Bougainville Vs Rio Tinto Case Analysis
Rachel Doyle
PHI 3013-02
February 28th, 2013
Bougainville v Rio Tinto The Bougainville Copper Ltd was the lifeblood of Bougainville 's economy. Providing the island with numerous jobs, as well as 20% of its profits to the government of Papua New Guinea, it seemed to be a benefit to the overall economy. But to the citizens of Bougainville, the BCL was a poison, slowly killing off the environment of Bougainville, and the human dignity of the island 's natives. Due to the BCL 's strip-mining practices, the effects upon the environment were devastating. Ugly, open craters marring the land, the sludge and dangerous chemicals from the practice seeping into the Jaba River and poisoning it. This lead to numerous birth defects, and even to the extinction of the flying fox bat species on the island ("Bougainville Copper"). On top of this, the natives of Bougainville were kept in "slave like conditions" ("ABC News"), receiving only 0.5-1.25% of the profits of the company as a whole. They were also subjugated to Apartheid, separated from white workers and forced to stay in their own workspace. Though the company was eventually shut down, the tyranny that the natives of Bougainville experienced at the hands of the BCL was not forgotten. Under the Alien Tort …show more content…
Perhaps it is because of the overwhelming belief among CEOs that ethical beliefs should be passed down from generation to generation and worked into everyday life, but the traces of historical companies and countries can be seen echoed in some of the less than ethical business practices followed by these more modern corporations. Specifically, the ideas of imperialism seems to pervade the ideology of many companies with how they treat the local communities of their operations. The general takeover, economically and politically, of the BCL on Bougainville, almost seems to mirror the philosophy of Colonial Imperialism
PHI 3013-02
February 28th, 2013
Bougainville v Rio Tinto The Bougainville Copper Ltd was the lifeblood of Bougainville 's economy. Providing the island with numerous jobs, as well as 20% of its profits to the government of Papua New Guinea, it seemed to be a benefit to the overall economy. But to the citizens of Bougainville, the BCL was a poison, slowly killing off the environment of Bougainville, and the human dignity of the island 's natives. Due to the BCL 's strip-mining practices, the effects upon the environment were devastating. Ugly, open craters marring the land, the sludge and dangerous chemicals from the practice seeping into the Jaba River and poisoning it. This lead to numerous birth defects, and even to the extinction of the flying fox bat species on the island ("Bougainville Copper"). On top of this, the natives of Bougainville were kept in "slave like conditions" ("ABC News"), receiving only 0.5-1.25% of the profits of the company as a whole. They were also subjugated to Apartheid, separated from white workers and forced to stay in their own workspace. Though the company was eventually shut down, the tyranny that the natives of Bougainville experienced at the hands of the BCL was not forgotten. Under the Alien Tort …show more content…
Perhaps it is because of the overwhelming belief among CEOs that ethical beliefs should be passed down from generation to generation and worked into everyday life, but the traces of historical companies and countries can be seen echoed in some of the less than ethical business practices followed by these more modern corporations. Specifically, the ideas of imperialism seems to pervade the ideology of many companies with how they treat the local communities of their operations. The general takeover, economically and politically, of the BCL on Bougainville, almost seems to mirror the philosophy of Colonial Imperialism