Arguments Supporting the Operations of the Company
Sugar Australia Yarraville is the leading producer of sugar and other products in the country. The institution has employed thousands of the Australian population hence improving the living standards of the workers (Broadfoot, McFeaters, and Stephenson, 2014). Furthermore, the company contributes to a significant section of the country’s economy. However, the emissions from the company lead to soil, water, and air pollution. Therefore, the company poses an ethical dilemma to the government. Thus, the government is torn between closing and allowing the company to continue its operations. The employees cannot do without the company due to their jobs. On the other hand, the surrounding society is complaining about the pollution.
Ethics and codes of conduct dictate that an institution should follow the ethical principles in its operations. The policies have their negative and positive sides. Beneficence is a principle that requires an activity to benefit the recipients (Denzin, and Giardina, 2016). The operations of the company, therefore, obey the law of beneficence. Nonmaleficence requires that the institution does not harm the employees, clients, and the public (Beauchamp, 2016). The principle is complicated since employment creation does a lot of good to the employees. However, the pollution harms the public hence going against nonmaleficence. The management of the sugar company should minimize the contamination and create more employment opportunities.
The principle of justice is another controversial ethical norm when checking at the operations of the sugar company (Nukaga, 2016). Employment creation for the population is fair and just. However, the pollutions are unfair to the surrounding communities. The sugar company should recycle the waste products to avoid emission into the environment. Moreover, the government should request the opinion of the surrounding area on their grievances. The company should value the health of the public and prioritize it above the profits. Therefore, the government should carry out an awareness campaign on the effects of pollution.
This report explores the ethical dilemma that surrounds the operation of Australian Sugar Company. Furthermore, the essay investigates the justifications that explain the need for the company to continue with its services. The report also looks at the reasons why the government should consider closing the company to prevent environmental pollution. The ethical principles come into play in the case of the dilemmas (Clarke, and Boersma, 2017). Additionally, the government should consider the professional codes of conduct before arriving at a conclusive decision.
The principle of beneficence supports the fact that the company should remain operational despite the pollutions. The law guides the individual deciding to consider an action that is good and right (Resnik, 2018). The government has the responsibility of determining whether to close down the industry or otherwise. The closing down of the establishment would render a significant section of the population jobless. The company has employed peoples from different professions such as engineering and technology. Therefore, the priority of doing what is good compels the government not to interfere with the operations of the organization.
Beneficence is a utility principle which requires humans to produce higher amounts of good deeds than bad ones. The initiative to close down the Sugar Company over pollution leaves most individuals without jobs. The act of making people jobless is evil as it encourages them to engage in criminal activities to earn a living. The principle dictates that the theories of ethics should concentrate on doing good rather than evil. Pollution is dangerous, but the stakeholders can find ways of curbing the environmental hazard (Fashola, Ngole-Jeme, and Babalola, 2016). Recycling of the waste products is an ideal example of controlling pollution.
The ethical principle of nonmaleficence also agrees that the government should not shut down the company due to pollution. The policy requires that human beings to minimize the harm that they do to others. The principle applies to situations where we cannot avoid causing damage to our fellows. In such scenarios, we have to make sure that we minimize the harm. The operations of the company lead to pollution of the environment due to the emission of waste materials (Low, 2016). The stakeholders cannot stop the contamination due to its excessive nature. However, the stakeholders can minimize the harm by reducing the pollution.
The stakeholders should ensure that the harm affects few individuals. The government can relocate individuals living around the factory to pollution-free zones. However, the stakeholders should open more constituents of the company to increase the employment opportunities. Another method of minimizing harm is by employing the surrounding community in the waste management projects. Education on proper disposal of waste also reduces damage as a result of harmful effluents (Udawatta et al., 2015). The government should construct health facilities to treat individuals affected by the pollutants. Furthermore, the revenues from the Australian Sugar Factory should benefit the surrounding community. Therefore, the operations of the company obey the policy of nonmaleficence.
The principle of justice states that those making the decisions should formulate policies that favor everyone. The decision to continue the operations of the sugar company is fair to the employees, customers, government, and the surrounding community. The employees stay employed hence improving their living standards. Sugar is a carbohydrate that everyone needs to flavor their tea. Therefore, the clients continue to enjoy their breakfast. The government benefits by getting revenues from the operations of the factory (Devos, and Zackrisson, 2015). The society receives employment opportunities from the company. Furthermore, the gross domestic product of Australia increases due to the operations.
The ethical theory of deontology also supports the continued operation of the sugar firm. The approach demands that we perform actions that can become universal laws (Vitell, and Hunt, 2015). The closure of industries due to pollution and other adverse effects cannot receive a nod all over the world. The shutdown would hurt the economies of the industrialized countries like Australia. Furthermore, the action would lead to an economic crisis due to the fall in GDP. The move would also lead to unemployment which causes an increase in crime rates. Therefore, governments across the world should find ways of curbing pollutions. Additionally, stakeholders should open more companies to ensure economic growth.
