393.20 // Deston Electronics Accused of Severe Environmental Damage
A published report of Deston Electronic’s breach of Republic anti-pollution protocol and the environmental consequences have left the company in disarray, with market shares plummeting and calls for legal action against the hardware and electronics producer. The report, a 386-page document compiled by insider journalists, anonymous employees, and third party researchers and legal consultants, details Deston Electronics’ rampant disregard for environmental health and public safety. Such claims are reinforced by the report’s devoted attention to detail on which regulations were broken and how, as well as several independently-run studies on the effects Deston Electronic’s industrial runoff, has had on local waterways.
Deston Electronics’ main production plant is based on the Inner Rim planet of Zatin-Elbe, a primarily rural world sparsely populated by farmers and financially successful retirees. Since the plant’s initial construction in 373 ABY and official opening in 382 ABY, representatives of Deston Electronics have repeatedly affirmed their commitment to mitigating the environmental impact of their presence while working closely with Republic officials to ensure that their practices meet government standards. In the past, the company has proudly shared the results of official tests and inspections to determine the plant’s potential damage to the ecosystem and its adherence to Republic law, never scoring beyond a “Minimal” grade and repeatedly passing inspection with flying colours.
That reputation has since been shattered by the aforementioned document, contrasting an earlier report made by officials in the Republic Planetary Health and Conservation Agency. The team of reporters, conscientious workers, and experts found “gross negligence on the part of Deston Electronics to uphold galactic standards”, resulting in “massive, potentially irreparable damage to the rivers surrounding the production center and its corresponding soil” and a “high risk of health detriments to the local populace”.
Activists, lawmakers, and businessmen alike are set in a state of shock over how Deston Electronics’ flagrant breaches of conduct went unnoticed up until then. The company since then has issued an official apology, ending with the promise that it will fully cooperate with Republic officials to properly renovate the plant to meet standards and help to repair the damage caused by their manufacturing plant. In the meantime, official warnings have been issued by the company to citizens with homes or businesses in proximity to Deston Electronics’ factory or its adjacent waterways, detailing potential health hazards and safety advice, though at the moment, no plans for compensation have been mentioned by Deston Electronics.
Most concernedly, the mass discrepancy between the insider document and the official RPHCA report has prompted multiple political advocates and policymakers to criticize the agency for its failure to accurately monitor and report on industrial pollution this close to the heart of the Republic. While the RPHCA has offered no explanation for this distinct oversight at the moment, they have stated that an official investigation is underway to discern the cause of this distressing lapse in judgment.