Ethics and Morality

People think that ethics and morality are same, but there is a fine difference between them. Morality is what a person thinks is right or wrong. Ethics is what a group of person perceives as right or wrong. In other way morality defines personal character while ethics defines group character. There are many kinds of ethics company ethics, national ethics, business ethics, professional ethics etc. Ethics many times corresponds to law, but it’s not always. Laws can be said to a social ethics, as anybody who lives in a society has to follow laws of that society, this is nothing but social ethics. A person when confronted with making a personal decision is expected to look into his moral principles and make decision, but when the same person has to make a decision, which complies with a group, he is supposed to make a decision which supports the group ethics to which the person is a part.

In our day to day life, we often encounter situations where ethics and morality clashes. One such situation is the case of abortion. Here many people will find aborting a child as morally wrong, but by law it’s correct and hence conforms to social ethical standards. So a person may choose to not abort a child (this is his personal choice and here he applies his moral principles), but the very same person has no right to condemn another person decision of abortion. Here he/she is expected to comply with the ethical principles (read here law) of the society of which he/she is a part. So choosing to either go or not go for abortion is moral choice, but condemning abortion of others does not comply with the social ethical standards. Other situations where ethics and morality clash are the case of homosexuality (many believe it is wrong, but it’s is legal in many countries), the case of a criminal defence lawyer (the lawyer moral code finds murder immoral, but legal ethics demands the accused be vigorously defended. Legal ethics must override moral character and allow the judicial system to let the accused get a fair trial and let prosecution prove his guilt). Some people may find their moral character clashing with their company ethics. They many a times have to make a decision which they do not like, this creates resentment among employees and may lead to employee leaving the company.

Defining and justifying the thin line difference between ethics and morality is a tough call. The world still strives to overcome this vital difference. Understanding of this real difference will lead to a more peaceful world.

Terry Fox Run 2009 @ Chennai

Terry Fox Run was recently organised in Chennai, India on 30th August, 2009. This was the first Terry Fox run in Chennai and from now on it would be held every year in Chennai. The event was organised at the YMCA ground with the help of volunteers from IIT Chennai. Though the run was open for all, mostly people were from IIT, TCS, CTS and Canadian embassy. Anu Hassan flagged the event. The money raised would be donated to the TATA Memorial Centre for fundamental research into cancer. The idea behind the event is Akash Dube, a 17-year-old student diagnosed with cancer six months ago.

Terry Fox Run
Terry Fox Run (1981- ) is an annual volunteer-led, non-competitive event held around the world to commemorate the Canadian cancer activist Terry Fox, and his Marathon of Hope, and to raise money for cancer research. The event was founded in 1981 by Isadore Sharp, who wanted to hold an annual run in Terry’s name to raise money for cancer research. In Canada it is held every year on the 2nd Sunday following Labour Day (May 1). Outside Canada, the run is organised on any day that is convenient for the organizers.
Unlike other fund raiser event across the globe, Terry Fox Run has no corporate sponsorship. This was in accordance with Terry’s wishes of not seeking any fame for his endeavour. Here organizers have no budget for expenses but have unlimited appreciation for attendees. In 2002, there were 620 events were held in 53 countries.
The Run is the single largest single-day cancer fundraiser in the world.

Marathon of Hope
Marathon of Hope refers to the cross-Canada run undertaken by Terry Fox in 1980. It is commemorated each year by Terry Fox Run across the world. The main purpose of Terry’s run was to raise money for cancer research and to increase cancer awareness. The run started from St. John’s, Newfoundland on April 12th to Victoria, BC along the Trans-Canada highway - a distance of 8000km. Unfortunately Terry had to stop the run on September 1, 1980, due to his bad health. While in hospital he got a telegram from Isadore Sharp (who had recently lost his own son to cancer) telling him that his Marathon of Hope would be continued in his honour with an annual run, and that they would not stop until Terry's dream of beating cancer was realized.
A bronze statue of Terry Fox in motion is located in a memorial park along the Trans-Canada Highway – the spot where he had to end his run.
Terry died on June 28, 1981, due to bone cancer. Though he could not complete his Marathon of Hope, he said - "Even if I don't finish, we need others to continue. It's got to keep going without me."