Mosquito :: essays research papers

In the article The Mosquito in the Net, author Marc Gunther explores the impact of a small environmental group, Rainforest Action Network, on corporate giants such as Citigroup, Home Depot, Ford, and others. Gunther provides examples of how corporations are influenced by RANs less than conventional campaigns and how corporate environmental polices are changed in response. By applying the six theories, one can go on a better understanding of how RANs tactics are justified and effective.The utilitarian theory seeks the greatest nigh(a) for the greatest number of people. In the article, the effort of RAN to hold corporations to a higher environmental standard appears to support the utilitarian theory. For example, RAN targeted Citigroup for its support of logging, mining, and oil-drilling projects due to the impact on rainforests, indigenous people, and the acceleration of global warming (Gunther, 2). Global warming, although a very long term problem, clearly has a world wide impa ct. Thus, by applying a utilitarian approach it appears that the greatest good for the greatest number of people is met by RANs efforts to stop global warming.Under the rights theory, consumers and corporations have the right to choose. Consumers must have the ability of choosing what is good or what is bad, without influence from third parties (Weiss, 88). From the article, it appears that RAN is a third party influencing both corporate decisions. For instance, RAN turned buyers against Boise Paper in order to influence where and how Boise purchases woodwind instrument for their production of paper (Gunther, 4). However, most Americans have a low regard for big business, and most believe that RANs efforts are protecting the environment, thus RAN is fundamentally protecting the consumers rights from big business (Gunter, 3).The justice theory states that one must verify whether RANs efforts to influence corporate policy and decisions are a ravishment of the law (Weiss, 87). With a b udget of $2.4 million and a staff under 30, RAN has to resort to some unique techniques to influence corporations that rank on the Fortune 500. These techniques entangle street theater, internet organizing, celebrity endorsement, and others, all for the purpose of bothering corporations until they give in (Gunther, 2). As long as the tactics used by RAN are legal, they are justified under the justice theory.The application of the free market theory assumes that as long as corporate action is not breaking whatever law no interference by the government is essential (Weiss, 168).