Ethics Individual

1.
0 Introduction
Ethics is the find out about of what is right and wrong in human conduct.
Environmental ethics research the effects of human’s ethical relationships on the
environment and the whole lot inside it (Stanford Encyclopaedia of Philosophy,
2008). The ethical principles that govern those relations determine human duties,
obligations, and duties with regard to the Earth’s natural surroundings and all of the
animals and plants that inhabit it (Taylor, 1989). The motive of this report is to
discuss about environment pollution in issues impacting the global environment.
In this report based on article’s issue about impact of oil in the Niger Delta.
The discovery of oil deposits and oil industries in the topical region of the Nigerian
resource-rich Niger Delta have been happened with some major variables which are
issues of environmental and social injustices, and issues of responsibility. The
MNOCs’ ability to carry out their crude oil exploratory activities without taking up
responsibility for their business actions have impacted not only on the Niger Delta oil-
rich host communities’ human rights, human functional capabilities, traditional
economy but have caused a host of harmful effects in the oil-producing natural
environment such as environmental degradations, severe pollutions, biota toxicity,
ecological effects, loss of biodiversity and global warming that transcends to climate
change.
The article’s issue stated that Shell is one of the victims to be blamed in this
issue. Shell is one the international oil companies operating in Bayelsa, says that oil
spills due to crude oil theft, illegal refining and sabotage cause the most
environmental damage in the Niger Delta. The company says its efforts to clean up
areas have at times been hampered by instability, as its employees are unable to safely
access affected areas.
The truth is no real action has been taken by the authorities and oil companies
to clean up the delta, and oil spills are still happening. Half of them are caused by
pipeline and tanker accidents, while other causes include sabotage (28%) and oil
production operations (21%), with 1% of the spills being accounted for by inadequate
production equipment. This result will bring that pollution is placing communities at
heightened risk of kidney damage, as well as diseases such as cancer, diabetes,
Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s according to the Bayelsa State Oil and Environmental
Commission.
2.0 Four Step Ethical Decision-making Framework
2.1 Step 1: Recognize an Ethical Problem
The ethical problem found out in this issue is the harmful effects of oil
pollution in the oil-producing Nigeria Delta. The oil resources of the delta
have turned negative impact to the many human who living nearest oil factory.
About 40 million litres of oil are spilled every year across the Nigeria Delta,
according to the Rise for Bayelsa campaign. Air, land and water have all been
poorly polluted, with studies reporting devastating effects on residents’ health
and livelihoods. The diversity ecosystem in Nigeria Delta also have been
destroyed. Farmland also have been affected with cloaked in oil,
contaminating crops and exposing to the local people to high level metal such
as chromium, lead and mercury. Meanwhile, gas flares also contributed where
natural gas associated with petroleum release is burned off in the atmosphere.
This case has filled air with pollutants and in long terms created acid rain.
According to Eradiri (2019), the local population rely on fishing or farming to
support their financial. The result of populated river and the crops will bring
affected to the local peoples unable to do their economic activities.
According to the Rise of Bayelsa Campaign (2019), was calling on

international oil companies to clean up spills immediately, provide swift
compensation to all communities affected, and develop long-term solutions to
avoid spills. The campaign is also calling for oil companies to invest in
sustainable projects in all communities in which oil companies operate. The
respond was no concerted effort by international oil companies such as Shell
to ensure that proper clean-up is done and the law is not being adhered to,
according to Eradiri.
2.2 Step 2: Get the Facts
Shell Nigeria is one of the largest oil producers in the Royal

Dutch/Shell Group. 80% of the oil extraction in Nigeria is the Nigeria Delta,
the southeast region of the country The Delta is home to many small minority
ethnic groups, including the Ogoni, all of which suffer egregious exploitation
by multinational oil companies, like Shell. Shell provides over 50% of the
income keeping the Nigerian dictatorship in power. (Nnadozie, Oil and
Socioeconomic Crisis in Nigeria, 1997
The main reason that Shell had abuse their oil spilt illegally in Nigeria
was that they wanted to pay less taxes and easier import of their needed
equipment, which eventually leads to higher profit. Thus, they only looked for
revenue of the company, and they choose bribery with Nigerian government as
an unethical practice. They shouldn’t do that because even if we don’t
consider bribery as an unethical practice it was illegal and against law in
Nigeria, however we know that bribery is an unethical practice indeed.
The next thing is that bribery encourages corruption, and this action
hurts the poor the most as they have to pay for something which is free and
they get into trouble for paying the amount, because they cannot afford it.
When a large company like Shell practices, in this case bribery, which is
defiantly unethical, this act will spread to the whole society and affect the
society in large (Tempo, 2005).
2.3 Step 3: Evaluate Alternative Courses of Action

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1.

2.0 Four Step Ethical Decision-making Framework

2.1 Step 1: Recognize an Ethical Problem

According to the Rise of Bayelsa Campaign (2019), was calling on

Shell Nigeria is one of the largest oil producers in the Royal

2.3 Step 3: Evaluate Alternative Courses of Action

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