Cases

🏞 CASE STUDY: “Just Dump It in the Lake”

Sandy Pond, Newfoundland

âš– Conflict:

  • Vale planned to dump nickel tailings into Sandy Pond.

  • Argued it was cheaper and safer than alternatives.

  • Environmentalists opposed it: pristine ecosystem, government loopholes abused.

đź“‹ Questions to Consider:

  • Who are the stakeholders?

  • What are the environmental vs. economic tradeoffs?

  • Is redefining a lake as an industrial site ethical?

📦 CASE: THE ETHICS OF EXPORTING ASBESTOS

🔍 The Issue:

  • Canada banned asbestos use domestically due to health risks (lung cancer, mesothelioma).

  • Yet Canada exported chrysotile asbestos to developing countries like India, Sri Lanka, and Indonesia.

🎯 Key Ethical Dilemma:

  • Exporting something deemed too dangerous for Canadians, to places with less regulation.

  • Government supported this for jobs/economy—despite health warnings from WHO, doctors, and unions.

🧠 Ethical Frameworks:

  • Teleology: Is it the greatest good for the greatest number?

  • Deontology: Should we export harm, even if it helps us economically?

  • Virtue Ethics: Can we be proud of this decision?

🏚 CASE: RANA PLAZA COLLAPSE (Bangladesh, 2013)

  • A garment factory collapsed, killing 1,134 workers.

  • Brands like Joe Fresh, Walmart, Primark were linked to this supply chain.

âť“ Who's responsible?

  • Factory owners, brands, local government, us as consumers.

🔎 Lessons:

  • Global supply chains carry moral responsibility, not just cost concerns.

  • Monitoring alone isn’t enough without transparency and ethical sourcing.