Description
The Assignment
Read the article carefully, taking notes about the economic context in which oil companies are operating, and why they are hoping for trade deal between the U.S. and Kenya that would curtail Kenya’s domestic restrictions on plastic.
As you read the article pay attention the potential for both harms and benefits for the trade deal.
Who in the US might benefit from the deal?
And who in the U.S. might be harmed?
Who in Kenya might benefit from the deal?
Who in Kenya might be harmed by the deal?
Who in the US might benefit from the deal?
And who in the U.S. might be harmed? And what about other persons in the rest of Africa and globally?
The basic question for this assignment: Do you think that oil companies should (morally speaking) push the U.S. government to enter the trade deal with Kenya described in the article?
Answer this question in a short essay (with appropriate transitions between paragraphs) in which you complete the 4 elements of this assignment, using a SEPARATE PARAGRAPH for each element.
INTRODUCTION: Briefly describe the context surrounding the potential trade deal and clearly state the ethical position that you will be defending – i.e. whether oil companies should or shouldn’t push for the trade deal. Be sure in this paragraph to also say briefly what the trade deal would involve, in particular what restrictions on plastic in Kenya would be relaxed by the deal.
ARGUMENT AGAINST: Based on the information contained in the article, describe some of the negative externalities of the business activities that would be allowed under the trade deal and then develop the strongest argument you can against oil companies pushing for the trade deal based (at least in part) on these negative externalities. In this paragraph, be sure to explain the idea of an “externality.”
ARGUMENT FOR: Based on the information contained in the article, develop the strongest argument you can in favor oil companies pushing for the trade deal. Here you may want to consider the potential benefits of the business activities that would be allowed under the deal to those involved in those activities as well as positive externalities that might be created by these activities.
ANALYSIS: Critically evaluate these arguments briefly explaining which argument is stronger and why.
REFERENCEs: Include a reference page at the end of your essay for each source you have used (there is no requirement to use sources other than the 1 assigned article). Also use in-line/in text citations where appropriate. You may use whatever standard style for citations (MLA, APA, etc.) you are most comfortable with.
article attached below;
Tubuchi, H., Corkery, M., Mureithi, C. (2020, August 31st). Big Oil is in Trouble. It’s Plan? Flood Africa with Plastic. The New York Times. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com