UNIVERSITI MALAYSIA PERLIS

SCHOOL OF MECHATRONIC ENGINEERING

ENT 321 BIOMEDICAL ARTS, STANDARD & SAFETY

ASSIGNMENT 2
Ethical and unethical issues toward environment

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Japan Earthquake & Tsunami on 2011
On the 11th March 2011, a magnitude nine Richter earthquakes hit the northeast coast of
Japan and is followed tsunami caused massive and irremediable damage to the nuclear reactors of
Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant, which caused releasing of harmful radiation elements and
substances into the environment. Since then, many experts, government officers, professionals in
related spheres and journalists from numerous countries had been talking about the impact and
results of these radiation leakages on environment and public health in Japan.
In this article, the author would like to focus on the next aspects, which on his opinion are most
urgent for present time: environment and industry, environment and agriculture, marine
environment and radiation expose, public health and radiation expose.
The disaster wrought devastation from Aomori prefecture in the north to Chiba prefecture
in the south, which located only about 35 km east of Tokyo. The results of earthquake and tsunami
are terrible:
 more than 20,000 people have killed;
 more than 750,000 homes were destroyed;
 damage of industrial facilities of region is extensive: petrochemicals plants, steel
industry, automotive, electronics, and other plants as well as agriculture sector of
region suffered from damage;
 leakage on Fukushima Nuclear Power had a vast potential for environment
contamination and public health;

Japan recover project was an ethical case. It was fulfilled the ethnic principal which were
beneficence, non-maleficence, justice and dignity. It was beneficence since it repaired the affected
area and enhanced Japan’s economy. It was non-maleficence since it don’t involve illegal way in
the recover project. It was justice as it bring the hope back to soothe the affected people’s spirit.
Lastly, it was dignity as it can saved people from despair of the loss one. For instance, Community
Activities in Minami Soma, Fukushima, Linking Civil Societies with Nuclear Threat for Joint
Advocacy for Future Disaster Prevention, Tokoku kids “Digital Natives” Project and Playground
of Hope Serving Tokoku Communities. Each of the recovery projects were supported by the Japan
Relief and Recovery Fund to enhance the recovery process in the affected area. The japan recover
projects were able to take care the affected people and increased the sense of awareness about the
disaster. It was also saved the environment from severe pollution.
 In conclusion, based on the Japan Earthquake & Tsunami on 2011, unethical cases were
underestimated early warning, nuclear power melted and tsunami wave generated across Pacific
Ocean. Meanwhile, Japan recovery project was the ethical case.

Mercury pollution in Minamata

One of the most telling cases of improper bioethical decision making was that of Minamata,
a small factory town on Japan’s Shiranui Sea. Mercury pollution in Minamata was occurred during
1950s to 1960s. These epidemics appeared during an era in which productivity took the highest
priority and little consideration was given to the environment. Hence, Minamata disease had
resulted. As the result, improper disposal of chemical waste and poor law enforcement in
environment protection were unethical case. Investigation of causative agent and spread of
pollution, compensation and relief were ethical case.
Improper disposal of chemical waste was the unethical case. It was non-benefit and
maleficence as the disposed chemical waste may cause the marine life and fisherman death or toxic.
It was irresponsibility way of disposed chemical waste as the chemical company Chisso should
disposed the chemical waste in proper way instead of disposed it into the Minamata river. Improper
disposal of chemical waste had cause the mercury pollution in the Minamata River and lead to
occur of mercury disease. Numerous marine life had found heavy mercury poisoning. Furthermore,
improper disposal of chemical waste had caused conflict in local community.
Poor law enforcement in protection of environment was another unethical case. It was non-
benefit and maleficence as the unprotected Minamata river was used as chemical waste disposal
place which resulted mercury pollution. It was unfair since the protection of river was left behind
the development and productivity of the country.Poor law enforcement in protection of
environment was provided opportunity to the third party to disposed chemical waste and lead to
pollution. It was also indirectly unprotected the Minamata people’s benefits.
Compensation and relief was another ethical case. It was beneficence and non-maleficence
as it was a good opportunity to compensate the infected Minamata’s people and caution of the
disposal of chemical waste consequence. It was justice as the wrong one need to relief and comfort
the infected Minamata’s people. Compensation and relief had comfort the infected Minamata’s
people and raised the government attention to enforce the law to protect the environment. It was
also awake the people’s responsibility to take good care of the environment.
Investigation of causative agent and spread of pollution was an ethical case. It was
beneficence since everyone deserve the truth. It was justice as the wrong one will be punished while
the right one will be protected and avoid of third party to do the same thing again. It was dignity as
the investigation was performed under the law enforcement. Investigation of causative agent had
got many parties attention to find the truth. The infected Minamata’s people had given the treatment
and proper care.These investigation had rise the awareness of improper disposal of chemical waste
consequence and benefit of environment protection.
In conclusion, based on the mercury pollution in Minamata, unproper disposal of chemical
waste and poor law enforcement in environment protection were unethical case. Investigation of
causative agent and spread of pollution, compensation and relief were ethical case.