The environmental crisis is intrinsically linked to the rise of global capitalism. In fact, the substances that have caused the environmental crisis are essential to a global economy (Nading, 2020). The rapid increase in harmful environmental practices has also increased the frequency and likelihood of major natural disasters. One such example is the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster which has caused high enough amounts of radioactive water to leak into the North Pacific Ocean that it may not be reversible (Smallman, 2015). Environmentalism is a controversial form of activism because it is embedded within global politics. Many antienvironmentalists hold their views in favor of global corporations, and because the climate crisis disproportionately affects people and ecosystems in the global South, the majority of whom are people of color, impoverished, or in any way disadvantaged by their government or economy, the severity of the crisis is often overlooked. The crisis is often linked to white supremacy, colonialism, and economic exploitation (Nading, 2020).

Take the Amazon rainforest for example. The tens of millions of years old forest spans much of the South American continent; it provides one fifth of the world’s freshwater; nine South American countries lay claim to part of the river basin; it is home to hundreds of unique species; Throughout history until now it has suffered severe levels of deforestation and species loss. Major changes to the Amazon could possibly have effects on the entire planet’s climate (Smallman, 2015). Many environmentalists see the Amazon as one of the more pressing issues, however, South American governments disagree. Concern over the rainforest is viewed as a form of imperialism, since much of the original destruction traces its roots back to European colonization of the Americas. There’s a sense of resistance from these governments against Northern/European pressure.

While one could place all the blame for the Amazon’s distress on corporations, the issue is much more complex. There are underlying social issues embedded deep within the environmental crisis. Much of the damage has been done by the poor and dispossessed (Smallman, 2015). And in other parts of the world, too, pollution and toxic destruction is committed by the poor because it is their source of labor. For example, in Ghana, much of the toxic waste is produced by laborers smashing open electronic devices to harvest the precious metals behind (Smallman, 2015). These people have to do it out of need, for their livelihoods, rather than out of a moral choice.

It affects all people at every level of their lives and all places no matter their vicinity to environmental disasters. For example, if a Chernobyl-sized event occurred in France, it would take over three times the entire country’s GDP to assess the issue: “Financially, France would cease to exist as we know it” (Richter, 2013). The accident would also affect Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland, England, and Germany (Smallman, 2015). It also affects our diets. When coal is burned, it releases mercury into the atmosphere. Mercury causes serious health effects when ingested; “Mercury acts on the central nervous system and can reduce mental ability, making kids shy, irritable, and slow to learn, and causing tremors and physical disturbances…” (Smallman, 2015). This is why pregnant women and young children are not encouraged to eat too much seafood. The coal industry has affected the mercury levels in seafood in all major seas and oceans, and is becoming an increasing problem within our diets.

The environmental crisis is a worldwide issue and is now an integral part of political power. Who do we grant the power to make choices that affect everyone? Are European countries or northern nations allowed to dictate what happens to preserve biodiversity in the Amazon? How will Ghana improve its rates of employment so that its impoverished don’t have to work for international corporations by committing pollution?

Nading, A. M. (2020). Living in a toxic world. Annual Review of Anthropology, 49(1), 209–224. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-anthro-010220-074557

Richter, W. (2013). Fnce predict[s] cost of a nuclear disaster to be over three times their GDP. Blog post at http://oilprice .com/Alternative- Energy/NuclearPower/France- Predict- Cost- of- Nuclear- Disaster- to- be- Over- Three- Times- theirGDP .html. 

Smallman, S. C., & K. B. (2015). Introduction to International and Global Studies (-2nd ed., pp. 306-338). University of North Carolina Press.Walker, B. L., & Cronon, W. (2011). Toxic archipelago: A history of industrial disease in Japan. U of Washington Press.

Walker, B. L., & Cronon, W. (2011). Toxic archipelago: A history of industrial disease in Japan. U of Washington Press.