My post focuses on the case study, “H.B. Fuller in Honduras: Street Children and Substance Abuse.”
This case was packed with conflict, and I realized that this type of issue is probably one that large corporations, particularly those that deal with solvents and chemically-based products, encounter.
I actually felt somewhat sympathetic toward H.B. Fuller/Kativo, because its tradename was being slandered by becoming synonymous with substance abuse, despite its Resistol product not being the only one abused by the street children in Honduras. The company had fallen victim to a much larger, economic, political, and social problem than they could control. I feel that Beto, Kativo’s VP, did try to rectify the situation and promote social change as best as he could, and the group that went down to Honduras after the stockholders raised the Resistol issue was diligent in trying to find a solution.
I was not sure what steps the company should take. It seems like it could have poured money into the CONATNSI group, which had strong improvement objectives, but to what end? I don’t think that a single company’s actions would make much of a difference here. Perhaps it should have focused on improving its Resistol product so it was not harmful (even if it put a dent in profits), and assigned associates to the CONATSI group to demonstrate the company was dedicated to improving the social situation. Maybe that’s what all companies in this situation should do. Try to make their products as harmless as possible, evaluate if they should even make them at all (depending on their negative impacts), and become involved in community relations so they can become directly connected to the very relevant social environment in which they operate.
2 comments:
I had the same feeling that Kativo is getting blamed for a much larger problem which should be dealt with by the Honduran government. If Kativo had some way to change their product so that it would not be used by the street children like adding oil of mustard, the street kids would more than likely simply change to another drug. Dr. Zavala is correct in saying it is a social problem.
Perhaps looking at what causes kids to end up on the street and dealing with that would be the right approach.
Just a few things here Pauly;
I share the same sentiments towards H.B. Fuller/Kativo, it would be unthinkable that their company would purposely create a street drug manufactured specifically for the third world. I think it is unfair to have any of their products being labeled as a street drug and the reprocusions, socially and commercially that accompany them.
I feel that your views as to how this is a "problem that should be dealt by the government of Honduras" is a little nearsighted! Unfortunately the Honduras Government IS and HAS always tried to combat this specific drug addiction as well as others that are tearing down the lives of so many like a brush fire. Unfortunately such efforts have yielded a minimum toll on this unfortunate social problem due to substandard funding and a lack of professionals who are shilling to work in one of the most dangerous cities in the world.
I do whoever commend you on thinking outside the box by wanting to tackle this monster from the root, but I'm pretty sure you'll find out that the answer to your question is " good family foundation"
I was born in Honduras and now here in the States I volunteer 7 months out of my time at an orphanage in a remote village and I see this issues too frequent, it is a sadness beyond what you could imagine. Anyone can point out what the problem is but not everyone is doing something about it!
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