Choices and Decisions Enhancing Quality of Life - Essay Example

Choices and decisions enhancing quality of life Introduction In the course of life, it is expected that people can make responsible choices and decisions that can enhance their quality of life. In this case, it is a general expectation that people are supposed to take responsibility for their lives at all times (Tromans & Thornton, 2001). In this case, they are not supposed to engage in practices that can harm or destroy their lives in any way. Personal responsibility in this case, also involves the decisions and choices that people make about the environment that live in. for instance, it is not a good idea to live in an environment that is disorganized, where everything is spread all over without any plan (Appiah, 2006). There has to be a proper arrangement of items in the environment so that it becomes presentable and lacking healthy hazards that can Habor diseases and other unwanted elements. Personal Responsibility Personal responsibility refers to the concept of people to having the ability to make choices, instigate or even cause their actions in different ways (Roth, 2005). When we make decisions that results in to certain actions and behavior, it is prudent that we can be legally liable or accountable for the outcomes. In this case, personal responsibility becomes different from the notion that human behavior and actions are brought about by factors beyond the control of the person himself (Pryor, 2010). It is important to note that all people have the ability to create an effective and reliable atmosphere where they can live harmoniously with other people. For this reason, it is important for people to understand that social power is something that I within everyone’s ability and control. In this understanding, people are supposed to assume different levels of personal responsibility in order to have social power in the same way they places personal responsibility for political behavior (Greenfield, 2011). Many instances have been witnessed of people blaming the state of governance and social welfare in the community, while blaming it on the leaders in government, they always forget that it is their actions and choices in the voting process that placed them in power. This example illustrates the fact that people have to be responsible for their actions whether it is on the political, social or economic front. Personal responsibility is all about value creation, such that just as all values are personal so should be the decision to be responsible. The society or environment that people dream of having is supposed to be made by the people themselves though the decisions they make on a daily basis (Keller, 2005). In this case, the efforts done by people to be responsible are a campaign towards ensuring that an ideal society is made real. Part a. The Way We Live In my environment, I have many and different types of facilities and equipment that I use for different purposes. Most of these tools and equipment are essential for various domestic processes. From the time I wake up until I leave my house in the morning I have to interact with various tools and equipment and other products. For instance, when I wake up, I have to use the bathtub to take a shower, the iron box is often essential in the process of ironing and lining my clothes so that I am presentable at my work place. In short, I interact with different kinds of products in my house, ranging from those I use fo cooking and preparing my morning meal to those that use for grooming. Each of these products have been brought from different companies and organizations depending on their importance and ability to achieve my goals in the house. Additionally, most of them I have bought depending on my preferences, in this case, I tend to prefer certain products from certain companies depending on the work the products are to fulfill and the reputation of the company in making those products. Electronic Items In this age, many people rely on electronic items in their domestic and corporate functions. Electronic items have become an integral part of life because they make life more effective and meaningful. In my house, almost everything that I use is electronic, while some are powered by electricity, others run on solar energy or petroleum energy. For instance, all cooking in the house is powered by electronic cookers, warming of water among many other kitchen activities relies on electricity that is sourced from the government’s HEP supply as well as the solar and petroleum. While some of the items like cookers and those used for warming water are used often, others are rarely used and thus have been stored safely. Some of those items not in use its because they have been spoilt and need to be repaired, while others are not in use just because I purchased others that were more effective and efficient in functioning. Some of the electronics that are in active use on daily basis include; i. Microwave ii. Television set iii. Electronic and gas Cookers iv. Laptops, mobile phones personal digital assistants and radio systems v. Heaters and coolers vi. Microwave among other kitchen items vii. Others As pointed from the forgone discussion, those products that are not in active use have become obsolete due to the purchase of others deemed more effective, while other have been spoilt by some users who did not know how to care and maintain them properly. For these items, I am yet to find out a more effective and reliable way of disposing them so they do not end up becoming environmental hazards considering the fact that some have been manufactured by radioactive elements that can be harmful when not disposed properly. Some of these