Securitization of the environment, or anything for that matter, changes the instruments and the people who use these instruments available to deal with the new security threat. These personnel usually take the form of the long entrusted state security actor; the military. Environmentalists have long protested the linkage of the environment and security, arguing environmental security directly refers to the military’s capacity to apply themselves to the ocean of environmental issues. The purpose of most militaries is to fight wars and in doing so they incur devastating consequences for people and the environment. Contrast this with the environmental movement efforts to achieve sustainable life and peace. Environmental protection agencies, such as the EPA, are open institutions that seek to educate the public on the dangers of the environment while the military are secretive institutions, for this reason environmentalists argue that the two are fundamentally incompatible.
Militaries are arguably the largest institutional cause of environmental degradation in the world. (Collins, 2010)Wherever there’s been war there’s been considerable damage to the environment. Whether it’s the use of nuclear weapons on Japan, the draining of
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(Deudney, 1990)
Criticism of deeming the environment as a national threat is not uncommon. Homer-Dixon also supported this view to a certain extent saying there was no evidence to suggest environmental scarcity was a principle cause of conflict. Interestingly Homer-Dixon later concluded a paper assessing the nexus between the environment and conflict saying
“our research shows that environmental scarcity causes violent conflict.”
Why the change in tact? The answer to this is there are new examples of environmental scarcity’s causing inter-state conflict. By assessing these can we truly answer if securitization of the environment should be encouraged.
Case
The title of the article is The Environmental Crisis: The Devil is in the Generalities, written by Ross McKitrick. It appears in the April 2008 edition of the Academic Matters journal. The author is an associate professor and director of graduate studies at the Department of Economics at the University of Guelph. In discussing the environment, the author argues that the topic is rather wide to use vague terms to define or understand it. The issue is further complicated by politicians who use it as a campaign scapegoat, in which they paint it as a crisis.
Summary Essay In the year 1991, Vaclav Havel, former prime minister of the Czech Republic, delivered a speech at a university called The Quiver of a Shrub in California that discussed the environmental problems of a small country in Europe and how humans as a species need to become more aware of the situation that is arising, and do something about it. Havel declares this speech in order to, inform people and make them more aware of the situation that is occurring in his home country. This situation being that all around, the environment is crumbling under the oblivious eyes of the people and that as a race humans need to realize that though they believe that being humans makes them superior to every other living creature. There is a need
Over the decades, the topic of the environment has always ended in endless arguments and debates. In Edward O. Wilson’s book The Future of Life, he satirizes two passages about stereotypes of environmentalists and people first critics. Using rhetorical questions, ad hominems, Irony, and logos, Wilson illustrates the unproductive manner of environmentalists. Using ad hominems, both passages mock each other. “Environmental wackos” frustrate Wilson because the environmentalists think they have control over the county.
Safety and security has gone back to members we used to call the “watchman” who were some of the first figures we started to develop as law enforcement figures to keep the society safe (Schmalleger 6). This is so important in today 's world as it tries to sure up fairness for life, land, and the pursuit of happiness, as it states in the United States’ Declaration of independence. This is such an important concept to have in our society as the US became somewhat of a model for the rest of the world after our declaration. This need for safety and security also stretches into the reasons for why we have our military. For obvious reason as keeping our country safe to the reasons of us still interacting in other countries to allow them and their people work towards having a fair system of which they can feel safe and secure.
Al Gore Jr. was the forty-fifth vice president of the U.S. and is well-known for his environmental advocacy work and his famous writings on environmental issues (Weisser 101). In his article “Climate of Denial”, he describes how the world is very uneducated on the environmental issues of today. Through his article, he uses ethos, pathos, and logos to make his point. He also clearly expresses his purpose, the conflict, and his audience. Despite these proficient skills, if we unveil the true Al Gore, we will witness a man driven for greed, wealth, and power.
Our environment had been endangered of becoming unsafe, threatening, and even deadly. “The water we drink, the food we eat, the very air that we breathe, are threatened with pollution. Our parks are overcrowded, our seashores overburdened. Green fields and dense forests are disappearing.” Johnson stresses that the health of people and environment is at risk because Americans have allowed for the destruction of nature to get out of hand, and causing both the Earth and human health at risk of becoming an ugly America, due to –as Johnson references- the “Ugly American” (“Great Society”).
