James Utility (JU): I call to order the annual shareholders meeting at the headquarters of Chevron incorporation in San Ramon, California. The meeting begins at 8.00 am on October 3, 2014.
Stephen: I conducted a roll call where James Utility CEO, Maggie Tarian (MG) Chief Financial Officer, Moses Critic (MC) Risk officer, Mary Libertarian, Public Relations Officer, and I Stephen, secretary, are present. I opened the meeting with the issues concerning the longstanding legal battle of the corporation with the indigenous Ecuadorians since the previous minutes had already been confirmed. Remember, you all remember the series of disagreements that arose when Lagio Agrio residents were against the settlement of Texaco. The matter in court for the damage that Texaco caused the Ecuadorean afectados remain in our agendas as a critical issue.
James Utility: we need to come up with arguments and conclusions that will benefit us and the Ecuadorean afectados. Although, we acquired Texaco, we cannot bear all the challenges of the company and the problems that the company created. However, we cannot ignore the fact that there are a number of Ecuadorean afectados facing exclusive challenges from our action.
Maggie Tarian: it would be wrong for us to forget that the residents of this region have a right to a clean environment. We all know that clean environment saves us from health risks, and we need to ensure that the residents enjoy their stay in their locality. It is clear that the people are in deep pain since they are not enjoying the comfort that should come with the environment.
Moses Critic: As the Chevron family, we may argue on the point that our operations are in a free market. However, do we really understand what is a free market? Freedom refers to the potential to act on one’s will on a certain course. Although, Texaco Company that is part of us had the freedom to operate in the region, it did not have to dispose of a lot of waste to the environment as it had extensive effect among the residents. I would agree with MT that the residents had their right to a clean environment, which Texaco violated in the name of freedom in business operations.
Maggie Tarian: However, ‘free’ we may be there is no room for us to violate the rights of the residents. Moreover, it should be our role to protect them against harmful disposals. We have the technological knowledge on how we can protect the citizens from the harm they are getting from the disposals. The Ecuadorean afectados are aware of the pain they are experiencing from the disposals, and that is why they cannot withstand lack of compensation. They are also ‘free’ to enjoy a clean environment as the law dictates.
Mary Libertarian: I am silent when Maggie and Moses try to define me in their knowledge. To an extent I agree with them. I stand for rights and responsibilities. It is good to recognize that both us and the Ecuadorean afectados have rights. However, we should be keen not to forget we have a higher responsibility than the residents do. We must protect them from the hazardous effects of the disposed oil. I work with individualism, where I always advise people to work with consideration to moral worthiness. If only we are in the shoes of the Ecuadorean afectados we could understand what they experience from the disposal. Thank you MC for making us understand that we only have freedom to enjoy it responsibly as we mind other parties.
James Utility: Do these arguments conclude that we should ignore our rights as a company? We seem to defend the Ecuadorean afectados so much disregarding our significance in the region. I believe we are part of the region, and we are sharing the same problems. Can we be unfair to ourselves?
MC: If I may answer that JU, to the point we have abused our freedom making us irresponsible and unfair to ourselves. We do not consider that there are employees in our company who may have a different definition of the term freedom since they rely on our definition. They are suffering the same problems with the Ecuadorean afectados.
ML: As further answer to JU, we can equally be unfair to ourselves if we do not understand the rights and responsibilities of others. It could be extremely difficult for us to define morality for others if it is not a common goal within the company. I agree with MC that our freedom has swallowed the freedom of our employees exposing them to dangers like the Ecuadorean afectados.
MT: I like it that you have all come to understand that we need to be responsible for the residents as well as our employees. It would be advisable for us to evaluate our future operations and consider the challenges that the Ecuadorean afectados are experiencing in our hands and take the necessary action. I would propose we may renegotiate the previous ruling to lower the compensation for the residents.
JU: MT that seems so urgent but I can see the point that we have to change our perspective on the issue and extend some help to the Ecuadorean afectados. However, it has to be lower than the previous ruling. Let us pay for the freedom that we have denied them by giving them liberty for excellent rights and responsibilities.
ML: I propose that the residents enjoy their environment without the effect of the responsibilities of the companies surrounding them like us.
MC: At last, we must identify freedom for the residents in balance with our freedom to operate in the same environment.
JU: As we satisfy our business thirst, we must ensure the proper environment for the residents. Therefore, we need to come up with fair compensation for the Ecuadorean afectados, which the shareholders will pass.
(78% of the shareholders passed the proposal and the company could apply for the compensation to pay to the Ecuadorean afectados)
Works Cited
COHA. "New York Justice Sputters in the Ecuadorian Oilfields." Council on Hemispheric Affairs. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 Oct. 2014. <http://www.coha.org/new-york-justice-sputters-in-the-ecuadorian-oilfields/>.
Cavalier, Robert. "Online Guide to Ethics and Moral Philosophy." Online Guide to Ethics and Moral Philosophy. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 Oct. 2014. <http://caae.phil.cmu.edu/Cavalier/80130/part2/sect9.html>.
Gallegos, Diego. "Financial ties detected between Chevron and U.S. judge that ruled against Ecuadorian plaintiffs."ElCiudadano.gob.ec. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 Oct. 2014. <http://www.elciudadano.gob.ec/en/financial-ties-detected-between-chevron-and-u-s-judge-that-ruled-against-ecuadorian-plaintiffs/>.
Merriam. "free market." Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 6 Oct. 2014. <http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/free%20market>.
RSS. "Libertarian Theory."Communication Theory RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 5 Oct. 2014. <http://communicationtheory.org/libertarian-theory/>.
