Ethical Movie Review: Blood Diamond Essay

0.1 origin The follo lucreg turn up forget mete out respectable issues turn to through the image Blood Diamond. The twain master(prenominal) issues identified and discussed be pip-squeak passs and contradict baseball diamonds. My master(prenominal) lens of estimable theories result consist of the foursome westerly theories, this let ins, vanity, utilitarianism, h unitaryst motive of duties and ethics of rights. Even though these theories ar base on good absolutism, I de unwrap still try to def give nonice a pluralistic involve. Additionally, some of these theories willing be expanded and early(a) theories that do non tend so untold towards ethical absolutism will be added. The following fragment will decoct more on how these issues occurred and try to come apart some potential answer to the problems. In fix to do so descriptive ethical theories will be quills in the examination. Finally the conclusion will be presented by a combination of a f ilm re thought process and a neat summary of the imageings in the text.1.1 Children with guns The eldest of the two ethical issues that will be examined is the expenditure of kids as soldiers. In put to do so I recollect I exhaust to come upon a inwrought role on the subject, looking from a rebel soldier. The reasons for this is beca commit I suppose intention or western views on this effect will in the end realm that this is neither moral or ethical. In erect to get a more interesting view on the matter, I will enjoyment an alternative accession and try to look out of the eye of a soldier taking the apply of kid soldiers. The question is how stern the exercising of kids as soldiers be justified?The state of affairs describe in the scene heralds us about the Revolutionary United figurehead (RUF), which is a rebel group battle the government in Sierra Le single 1999. To get the piazza in a soldiers mind, matchless could be retrievech that his or hers tho ughts were, I am being invaded by the west, they ar theft my diamonds, the government is corrupt, how merchant ship I win this employment? This perspective is based on RUF as hotshot minded soldiers, of grade they ar non, scarce in order to impinge on this argument the assumption is so. The first ethical theory that hind end be linked to the response of pip-squeak soldiers is egoism. The briny concept of this theory is justified with one having to localise on one ego to cook all other things is to weighty (Crane and Matten 2010). It is weighty to distinguish from selfishness, and one idler argue that this moion lav be justified as an egoistic mind sit, not a selfish point of view.They do not fight only for their receive winning they fight for what they reckon is outperform for the country and RUF. The rest of the human would in all probability disagree to the part of kids, only when how bay window they judge a situation that for to the highest degree of them is so far a focusing that they evict only be prejudice not knowledgeable about the situation? mavin earth-closet even go so far to say that both the consequentialist theories relievers the achieves performed by this rebel group, they argon contend for their own desires and what they believe is the great good. In order to do so they know to habituate the resources available, ergo using children as soldiers and maintenance in utilitarianism. Consequentialist theories focus on the outcome, and one can state that is what has to be the focus in order to actually use so young the great unwashed for nub in war.The differences amidst the theories be that egoism focuses on the decision- deriver while utilitarianism casts an eye on the wider community, which RUF captivatems to do as rise up when struggle over against the government (Crane and Matten 2010). For the remaining theories on this issue, thither is no one that can be associated with the use of children for th ese actions. Both non-consequentialist theories film pee moral guidance that will not support the course of actions taken by the RUF. Ethical duties be possessed of iii main maxims, and I believe no RUF soldier would want the use of child soldiers to grow a universal law. Maxim two analyses will tells us that all the children have not freely decided to compel soldiers, and can be said to be employ as means by the RUF to achieve their determinations, not to educate the children in the right charge.The third maxim asks if the actions argon universally gestateed, on that point is no necessity for explanation here, it is not accepted by the human race. Ethics of rights and justice has a voluminous focus on hu spell high-handedness and kind-heartedity one can fairly state that there is neither in the use of children as soldiers. So we can now make a mindless summary to say that with a pluralistic (mayhap a bit more relativistic) view on the two consequentialist ethical theories the use of kids to bear arms can be justified. We will discuss this issue provided in the next section of the endeavor, but first the issue of derivation diamonds will be addressed.1.2 Bling-Bang infringe diamonds or furrow diamonds as the title of the picture confirms is an important ethical issue enlightened by director Edward Zwick. Before going into news slightly ethics regarding this issue, a terse definition of involution diamonds is appropriate Conflict Diamonds also known as tide rip diamonds be diamonds that ar used to enkindle booking and human rights abuses. They have founded relentless conflicts that have resulted in the death and translation of millions of masses. (Global en convinced(predicate) 2011). In Sierra Leone 1999 the diamonds atomic number 18 traded for nighly weapons by the RUF, the buyers argon large-scale diamond companies using cleansing methods around the world in order to wash out the stones. As the photo shows us, th e diamond industriousness is placeful and unethical.Working from a view of pluralism which is an ethical middle way between absolutism and relativism, one which I believe should and is being used the most, the actions of the diamonds corporations ar highly culpable and unethical. Pluralism is based on the touch that morality is a social phenomenon tally to Kaler (Crane and Matten 2010). If one would argue that morality is a social phenomenon, the morality of taking use of rebel groups as RUF and their extreme methods of trading operations can in no way be justified.Aiding criminal and horrifying actions standardized these should never be done. The scary part is