24 June 2014 - QA 8

How can we alleviate the negative consequences of materialism in each of our lives, and how can we teach that in our free societies?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:

As I said, consumerism is a problem. It is not wrong to be rich, but it is wrong to exploit people and the planet. That is what is happening.
In many places, people are trying to become rich while undermining the environment, undermining the laws of the nation. This is where the problem arises.

Corporate Social Responsibility is something that every Corporate should undertake. Do something for those around you; for society.
Now in India they have made it a law that every company must invest at least 3% of their profit in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). That sense of giving back to society has now been made a law.
Creation of wealth should always go hand in hand with its distribution also. You create and you give. Not keep it all for yourself. That’s where the problem arises.