Blood Diamond Policy

Blood Diamond Policy

Diamonds in Botswana are acquired through cheap labor, because this is one the poorest countries in Africa. Unlike most companies in Africa that have exploited mineral resources, DeBeers Company has maintained social responsibility with the country. Because of this, the economy of Botswana has risen to one of the most prestigious economies in the region.

Threats to liberty are no longer eminent following the downfall of communism in Botswana. This eliminated the dangerous and direct challenge. Communism credited the abolition of private ownership because it perceived this form of ownership as the means of committing social ills. Tyrannies are being eliminated or isolated, although they still manage to cling to power. They are slowly yielding to the spirit of the times. The current year’s slogan is privatisation and democracy.  These changes may not signify that the future is secure. There are a number of threats to freedom, not only emanating from tyranny but also from equality. Equality, which is related to security, is the identity of reward. Liberty is egalitarian, since living creatures differ in intelligence, strength, courage, ambition, and perseverance (Turetken & Demirors, 2007 p. 56). All these contribute to the success.

Equality and the law of opportunity are not only essential to liberty but also compatible to it. This is contrary to the equality of reward that is only attainable by coercion and is why all despots insist on their subjects’ equality and all utopian schemes presuppose despotic authority. Over a century ago, Walter Bagehot observed that there was no suitable approach that could be used to ensure all men are free and equal. The enforcement of equality, ironically, destroys not only equality, but also liberty, which can clearly be demonstrated by the experience of communism. Individuals charged with the responsibility of implementing social equity claim they are privileged and elevate themselves high above the common herd.  It also leads, inasmuch, to pervasive corruption, as goods and services are monopolised by the elites. And yet, the Golden Age ideals have never ceased to appeal to humanity, which is one of our seemingly indestructible and persistent myths. In a contest between liberty and equality, the later holds the stronger hand, since the loss of liberty is only felt after its occurrence. On the contrary, the pains of inequality irritate every moment of life (Kolb, 2008 p. 67).

The happenings in modern times indicate that proponents of democracy are much more willing to sacrifice their freedom for the sake of economic security and social equality, apparently unaware of the consequences. Despite the commendable reform that the world has experienced recently, the entire concept stands with the liberty of individualism, since it allows various groups to merge and claim the right of satisfaction at the expense of the citizens. In the process of claiming their right at the expense of others, they steadily enhance the power of the state which acts on their behalf. The wealth generated by industrial economies in the prevailing peaceful conditions has currently masked the immense reality. The reality could become apparently painful should the economic situation drastically deteriorate. However, the state can establish control in times of prosperity to restore social stability at the expense of freedom. Restoring the responsibility for social assistance to private or family charities would undoubtedly resolve this predicament. However, such solutions are neither desirable nor feasible. Society’s libertarian ideal where government runs nothing is quite unrealistic compared to the utopian ideal where it is in charge of running everything (Goldsmith, 2010, p.40)

Entering into a joint venture is a competitive advantage for the company. This is because the government will act to its interest, which will also benefit the company. The company is also involved win poverty and HIV eradication programs to assist the country to save its workforce. Ideally, this may seem to benefit the government but also, it benefits the company to meet its workforce requirements.

Ozone rules   

The interest groups are fighting for the right to shift ozone rules. They believe that president obama had an obligation to change the current rule that allows ozone exposure at 75 parts per billion. The groups are the environmental activists groups.  They fight for the right to have a sustainable and healthy environment in America.  Although the new standard proposed by the head of E.P.A will cost the states from 19 to 25 billion dollars, the benefits are also estimated to be 13 to 37 billion. In addition, these quality regulations will save lives of the American people who die every year due to ground level ozone (Broder, 2011).

President Obama is currently under a lot of pressure from the short term economic shut down. Although these calculations show that imposing a higher standard may be beneficial, Obama thinks that it might be a speculation and may turn out to be a political suicide. He considers the cost of imposing the change and thinks that it is wise to hold on to the current standard for now. At the moment, the president is concerned at stabilizing the economic situation than the environmental concern (Broder 2011).  Although the environment is important, the cost of this new regulation is high and setting it would take years to mature its profits. In simple calculation, it is easier to choose the economy over the environment.

