PROFESSIONAL ETHICS AND PRACTICES - COLUMN 157 Figure 1.
Northwestern Australia: the white curve indicates the portion of the coast described as a World Heritage site. GoogleEarth photo.
Geologic Ethics & Professional Practices is now available on CD
The Professional Geologist Geologic Ethics and Professional Practices 1987-1997
They urge the use of geoethics to establish World Heritage sites that would preclude commercial development. I am unable to determine whether the Pilbara Coast deserves the protection Brocx and Semeniuk wish it had. But I strongly suspect that others disagree with Brocx and Semeniuk’s views and with equally good ethical reasons. It is a result of how different people rank different “good” outcomes. Ethical analysis is not always able to arrive at a unique answer for such questions, for example, debates over abortion or capital punishment. Instead we must agree to disagree and respect that the other side has a sound ethical basis for its opposing position.
As Dr. Ian Gould points out in the October 2015 AusIMM
Bulletin4 regarding mining, “For some, there seems to be a jus- tification to consider any form of mining unethical, although the accusers are content to extensively utilize its products on a personal level and share the benefits of the wealth it gener- ates.” Others urge that we should not exploit known mineral resources now so that the mineral resources remain for future generations. I haven’t observed any of those advocating such policies volunteering to be among those denied access to these mineral resources. I liken such folks to those who advocate greater use of public transportation so that fewer people will be on the roads they drive.
Edward Jones provides another example of confusing his own, self-labeled moral view of a situation as being a general moral principle. In an article, “Towards a ‘moral geology’,” in the Geoscientist
to this [problem of human-produced CO2 leading to climate change] is that we should not take any more oil out of the ground.” Jones’ solution to the problem is not morally well thought out. Assume that the World’s Grand Pooh-Bah existed and followed Jones’ solution forthwith. The catastrophic impacts on the world’s population from immediately stopping the use of all petroleum-based products would far exceed the more gradual impacts of taking no steps to reduce greenhouse gases and allowing the most direly predicted impacts of global warming to occur. Moral solutions to global warming must take both present and future impacts on society into account.
Despite the lack of ethical foundation, Geoethics: the role and responsibility of geoscientists provides important case his- tories and guidance for geoscientists operating at the intersec- tion of geoscience, the public, and decision makers. This is the same intersection occupied by social license to operate issues.
The Professional Geologist
www.aipg.org.
Continued from President’s message on page 29
in Anchorage, Alaska. Jean Neubeck from the NE Section is the TPG Editor. And last, but not least, our new Advisory Board members: Kevin Gooding from Hawaii, Donald Lumm from Kentucky, Shanna Anna Schmitt from Minnesota and Joe Frederick from the NE Section. I am from the Florida section, also known as the Florida Association of Professional Geologists (FAPG). I served on the 2010 National Conference Committee, in Orlando, Florida and then the 2011 and 2012 National Advisory Boards. In 2015, I served as President Elect. I also have served on the Florida Executive Committee as President and Past President.
I am very happy to introduce you to this Board, they are a dedicated group who represent many facets of the membership and will work very hard to serve AIPG in the coming year. If there is anything we can help you with, please call or email me.
Also, I am interested in meeting new people and new sections or renewing old acquaintances, so if you would like me to visit your section, contact me and we can arrange a visit. I would very much like to visit several section meetings or field trips this year and meet as many folks as possible.
4.
www.ausimmbulletin.com/opinion/the-new-ethics-of-resource-extraction/
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56