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Poverty and Pollution

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In the article “Poverty and Pollution” the author considers several ethical dilemmas. The writer gives us an overview of the ecological situation in Brazil’s “valley of death” – one of the most polluted places on Earth. The air in the valley is full of harmful gases and many residents suffer from the variety of health problems as the result. Some people believe that negative environmental impacts are the price of the progress. But on the human side, who pays the social price for the pollution? Some scientists, such as university professor Dr. Oswaldo Campos, argue that poor part of the population in third world countries pays the price. If so should developing countries try to find a way to economic prosperity with strict environmental standards? On the other hand, what kind of moral obligations does business have when it comes to the environment? Let us consider these ethical dilemmas in greater details. Do poor countries really pay the price for the progress? We can consider historical progress made by the countries in the West. None of them magically advanced to the relative prosperity without sacrifices. Many of the same “dirty” industries originated in the industrialized countries. Many of them have been there for the most part of the twenties century. Since western population had to deal with them for some time, these industries have evolved and many of them have now being perfected to the best of human ability. Many factories reduced their air emissions, reduced and recycled their waste and many of them are automated by employing robots. In the current economical environment, the burden of the manufacturing belongs to the less developed countries. It is in the nature of the business to seek lowest production costs. I believe that there is direct correlation between economic progress of the particular country and an increase in the environmental

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