Stealing Africa
The video “Stealing Africa” highlights how multinational companies exploit African countries for their own advantage. In particular, the video shows how Glencore’s (an Anglo-Swiss multinational commodity trading and mining company) copper mines in Zambia are not generating a large bounty tax revenue for the Zambians (The Why, 2013). Several lapses in morality are also evident. One such lapse is insider trading. This is where several multinational companies, Glencore included, illegally practice trading on the stock exchange to their own advantage through having access to confidential information as it relates to the copper mining business. Another lapse in morality is the possible tax avoidance by Glencore. For instance, the company has been accused of avoiding paying tens of millions of dollars in Zambian taxes. Mopani’s (73% owned by Glencore) mining activities also present environmental hazards to Zambian communities. Acid spills from the plant contaminate water supplies causing many residents to be admitted in hospital. Sulphur dioxide emissions from the mining factories also pollute the air causing many residents to develop respiratory infections.
In my opinion, the lapses in morality are not appropriate despite the benefits of income they generate. This is because they show a total disregard for the lives of other human beings. All I can see is a few individuals who are driven by the greed to profit from others by taking advantage of them not caring about the physical harms they will cause in the process. Several rights have been violated, and these include the right to health, right from degrading treatment, and right to an adequate standard of living. The companies have rights also, and in particular, they have mining rights. As a business leader, I would introduce the policy of environmental footprint. This policy would seek to minimize air pollution by ensuring that the amount of sulphur dioxide emitted in the air is within the thresholds set by WHO. Another policy relates to donations and aid, and as such, a significant portion of the company’s revenues will be donated to local communities to help them meet their education and health needs.
Reference
The Why. (2013, January 5). Stealing Africa⎜WHY POVERTY? Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNYemuiAOfU
