Task: Toxic waste disposal.
Assignment:
The impacts of climate change are not evenly distributed - the poorest countries and people will suffer earliest and most - and if, and when the damages appear, it will be too late to reverse the process.
For this assignment we will be researching the unequal distribution of negative environmental impacts created by the wealthiest companies and countries and felt by the people in the developing world. Once again we will be exploring the responsibilities that corporations should have in mitigating, cleaning up, and avoiding these impacts.
Research a case where corporations and industrialized countries benefited at the expense of the people and/or the environment in developing nations. Examples include:
- The severe health issues in the oil fields in Africa
- Floods in Bangladesh due to climate change
- Toxic waste disposal
- Start smoking campaigns in the developing world
Pick one that interests you. Search using the terms 'environmental justice', 'intergeneration equity', and 'eco-justice' to learn more about this issue and to find further examples.
Write a position statement.
- In the first paragraph describe the problem, being sure to cite references where appropriate.
- The second paragraph should describe what role you feel that corporations have for addressing this issue, be specific as to which companies. In addition, you should talk about whom else, in your opinion, should be responsible for these issues.
- The final paragraph should address what you think should be done to address this problem in the future, by local communities, companies, industries, countries, world bodies, or anyone else that you feel is appropriate. This discussion should have an emphasis on what needs to be changed in the system that produced these impacts.