I should perhaps have written this article during the Bam’s earthquake. But for the past few months working, living and understanding Iranian society, I realized not many people (please look at the word I said not many; I do not mean all!) are not work conscious. We work because we are told so! We hardly consider how this attitude affects the way our society shapes. Not to mention how our cultural values gets developed when the ethical attitude in society diminishes. Also, I went to Melli Bank to wire some money to Shahrk Azmayesh, I saw a big sign stating on it: Ethical issues of a bank employee. Having said that as the expression goes: “whenever you catch fish from sea, it is considered fresh (i.e. mahi ro har vaghat az Aab begiri tazeh ast)”. So, I decided to write the following article with help of engineering ethics book. I start the story with construction of the St Lawrence River. Because there is a rumor that the original Canadian Iron Ring is manufactured from parts of the collapsed bridge!
Construction on the Quebec Bridge, 11 km above Quebec City, officially began in 1900. On 29 Aug 1907, when the bridge was nearly finished, the southern cantilever span twisted and fell 46 m into the St. Lawrence River. Seventy-five workmen, many of the caughnawaga Indians (native North Americans), were killed in Canada’s worst bridge disaster. An inquiry established that the accident had been caused by faulty design and inadequate engineering supervision. Work was resumed, but on 11 Sept 1916 a new centre span being hoisted into position fell into the river, killing 13 men. The bridge was completed in 1917 and the Prince of Wales officially opened it 22 Aug 1919.
Having stated the above story it is said that the story above motivated a group of seven prominent engineers met in Montreal, Quebec to discuss a concern for general guidance and solidarity of the profession. Theses seven prominent engineers formed the nucleus of an organization whose object would be to bind all members of the engineering profession in Canada more closely together and to imbue them with their responsibilities TOWARDS SOCIETY.
They enlisted the services of the late Rudyard Kipling, who developed appropriate Ritual and symbolic Iron Ring. The purpose was outlined y Rudyard Kipling in the following words: “The Ritual of the calling an engineer has been instituted with the simple end directing the young engineer towards a consciousness of his/her profession and its significance, and indicating to the older engineer his/her responsibilities in receiving, welcoming and supporting the young engineers in their beginnings.”
By wearing an Iron Ring on little finger on the hand that we write with, we remind ourselves that we would be responsible for life of people and our actions toward the society .
Having said that I wonder how many of engineers think about such a responsibility when designing anything?! Not to mention other professions! We should raise our educated people’s culture and their openness towards new proposes then expect other level of society augment their cultural values.
2. If junior_engineer reads this, please fix your comment area it doesn’t work. I should indicate that I missed a real Salsa dancing in courthouse and flamingo clubs!
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