Environmental problems come in many forms and plague members of all societies. We are connected to everything in our world. We are connected thought the air we breathe, the water we drink, the food we eat, the energy we use, and the soil where we live. To keep our world healthy, all these elements need to work together. There are no global laws protecting the environment and that is why everyone should practice good ethics when it comes to environmental issues. Most environmental problems are the result of the unethical actions of individuals or organizations. .
One of the worst industrial catastrophes ever was caused by the unethical behavior of a Union Carbide employee. In December of 1984, in Bhopal, India, water was mixed into a tank of methyl isocyanate (Ridgeway 93). A huge cloud of poisonous gases began to pour out of the tank. As the people of Bhopal slept, the cloud of gas rose up into the air. The wind allowed it to spread over a large area. Within a few hours over 2,000 people were dead. Today, over 18,000 people have died because of illnesses caused by the gas leak. Environmental Activists expressed that poison from the factory continues to creep into the local water system and continues to cause devastating effects to the environment (Ridgeway 95).
There are many groups that are concerned about the environment. The Sierra Club is one of many groups that have displayed a global environmental ethic when it comes to the environment. The Sierra Club has more than 700,000 members. The Club is America's oldest, largest and most influential environmental organization. The Sierra Club has lobbied Congress to pass bills that are environmental friendly and reject those that are not. The Sierra Club defends the environment and upholds a global environmental ethic on many issues; such as global warming, air pollution, water pollution, cleaner energy, land population, and human rights.