The theory of utilitarianism evaluates the goodness or badness of action regarding its consequences. Therefore, an ideal response is that which leads to high gain for a significant number of people. The closure of the sugar company would cause many individuals to lose their jobs (Pauli, 2017). Additionally, the government would experience an economic crisis. However, allowing the companies to ensure job security for the workers. The creation of job opportunities brings a significant gain to the employed individuals. Therefore, closing the companies would go against the theory of utilitarianism.
Saint Aquinas developed another theory that supports the continued operation of the Sugar Company. The theory states that we should encourage good deeds and at the same time discourage evil (Kugler, and Turvey, 2015). The good deeds according to the philosopher are knowledge, an ordered society, and family members. Stakeholders should educate the public on the benefits of the company that overrides the demerits. A community that is employed is an ordered one. Therefore, the operation of the company brings order to the people living near the company. Parents can maintain happy families by working and earning a living. Thus, the theory of natural law supports the operation of the sugar companies.
Contractarianism supports the operation of the Sugar Factory despite the pollution claims. John Rawls invented the ethical theory that state that economic policy should benefit the vulnerable in the society (Raiford, 2016). Therefore, the government should shut down the companies if that action would help the poor folk. However, the closure of factories renders people jobless. Thus, the decision to close the company would disadvantage the less fortunate individuals. The government should create policies that lead to the opening of more companies. Additionally, the stakeholders should minimize the environmental pollution due to industrial operations.
Plato developed the theory of absolutism. The formation requires individuals to embrace and move with the current trends (Baker, and Robson, 2017). A majority of European and American nations are embracing industrialization despite the existing challenges. Australia cannot close down the Sugar Factory due to environmental pollution. The government should formulate ways of dealing with corruption and its effects. However, the stakeholders should continue to construct more factories in every part of the country. Industrialization creates employment opportunities for the Australian population. Furthermore, manufacturing leads to the development of infrastructure and economic freedom. Therefore, the ethical theory of absolutism supports the opening of more factories.
Professional codes of conduct also support the construction of factories in Australia and other countries. A business organization should respect all stakeholders that its operations affect directly or indirectly (Hardy, 2016). The sure method of respecting employees is maintaining the activities of the factory to offer salaries. On the other hand, the respect for the surrounding society is by providing employment opportunities to them. The government gets respect by gaining revenues from the Sugar factory. However, the factory should welcome suggestions on methods of reducing environmental pollution. The institution should respect the opinion of each stakeholder on pollution. The Sugar factory should recycle their waste products to minimize the amounts of industrial effluents. Therefore, companies should continue their operations despite the threats and effects of pollution.
The theories and principles of ethics are useful in urging the government to shut down the Sugar Factory. Furthermore, the professional standards of practice limit a firm from interfering with people outside the establishment. The ethical principle of beneficence mandates a company to perform right and good deeds to everyone. The operations of the company not only create employment opportunities but also lead to environmental pollution (Branstetter et al., 2014). The emitted gases cause global warming and changes in climate. Sulphuric acid mixes with water to form acidic rain. The contaminated water kills both plants and aquatic life.
The priority of a firm should be to do desirable deeds. The urge of performing right activities should override that of doing evil. Pollution leads to numerous diseases to the society surrounding the factory. The government should order the shutdown of the firm if it cannot control the levels of environmental pollution (Branstetter et al., 2014). Moreover, numerous sugar factories in the country can supply sugar to the Australian and world market. The creation of employment opportunities cannot compare to the loss of lives. The emission of heavy metals such as lead and mercury interferes with the genetic make-up of an individual. The affected individuals pass the defect from one generation to the next one.
Nonmaleficence requires the operations of the company to cause the least damage to the lives of individuals. The company cannot stop the pollution but should minimize it to affect a few people. The government should order the closure of the factory if it cannot reduce the effects of pollution (P?r?ga et al., 2014). The factory should build health facilities to attend to the victims of the harmful affluent. Moreover, the stakeholders should carry out an awareness campaign for recycling the waste materials. An organization that does not make efforts of combating pollution needs closure to save the lives of people.
The government should also weigh the employment creation against the effects of pollution. The factory employs thousands of people in their central plant and the constituents across the country (P?r?ga et al., 2014). On the other hand, people living around the firm are also in thousands due to the possibilities of employment creation. The national executive should order for closure of the firm if the employed people match the number of people that pollution effects. Furthermore, environmental pollution has lasting effects. Therefore, it can affect the entire country through climatic changes and global warming. Therefore, shutting down the firm agree with the ethical principle of nonmaleficence.
The principle of autonomy also supports the shutdown of a company that pollutes soil, water, and the air. The policy allows individuals to make independent decisions about critical issues in the society (Young, 2017). However, the stakeholders should explain the benefits and disadvantages of closing the firm to the people. Furthermore, the national executive should expose the society on the effects of pollution on health. The population of the employees cannot exceed the number of people in Australia. Therefore, the government should respect the decision of the Australian people and shut down a firm that pollutes the environment.