include; i. An old television set ii. A laptop iii. Bath tub iv. Five personal digital assistants v. Microwave vi. Heaters vii. And many a few other kitchen tools and equipment The electronic tools and equipment that I use have often use different amounts of energy depending on their use and mode of formation. However, I have been trying a much as possible in order to reduce the amount of energy released in the atmosphere because of the environmental impacts that have become an important agenda on the global stage. Some of the energy outputs for some of the products in my house area as follows Portable Heater 1.5 kWh/hr Baseboard heaters (six-foot unit) (250 W/foot) 1.5 kWh/hr Heat pump heat stripes 10 KWh/hr Electric furnace 10.5 kWh/hr Heat Pump w/o heat strips (1.8 COP) 1.5 ton 2.93 kWh/hr 5.0 ton 9.77 kWh/hr Whole house fan 0.2-0.4 kWh/hr Portable fan 0.03 kWh/hr Ceiling fan 0.075 KWh/hr In comparison to other colleagues, I have realized that tools in my house often have a high-energy output (Carbon Footprint 2014). This has been brought about the calculations of the amount of energy on the carbon calculator. This has necessitated the need for alternative forms of products that use small amounts of energy. While some of them have considerable small amount of energy output, I may have to consider reducing the total amount of energy level. Environmental Impacts Across the world, there has been increased campaigns for people to reduce the amounts of energy they release into the atmosphere. This is because; this energy is an important factor that leads to global warming. Currently, many countries are suffering because of the environmental changes brought about by the increase atmospheric temperatures. People have been urged to try alternative forms of energy as opposed to relying on carbon fuels, which play an important role in the increase of global temperatures. This concern has made me to think of products that can save on the amount of energy released in the atmosphere. Additionally, I have had to consider ways of disposing of the electronic wastes in my house so that I can reduce the perceived environmental threats by poor disposal of these items. In most cases, electronic materials tend to react when left or disposed off in the open. Most of them tend to release radioactive rays that are harmful to people and animals in the immediate environment. Perhaps this is the reason why I have had to hold on in the process of disposing these products so that I do not contribute to environmental degradation. Reducing the environmental impacts Reducing the potential harm in the disposal of e-wastes has been one of my greatest drives. This is because, I have wanted to ensure that my immediate environment and that which we live in with other people is kept safe. One of the ways that I have been trying to do is to reduce on the purchase of products that produce much energy in the environment. In this case, I have been making inquiries on the amounts of energy released in the atmosphere before purchasing certain products for use in the home. Alternatively, I have placed instructions in the home where everyone is expected to switch off all electric tools and equipment’s that are not in active use. This approach helps to reduce on the cumulative amounts of energy released in the atmosphere. So far, this step has been effective in the sense that the amount of energy released in the atmosphere has reduced significantly since the policy was introduced in the home. Part b. The company (not) to work for Different companies have different ways in which they conduct their activities, while some are often careful to ensure that they activities their do not endanger their environment, other are less concerned. Many countries have stipulated some guidelines that companies are supposed to observe when carrying out their practices to ensure that they do not increase carbon emissions in the atmosphere. On my part, I would prefer to work for companies that carry out their various practices with due regard to the impacts they have on the environment. I would prefer to work for companies whose activities pay attention to the ecological effects brought about by their activities. Additionally, I do not prefer working for companies whose particular activities are sometimes very risky even to people working in them, for instance, I wouldn’t prefer working for petroleum companies because in some cases, they produce products with high amounts carbon emission that are harmful to the environment. I would also not prefer working for companies that deal in the manufacture and sale of nuclear energy. This is because; most of the nuclear plants use highly reactive radioactive elements that are harmful not only to the environment but also to the people working in them. Most of the radioactive elements lead to gene mutations that affect the children born by people working in the companies. This often happens whenever the companies have not put in place proper mechanisms to prevent any leakages in the nuclear plants. An important factor to put into consideration is the fact that some leakages in the nuclear plants may not be easily detected, in this case many people may end up being affected before the problem is noticed and corrected. Instead of working for such companies, I would prefer to work in companies that deal in products and services that have minimal or no environmental impacts. For instance, I would be more comfortable working in agri-related companies because most of them play a big part in ensuring that the environment is well cared for effectively. They advise people on ways to take care of the environment and maintain healthy habits and lifestyles. Unacceptable company practices