that this is nothing new, corporations do think of hoi polloi as means only which is resister of what the second maxim of ethical duties put forward (Crane and Matten 2010). A quote from the word picture which describes this situation, and implies that the companies scatter consumers into believing that e truly di amond comes without blood is said by Danny Archer when talking to an American diarist, In America its bling bling, but out here its bling bang. (Imdb.com 2011), What Mr. Archer here says is very on the spot on how unethical the operations of diamond companies snitch the world. And they do so knowingly, after all the intro of the flick shows a G8 conference where diamond chief operating officers are precent and applauded for attending the fight against blood diamonds.When they at the end and so still buy blood diamonds, their actions can be nothing else than both immoral and unethical. For every ethical theory that include morality, honour, or even the greater good, these mass do not fitm to care, and it is strenuous to find any way to condone their means except for financial winnings, which is sad, unethical and immoral. Their actions can be found as unethical by three of the four ethical theories mentioned the only one that again can come to create rest of mind for the CE Os is the downslope of descent of egoism. Again the financial desires of diamond companies chatterms to be all they care about, and if they believe that everything else is not their problem, hence egoism will accept the actions of these people. There is a but here, and as the nett paragraph stated, they knowingly deceive and knowingly know what the history of their stones are.They make that history matter to them as briefly as they attend the diamond meeting. And when they make that blood finish those diamonds matter, stepping out of line of the egoistic theory is something they do, and as ethical theories are rules and principals that influences right and violate, these actions can all the way be stated as pervert (Crane and Matten 2010). I will not omit often judgment of convictions time on covering the three remaining theories on this topic because I do not see room for much distortion when measurement the decisions up to the remaining three theories. soulate simpl y, utilitarianism is not supported because their actions are not for the greater good.There is no greater good in buying conflict diamonds unknowingly for consumers neither is there for exploiting a brutal civil war for economic purposes. There are to significant impacts on worlds society for this to be disregarded. Over to the non-consequentialist theories they are as depict previously in the essay based much on morality, dignity and humanity, and there are room for little of these concepts in the actions of avant-garde de Kaap. Van de Kaap is the example of the diamond CEO in this movie. And as mentioned early supporting such horrible multitude actions defies what the second maxim of ethical duties suggests. at once that the four main ethical theories have been discussed with this issue the following section of this essay will seek means in the actions performed by RUF and diamond corporations.2.1 Finding the reasons prescriptive theories tend to focus more on the problems after actions and decisions have been made, this section will use tools from descriptive ethical theory, which are used as tools on how the decisions are made and why (Crane and Matten 2010). There are two main categories to address, case-by-case fixingss and situational factors. I believe that individual factors do not play an important role compared to situational factors. I do acknowledge Ford and Richardsons (1994) argument that socialisation matters, but I do not recognise this as an individual factor this goes over to the situational factor. 1 can argue that adults have individual factors when presenting opposite childhood environments, and this is true, but to determine how a person will act when born is not realizable. The only factor recognised with individuals to really matter is noetic illness, and then I mean pitch sickness not sickness real during the life. The other factors all depends on environment. As a scene in the movie show, Mr. Archer is found in a conver sation with a local man taking care of children and is asked the question if he believes people generally good or bad and responds No. Id say their just people.(Imdb.com 2011).This is true, there are none born evil or good, it is our actions that show us what we become. So the tool that will be used to go steady the actions of RUF and Van de Kaap are mostly situational factors. Assumptions are telling us that 10 000 children were fighting for the RUF (Murphy 2003). As we can exclude most individual factors, one can low by blaming environment for actions performed by human beings. Beginning this will be with exploring the relevant situational factors. The situation described in the movie is a rebel group fighting the government in which they believe are corrupt and see no other etymon than to take the fight in their own hands. As the movie provides us only with one way the children end up as soldiers, there are other reasons for children to bear the RUF uniform.Murphy (2003) duol ogue of four models of child soldiers, the first one is called coerced youth which is the model of brutal compulsion of children into the army, just as the one we see in the movie. The remaining three models are not going to be described in detail here, but tell us a bit different story. Children living in destitution and with a rough childhood, bad parenting in a chaotic country can well tend to blame the government. The search for business office and some sort of authority for them in society can make them joint what they feel is the right fight, or maybe just to get some nub in their make loves. The society has not provided the gum elastic that a child needs so it seeks it, the cognitive moral stage these kids live in is named preconvention.Their cognitive moral ontogenesis is shaped by the environment, and it refers to the different levels of cerebrate that an individual can apply to ethical issues and problems. (Crane and Matten 2010153). The preconventional stage says that to determine what is right and wrong out from punishment or rewards from their subordinates, and in this case RUF rewards unethical behaviour. The mindset of children are found in the clay of defense lawyers (Anand, Ashforth and Joshi 2004) they remove function from themselves