Pro Ethics

Very excellent ethical question in medicine. Should criminals be higher in a list when trying to receive organ donations?

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- In the immediate aftermath of Bank of America's new debit card fee announcement, many of the bank's customers have declared this is the last straw. But while angry consumers are threatening to leave, it's the bank that could have the last laugh.

Google may be abusing their power in the internet search business.

This article talks about the expansion of morals in businesses.

Walmart in Brazil has taken the "Green" approach and is protecting the enviornment. Here is their plan: No companies that employ slave labor; "forced" labor is a rampant problem in developing countries. * No soybeans sourced from illegally deforested areas; 20% of the world's carbon emissions (and 70% of Brazil's emissions) come from burning down trees. * No beef sourced from any newly cleared Amazonian land; globally, deforestation emits more carbon than all vehicles. Brazil and Indonesia are at the heart of this enormous challenge.

Professional sports have decided to take the "green" approach as well by implementing energy saving technologies such as wind power, solar panels, and biodegrable corn-based plastic cups. The NDRC has provided way for all major sports to jump on this bandwagon which will inform all of its viewers to perserve this earth.

Bill Gates stresses the importance of his philanthropistic attitude in a recession.

What the Wall Street protest has to do with student loan debt. 

Being a pre-law student, I found this article especially interesting. It really does help to show why attorney's are seen so negatively sometimes. The article mentions how no one wants to pay for bad news, but sometimes that's what lawyers have to give to be ethical; the truth isn't always what we want, but it's often what we need. If attorney's told clients what they wanted to hear, even if it was not true, it could ultimately cost the client even more money and even get them into trouble.

Very good article on the moral dimension of the work lawyers do--as opposed to the usual focus on the moral character of lawyers themselves; interesting points on compensation as well.

Banks are funding the destruction of mountaintops for coal in unethical practices that are further destroying the earth.

Major banks invest in companies that are partaking in destructing the ecosystem.

This is an excellent example of how businesses can have a positive effect on their surroundings.

This is an 8 page are article about what we should be doing ethically to prevent global warming

Very good essay, Marcus. Interesting angle on the ethics of inaction, and a very good analysis of the issue from a 'divine command' perspective.

It's true, when it comes to global warming, we always think it's someone else's responsibility to fix what we've destroyed.

Relates to HIPAA and social networking

NEW YORK (CNN) -- Police arrested hundreds of protesters who occupied an iconic New York bridge during demonstrations against the nation's financial system, before releasing the demonstrators with tickets. The "Occupy Wall Street" protesters extended their rally to Brooklyn Bridge, where they were cited for blocking the roadway, authorities said late Saturday.

I thought considering last week's reading, this blog post was good to look at. It coincides with Maitland's argument for sweatshops. The part I found most interesting was this: "The most important aspect relating to the morality of sweatshop labor is that it is voluntary. That is, sweatshop laborers get up in the morning and choose to work in a sweatshop instead of doing anyother possible thing on any given day. Why would they do that? It's simple, by working at a sweatshop a laborer is able to earn more for himself and his family than he would otherwise be able to were he not employed at that sweatshop. The laborer has the choice to either perform some other task for money, produce his own goods and services, or go work for the sweatshop. He has made the decision that what he gains by working at the sweatshop is more valuable than what he would gain doing anything else." It begs the question of who gets to decide what these workers do in their lives to support their families and how they should feel about those choices.

Another good reflection on this issue, jdybing. One of the issues with this type of argument is that it's rather theoretical. It simply isn't true of all people that "The laborer has the choice to either perform some other task for money, produce his own goods and services, or go work for the sweatshop." Even if this is true, the next question is whether we should just accept a type of work and working conditions that demoralize people and trivialize the value of their lives. What Maitland says of sweatshops is just as true of the practice of child labor early in the industrial era of the US, where children were not only doing dehumanizing work but doing so under extremely dangerous conditions. It's hard to see how anyone would actually "choose" this type of life given viable options for doing something else.

We need to apply ethics not only to others, but also to ourselves. We must not harm ourselves by overworking ourselves. This article is great on how vacations are appropriate and can help us better ourselves in the workplace.

Talks about the goods and bads of taking vacations in the business world. I think taking vacations can make you feel real relaxed and when you return from your vacation you feel re-energized and ready to get back on track.

This site has a helpful tip every day to being green.

Great resource, Kara. One of the biggest challenges for sustainability is getting people to notice and change everyday types of behaviors by which we unnecessarily use and consume energy.

Here is the Wikileaks article about Collateral Murder in 2010

This is a good article for ethics, the death penalty is one of the most debating topics in America and in American Politics. I know this is from the Opinion section but does bring forth legitimate points.

A "wonderfully playful participatory culture" ... when you have an hour or two for watching youtube vids, check out Michael Wesch's favorites, Curator of the Month for November.