Ethical dilemma:
The ethics of farm water usage
August 2007
You live upstream from a hopeless farmer who is squandering his water entitlement while you go without all that you need.
There’s no doubt that you could boost productivity (and the whole district would benefit) if only you could make use of the water that your neighbour wastes every year.
The trouble is that your neighbour is incredibly well connected with all levels of government and seems to be beyond the reach of the authorities. What's more, he says that he should be free to do whatever he likes with the water he has been allocated.
Your neighbour is also well known and popular with much of the local community, his family having operated the farm for many generations, while you have been operating your own farm for fifteen years and are still seen as a newcomer.
Ethical questions:
- What are the issues?
- Who are the stakeholders?
- What should you do?
- What would you do?
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