Nursing- Palm Oil And Its Problem - Assessment Answer

Nursing Assignment

Assignment Task

Introduction

Palm oil is a vital product. The product has various benefits to its users including the production of cosmetics. Palm oil is extracted from the palm trees in West Africa and in some parts of Malaysia. Palm oil was used for lubrication and production of soaps in the past. Additionally, palm oil is used as bio-fuel. The uses of palm oil are many and it is almost a necessity for any household. Therefore, the demand for the product is also high.

The increasing demand for the product is causing the plantations of many palm trees across the world. The increased plantation for the palm trees is an environmental degradation aspect. The environmental disturbance of the palm oil extraction is a threat to the ecosystem. The massive deforestation caused by the harvesting of the palm oil reduces forest cover hence becoming hazardous to the environment. The flora and fauna is affected in various ways. According to Carlsonet al (2012), the increased plantation of the palm trees has led to deforestation. Consequently, there is uprooting of natural forests to acquire more land for the plantation of the palm trees. The wild-life is driven away leading to human-wildlife conflicts. In fact, the scenario in Sumatra and Borneo is a manifestation of the shortcomings of palm oil plantations and demand. The destruction of the forests is also a cause of the accumulation of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, which contributes to adverse climatic changes.

The palm plantations in the region compromised the livelihood of the elephants, tigers and rhinos. The destruction of forests to plant palm oil trees is counter-productive in many ways. The other perspective with regard to the challenge of palm oil is the customers of the palm oil. According to Laurance et al (2010),Nestle and Unilever companies are the main beneficiaries of the palm oil product. Additionally, the new plantations of palm oil trees are causing a social conflict. The local communities especially in the places used for the palm oil tree plantations, are ignored. The corporate social responsibility of the company is fatally affected when the local communities are ignored in the projects of expansion of palm oil trees. The companies which use palm oil for the production of their various products support the deforestation initiatives (Chegg Co., n.d.). For this reason, the companies’ compromise their image in the public. In the long-run such issues culminate in friction in the relationship between the community and the companies.

The agitation for palm oil production is causing massive deforestation in the country. The solution to the the social and environmental effects of palm oil are limited. The qualities of palm oil are not possessed by any other product. The deforestation aspect of palm oil plantation is associated with the burning of the wastes of deforestation. Such fires emit huge amount of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere hence compromising the climate. The scenario is usually manifest in Riau. The peat lands usually contain high amounts of carbon and the palm oil menace affects many countries including Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore (Obidzinski et al, 2012). One of the incidents, which exposed the shortcomings of palm oil plantation, is Indonesia’s fires from the peat lands. The fires polluted the environment including people. Such a social impact on society should be resolved through the discouragement of palm oil tree plantations. The alternatives to palm oil should b sought to reduce the social and environmental impact of the palm oil production. The incident affected more than 50,000 Sumatrans. Most of Indonesians are driven out of their home because the fires and the brown-smokes affect a large area.

People are compelled to desert their homes because the peat land fires are a health hazard. The destruction of the forests does not guarantee adequate production of palm oil. The effects of depletion of the ozone layer are disastrous compared to the low production of palm oil. According to McCarthy, Gillespie& Zen(2012), reforms are on-track because nations like Singapore have passed resolution on imposing $2 million on local and foreign companies, which contribute to the hazardous fires. The other social impact of the palm oil production is the creation of cold relations between Indonesia and its Southeast Asia neighbours. The climate summits held have also played a critical role in the reduction of deforestation. Companies like Nestle, McDonald and P&G have already made pledges to ensure a reduction in deforestation. The global consumption of palm oil is continuously increasing. McCarthy, Gillespie& Zen(2012) also adds that the consumption of palm oil in 2013 was 55million metric tonnes. The problem of palm oil tree plantations in Indonesia is government never considers the shortcomings of the plantations on the environment and people.

The diverse use of the product is one of the reasons fuelling its extensive production. However, the product can be considered as a necessary evil given that its benefits are also unmatched. The fact that it can be growth in many places means that the crop’s sustainability is assured. The palm oil products are the major alternative to polyunsaturated fats, which cause heart disease among many people across the world. According to Carlsonet al (2012),palm oil is also essential for the brain and heart health. Such discoveries have also led to the increase of the deforestations in a bid to plant more palm oil trees. Food oils are also sourced from palm. In fact, china’s high-grade food oils are sourced from palm oil. The demand for palm oil cannot be satisfied because consumer boycott will still lead to deforestation. The global demand for edible oils is high and palm oil is the only reliable source. A complete abandonment of palm oil production and plantations will lead to deforestation for plantation of coconut and rapeseed plants. The effect will be the same hence the need for a status quo.

The bio-fuels are also in high demand especially in Indonesia. For this reason palm oil production cannot be reduced. The only alternative to palm oil, which does not require the land resource, is microalgae. The product is usually used by most of the Californian companies like Solazyme in the production of biodiesel. Such biodiesel is used in the Airline jets and some navy ships. According to Sayer et al(2012),microalgae oils are used in the production of soaps, cosmetics and foods. The world palm oil dependent companies including Unilever are considering shifting to the use of microalgae to enhance environmental conservation. Solazyme Company will highly benefit from the resolution of the giant companies in oil consumption. Microalgae are a better alternative to palm oil because it grows over a short period. In fact, the microalgae have the lowest content of polyunsaturated fats. The oil’s versatile property makes it a formidable competitor of palm oil. The alternative will reduce the pressure on the equatorial tropic regions.

