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hiding behind the veil of sustainability and environmental responsibility, yet carrying on business as usual. But one thing is for certain: green has become the new goose that lays a golden egg for the large multinationals.

In terms of the multinationals' behavior in other countries, it is nothing less than hypocrisy to promise environmental responsibility through the American media and then do the complete opposite in other countries. Care of the environment should not simply be an American concern; rather it should be a global concern, because what happens abroad affects us all in one way or another. Furthermore, multinationals should take into consideration the respective ecosystems in which they do business, beginning with mandatory environmental impact reports before any business is commenced.

But it's also a question of American leadership and morality. Like the issue of global warming and Kyoto, should not America, the land of the free and home of the brave, the "moral" nation, be the prime example and lead the world into a more environmentally-friendly way of doing business abroad? Or will it continue to be recognized as a plundering, unfeeling, uncaring, selfish nation?

Hope is growing that advances in technology will make it less expensive for multinational companies to incorporate environmental standards into their business activities abroad. Will they respond voluntarily, or will a governmental body step in to enact new regulations, forcing them to clean up their act? Either way, our multinationals should be held to account in upholding their lofty promises of environmental responsibility and sustainability wherever in the world they do business.

Learn more about this author, Daniel J. Gansle.
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