Poverty and Pollution Case Study

Cabutao, Sao Paulo, Brazil, was formed in 1948. Now a city of over 100 thousand peo-ple, it is one of the largest banana producers and has the largest industrial production. They have one of the largest petroleum refineries in the country producing oil, plastic, propane and butane gas as well as many others in addition; they have two hydroelectric facilities that once produced high levels of pollutants. The state is the most developed region in the country and accounts for about one-fifth of its population. (2012)
In the 1950’s the industrial revolution began in Cubatao. Many companies were attracted to the area and began building industrial plants. Eventually 24 industries including oil refineries, steel producers and fertilizer companies made this a place to run their business. In the 1960’s there was no laws to regulate pollutants into the air or water. The proximity of Cabuto didn’t allow the pollution to evaporate into the air, due to the surrounding mountains and winter inversions, the pollution was trapped in the valley causing toxic poisonous gasses to be part of the soil and breathed by the population. It was a wonderful time, as the business was booming and people were making money. In the meantime as people were getting rich, the pollutants were being absorbed into the ground, the forests were becoming less dense, therefore causing landslides due to no trees.
Thirty years later, the effects of all the polluting became a reality and many people started to realize they needed to put controls in place to clean up their dirty city. After many billions of dollars of cleaning up and regulating the companies that produce wastes or pollution, they still continue to fix the negative impact on the environment and mostly the people although there a signs of grown.
The mountains now have trees and bushes were at one time the chemicals wouldn’t allow them to grow. But in humans, the impact is still lingering, research states that there are excessive rates of cancer in this area, although they have not been officially linked to the pollution. (Milikin)
In the Cubatao example, due the fast paced growth of the industry, the economy was greatly improved, but at a huge cost. Not only in the amount of money that was spent for clean up, but no one can put a dollar amount on the lives that were lost due to leaking gas line explo-sions or those that suffered for years of respiratory illnesses or those that continue to suffer from several different types of ailments. Lessons everyone should understand is that economic progress can happen, but measures to control pollution should come first.
Every business has a responsibility to ensure they are not emitting pollutants into the air, water or ground not matter what country they do business in. Pollution is pollution no matter if you live in New York City, a rural town in Montana or a city or town in a third world county. In some cases a business may think it’s easier, less expensive to do business in a third world country which doesn’t have pollution regulations, or safety regulations; in many cases they can save costs with labor. It comes down to saving money. It does cost money to adhere to pollution control laws. Many companies can take advantage of pollution control incentives that could reduce costs. (Shaw, 278)
There are many nations that are wealthier than others. Each person should own their own carbon footprint they leave. Many wealthier nations do have businesses in third world countries; they should adhere to the strict guidelines of their own country although, no matter where a person lives or does business, it impacts the ecosystem.
In North America rivers flow through different states and countries, waters need to stay free of chemicals, etc. Ships travel across the oceans from one country to another, airplanes fly daily across the globe emitting pollutants. When a tsunami or tidal wave occurs, it takes pollu-tants from one country to another. Oil rigs on the land or water (not matter what country) have potential of polluting the oceans. Wealthier countries contribute globally to pollution, so they should contribute to a greener environment no matter where they live. Wealthier companies do have the means to ensure their own company takes the initiative to contribute to the reducing pollution worldwide.
The long term effect is the same no matter where a person pollutes. We all have an ethical obligation to the global world and our people, understand the impacts to our environment or ecosystem and know that what we take away, we need to replace.

References

(2012) Encyclopedia Britannica
Retrieved from http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/145691/Cubatao William H.Shaw (2010) Custom Edition, Business Ethics, A Text Book With Cases