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Pfizer Global Operations

Pfizer is a company that applies sciences and technologies from around the world in order to improve healthcare and lives. They are one of the leading companies in manufacturing and supply with over 50 billion doses of vaccines and medicines provided to patients across more than 181 countries each year. Pfizer supplies from 35 different facilities in six continents. One of these facilities was established in Costa Rica in 1950 and the relationship has evolved ever since. As of 2008, the headquarters in Costa Rica is the Corporate Center for Central America, serving 33 territories and employing over 800 Costa Ricans. The facility continues to expand to this day.

Manufacturing Impacts

Economically speaking, Pfizer has had many positive impacts on the local community. In August 2022, Pfizer expanded in Costa Rica by opening another facility in Escazú Village. The facility can house up to 700 new employees. The relationship between Costa Rica and Pfizer has led to the country becoming a leader in the life sciences sector. This relationship benefits both parties with Costa Rica expanding the workforce, promoting productivity, and strengthening the country as a whole while Pfizer benefits from expanding their industry. During the pandemic, the President of Costa Rica, Carlos Alvarado, acknowledged Pfizers role in helping supply for the country and providing vaccinations for the people.

Pfizer claims to be environmentally aware with commitments to sustainability. The company plans to become certified for universal access and carbon neutrality. I was having trouble finding sources that discuss direct environmental effects, however I am skeptical to believe that Pfizer is fully committed to becoming more sustainable; it seems that these claims are more so for show to appeal to the consumer (although I have no evidence to make these claims). Being a biopharmaceutical company, Pfizer contributes to green house gas emissions and pollution. Especially as a result of the pandemic, biomedical waste increased significantly with various chemical pollutants damaging the environment. Regardless, it does seem that Pfizer is making steps in the right direction to become more environmentally sustainable.

Discussion

I would argue that Pfizers presence in Costa Rica resembles neo-colonialism. It seems that a more developed corporation is taking advantage of a less developed country and indirectly imposing itself on Costa Ricans and using the people for work . Pfizer is a company that seeks to expand its markets throughout the world and by establishing themselves in Costa Rica, they have weaved their way into the economy and taken control of certain aspects of it. By placing themselves in Costa Rica, Pfizer has gained control of many of the medicinal advancements of the country as well as a portion of the workforce. If Pfizer were to leave Costa Rica, the company itself would not experience much loss relative to the income of the company as a whole, however it would do damage to the local economy and leave many unemployed. Pfizers beneficial relationships with Costa Ricans does not change the fact that Pfizer is a TNC that prioritizes economic growth.

https://www.pfizer.com/products/how-drugs-are-made/global-supply#:~:text=Leaders%20in%20Manufacturing%20and%20Supply&text=Pfizer%20helps%20provide%20more%20than,6%20people%20on%20the%20planet.

https://www.cinde.org/en/essential-news/pfizer-grows-in-costa-rica-to-support-its-operations-across-the-americas

https://www.cinde.org/en/essential-news/pfizer-strengthens-its-presence-in-costa-rica-opening-an-innovative-operations-center-for-global-support

https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pharmaceutical-technology.com%2Fcompany-news%2Fpfizer-latin-american-vaccine%2F&psig=AOvVaw1j5AuQrzjvvaoPCX0EogXM&ust=1694885795512000&source=images&cd=vfe&opi=89978449&ved=0CA8QjRxqFwoTCOjM-d-TrYEDFQAAAAAdAAAAABAE

https://i0.wp.com/qcostarica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/vaccination.jpg?fit=940%2C492&ssl=1

Spanish Colonization of Peru

Material Basis: The Incas had built the largest empire in the world in the 1500s. Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro, in search of gold, led a small group of men to take over the Incan empire in 1532. Peru was particularly appealing due to the wealthy and prosperous empire, and easy to take over as the empire was at a weak point. Atahualpa, the last Incan emperor, was held for ransom by the Spanish colonizers, managing to accumulate an entire room full of gold, silver, and other treasures over the span of eight months. After eventually killing the emperor, the Spanish set off to conquer Cuzco; a land with vast golden treasures. Once the empire was taken over, indigenous people were forced into enslavement and labor.

Political and Judicial Basis: As the Incan empire was being conquered, the empire was politically fragile, the people had no strong loyalty to preserve the empire, the Incas were fighting amongst themselves, the empire was divided into factions, and the Incas were recently hit with an epidemic of European diseases. Facing a time of internal struggles, colonizers were able to establish themselves with more ease. After receiving his ransom, Pizarro had observed the loyalty of Incan people to their leader and decided that Atahualpa’s death was the best way to win total defeat of the Incas, weakening the morale of the people. After conquering Cuzco, local people helped out by providing supplies and support to the Spaniards. Pizarro set up puppet rulers to ensure the state did not collapse from within while he set about to conquer the rest of the empire.

