Enviromnental Justice
Environmental Justice for the Kikuyu Tribe
SCI/362
26 MAY 2010
Environmental Justice for the Kikuyu Tribe
Colney and Pitts is a California based pharmaceutical company. Colney and Pitts is planning to set up a manufacturing plant near the Aberdares mountain range in the eastern highlands of Kenya to produce medicines for prostate disease. The Kikuyu tribe is the largest tribe in the country and occupies the Aberdares mountain range. An extensive ethno botanical survey on the use of the medicinal plants by this tribe has indicated that an evergreen tree popularly known as “Pygeum” or prunus Africana has been traditionally used to cure “old men’s disease”, which are prostatitis and genitourinary disorders. Colney and Pitts have budgeted $250,000 for developmental activities in the region. The over the counter value of the retail trade of prunus Africana is estimated at 220 million dollars a year. I believe the major stakeholders in the story to be Colney and Pitts, The Kikuyu tribe, International Center for Ethno botanical Research and the Eco Smiles member, Kasey Quintero. To me it is obvious that Colney and Pitts have anthropocentric view even though that wants you to think otherwise. Colney and Pitts will make about 220 million dollars or more a year when they start the production of the Prunus Africana, but yet they are only willing to give The Kikuyu tribe $250,000 for developmental activities in the region. This sounds like individualism at it’ best, Colney and Pitts are thinking of their bank accounts rather than looking at the Kikuyu tribe and how it will affect them and their environment for generations to come and all Colney and Pitts want to give the Kikuyu tribe is a onetime payment of $250,000. If you ask me this deal is screaming environmental justice. I believe like most big corporations they are only worried about breaking the criminal law in its work-related activity; avoid action that may result in civil law suits against the
SCI/362
26 MAY 2010
Environmental Justice for the Kikuyu Tribe
Colney and Pitts is a California based pharmaceutical company. Colney and Pitts is planning to set up a manufacturing plant near the Aberdares mountain range in the eastern highlands of Kenya to produce medicines for prostate disease. The Kikuyu tribe is the largest tribe in the country and occupies the Aberdares mountain range. An extensive ethno botanical survey on the use of the medicinal plants by this tribe has indicated that an evergreen tree popularly known as “Pygeum” or prunus Africana has been traditionally used to cure “old men’s disease”, which are prostatitis and genitourinary disorders. Colney and Pitts have budgeted $250,000 for developmental activities in the region. The over the counter value of the retail trade of prunus Africana is estimated at 220 million dollars a year. I believe the major stakeholders in the story to be Colney and Pitts, The Kikuyu tribe, International Center for Ethno botanical Research and the Eco Smiles member, Kasey Quintero. To me it is obvious that Colney and Pitts have anthropocentric view even though that wants you to think otherwise. Colney and Pitts will make about 220 million dollars or more a year when they start the production of the Prunus Africana, but yet they are only willing to give The Kikuyu tribe $250,000 for developmental activities in the region. This sounds like individualism at it’ best, Colney and Pitts are thinking of their bank accounts rather than looking at the Kikuyu tribe and how it will affect them and their environment for generations to come and all Colney and Pitts want to give the Kikuyu tribe is a onetime payment of $250,000. If you ask me this deal is screaming environmental justice. I believe like most big corporations they are only worried about breaking the criminal law in its work-related activity; avoid action that may result in civil law suits against the
References: www.utm.edu/staff/jfieser/vita/research/Busbook.htm