Read this newspaper report and answer the questions that follow: A vessel dumped 500 tonnes of liquid toxic wastes into open-air dumps in a city and in the surrounding sea. This happened in a city called Abidjan in Ivory Coast, a country in Africa. The fumes from the highly toxic waste caused nausea, skin rashes, fainting, diarrhoea etc. After a month seven persons were dead, twenty in hospital and twenty six thousand treated for symptoms of poisoning. A multinational company dealing in petroleum and metals had contracted a local company of the Ivory Coast to dispose the toxic waste from its ship.
Who are the people who benefited and who did not?
The people who benefited were the multinational company dealing in petroleum and metals and the local company of Ivory Coast that accepted the disposal contract. They likely profited financially from the arrangement. The people who did not benefit were the citizens of Abidjan. The toxic fumes led to the death of seven persons, hospitalization of twenty, and twenty-six thousand people had to be treated for symptoms of poisoning such as nausea and skin rashes.
What should be the developmental goal for this country?
The developmental goal for this country should be sustainable development. This implies that the country must prioritize the health and well-being of its people along with economic growth. Since the consequences of environmental degradation are severe, the goal must be to enforce strict laws against the dumping of toxic waste. Development should not come at the cost of human lives; it should be sustainable so that it does not harm the environment or the future generations.
Explanation
The answer is derived directly from the newspaper report provided in the 'LET'S WORK THESE OUT' section of the textbook. For part (i), the text explicitly identifies the actors (MNC and local company) and the victims (citizens of Abidjan with specific casualty figures). For part (ii), the context discusses 'Sustainability of development' and the consequences of environmental degradation, guiding the student to propose goals focused on sustainability and public health.