Ideological Foundation: In battle, the Spaniards were equipped with superior weaponry and technology. The empire was taken over in a time of European absolutism, a period in which European lifestyles were seen as superior, and therefore the Spanish felt entitled to colonizing others. Additionally, conversion to Christianity was a commonly used rationale for forcing others into submission with Christianity being seen as a superior religion. Also, Incas believed in a total renewal or ‘turning over of time and space’, imposing their own lifestyles and beliefs on to others. It is easy to morally justify colonizing a group of people who are also colonizers that once stole wealth and imposed foreign religion onto others.

https://www.worldhistory.org/article/915/pizarro–the-fall-of-the-inca-empire/

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Western-colonialism/Spains-American-empire

https://www.sapiens.org/archaeology/peruvian-colonial-mines/

https://www.perunorth.com/inca-pre-columbian-empire

Chocolate

Spanish colonizers introduced cacao crops in Costa Rica during the 17th century, reshaping the country’s economy. Cacao seeds seeds grow into trees whose beans are harvested and then turned into chocolate. This bitter bean is turned into a sweet treat through a process that first involves roasting the beans and crushing them into a paste. Next, the paste is tempered, a repetitive process of heating and cooling, until chocolate is formed. Higher quality chocolates can take up to a week to produce. Milk and sugar can be added to the chocolate to form different varieties. Many farms on the Osa Peninsula, such as a family run farm called Rancho Raices, produce and sell their own chocolate. Additionally, farms give tours as a source of income from tourists.

https://travelwithmonsters.com/2019/03/18/a-chocolate-tour-at-rancho-raices-family-fun-on-the-osa-peninsula/

https://www.osatourism.com/osa-peninsula-chocolate/#:~:text=Throughout%20the%20ages%2C%20chocolate%20production,using%20time%2Dhonored%20traditional%20techniques.

Palm Oil

Palm oil comes from the fruit of palm trees Native to Africa. Two to three years after being planted, palm fruits are harvested and mechanically pressed to extract oil. The pulp contains most of the oil, however the kernels are utilized for further extraction. The oil undergoes a refining process which may include degumming, bleaching, and deodorizing. Finally, oil is separated by its liquid and solid components. Palm oil plantations, such as Palmas del Pacífico and Palma Tica, exist all over Costa Rica. Palm oil is globally traded due to its versatility and high demand.

https://www.foodunfolded.com/article/palm-oil-how-its-made

https://growjungles.com/costa-ricas-african-palm-oil-dilemma-unraveling-the-ecological-catastrophe/

Bananas

Costa Rica is one of the top producers of bananas. Bananas grow from a bulb and take 9-12 months before they are ready to be harvested. The fruits are harvested while they are still green before being inspected and sorted. High quality bananas are selected to be exported. Humidity, ventilation, and temperature conditions are monitored carefully during the transportation process to maintain quality. Bananas are then ripened using ethylene gas before they are ready to be sold in stores. Bananas are available year round. Independent growers sell their bananas to companies such as Del Monte, with the US being one of Costa Rica’s top consumers.

https://freshdelmonte.com/products/ https://www.bananalink.org.uk/all-about-bananas/#:~:text=Bananas%20do%20not%20grow%20from,are%20available%20all%20year%20round.

Coffee

Coffee has been a part of Costa Rica’s agriculture since the late 1700s. Coffee beans are harvested from cherry-like fruits about three to four years after being planted. Beans are next processed, sun dried, and milled. Beans are sorted by size and inspected to ensure that the beans being used are high quality. Finally, the beans are ready to be exported and sold both locally and to other countries. A few Costa Rican coffee plantations include: Poás Volcano, Tres Rios, Naranjo, Alajuela and Tarrazú. Income is also generated through coffee farm tours.

https://www.ncausa.org/about-coffee/10-steps-from-seed-to-cup

https://www.govisitcostarica.com/travelInfo/day-trips/coffee-plantaions.asp

Vanilla

Vanilla comes from an orchid which grows on a vine. After about three years, the flower blooms for one day and must be hand pollinated. Next the beans must be curated in a process of blanching and immersion in hot water, allowing for the development of the vanilla flavor. The beans are then fermented, laid in the sun, and cured. The labor process takes at least a year, sometimes longer. Dried beans are ready for exportation globally. The National University, Osa Conservation, and University of Costa Rica have been working to establish vanilla farms for more economic opportunities, starting trial plots on the Osa Verde farm.

https://www.thespruceeats.com/how-vanilla-is-processed-1136407#:~:text=Curing%20Vanilla%20Beans&text=The%20blankets%20are%20unrolled%20and,another%203%20to%204%20weeks.

https://osaconservation.org/osa-verde-and-vanilla-farming/

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