Flush with Energy

The 1973 Arab oil embargo led to a devastating energy crisis in Denmark. As a result, the government decided to craft energy policies to combat the downfall in the energy sector. The Danish government came up with a program to mitigate the energy crisis. This program involved strict measures like banning Sunday driving and introducing taxes on gasoline and Carbon dioxide (CO2). There were however subsidies in the alternative energy sector and incentives too. This led to high development of green energy and also energy saving appliances. The high taxes in the gasoline energy sector were then subsidized in the income tax section for the people (Friedman, 2008).

After the implementation of the energy policy, there was a lot of development in green energy sector. This in turn created employment for the people of Denmark to the extent that today the unemployment rate in Denmark is only 1.6%. The clean environment due to the use of green energy and recycling used energy such as heat provides a safe and habitable country which supports global climatic concerns (Friedman, 2008). Use of alternatives such as bicycles keeps people fit thus reducing health conditions such as obesity.

The exploitation of green energy led to creation of green energy industries for concepts like wind mills and turbines. Energy saving appliances also came up thus exploding the Danish export market with green energy products. Employment was created thus economic growth. There are a number of innovations which have led to reduced emissions. These include:

1. Increased efficiency in energy- innovations such as the energy saving motion detectors and toilets fitted with different flushing powers depending on what is being flushed have aided in the conservation of energy hence facilitating efficient use of energy
2. Taxation- imposition of taxes on the Danes for use of CO2, gasoline and building-and-appliance efficiency standards facilitated economic growth without increasing their level of energy consumption.

• Use of electricity from wind which meets about 20% of its energy supply.

1. Recycling of waste-the waste from coal fired power plants is recycled and used for home heating.

China is regarded as the largest competitor since in the last 18months 35 new competitors have cropped up from the country. In my opinion, the United States policy on climate change is not firm and the government is not committed to implementing it. This is because the carbon dioxide emission levels are supposed to be 17% lower than the 2005 level yet the US congress could not extend the production tax credits for wind development in America (Friedman, 2008).

W.T.O. Moves to Revive Talks on Farm Subsidies

World Trade Organization (WHO) is the only international organization in the world that deals with rules that govern trade among different nations (Haerens, 2010). Its main mandate is to ensure that trade routines are not hindered at all but run freely and as predicted. Its core goals consist of agreements that are negotiated for and signed by the different trading nations. The agreements are further ratified by the parliaments of the individual nations. It assists producers of services and goods, as well as importers and exporters to transact their businesses.

Benefits that member states enjoy are that it handles disputes are in a constructive manner.The system promotes peace between nations. Choices for products and qualities are increased and economic growth is stimulated. It further influences reduction of living cost due to freer trade. It shields individual governments from lobbying and in general life is made more efficient by basic principles. World Trade Organization has a wide range of disadvantages. For instance, it only serves the interest of transnational corporations. It acts like a court that is stacked. The WTO refuses to address issues on labor and human rights. It has also constantly continued to ignore the plight of countries that are still developing (Reis, 2009).

In 2006, a dispute arose between US and Brazil. This was because of the discriminatory treatment that Brazil farmers believed to be experiencing. The Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) established a panel to settle the dispute. Later that year the chairman of the panel informed the DSB that Brazil subsidies on US goods was discriminatory. The panel, therefore, dissolved its work. The conflicting nations solved their problem before WHO had completed its work.

 

 

 

 

 

 

References

Becker, E. (2004). W.T.O. Moves to Revive Talks on Farm Subsidies

Broder M. John. (2011). Groups Sue After E.P.A. Fails to Shift Ozone Rules

Friedman, Thomas L. (2008). Hot, flat, and crowded: why we need a green revolution– and how it can renew America. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux,

Goldsmith, A. A. (2010). Business, government, and society: the global political economy. Mason, Ohio: Cengage Learning.

 

Heijden, Hein. (2010). Social movements, public spheres and the European politics of the environment: green power Europe?. Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire: Palgrave Macmillan.

 

Turetken, O., & Demirors, O. (2007). The U.S. economic history, 4470, 195-207

 

Kolb, R. W., (2008). Encyclopedia of business ethics and society. Thousand             Oaks: Sage

Publications.

Korten, D. C. (1995) When corporations rule the world. West Hartford, Conn.: Kumarian

 

PressNocera,

 

Joe. (August 9, 2008). Diamonds Are Forever in Botswana. Talking Business

Winnick, Nick. (2011). Green power. New York: AV² by Weigl,.

Friedman, L. Thomas. (2008). Op-ed Columnis Flush With Energy
 

 

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