Straying away from the human
aspect of business ethics, I decided to write about an article which shone light
on businesses’ disregard for animal cruelty. As many witnessed following the
release of the documentary “The Cove”, dolphin drive hunting is a well-known,
highly controversial, and apparently, very lucrative practice – especially
among nations such as Peru and Japan. Common dolphin hunting practices include
slitting the throats of the dolphins or jamming metal rods into the necks of
these cetaceans. Such methods of hunting emphasize the barbarity that many
companies will condone in order to sustain profits. Outlawed in the majority of
countries throughout the globe, dolphin hunting remains the focal point for
various markets such as the dolphin entertainment industry, illegal trade, and
many meat markets. Unfazed by the eminent threat of human health risks, the
inhumanity of their customs, and the collection of activist groups (such as Whale
and Dolphin Conservation Society and Blue Voice), dolphin drive hunting remains
a common practice within the regulatory environments of countries which allow
for it. Thus, if the responsibility of maintaining ethical treatment towards
cetaceans is shrugged off by governments, is it not up to businesses to take
this responsibility upon their shoulders?
Word Count: 200
References:
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20100824a3.html Image:
