Poverty and Pollution

Poverty and Pollution

Ritchel Johnson

Professor Henderson

Business 309

March, 2013

Determine the ethical implications of businesses polluting in a third world country.

Companies dumping trash and other hazardous waste into Third World countries are performing unethical acts upon those countries. Such actions pollute the environment, corrupt crops and water supplies, spread diseases, and shorten life. Countries in Latin America, Eastern Europe, Africa and Asia are the countries most victimized by industrial waste and pollution. The effects of such pollution are particularly seen in the environment in air and water pollution, deforestation, desertification, and soil erosion. Since the lives and livelihoods of people are affected by the effects of pollution, it is unethical for companies to negatively alter the way of life of those people living in those regions. Put another way, the behavior and practices of some businesses operating in Third World countries show their lack of adherence to business ethics. Good business ethics is the behavior that businesses adhere to in their daily dealings with the world such as, fairness, honesty, truthfulness, and harmlessness. Polluting the environment and disrupting people’s lives is not indicative of good ethical practices. The implications of businesses polluting Third World countries are: bad reputation, uncaring perception by countries affected and unaffected, inner hatred toward mega-corporations, and the heightening of political risks initiated by those who view themselves as victims of corporate greed and inconsideration. In other words, the damaging perception that businesses do not care about people in Third World countries can insight mountain hostilities by individuals and groups within those affected countries to rise up and commit acts of violence against companies doing business in those countries. It can create an unpleasant condition from which all manner ill-feeling and animosity can emerge and...