In the article “The Mosquito in the Net,” author Marc Gunther explores the impact of a small environmental group, Rainforest Action Network, on corporate giants such as Citigroup, Home Depot, Ford, and others. Gunther provides examples of how corporations are influenced by RAN’s less than conventional campaigns and how corporate environmental polices are changed in response. By applying the six theories, one can gain a better understanding of how RAN’s tactics are justified and effective.
The utilitarian theory seeks the greatest good for the greatest number of people. In the article, the effort of RAN to hold corporations to a higher environmental standard appears to support the utilitarian theory. For example, RAN targeted Citigroup for its support of logging, mining, and oil-drilling projects due to the impact on rainforests, indigenous people, and the acceleration of global warming (Gunther, 2). Global warming, although a very long term problem, clearly has a world wide impact. Thus, by applying a utilitarian approach it appears that the greatest good for the greatest number of people is met by RAN’s efforts to stop global warming.
Under the rights theory, consumers and corporations have the right to choose. Consumers must have the ability of choosing what is good or what is bad, without influence from third parties (Weiss, 88). From the article, it appears that RAN is a third party influencing both corporate decisions. For instance, RAN turned buyers against Boise Paper in order to influence where and how Boise purchases wood for their production of paper (Gunther, 4). However, most Americans have a low regard for big business, and most believe that RAN’s efforts are protecting the environment, thus RAN is essentially protecting the consumers’ rights from big business (Gunter, 3).
The justice theory states that one must verify whether RAN’s efforts to influence corporate policy and decisions are a violation of the law (Weiss, 87). With a budget of $2.4 million and a staff under 30, RAN has to resort to some unique techniques to influence corporations that rank on the Fortune 500. These techniques include street theater, internet organizing, celebrity endorsement, and others, all for the purpose of bothering corporations until they give in (Gunther, 2). As long as the tactics used by RAN are legal, they are justified under the justice theory.
The application of the free market theory assumes that as long as corporate action is not breaking any law; no interference by the government is essential (Weiss, 168).
Thermodynamics is essentially how heat energy transfers from one substance to another. In “Joe Science vs. the Water Heater,” the temperature of water in a water heater must be found without measuring the water directly from the water heater. This problem was translated to the lab by providing heated water, fish bowl thermometers, styrofoam cups, and all other instruments found in the lab. The thermometer only reaches 45 degrees celsius; therefore, thermodynamic equations need to be applied in order to find the original temperature of the hot water. We also had access to deionized water that was approximately room temperature.
In the article “When Mosquitoes Were Killers in America” by Lauren Tarshis, She makes the statement “Yet mosquitoes are far more than a nuisance.” What she means is that mosquitoes aren't a little bug that just sucks a little blood and can be annoying, but instead it uses all that and more. Mosquitoes have killed millions upon millions of people by spreading disease like malaria. An example of how she supports this claim is in the article, she says “ In this way, bite by itchy bite, 212 million people are infected with malaria every year” (Tarshis 13). And that is only a year with bug spray, shots, and all the other things that help stop mosquitoes. So when the U.S. government tried to save people from these murders little insects. So they
On May 2, 1998, Cynthia Harrison’s body was found in a restaurant where she and Defendant Timothy Lee Hurst worked. She was found bound, gagged, and stabbed over 60 times and the restaurant safe was unlocked, open and missing hundreds of dollars. The trial lasted 4 days and the State offered forensic evidence that linked Hurst with Harrison’s murder. The State also had witnesses that testified that Hurst had discussed his plan to rob the restaurant. Hurst and Harrison were the only people scheduled to work at the time of the murder. Hurst used an alibi defense, claiming he never made it to work because his car broke down.
On September 18, 2015, I called Ms. Ashaunta Lanier and identified myself and the purpose of my call. Ms. Lanier informed me that she was about to call the police to report Tavon’s return. Ms. Lanier reported that her son had been in The District of Columbia where he was caught committing a robbery. Ms. Lanier reported that a search warrant had been executed and evidence which implicates her son had been recovered. Ms. Lanier authorized me to meet with Tavon at school.
Case Study - Corporate Obstacles to Pollution Prevention. Overview This case focuses on corporate obstacles to pollution prevention. Pollution prevention can be complex, especially for large corporations. There are many different forms of pollution prevention, including emissions control devices and incremental changes in existing technology.
- The free market economic theory provides the rationale for the managerial responsibility to make as much money for their stockholders as possible. The justification of the free market is based on the utilitarian ethical principle that one should act so as to maximize the overall good. Therefore, the overall good in terms of the economic model is that of the stockholders.
As environmental concerns become more of an issue for consumers, they will be more aware of the impact that a company has on themselves and the environment and therefore be more conscious of who they support with their dollar.
Boggs, Grace Lee, and Scott Kurashige. The next American revolution: Sustainable activism for the twenty-first century. University of California Pr, 2012. Print.
When the word “vampire” comes to mind, people think of the traditional pale-faced, malicious bloodsuckers, sporting a cape and killing people when they’re sleeping. Wrong! Nowadays, the image of a vampire is a handsome, polite, and loving person who protects humans. The new cultural phenomenon Twilight is building a new degrading image for vampires that slaps the face of all previous authors, directors, writers, etc. who contributed to giving the monster its unique image in the past.
Therefore a free market is not desirable as maximizing their utility is priority. So government is expected to correct the market failure by choosing to char...
Thermodynamics is the branch of science concerned with the nature of heat and its conversion to any form of energy. In thermodynamics, both the thermodynamic system and its environment are considered. A thermodynamic system, in general, is defined by its volume, pressure, temperature, and chemical make-up. In general, the environment will contain heat sources with unlimited heat capacity allowing it to give and receive heat without changing its temperature. Whenever the conditions change, the thermodynamic system will respond by changing its state; the temperature, volume, pressure, or chemical make-up will adjust accordingly in order to reach its original state of equilibrium. There are three laws of thermodynamics in which the changing system can follow in order to return to equilibrium.
Humans have been destroying the planet since we were able to stand on two legs. As a society, we need to work to reverse these terrible effects that our existence has on the planet. Sustainability is one way to begin reversing these effects, while still living our daily lives. In 2006, Al Gore presented his documentary, “ An Inconvenient Truth”, as a way to show the world the evidence behind global warming, climate change and the destruction of our planet. This documentary shocked the world. It was clear that changes needed to be made, but the destruction was more intense than previously thought. SInce this revelation in 2006, companies have tried to cut down on their greenhouse emissions, as well as offered sustainable products to their customers. Through a debate of morals and
To conclude business organizations do not have the right to deceive individuals and consumers in specific because Albert Carr’s claim that business is a game cannot be justifiable and supported with reasons that may harm or the community and its people. However, I do believe that business organizations should be socially responsible and that would help them maximize profits in the long run (Lauren, 2011)
It seems obvious that large corporations have a tendency to ignore the negative effects of their actions in favor of profit. This example, although sensationalized, still says to me that with power comes responsibility. It affirmed my belief that a corporation’s goal cannot be just to provide profit to shareholders, but there must also be an element of social responsibility.
“Don’t worry if your theory doesn’t agree with the observations, because they are probably wrong.’ But if your theory does not agree with the 2nd law of thermodynamics then it is in serious trouble”.