Bp Oil Spill Ethical Issues

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Numerous companies have ethical obligations they need to fulfill. On a company’s website, this can mostly be see under corporate responsibility or sustainability. BP, is an oil and gas company based in London, England. BP had a major oil spill back in 2010 that is considered to be the largest oil spill in history (Pallardy). BP has an ethical obligation to prevent, clean up and contain oil spills based on utilitarianism theory. Utilitarianism is a moral theory stating that people must choose the action or follow the rule that provides the greatest good to society (Cheeseman). Cleaning up oil spills is an action that provides the greatest good to society because it protects the environment, the people, and the economy. Oil spills are …show more content…

It ruined businesses and people’s daily lives. It also affected people’s health. The demand for seafood decreased dramatically following the oil spill which put a lot of businesses out of business (Morgan, 2016). There was a big concern that oil would get into the food chain and that it would have negative effects on people health, as a result, all Louisiana oyster harvest areas were closed (Morgan, 2016). People’s emotions, relationships and way of life has been disrupted by the oil spill, "Fragmented families, failed marriages, community residents who no longer speak to each other or collaborate in community activities,” (Knox). People living near the oil spill or who go to beaches affected by the oil spill have higher incidences of PTSD, depression, anxiety and other physical illnesses (Knox). Eleven workers were killed in the BP oil rig that exploded which affects a lot of people, it affects their families, friends and coworkers forever (Moskowitz). In places near the gulf, marinas aren’t as packed, there are for sale signs in restaurants and stores, and people move away (Moskowitz). It’s sad to think that so many people’s lives have been changed due to this oil spill caused by the negligence of BP. Had they contained the spill sooner, maybe the affect wouldn’t have been so hard hitting for people along the