Poverty and Pollution Case Study

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Title: Poverty and Pollution Case Study Course: BUS 309- Business Ethics Date: 2/27/2013 Instructor: R. Wallace The third World refers to the poorer and undeveloped countries of the world. Often, these countries have extremely poor environmental situations. In many third world nations, pollution is unrestricted. Countless other environmental problems are also not addressed by the government. Creating and enforcing environmental regulations would be economically disastrous for a poor country. The country is then forced to choose between buying food and having a clean environment. The former is always the more pressing concern. Rich Western countries often take advantage of the dilemma of Third World countries; they dump garbage and hazardous waste in developing countries. Plants, which emit considerable pollution, may also be built by First World countries in Third World nations to avoid the regulations the company would face at home (Dagger, 1994). Determine the ethical implications of business polluting in a third world country. Explain your rationale. Businesses are expected to preserve the environment, and as such it is morally and ethically right that they also protect the environment from the harmful pollutants that they release into the air and water during their production activities. Certain problems result as businesses engage in practices that pollute the environment, such as the many health related problems that have been linked to both air and water pollution. Not only do Third World countries struggle with population growth, poverty, famine, and wars, but they are also dealing with environmental issues that are plaguing the people of those countries. Businesses have to decide whether to obey the moral laws that a person knows is right or to make money. Some businesses would rather act unethically and make money than to take
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