The Solazyme Company’s productivity will enhance environmental conservation especially in Indonesia, which is notorious in deforestation and peat land fires. The foreign direct investment of the company in Indonesia will eliminate the supply chain costs and complexities. Additionally, the microalgae company established its presence in Brazil, the 100000-metric ton plant (Laurance et al, 2010). The plant uses sugarcane. This notwithstanding, the aspect of consumer tastes and preferences still prevail in the edible oils market. The company’s product will gradual penetrate the market. However, the Solazyme Company will achieve optimum market penetration through marketing of the microalgae oil. The production of palm can also be guaranteed through establishing of campaigns for zero-deforestation. The producers and the buyers of palm oil should campaign against deforestation. Such collaborative approach will enhance a sustainable environment while palm oil is being produced.

According to Poku & Food and Agriculture Organization (2012), the technological training of the palm oil producers will enhance maximum utilization of the land available. In fact, more uncultivated land can be put into use to avoid deforestation. The use of uncultivated land in the planning of palm oil tree will boost vegetation cover hence reduction of global warming. The training will enable the palm oil producers to maximize their production without necessarily felling rain forest trees. According to Obidzinski et al (2012) technologically trained and experienced palm oil producers harvest more than 30 tons per hectare. The choice of the ideal seeds, fertilizer and season are the basis of a bountiful harvest of palm oil. The government should also provide incentives to the palm oil producers to enhance the use of acceptable means of producing palm oil instead of deforestation. The combination of the right seed, fertilizer and timing will enhance the cultivation of arid lands especially in Africa. Such initiative will enhance a wide vegetation cover hence a reduction in global warming. Additionally, the clash between the local communities and palm oil producers will reduce. Consequently, the business of palm oil will be boost.

to reduce poverty rather than environmental degradation.

The palm oil problem is complex. The product is in high demand but the land resource is limited. The destruction of forests to enhance more production of palm oil is causing environmental degradation. However, microalgae oil serves as an alternative to palm oil. Strict rules on certification of palm oil production lead to the supply of sub-standard palm oil. The palm-oil consuming companies should partner in discouragement of deforestation. Additionally, nations like Indonesia should start using Solazyme microalgae oil. The palm oil producers should also learn technological methods of maximizing the available land to optimally produce palm oil.

Ethical issues surrounding palm oil

The waste water at the palm oil refineries are a threat to aquatic lives because the water is discharged to the main water sources. The waste water contains methane gas, which is harmful to the aquatic life. The palm oil is a rare product, which has few alternatives. For this reason, the demand for palm oil is insatiable. Countries like Indonesia are victims of the increasing demand for palm oil. The other alternative of sustaining the palm oil refining is the utilization of the methane in waste water, for electricity. Daly (2011) asserts that the conversion of the methane into electricity will enhance palm oil productivity and reduce environmental effects of palm oil refineries. Therefore, the conversion of methane produced by the plants will boost electrification of many parts of the world besides reducing negative environmental effects of the refinery of palm oil. The world has more than 1000 palm oil refineries but less than 5% of the world plants convert the methane to electricity (McCarthy, Gillespie& Zen, 2012). Indonesian palm mills and refineries produce electricity for the palm fruit waste. In fact, the electricity is supplied to the nearby villages hence boosting the relations with the local communities. The use f liquefied gas from palm fruits will also enhance generation of income for the palm oil producers and reduce cost of fuel for the transport companies. In the long-run the supply chain will not be interrupted.

Ethical issues are also manifest in the production and supply of palm oil. For instance, the restrictions on the workforce compensation, working conditions and workforce welfare program requirement are negatively impacting the edible oil production industry. Some firm mix certified and uncertified palm oil hence selling sub-standard oil to the consumer. The deforestation of rain forests also compromises indigenous rights of some communities that inhabit eh regions. Palm oil accounts for more than 30% of the world’s vegetable oil production, and palm oil is found in more than 50% of household items in the US and England (Silva-Castañeda, 2012).

According to Pahl (2008), palm oil production is associated with poor working conditions for its workers. For this reason, the certification of any palm oil producer should be made mandatory. Consequently, the safety, health, and good remuneration for workers will be guaranteed.The Indonesian case is the most popular because more than a third of wildlife in the country is threatened due to deforestation and subsequent palm tree plantation. Wildlife promotes the social life of humanity. Therefore, Indonesia’s clearance of more than 90% of the orangutan habitat is unacceptable and retrogressive. The species is fundamental to the growth of rainforest seeds. Therefore, Indonesia is facing a deforestation crisis.

The palm oil industry accounts for a substantial labour force in the world due to the increasing demand for palm oil production. For this reason, it is vital for the workers to be remunerated subject to their task delivery. The booming palm oil prices should also be reflected in the compensation of the workforce. Such an initiative will promote the social harmony within the oil producing firms. According to Sayer et al(2012), the production of palm oil should be used