Corporate Responsibility - Not Just Philanthropy.

According to the Giving USA Foundation, philanthropy in the U.S. totaled a record $306.39 billion in 2007 - or 2.2 percent of GDP.

By way of comparison, over $1 billion was spent by candidates in the 2008 U.S. Presidential election.

But while cultural and societal influences may vary from country to country, global corporations increasingly realize that there''s more to corporate responsibility than a tax deductable donation to a local charity - or even a political campaign.

For Lufthansa, its post-WW2 corporate responsibilities have paralleled Germany''s re-emergence as Europe''s industrial engine.

Here''s a perspective authored by Lufthansa Cargo''s Director of Communications, Nils Haupt:

The economic and financial crisis, climate change, famine and natural catastrophies, terrorism and war - these are the stories dominating the world''s news headlines.

An intimidating mountain of problems in dire need of a solution.

All are part of the incredibly fast spread of a modern lifestyle based on mobility, technology, consumption, education and modern medical care.

Immense economic growth has been spurred by independent companies that since the end of the East-West confrontation have been competing and co-operating with unprecedented freedom.

In the process they have created the unique phenomenon of "globalisation" which has transformed the world into a …