Module 3: External Context

The Dimension of Pollution and

Resource Depletion
• Pollution: The undesirable and unintended
contamination of the environment by the
manufacture or use of commodities.
• Resource Depletion: The consumption of
finite or scarce resources
• Air Pollution
• Water Pollution
• Land Pollution
Concern due to Air Pollution
1. Global warming: Increase in temperature around
the globe.
2. Ozone depletion: Gradual breakdown of ozone gas
in the stratosphere caused by release of CFCs.
3. Acid rain
4. Airborne diseases
5. Air quality
• Water Pollution:
- Organic waste: untreated human wastes, sewage,
and industrial waste from processing various food
products, from pulp and paper industry, and from
animal feeds
• Land Pollution:
- Toxic substances
- Solid wastes
- Nuclear wastes
The Ethics of Pollution Control
• Ecological System: An interelated and
interdependent set of organisms and environment
Approaches to Env. Protection
1. Ecological ethics approach: View that non human
parts of environment deserved to be preserved for
their own sake
2. Environmental rights approach: Humans have right
to livable environment
Ecofeminism:

Belief that the root of our ecological crisis lies in a

pattern of domination of nature that is tightly linked to
the social practices and institutions through which
women have been subordinated to men.
The Ethics of Conserving Depletable Resources
• Conservation: The saving or rationing of natural resources
for later uses
• Rights of future generation
• Arguments against the existence of rights of future
generation:
1. Future generation do not now exist and may never exist
2. Present must not be sacrificed for future
3. Our ignorance of the interests of future generations
 Topics for discussion
• A: Business’s harmful • D: Ecological concerns
impact on environment • E: Tourism and its
• B: Environment and impact on wild-life
business opportunity conservation
• C: Green marketing • F: Green packaging:
utility and challenges