Some company practices have been responsible for environmental degradation in many parts of the world. On many occasions, these companies been criticized for their activities that have resulted in unhealthy environments that do not regard human life in different ways (Seglin, 2003). Actions that often deemed unwanted by companies include releasing of untreated effluents in the open environment and rivers. Most of the company effluents that are released in rivers lead to the killing of aquatic life. Several instances have been reported about flower companies located near water bodies, releasing harmful chemicals used in their farms that have killed fish and other water biodiversity. In addition, oil companies have also been criticized for released wastes in the atmosphere that are harmful for plant and animal life (Kumar, 2009). In the same ways, oil spills from these companies have caused the death of various animals in the past. Manufacturing companies have also been blamed for releasing too much smoke into the atmosphere. This smoke contains acidic elements that often lead to acid rain whenever it rains. What actually happens is that the sulphur-dioxide components in the smoke mixes with water whenever it rains, leading to formation of acidic rain. The rain is not only harmful to human skin, but also to animals. Additionally, it causes the death of plant life, which is the cornerstone of all human and animal life on earth. All manufacturing companies are expected to ensure that their processes are developed in such a way that they show concern for the environment. Companies that release effluents and other by-products in the course of their activities are to ensure that they treat them effectively before releasing them into the atmosphere (Burgman, 2005). In this case, the effluents do not have harmful components that can endanger plant and animal life. Alternatively, they can find ways of recycling their wastes so that they can be effective elsewhere. In this case, it is important that companies research in different ways in which their wastes can be made good use of. Some of the possible alternatives would include creating some manure for use in farms. Different companies have been created that rely on wastes from some factories and companies to create manure and other important and useful farm inputs. This is an important point of thinking that needs to be considered by some companies that release different wastes in the environment. Environmental assessment In order to ensure that companies are effectively checking on their practices, one of the ways will be assessing the activities that these companies are engaging in (Lye, 2010). We will have to make questionnaires and other research tools that we will use in the course of establishing whether these companies have made mistakes in their adherence to social responsibility and other ethical concerns (Brown, 2009). We will consider the responses from people living around these companies because they interact with them occasionally. We will also focus in the kinds of vegetations and plant life around these companies in order to find out if the effluents released have killed them (Laszlo, 2003). In case, some companies will have violated ethical practices in the environment, it would be prudent to advise them on how they can ensure that the environment is well protected and cared for. It is important to note that the environment is the source of livelihood for all people. In this case, everyone has a responsibility to ensure that the environment is well cared for. Testing question In the process of establishing whether companies have been effective in their environmental management and conservation, we will devise a set of questionnaires that will be administered to the employees of the company and other people in the immediate environment (Bassi, 2011). One of the questionnaires will be we follows “has this company been conducting environmental management and conservation within and without? If so, what are the particular activities that company has been engaging in.” an analysis of the responses will be essential min determining the actions of these companies as far as environmental management and conservation is concerned. References Appiah, A. (2006). Cosmopolitanism: Ethics in a world of strangers. New York: W.W. Norton  Bassi, L. (2011). Good company business success in the worthiness era. San Francisco, CA: Berrett-Koehler. Behra, H., & Khan, M. (2009). Environmental management. Mumbai: Himalaya Pub. House. Brown, A. (2009). Personal responsibility why it matters. London: Continuum. Burgman, M. (2005). Risks and decisions for conservation and environmental management. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. Carbon Footprint. (2014). Carbon Footprint Calculator. Retrieved from, Greenfield, K. (2011). The myth of choice: Personal responsibility in a world of limits. New Haven: Yale University Press. Keller, K. (2005). Responsibility. Mankato, Minn.: Capstone Press. Kumar, A. (2009). Integrated environmental management. Delhi: Daya Pub. House. Laszlo, C. (2003). The sustainable company how to create lasting value through social and environmental performance. Washington, DC: Island Press. Lye, L. (2010). Sustainability matters environmental management in Asia. Singapore: World Scientific. Pryor, K. (2010). Responsibility. New York: Marshall Cavendish Benchmark. Roth, J. (2005). Ethics (Rev. ed.). Pasadena, Calif.: Salem Press. Seglin, J. (2003). The right thing: Conscience, profit and personal responsibility in today's business. London: Spiro Press. Tromans, S., & Thornton, J. (2001). Taking responsibility: Personal liability under environmental law. London: Earthscan. Read More