Justice requires lawmakers to create policies that favor every individual. The decision to close the factory would prefer everyone affected by the operations. The government should ensure that it creates employment opportunities for the employees rendered jobless. Shutting down the company stops pollution. Therefore, undesirable effects such as the death of plant and aquatic life end. The population benefits from the flora and fauna since the two are the significant sources of food (Vitousek, Loope, and Westbrooks, 2017). A healthy society is essential in steering economic growth. The people are a source of skilled labor hence improve the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the country. Therefore, the principle of justice supports the closure of Australian sugar factory.
Numerous ethical theories also gun for the shutdown of the firm. The first theory is Plato’s absolutism that requires nations to copy other countries in controversial situations. A majority of developed nations like Australia have numerous sugar factories. Furthermore, there are alternative employment areas where people can exploit in case of closure of the company (Australia, and Australia, 2015). Therefore, a factor that affects the lives of the citizens through pollution requires an immediate shutdown. The theory of absolutism supports the closing of the firm due to the harmful effects of pollution.
The theory of natural law requires that humans gun for good deeds and disassociate themselves from evil actions. The shutdown of a source of pollution is a good cause of action. However, allowing environmental pollution to continue affecting the population is evil and should attract punishment. Water pollution leads to the death of aquatic life (Kneese, 2015). Acidic rain also results in the extinction of flora and fauna. Pollution deprives human beings of clean water and food for survival. Therefore, the long-term effect of environmental pollution is starvation and eventually death. An action that causes the loss of lives is evil and goes against the theory of natural laws.
Immanuel Kant developed the theory of deontology, and his thoughts support the closure of the Sugar Factory. The approach requires individuals to perform actions that can act as universal principles. A majority of countries override the benefits of a company on the expense the lives of its inhabitants. Australia should serve as a role model by shutting down companies that cause environmental pollution. Moreover, the government should recognize and applaud factories that minimize the emission of harmful effluents into the environment (Australia, and Australia, 2015). Deontology theory supports the closure of industries whose operations harm the environment and the people around the establishment.
The theory of utilitarianism is also useful in defending the thought of closing Australian Sugar Company. The theory states that action should bring the greatest joy to a large number of people. The operations of the firm affect the people living close to the company and the entire Australian population (Lucas, Van Wee, and Maat, 2016). The benefits to the employed individuals cannot compare to the pain of the country. Therefore, the close would bring satisfaction to Australia and the neighboring countries. The effects of pollution affect humans, plants, and animals. Thus, utilitarianism supports the closure of the company to result in utmost joy for many individuals.
The professional code of practice requires the organization to respect the people living around the establishment. Polluting the environment disrespects the population. Therefore, the company should formulate measures to reduce or end environmental pollution (Gross, 2016). The government should order for a shut down if the firm cannot manage the situation. The second code of professional practice involves considering the views of everyone. The opinion of the surrounding community is to reduce pollution. The firm should do anything to find the opinions of the people living outside the factory. Therefore, the codes of operations mandate the government to close the firm if it does not stop pollution.
Conclusion
Ethical theories and principles are used in arguments for and against the closure of the Australia Sugar company. Professional Codes of Practice can also help the government in deciding on closure or continuous operation of the firm. Beneficence requires that the actions of individuals benefit the others. The continuation of the activities of the factory leads to financial gains of the employees. Therefore, the closure of the factory would render thousands of employees jobless. However, the institution emits harmful effluents into the environment. The pollutants kill flora and fauna which are the primary source of food for human beings.
Nonmaleficence requires humans to reduce the harm towards others. The principle applies in cases where a company cannot stop the occurrence of damage. Therefore, the company should minimize pollution by recycling the waste materials. The policy of justice requires fairness for all. Thus, closing down the establishment would not be fair to everyone since people would lose their jobs. However, the emission of dangerous gases into the atmosphere is not justifiable to the surrounding communities. Therefore, the principle of justice creates an ethical dilemma in the case of Australia Sugar Company. The firm should also respect the opinion of the outsides on ways of reducing pollution.
The ethical theory of natural law requires individuals to strive to perform good deeds and at the same time avoid undesirable actions. Allowing the company to continue operating is a good deed as the employees support their families from their jobs. However, the pollution is an evil act towards the surrounding population. Therefore, the company should minimize or end corruption and at the same time create more employment opportunities. Utilitarianism quantifies actions as right when they bring complete joy to a large number of people. The government should shut down the organization if the closure brought supreme happiness to many individuals. However, it should remain operational if its closure brings sadness to a significant number of individuals.
The theory of contractarianism and deontology are also useful argument points on the operations of the firm. The respect for individuals surrounding the company should also dictate its actions. The stakeholders should consider closure if the public is dissatisfied with the effects of pollution. However, satisfaction should encourage the continuity of operations. The best solution is to minimize or end pollution and create more employment opportunities for the population.
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