Environment Ethics Question

Transporting goods from one place to another has been with us since hunting and gathering days. Memories of the Great Silk Road with merchant and nomadic caravans making the trek East to West, South to North brings many visions and legends.

Over the centuries changes have occurred in how much time this movement has taken, what modern devices substituted for the original, and the implications of the modifications: are they indeed improvements or do they bring about more or less change? In some cases, improvements in navigation brought about more economic ways to transport goods and personnel. Creative engineering projects brought forth two major international waterways – the Suez and Panama Canals each impacting global trade and balance of economic and political power! Reliance on manufactured engines to propel various forms of transportation would bring about choices: air, land, or sea?

Innovation would provide some interesting changes in the shipment of goods. Containerization – a term used for standardization and efficient packaging goods for shipment would have an impact on freight handling from the late 1950 s through the early 2000 s. Malcolm McLean who had a trucking company operating along the eastern seaboard of the United States was aware of the deterioration of the highways prior to the construction of the United States interstate road system. With increasing numbers of semi-trucks towing trailers, and hauling goods, the roadway was starting to crumble. Finding more efficient ways to move goods without loading/unloading as each method of conveyance was changed, was imperative. Sealed containers would solve this dilemma. It would make it possible for ships to load and unload secure cargo in shorter time periods, cutting down on heavy lifting and crime along the water front, and in some cases, changing the meaning of joining the merchant marine and see the world! Of course, we know that technological changes can have positive and negative impact when applied. Remember what happened when railroads no longer required the services of fire-men (who shoveled coal into the engines.

Containerization is a fundamental component in today s global economy. Wal-Mart, Home Depot, Target and other big box stores import goods produced overseas. But even with this improvement in shipping, global trade is at risk from the unexpected: violence and terrorism; piracy can interrupt trade, just as raids and attacks by roving bands of Vikings and Germanic tribes did to the Roman Empire in olden days. In order to safeguard the country s trade and commerce the United States Homeland Security department is spending large amount of its budget to minimize the economic and financial vulnerability, and protect the successful generation of wealth that comes from the growth of trade. (Winston p. 57)

Case studies have shown that innovation, especially in containerization can bring surprising financial results. One company considered hauling sand in multi-hulled cargo freighters to beaches in areas badly eroded by storms from Saudi Arabia, in return for transporting ice or water in containers to the Arab state. Some of the more recent entrepreneurs are helping establish a new middle class (burgeoning bourgeoisie is the term used) in newly emerging nations that benefit from globalization

 

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