnson @ 2:14 PM
Over the last two years there has been a huge push to lower green house gases and to be more environmentally minded. People are becoming more aware of the amount of fossil fuels that are being burned and emitted into the atmosphere. Others think they can buy a “carbon footprint” to offset the pollution that they are burning and putting into the air. But they still fly on airplanes and drive the big eight cylinder cars that burn large amounts of gas. Are they really practicing what they preach?Al Gore is a huge supporter of conservation and has done a good job of telling us what we need to do in order to save energy and decrease the amount of pollutants that are being released into the air. Mean while as he makes movies and travels around the country promoting his views his mansion in Nashville is being powered by electricity that is being produced by fossil fuels being burned to create energy. Ironically in February of this year the press said that the total bill for electricity on his house was around $30,000.
What this looks like is a classic case of do as I say not as I do. Not only Al Gore but many other people of power and prestige feel that they can tell us how we need to ride our bikes, take public transportation, switch out light bulbs to a lower wattage or energy efficiency as they live a life of luxury using fossil fuel dependent products. What gives? I personally recycle, and try to be as conservative with electricity and water. I hate red necks with their big pick-up trucks that leave large clouds of black exhaust for us to drive through and breathe in, I think that is dirty and dangerous to not only our health but environment. I especially hate getting lectured on the environment then have the “big shots” after they tell us this get in their private jet and burn astronomical amounts of jet fuel polluting just as much if not way more than the average Joe with his V6?
Personally, it’s hard to trust or believe these people when they don’t practice what they preach.
Share What You Know
Posted posted by Cade @ 11:33 AM
President Thomas S. Monson of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints once wrote, “…that which one willingly shares he keeps, while that which he selfishly keeps he loses…” He made that remark in regards to our knowledge and feelings of the gospel of Jesus Christ, but it also holds true to our knowledge in general.It is our Social Responsibility to share what we know and feel about topics and problems that surround us in our communities. If we are active in communicating what we know and believe we keep that knowledge and possibly gain more from the thoughts of others. If we are not willing to share our thoughts and feelings, according to Monson, we will soon lose that knowledge and those feelings that we once had.
Our need to share our knowledge and thoughts is not only important to the social growth of others but also to ourselves. Many have already come to know of the truth of this statement as they have stepped out of their zone of comfort and shared their thoughts and feelings about social topics and have been open to hear those of others.
Elder Thomas S. Monson, Pathways to Perfection, 1973, 100-101
Writing and Expressing Social Responsibility
Posted posted by Anonymous @ 1:20 PM
Writing is an essential part of human life. We use words as a way to communicate to others our internal thoughts. Ancient writings are our voyage into the past. It gives us a glimpse into what happened in a world we did not exist. Egyptians used Papyrus paper to write down stories which told of their culture, their lives, their discoveries, and their God's. It is fascinating to see that social responsibility started long before any of us were around.Martin Luther King Jr., Mother Theresa, Jimmy Carter (for humanity) and Rosa Parks (activist for Civil Rights) are just a few who I look up to for standing up for what they believe in. These people, not only used there words, but also their actions to make a statement and change lives. As Payam was saying, Martin Luther King Jr’s way with words impacted a nation. His “I have a Dream” speech touched the hearts and souls of the millions who listened to him that day. Even to this day, King’s speech is still heard by millions.
Social Responsibility is more than just writing thoughts down on paper. It is taking the time, patience and effort to help make a difference in this world. Many organizations and people who do take the time to make a difference are rarely recognized, but those that are have made a huge impact on our world today. Writing thoughts and ideas down are just the beginning.
-Jaime Zundel
Is POP Culture all That Bad?
Posted posted by Mike Rogers @ 6:12 PM
After reading a few of my classmates blogs, something really got me thinking. In Heidi's blog she mentioned that great writings and writers were "overlooked in favor of flashy pop culture headlines." I agree 100 percent that the writings of great leaders, and legendary books, can stimulate our minds to do great things for our community, but can some things that are classified as pop culture do the same thing?Pop culture is very popular in our world today, and whether anyone wants to admit it or not they pay attention to what is going on in some form of pop culture. This subject is so broad with celebrities, rock bands, supermodels, sports stars, and every thing else that classifies as pop culture, it is everywhere. This may sound funny but many items that you see in mass media influence your everyday life. Who is to say that you won't or haven't seen something that pulls on your heart-strings, and forces you to fight for a social cause.
I know that everyone in the class is going to read this, so I will continue under one condition. No one make fun of me for what I am about to say. Because of Brangelina (Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie) and their love for adopting children, "Saving the World, One Child at a Time." My wife wants to adopt a little boy from Vietnam. Because of Oprah, I really want to tell my father that it is OK for divorcing my mother, and because of Lindsey Lohan, I want to stop driving drunk, and snorting coke. (I am just kidding about the last one)
The reality of it is that the mass media and pop culture are in our lives most of the time. Not everyone has the time or desire to read books like Uncle Toms Cabin, or The Diary of Ann Frank. I enjoy plenty of reading from my college classes The remainder of my time goes to my family, my dog, and my T.V. So what I am trying to say is at this time in my life the only thing that will trigger social responsibility in my life will come from pop culture, and mass media.