Pursuing Developing Markets

The following quotes were taken from an article in the January 29th Wall Street Journal titled "Philip Morris Readies Aggressive Global Push". The article talks about their pursuit of "product innovation" particularly in developing markets.

Among the new products in test phase is a hand-held electronic smoking device called the Heatbar, which emits less smoke than a regular cigarette. Another is Marlboro Wides -- an extra-thick cigarette whose package flips open from one side. To appeal to customers in some emerging markets, the company is making sweet-smelling cigarettes that contain tobacco, cloves and flavoring -- with twice the tar and nicotine levels of a conventional U.S. cigarette.While smoking rates in developed countries have slowly declined, they have shot up dramatically in some developing counties, where PMI is a major player. These include Pakistan (up 42% since 2001), Ukraine (up 36%) and Argentina (up 18%).

Here is a link talking about their new product innovation:
http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid452319854/bctid1395217394

So the question becomes...is Philip Morris behaving in a socially responsibile manner by creating these products? If so, why? If not, why not? Who are the stakeholders that they are serving with this strategy? Which stakeholders may not be happy with their strategy? Is it ok to put out cigarettes that have twice the tar and nicotine levels of conventional U.S. cigarettes in the developing world even if the people in the developing world prefer the higher levels of nicotine?

"Renewable Energy"

We've heard a lot of talk in the media about decreasing our dependence on foreign oil. For one reason or another our dependency continues. Here is a link to what GE is doing to help: http://www.ge.com/news/audio_video/index.html

Questions: Do you think that biofuel is something that can completely replace oil? Why aren't companies doing more research in this area? How come we don't hear about the work that many companies are doing already? What do you think about the concept of biofuel?

GE seems to be taking the lead in this area. We would assume that in the five stage process of social responsibility that they are at least at the "strategy" stage and may even be at the "civil" stage. How would you classify their level of involvement in CSR and why?