Multinationals like Caltex have a moral obligation to improve the living conditions of citizens who live and work in those countries. Their role cannot be limited to increasing shareholder value while perpetuating and strengthening political regimes that persecute and discriminate against one or more groups of citizens. I liken this to reforestation and the responsibility governments and companies have towards our planet. A society cannot simply make profits and exhaust natural and human resources; it needs to give something back to that country and its communities. Under South Africa's apartheid government, the black majority was not afforded the same opportunities for life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness as the white minority. In fact, South Africa's prime minister, John Vorster, declared that "we are building a nation for whites only." During the time of apartheid, it was illegal for blacks to vote, organize unions, eat in the same restaurants as whites, and their living conditions were horrible compared to those of whites. I intend to refute the validity of utilitarianism in relation to Caltex and South Africa in the 1970s, 1980s and up to that time. “De Klerk dismantles apartheid in South Africa” of 2 February 1990 (BBC, 1990). Let's start by defining utilitarianism: “Utilitarianism is a general term for any view that actions and policies should be evaluated based on the benefits and costs they will impose on society” (Velazquez, 2006, p. 61). Utilitarianism is the belief that the correct course of action is the one that provides society with the greatest benefits at the lowest cost. Meanwhile, blacks in South Africa...... middle of paper ......business, but always with the goal of being a good corporate citizen. Works CitedBBC. (1990, February 2). On this day. Retrieved January 26, 2011, from BBC Home: http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/february/2/newsid_2524000/2524997.stmBucholtz, R. (1991). Corporate responsibility and good society. Bloomington: Indiana University.Gibbs, L.M. (2003,). Story: Love Canal: the beginning of a movement. Retrieved January 27, 2011, from Boston University School of Public Health: http://www.bu.edu/lovecanal/canal/Stoss, F.W. (1998, burst 2). Love Canal: Reminder of why we celebrate Earth Day. Retrieved January 27, 2011, from UC Santa Barbara Library: http://www.library.ucsb.edu/istl/00-spring/article2.htmlVelazquez, M. G. (2006). Business ethics. Concepts and Cases 6th Edition. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson Prentice Hall.