College of Business Administration

1) What is pollution prevention? And how is it different from pollution reduction?

2) It has been noted that the disposal of toxic waste is probably not the root problem, but the root symptom. How waste is created is the critical issue. Since this process can be called a linear system where the end products of resources and the energy used are neither recycled nor returned, what would be the primary step to turn this type of operation into more of a cyclical, as in the environmental friendly model?

3) Although most of the developed countries have participated in and agreed to the Kyoto protocol, the United States has not participated in it. Do you agree with this decision? Why or why not?

4) According to Paul Hawken, “the environment can absorb waste, redistributing and transforming it into harmless forms, but just as the earth has a limited capacity to produce renewable resources, its capacity to receive waste is similarly constrained. Its capacity to accept highly toxic waste is practically nonexistent.” In your opinion, are programs to alleviate or control this type of toxic pollution the responsibility of government? In which ways?

5) Are present day investments and regulations actually making a difference in pollution prevention, or are we treading water from the 1970’s? Do we need to invest more money than the $1 trillion we have already spent? Have we kept up with the Jones’s of the world?

6) Do you think companies enforcing the environmental management and pollution prevention systems are implementing these programs to make the world a better place? Or to be in compliance with the required rules, standards and regulations?

7) Do you think pollution prevention is associated with cost savings/reduction on the residential level as well as the industrial level? If yes, is it an immediate saving or is it a long-term saving plan?

8) As an hourly employee at the BRT Company, your job is to de-grease manufacturing equipment with a highly corrosive chemical. You find that during the process, the chemical has created a hole in the drain and is spilling into a duct that leads to the nearby river. Your company is located hundreds of miles from the nearest town. From your repair manual, the repair will cost $350,000. That same day the CEO of BRT announces that the company needs $350,000 to meet its year- end objective and issue a dividend to stockholders. What would you do? If you were the CEO and aware of the problem, and also aware of the ramifications to your bonus as well as future employment, knowing that the problem could be resolved after the new year, what would you do?

9) Many programs such as health insurance and automobile insurance give discounts to their members for non- smoking and driving less for example. Even though you may be getting a lower rate for these services, do you believe that your rates are actually higher than they should be because of smokers and motorists that drive more than you might? How is this relative to replenishing resources?

10) How is pollution prevention related to ecofeminism? Are females the most affected by pollution? If yes, is this the reason that several pollution prevention pioneers and leaders are females?