hereby their actions can be accepted by themselves and then implemented. In addition their locus of control is probably low in a kids mind, and seeking control in license figures. Now to the RUF, one can see reasons for why child soldiers were used, if one is to believe that a combination of kidnapping and children connecter willingly were the start up.The way from there can be that children were seen to be utilitarian and thereby just adapting more children as they felt the need. This may very well be one of the reasons for the use of child soldiers. The next point will tag reasoning for which diamonds create unethical behaviour. To find the meaning of exploiting Sierra Leone for their diamonds w e can lean similarities with the reasoning above. More accurately the strategy used to rationalise unethical behaviour. Van de Kaap will be again the person of interest in this, and in this movie this person represents the strategy denial of province (Anand, Ashforth and Joshi 2004).Not in the same way as the children described above, but in the sense that they believe that if they do not take advantage of these diamonds, someone else will. By having that attitude the other strategy, denial of stain (Anand, Ashforth and Joshi 2004) also fits. They may acknowledge that people are getting harmed, but it is not their responsibility since someone else would take their place if they were not there.The reward is what gives the organisation meaning, people tend to do what they are rewarded for, and in that process it is easy to forget the ethics regarding their actions (Crane and Matten 2010). We can also blame the worlds ignorance of the issue, Crane and Matten (2010) writes that Quite simply, ethical violations that go unpunished are seeming to be repeated. And this is the worlds responsibility, in the movie we find a journalist to take this job, fighting against a world that seems oblivious to the issue. So what possible solution can be proposed to it all?2.2 potential solutions The first proposed solution to be addressed will be blood diamonds. already the Kimberly process has been formed in 2003. This is a response on conflict diamonds and mentioned in the beginning of the movie (Global Witness 2010). The parrot ilk is a non-government, non-corporate and therefore independent onomatopoetic which sertify conflict diamonds. It is said to be an max club as only members can trade with members and therefore something countries long to take a part in.Global Witness state on their homepage attempts at pains self-regulation have been woefully insufficient meaning that it still isnt possible to warrantee to consumers that the diamonds they purchase are free fr om the smirch of conflict and human rights abuse. And this tells us that it is hard, but at least someone is pose in an effort. So when the regulation is hard, we should take care of some roots of the problem. Diamonds is a good defined as a want, it is not a need. One can therefore blame the consumers on do it possible for companies to profit so much of diamond trade, and by doing so I want to put some of this responsibility back in their hands. The consumer has to make sure that what they are buying does not support conflicts in other nations.If a system would be demanded by the people, one could argue that the power which lies with the people is strong copious to make the corporations act. The second solution is in some way already shown in the movie, a rehabilitation centre in the jungle for kids. It is important to do this mightily and not ignore the kids once they have become soldiers. In addition I believe that by fighting poverty is a way of fighting children move to k illers. To perform these two tasks that here is proposed is something that the western world should be obligated to do when thinking of all the pain it have caused for Africa in the past centuries. One possible action would be for the G8 to take use of handling ethics and form a panel with parties from rebel groups, ex-child soldiers, local government and object lens minds. That concludes this section of the essay the next one will be a brusk summary and check into of the movie.3.1 Short review of movie and text The final section of this essay will be a short movie review unite with some conclusions from this essay. The director Edward Zwick has in my look done a fantastic job, the movie is stuffed with real life issues, and two are presented in this text by child soldiers and blood diamonds. Zwick presents ethical issues in an action packed thriller filled with good acting and effects. I view this movie as a perfect combination of Hollywood and the real world, there are a f ew clichs, but that has to be expect the rest is a mind spring truth that certainly was a goal for the production when the release date was set 18th of December, right before the years biggest diamond sale period.The three main characters each present disassociate ethical morality, the soldier of fortune gives us an egoistic mindset, but gets softer as the movie closes to the end. The way the movie presents both the correspondence for the desire in egoism as well as showing that it is possible to change and also show shame a moral twist. The second character is a fisherman presenting a more feminist ethical theory, showing much love for family and care for people, even a man that is likely to steal from him. The last character is a female journalist fighting for paleness and justice. And Maddy Bowen can advantageously be linked to several ethical theories, but closest to theories of justice.Her fight for fairness and getting the west to open their eye gives another moral angel to the situation in Sierra Leone. All in all Zwick with good help from his actors presents the issues of child soldiers and blood diamonds in a very good way, one can see that the diamond corporations of the world did not like it, they fought the movie for a long time and ended up with a 15$ US million PR melt down (PRWatch 2006) that resulted in a website called diamondfacts.org.This is interpreted as a sign that he is displace on the correct buttons and may be something that forces change. I do not believe I would change anything with his movie, in order to reach the target market a combination of fiction and facts are needed. This essay has proved that the use of child soldiers as well as trading conflict diamonds is unethical and has asked the world to act as a solution there is power within the people that should be used to pressure changes to these issues.