dolution

In 1999 I traveled to Nicaragua for a second time having been there 10 years before. I was interested to see if and how the country had changed after the Sandinista government had been replaced with one more sympathetic to US business interests. While having a coffee in the town plaza of Granada I was approached by a group of about 10 kids that I estimate were roughly 6-10 years old. Pan handling had been and remained a common occurrence in Nicaragua but these kids never asked for money. Instead, they merely circled around my table, glass eyed, laughing hysterically, and making bizarre remarks. I later learned that their behavior was the result of huffing glue manufactured by St. Paul’s own H.B Fuller. Fuller does not directly market to children (like McDonald’s) and their sales and distribution practices are within the bounds of international trade law. Nonetheless, their product does end up in the hands of kids, is extremely detrimental to their health, and Fuller is aware of the problem. Your task this week is to weigh in on the question of consumer protection, and, in particular, whether or not companies have moral obligations in the marketing and distribution of their products that transcend what is legally required of them. You should also make a second post responding to the post of someone else in the group.