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Chapter 2
Chandana Fonseka
Environment: Polluting industries should ensure compliance with the norms regarding air, water and noise pollution
Residents of Ekala, an industrial suburb of the Sri Lankan capital Colombo, last month launched a protest campaign against hazardous environment pollution caused by chemical waste from a Union Carbide plant. Because of the campaign, the government's area Medical Health Officer commenced a court case against the company on November 13, but the case has been adjourned until July 22 next year, leaving residents anxious and furious. On the night of October 16, Union Carbide's binding gum-producing factory discharged chemicals, including poisonous ethyl acrylate, into an open drain in the heavily-populated suburb, seriously harming at least 100 people, including 25 children. The discharge immediately sparked angry protests because residents have complained for five years about the dangerous pollution in Ekala, about 25 kilometres north of Colombo city. The leak affected the water and air over a two-square kilometre area. Residents suddenly suffered sore eyes, headache, vomiting, breathing problems, choking and rising temperatures. Children were taken to nearby hospitals, with some serious cases transferred to Colombo's national hospital the next day. More than 500 people gathered outside the factory during the night and demanded its immediate closure. Security officers admitted that the company, a subsidiary of the US multinational, had released contaminated water into the drain but claimed that the incident had ended. They refused to allow residents into the plant to see for themselves. However, the protest
Ethical Standings
Human behaviour, in a civilized society, is governed by 3 categories of guidelines:
Degree of behavioural control No specific laws, yet it does have standards of conduct based on shared principles and values about moral conduct that guide an individual or company
Values and standards are written (coded) into the legal system and enforced in the courts
No laws can be imposed and a person can select his or her decision/behaviour freely
9.
10.
Driving a vehicle after drinking alcohol Wearing fancy dresses at funerals Using office vehicle for a personal matters without getting proper permission Blasting a subordinate in front of all other peer employees Deliberately delaying the settlement of debts Including incorrect data/information in a CV Use some others Credit Card and withdraw money without the card owners permission Deciding on a leisure hotel to take your family members Smoking in public places Watching pornographic pictures in the office
Ethical Dilemma??
Since ethics are not codified people sometimes find it difficult to arrive at decisions whether a particular behaviour is right or wrong
Individualism approach
Acts are moral (accepted) if they promote individuals best long term interests
Moral-rights approach
Human beings have fundamental rights and liberties that cannot be taken away by an individuals decision (e.g. Right to speak, learn, live, take decisions, etc.)
Justice approach
make choices and take actions that will contribute to the welfare and interests of society as well as the organization
It includes 4 types of responsibilities vested on corporate
entities
Legal Responsibility
Be profitable Obey the law Be ethical
Discretionary Responsibility
Contribute to the community and quality of life
Economic Responsibility
Ethical Responsibility
Ethical individuals Act with integrity Behave honestly Treat people right Play fair Have high level of moral development
Ethical leadership Be a role model Communicate about ethics and values Reward ethical behaviour
Structure and systems Good corporate culture Follow code of ethics Ethics committee Training on ethics
Organizational Stakeholders
Stakeholder is any group within or outside the
The End