The Mexican government is sue U.S.-based gun manufacturers. The government accuses the businesses of facilitating violence in Mexico, not a lot because their products are designed to injure and kill, but due to their reckless distribution and marketing practices.
While weapons manufacturers are a transparent example of how businesses can contribute to violence, other forms of businesses also can play a major role.
For a long time, health researchers have been raising awareness of the “commercial determinants of health.” Initially, the main target was on industries that produce harmful products, reminiscent of tobacco, alcohol, fast food, and fossil fuels. The approach was expanded to point out how a wider range of corporations and industries are harming our health with their practices.
Now we’ve illuminated six ways businesses not only harm people’s health, but in addition make society more violent.
1. Political
Companies often engage in lobbying, which complicates efforts to scale back violence. For example, cyberbullying and violent content often appear on social media platforms owned by multibillion-dollar technology corporations.
It is understood that these corporations lobby against laws that will give them more responsibility for online content and security.
2. Scientific
Some corporations are known to commission scientific studies to reduce the hazards of their products, reminiscent of alcohol, the consumption of which has been linked to violence.
For example, the alcohol industry sponsored tests which downplays the negative effects of alcohol, encouraging its consumption. This is despite the well-known cufflinks between increased alcohol consumption and increased risk of violence.
3.Marketing
Marketing also can perpetuate norms of violence or harmful behavior. For example, despite the widespread opioid addiction crisis within the U.S., the drug Oxycontin continued to be aggressively sold for sensitive patients for years.
This one is targeted on profit promotion had serious consequences and contributed to rise in violent crimes.
Kristoffer Tripplaar/Alamy
4. Supply chain and waste management
Companies are harming human and planetary health through the pollution they produce. Industrial pollutants like lead have been linked to violent tendencieswhile air pollution is related to a rise brutal crime.
Exploitation of the environment also results in violence. Many conflicts have broken out all over the world over access to waterbecause industrial pollution depletes resources and increases resource pressures.
5. Employment
Some industries, reminiscent of private military contractors, may hire people to commit acts of violenceOther employment practices may include: confidentiality agreement which conceal the size of mobbing, sexual harassment and other types of violence within the workplace.
For example, the worldwide pornography industry could also be exposing employees to violence by denying them access to legal remedies. employersIn addition, many pornographic sites depict violence and abuse, and emerging evidence suggests that such behavior could also be imitated By viewers.
6. Financial
Many corporations have pension plans that spend money on the arms trade, the alcohol industry and regimes with low levels of violence and human rights. documentationIn addition, industrial processes that promote excessive spending encourage indebtedness, which is related to an increased risk of violence, including violence in a partnership AND violence against children.
To address the basis causes of violence and improve strategies to scale back violence, governments have turned to families, communities, schools, health and justice services, and community and voluntary sector organisations for solutions. While these are essential, we imagine a broader and more radical approach is required.
The wealth and influence of some corporations now exceeds that of countriesIn addition to holding individuals and public sector agencies accountable for violence, corporations also should be recognised and held accountable by governments.
Our research goals to assist discover specific ways by which businesses fuel violence, and to tell what governments should do to deal with it.