Poverty and Pollution
Iysha J. Patton
BUS309
August 25, 2013
Steven Curry

Poverty and Pollution
There are many reasons why a business chose conduct business in third world countries. Some would say for monetary reasons and others may suggest that there are fewer regulations regarding pollution control. This paper will take an in-depth look at poverty and pollution in third world countries and the ethical implications of polluting in these countries. It will also take a look at why pollution control standard are disregarded. The paper will discuss the assess connections between economic progress and development on the one hand, and pollution controls and environmental protection on the other hand. Then we will take a position on whether wealthy nations have an obligation to provide poorer nations with the development of greener industries and sources of energy. Finally, this paper will devise a plan for uniform global pollution control standards and how they should be enforced. Ethical Implications of Businesses operating in Third World Countries
The definition of ethics is individual character and the moral rules that govern and limit our conduct. It investigates our right and wrong, duty and obligation, and moral responsibility. (Shaw, 2010.) The third world refers to the undeveloped and poorer countries of the world. These countries have extreme poor environmental situations. Pollution is unrestricted in many third world nations. Countless other environmental problems are also not address by the government. Usually, creating and enforcing environmental regulations would be economically disastrous for a poor country. As a result, families are forced to choose between buying food and having a clean environment. The more pressing concern is always the former (Barber, January 1992.) Another ethical implication is polluting the air with dangerous toxins due to factory work. Factory work provides many of the jobs that people in these third world countries use to support their families. Companies can also export industrial hazards by moving their plants to countries with less restrictive pollution control laws than industrialized nations As Western nations enact laws promoting environmental and worker safety, more manufacturers have moved their hazardous and polluting factories to less developed countries, where there are little or no environmental or occupations laws, or no enforcement agencies. This saves the companies millions of dollars a year because they do not have to pay the fees they would endure if they were operating in wealthier countries. They also do not have to follow the strict pollution requirements. Hazardous industries such as textile, petrochemical, and chemical production, as well as smelting and electronics, have migrated to Latin America, Africa, Asia, and Eastern Europe. For example, IBM, General Motors, and Sony have established manufacturing plants in Mexico, and some of these have created severe environmental problems. At least 10 million gallons of the factory’s raw sewage is discharged into the Tijuana River daily. (Barber, January 1992.) This would be unacceptable in wealthier countries.
Economic Progress and Development verses Pollution Controls and Environmental Protection
Businesses integrating third world countries allow their companies to pollute and disintegrate the air. Who pays the price? Some would argue that the people pay the price. The people are the ones who have to suffer and live in these conditions. Due to lack of education and knowledge, some locals of these townships refuse to complain because the jobs are a way out of their poverty. They are forced to choose between clean living conditions or feeding their families. They are able to feed and clothe their families. Many tend to keep quiet about their or their family member’s failing health because of this. Due to pollutants many people living in these third world countries have failing