Redwood Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Redwood - Essay Example The destruction of old-growth forests will also mean the extinction of wildlife, most of them already endangered today. Aside from the economic value for potential lumber, large tracts of old-growth forests may also be used to address climate change by sequestration of greenhouse gas emissions which makes conservation a key to the overall strategy of stabilizing atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations (Sempervirens, 2008). A company like Maxxam's interests in the ancient redwood forest of Pacific Lumber is purely a commercial one, a profitable investment, and it seems from the Case Resource, only a source of immediate revenues for personal gain or to solve financial problems occurring in the other areas of business of its owner. There is no doubt that a forest would have economic value for its owner. In terms of this value, the owner should weigh against immediate and huge cash returns from depleting the forest or sustained and long term returns through application of proper commer cial forest management. For the owner and the company's employees, it should be important that there be trees and income not only for them but for their children's children (Blencowe, 2008). This author's opinion is that redwoods are equally important as jobs. To maintain the jobs, the redwoods must be maintained. 2. 2. Is it morally permissible for private owners to do as they wish with the timberland they own Explain why or why not What's your assessment of Hurwitz Is he a robber baron or a socially responsible business person, or something in between Although current laws in the United States still hold private enterprise sacrosanct in that property as well as employees are not covered by specific rights but only those granted by the private owners, there is a growing concern for ethical business practices which includes environmental issues. This is forms part of evidence that indicates that it is not only not morally permissible for private owners to do as they wish with property such as timberland that they own, it is also unethical, as well as possibly detrimental to the business and the personal interests of the owners. There have already been several cases which have been publicized involving large companies and their misuse of the environment that it is now incumbent upon companies to seriously implement corporate ethics to comply with laws and regulations, corporate governance, risk management, as well as environment preservation activities and social contribution (Nichicon, 2008). Hurwitz is purely a businessman whose s ingular objective seems to be to amass money in the quickest way possible. He is indeed a robber baron without any sense of social responsibility. Whereas, the previous owners of Pacific Lumber had been socially responsible in conducting their business by only logging timber at the same rate that trees can be regenerated, Hurwitz had done away with this practice and over logged to take advantage of the high demand for redwood after his takeover. 3. Are mainstream environmentalists right to try to thwart Hurwitz, or are they simply trying to impose their values on others Does a radical group like Earth First! That engages in sabotage go too far, or do its ends justify its means This author's opinion is that it is right for mainstream environmentalists to try to thwart Hurwitz, because Hurwitz was practically destroying the forest to the point of extinction, as well as the wildlife which uses the