The Gulf oil spill of 2010 is explored based on the ethics of care concept about the global perspective of human development. According to Webteam (2011), Carol Gilligan, the author of the ethics of care term, applied it first in a feminist context to delineate the difference between the two sexes’ perceptions of care. However, subsequently, this concept was expanded to describe how specific actions could influence humanity through the manifestation of humanism and concern for others.
The example of the oil spill at the Deepwater Horizon station confirms the fact that disagreement among the people concerned and disregard for safety standards led to disaster. As Schrope (2012) states, Robert Bea, an engineer, confirmed the distinctive interests of the organizations in charge of oil production at this station, which could have led to ineffective control over its operations. McQuaid (2012), a journalist, confirms this idea and notes that the low likelihood of risks became a critical factor in the lack of initiative of those in charge. In addition, the government agency overseeing the field showed little interest in safety monitoring, which could have caused the explosion.
As a result, the lack of plans to respond to a possible accident led to global environmental and financial consequences. The application of the concept of ethics of care, in this case, is justified as a method that reveals stakeholders’ little interest in doing relevant and useful work and reflects their desire for profit. Therefore, the Gulf oil spill of 2010 proves that changing habits and thinking about long-term solutions are potentially important measures to keep people safe and take the initiative to make morally justified decisions.
References
McQuaid, J. (2012). More oil spill obfuscation. Forbes.
Schrope, M. (201). Lessons of Deepwater Horizon still not learned. Nature.
Webteam. (2011). Carol Gilligan. Ethics of Care.