The devestating effects of logging in the rainforest Research Paper

The devestating effects of logging in the rainforest - Research Paper Example Furthermore, according to the statistics, â€Å"more than 80 percent of the world’s ancient forests† (Tscharntke, 2007) have been destroyed due to the logging. This paper is a brief attempt to explore various dimensions devastating effects of logging in rainforests on various stakeholders. Discussion â€Å"Rainforests once covered more than 14 percent† (Bermingham, Dick & Moritz, 2005) of the total land on this planet; however, â€Å"today every second, the world is losing one and half acre of rainforests† (Bermingham, Dick & Moritz, 2005) and thus, it is left with less than 6 percent of rainforests. Research indicates that if this process continues then we are likely to run out of rainforests in the coming three decades (Tscharntke, 2007). Currently, almost a quarter of the western dugs are derived from rainforest ingredients. Furthermore, interesting is the fact that scientists believe that they have only checked less than a percent of the total species of rainforests, which means that with deforestation of rainforests, the world is losing the cure of many diseases (Bermingham, Dick & Moritz, 2005). Logging is most common in the developing and underdeveloped countries of the world where there are large reserves of rainforest. Quite understandably, considering the income levels of these countries, money becomes an urgent, unavoidable, and imperative need. On an average, a hectare of trees in rainforest can earn the loggers more than 40000 US dollars, which is nearly equal to a fortune for them. To make matters worst, most of the governments in these countries are also involved in these practices since they have no other way to earn foreign exchange. However, these governments fail to realize that the logs that they sell to countries like America and other European countries, they later spend more than half of the foreign exchange or export earnings to buy important wood products as pulp, paper and others from these very countries (L aurance & Peres, 2006). It is important to note that timber industry claims to be following â€Å"safe† logging practices, which include selective logging and full forest harvesting. Interestingly, both of them are not at all safe. Selective logging may refer to the process of choosing specific mature trees to harvest. Once the harvesting process is complete, a sapling is planted so that a new tree can grow. However, this never results in favorable results. In most rainforests, average size of trees is very high which blocks sunlight and nutrients for other small trees (Jepma, 1995). Furthermore, research indicates that removing one tree from a bunch of trees in a rainforest may result in the death of 17 more trees. This is true because trees develop a system of interdependence with each other especially in rainforests (Tscharntke et al., 2009). Full forest harvesting which refers to the process of harvesting the entire trees with its branches and leaves is an even dangerous method of logging. The nutrients taken from the soil are usually in the leaves and branches of the trees and taking them away leaves the forest with lesser chances to grow again. Furthermore, with direct exposure of sunlight in the gaps and empty spaces dries the soil and the soil loses precious nitrogen (Tscharntke, 2007). In the absence of rainforest trees, the balance of carbon dioxide is being disturbed since there

Marketing ethics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Marketing ethics - Essay Example A recent McDonald's TV ad campaign entitled "Feed your inner child" is taken as an example of the ethical dimensions of marketing along the lines of the conflict between "profit" and "nutrition". It is clear that both elements should be in balance in order for McDonald's to be able to keep doing business at the same time that the consumers -children and adults- are served healthy food instead of junk food. This is a very conflictive topic, and it is a complex issue when it comes to finding an adequate solution for all parties involved. (Business Ethics, 2006). In a research study conducted by Kristen Harrison and Amy Marske (2005) for the American Journal of Public Health entitled "Nutritional Content of Foods Advertised During the Television Programs Children Watch Most" and published online by MyDNA under the title of "TV Ads Market Junk Food to Kids", the researchers found that "kids' consumption of TV ads that tout poor food choices is especially troubling because childhood obesity is on the rise, TV advertising influences children's food purchases and purchase requests, and kids see so many TV food ads a day." (Harrison and Marske, 2005). The researchers suggested that "parental involvement is the most important factor in the determination of the family diet. () Parents can work to maintain the integrity of the family pantry not only through selective shopping, but also through efforts to instruct their children about food and nutrition." (Harrison and Marske, 2005). Harrison stated that other adults should cooperate with parents in order to address the health problem of childhood obesity. In her opinion the food industry and advertisers "bear some responsibility for peddling nutritionally inadequate foods so aggressively to kids." (Harrison and Marske, 2005). The overall findings of this research study establish a significant degree of causation between childhood obesity and high levels of fast food advertising. In the article entitled "Advertising: Self Defence Tips for Parents and Young People!", Red Branch Human Performance (2006) makes the next assertion about advertisers that don't lie, but at the same time they don't tell the whole truth. Let's see: "Advertisers often don't give you the full story about their product. For example, if a manufacturer claims that their product is "virtually fat free" they usually don't mention it when the product is very high in sugar. If a product is touted as "90% fat free", it is still 10% fat...which is high enough." (Red Branch, 2006). This is a very common marketing tactics used in a wide variety of products with negative features that marketers don't want to reveal to the consumers. McSpotlight (1999) is a consumers organisation from the United Kingdom whose objective is to stop McDonald's marketing aimed at children. They hold a permanent campaign encouraging consumers to send their complains to the Independent Television Commission (ITC) based in London. McSpotlight makes a strong emphasis on the ITC Code, especially Appendix 1, Rule 5 that states the following: "Advertisements must not exhort children to purchase or to ask their parents or others to make enquiries or purchases." (McSpotlight, 1999). Along this line of thought, McSpotlight