It is believed that by 2030, that more than 30% of the Yangtze's water resources would be used for agriculture or industry. That's an increase from 17.8% today, in an area likely to see decreasing rainfall in the coming years do to the effects of climate change on precipitation patterns (McDermott, 2005)
All of this rightly raises red flags among environmentalists, especially considering the problems with Three Gorges. A recent study by the Chinese Academy of Sciences found that water quality persists to decline in reservoir areas of Three Gorges, which is causing the fish stocks to decline. Though it's certainly true that hydropower is a better option than profligate burning of coal for China, surely there are more eco-friendly ways to tap into China's world-leading hydropower resources than continued building of large-scale dams (McDermott, 2005)
Arguments assembled by the Japanese to support their final decision do provide some answers to the project's critics. After concentrated reviews by the Japanese Ministry of International Trade and Industry, Japan has claimed that this project has presented many benefits. Japan thinks that this project can achieve its objectives in this area, despite many thoughts that it could actually amplify the risk of floods, either through changes in silt flow or a dam collapse. This issue in particular has drawn a lot of popular sympathy for this project throughout Japan. Another benefit is that of emissions reduction. The plant's output will be equivalent to several large coal-fired plants (Three Gorges Dam Hydroelectric Power Plant, China, 2010).
Japan thinks that current plans are sufficient, although the do agree that the situation would need to be kept under review. China originally maintained that possible problems had been identified and dealt with. But there were further calls on Western governments and companies to avoid supporting the project until resettlement and human rights problems had been resolved. There were claims that the dam does not address the real source of flooding, the deforestation in the Yangtze watershed and the loss of lakes that alleviated floods because of siltation, reclamation and uncontrolled development. Corruption scandals have also surrounded this project. Contractors supposedly won bids due to bribery and then skimmed construction funds by being frugal on equipment and materials. After a number of accidents, much of the project's infrastructure ripped out in 1999 (Three Gorges Dam Hydroelectric...
Plant relocation *** CONFIDENTIAL *** We have discussed previously the issue of relocating one of our plants. I have received back from the consultant a report that outlines what she thinks are our best options. This report will present her findings. Fact Summary: The consultant identified Mexico, the Philippines and South Africa as potential sites. Her findings are summarized in the following table Mexico Philippines South Africa Wages $3/day $1/day $10/day Living wage? Maybe Union strength Minor Moderately strong Scandal risk High Low Moderate Environment Regs Some Few Some Environment Cost Low Low Moderate Env. Scandal risk High Low Low This
Ethical Dilemma and Corporate Responsibility Board of Directors RE: Response to Ethical dilemma created by the relocation program I am writing this memo to inform the directors that this company is faced by an ethical dilemma. The ethical dilemma presented in this report is based on challenges of balancing corporate loyalty and corporate responsibility. This report advises the Project Management office (PMO) on the possibility of applying Workers Adjustment and Retaining Notification (WARN)
Ethics and Plant Closure Situation Analysis -- ABC/DVD Manufacturing, Inc. must decide whether to close its plant in Anytown, MA. The plant closure would result in the lay-off of 50 employees. Management has asked for a brief outlining the ethical issues surrounding plant closures, and the questions apparent on profit vs. ethical behavior. At the heart of the decision are several questions that must be considered prior to a decision. Each question
The likes of service oriented companies like America Online (AOL) is a prime example of how relocation and outsourcing has changed the way service oriented businesses function in this global economy. AOL continues to be one of our nation's most intelligent economic organizations as they take advantage of the outsourcing for the majority of their customer oriented operations. When an AOL customer calls in to have his password reset
The government has rather low environmental expectations. In fact, the consultant found that they are about as lenient as the Mexican restrictions, though the Philippines presents no public relations nightmare as protestors are not rallying against health concerns, as they were in Mexico. Although the conditions in the Philippines may seem even more ready for outsourcing then the conditions in Mexico, the ethical costs of operating the company in the
That particular ethical concern may be harder to define precisely, simply because it may be too restrictive and no different from the types of decisions considered appropriate in the U.S. In that regard, provided it violates no domestic or foreign laws and that it is not undertaken for the purpose of shifting the environmental risk (Rosenstand, 2008), the relocation is no different from situating a similar plant in any local
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