In the Constitution of the United States entrench a requirement and action to have a profession, which ensure the protection and safety of the Nation and State, “We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, …, provide for the common defence” . Basically, this statement is the presumption, that part of society gain a mandate to render an essential obligation to the Nation in a specific area, in particular case this is a defence. In order to fulfill stated obligation, part of society must have the necessary knowledge and skills. Next, they have to ensure and gain public trust and autonomy in their action. Finally, set high moral standards that reflect the values of society.
Introduction: Genetically modified organisms can be defined as organisms in which the DNA has been changed in a way that does not occur naturally by any reproduction procedure. The enviropig is just one of many organisms that they did experiments on to modify it to have specific (needed) outcomes. The reason for genetic modification is to be able to change a product or organism so that it deliver desirable traits. The enviropig was created to solve the problem of pigs not being able to absorb enough phosphorous from their diet, which then in its turn contributes to the larger factor of pollution.
Wildlife Conservation is often seen as a bad thing, but if you look at it from my perspective, then it is actually a good thing. People think of it as holding wild animals captive, but we are actually protecting them from poachers. The purpose of Wildlife Conservation is to protect the animals in danger, which I am in agreement 110%. Other people argue that we shouldn’t have conservations, but they don’t know the harm that can happen to unprotected animals.
The protection of environment is crucial to the wellbeing of this planet. The job of government is to protect and preserve the land on which its people live. However, there is a bill being considered that completely goes against this, one that calls for the eradication of the Environmental Protection Agency, a government program created to protect human and environmental wellbeing through their regulation of laws. I urge you to oppose bill H.R. 861 - the termination of the Environmental Protection Agency - because of the ways that the EPA protects air, water, and land.
In recent years, a debate of the global commons security governance conducted by the U.S. is rapidly heating up and spreading rapidly throughout the world from academic level to the decision-making level and even action level. In 2010, the Center for a New American Security launched a heavyweight report "Contended Commons: The Future of American Power in a Multipolar World," Stanford University Press's "Securing Freedom in the Global Commons," examines in the details of the U.S. "Global commons"strategy. Not long ago, the US Congress passed the Space Commercial Act, recognizing two specific property rights: First, "Who can work in space, who will have these resources," and second, "Others can not interfere while the U.S. citizens work in
“Conflict is a struggle over values and claims to scarce status, power, and resources, in which the aims of the opponents are to neutralize, injure, or eliminate the rivals”. (L. Coser,
We have grown to see our parents have children, build houses, buy cars cultivate farmlands, explore timber and many other aspects. I think that this is the time to ask ourselves the question how good or bad are our actions to the environment? We should not inherit the habits of our forefathers because we are now responsible for the consequences of our action base on consequential ethics which states that it is common for us to determine our moral responsibility by weighing the consequences of our actions. According to consequentialism, correct moral conduct is determined solely by a cost-benefit analysis of an action's consequences. And in this case, if we apply sustainable development and consequential ethics, I am sure that we will protect our environment looking at it as a social
Review of Literature Environmental issues began to be discussed and debated only towards the end of the 20th century. Since then significant amount of literature has been penned down raising awareness about issues of pollution, deforestation, animal rights and several others however it has failed to result in major changes, ideas or even actions to save the environment. Several species of animals have become extinct; pollution level is at an all-time high, global warming is leading to severe climate changes all across the globe but these problems do not seem to alarm the decision makers. Leydier & Martin (2013) also states that, “despite the increasing expression of concern in political and media debates about issues such as climate change, pollution and threats to biodiversity, “political ecology” (operating at the confluence of scientific developments, political engagement and ethical debates) is still trying to find its bearings” (p.7). It is quite evident that environmental issues are not treated in equivalence to political, economic, social or even religious issues.
National Security in the 21st Century will encompass threats ranging from fraud, corruption, illegal migration, transnational crime and environmental degradation. One could consider seven broad subject areas of focus, economic security, food security, health and environment security, personal security and community security. The new threats to national security will come from emerging issues like terrorism, oil and gas depletion, environmental concerns, including climatic alterations, HIV/AIDS and over-population. National Security