You go to work for a company that makes batteries for electric cars. The batteries require cobalt that is mined in the Democratic Republic of Congo. You outsource production to a country where child labor is used to mine the cobalt. Using child labor for cobalt mining has been condemned by Amnesty International. You are simply trying to produce batteries that electric car companies want to purchase at a fair price. However,some of your customers feel that you are exploiting children in poor countries. This is BEST described as an example of a(n) __ issue. A. political B. irrelevant C. individual D. legal E. othical

## Step 1<br />The problem presents a situation where a company is involved in the production of batteries for electric cars. The batteries require cobalt, which is mined in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The company outsources production to a country where child labor is used to mine the cobalt. This practice has been condemned by Amnesty International. The company is simply trying to produce batteries that electric car companies want to purchase at a fair price. However, some of the company's customers feel that the company is exploiting children in poor countries.<br /><br />## Step 2<br />The question asks us to identify the nature of this issue. The options provided are political, irrelevant, individual, legal, and ethical.<br /><br />## Step 3<br />The issue presented in the problem is not political, as it does not involve the governance or policies of a country. It is not irrelevant, as it is a significant issue that affects the company's operations and reputation. It is not individual, as it involves the company and its customers, not just one person. It is not legal, as there is no mention of any laws being broken.<br /><br />## Step 4<br />The issue is ethical, as it involves the company's moral obligations and the impact of its actions on society. The use of child labor to mine cobalt is a violation of the company's ethical standards and the rights of the children involved. The company's customers feel that the company is exploiting these children, which is an ethical concern.