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practice
contributing to “contraction.” Part of the resources thereby saved then
could go towards uplifting developing country economies, thus reducing
the gap between rich and poor countries, leading to a world of diminishing,
rather than widening, disparities. If achieved, this would contribute
to the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDgs) as set in
2000 by the United Nations.
Finally, the precautionary principle encourages policies that protect human
health and the environment in the face of uncertain risks. It has been defined
as follows: “When an activity raises threats of harm to human health
or the environment, precautionary measures should be taken even if some
cause and effect relationships are not fully established scientifically.” 12 Its
application would require concerted global action in the face of uncertainty
on a scale of the harm expected through global warming and, indeed, global
heating under existing climate change models. 13, 14 In tandem with this principle
is the principle of solidarity. Under the Kyoto Accord, solidarity would
trump precaution, and certainly local/regional short-term economic interests
in order to act to prevent worsening trends in global warming. The tension
between local short-term and global longer-term interests is, in turn, trumped
by other principles, including intergenerational equity. Respect for autonomy
(i.e., the right to self-determination) in the affected community appears to
have been minimized and even marginalized to date in all actions taken by
more-powerful interests.
Identify the key stakeholders in the case and the most appropriate
decision-maker(s) and/or legal authorities to approach the ethical
issue, if applicable
Key stakeholders include elected government officials who, on the one hand,
represent regional values, but are not immune to pressure from powerful
vested interests; federal and provincial government departments of health,
environment and industry; the oil industry; and, the communities, local,
downstream, national and global, that not only rely on a secure supply of
oil, but also are at increased risk of harm from the pollution resulting from
the industry. The medical officer of health for the region is also a key stakeholder,
as is the provincial cancer board and its cancer registry.
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