By Katherine Doyle
[This is the winning entry in the Environmental Youth Alliance essay competition for high school students.]
One of the most important issues facing young Australians today is the problem of worldwide environmental destruction. During the past 10 years there has been a general raising of awareness about the seriousness of this crisis. As a result, many young people have become involved in campaigns such as recycling, "Clean Up Australia" and save the whales.
But while these are very worthy causes and are effective on a local level, they do little to combat the social inequalities and the economic and social systems that lead to environmental degradation.
Great inequalities exist. By the year 2000, it is estimated, 90% of the world population will own only 20% of its resources. Already four-fifths of the world live in poverty. These are not just irrelevant statistics: third world poverty and environmental destruction are linked in a vicious cycle.
Poverty forces people to misuse the land. An example is the use of unsafe fertilisers and cropping methods that cause soil erosion. As the land is damaged, it will not produce as good crop yields as previously, which leads to more poverty. The people then attempt to eke out as much food from the soil as possible, often by using harmful methods, and so the cycle continues.
People in developing countries traditionally used farming methods that reflected their respect for the land and were non-damaging. These were sufficient to sustain them quite easily with no-one starving or going without.
During the 18th and 19th centuries European countries such as England, Germany and France began colonising these "uncivilised" nations with the
paternalistic belief that it was "for their own good". In reality the only people it benefited were the colonisers in the form of cheap labour, resources and goods. The indigenous peoples were forced to change their farming methods to those of the colonising nations, this often involving strip clearing the land and causing erosion. While these nations are colonies no longer, their land, culture and society have been irreparably changed and damaged.
The exploitation of the third world by the first world continues today through multinational companies. These companies make use of the cheap labour available to produce low-priced goods aimed at the first world market. The profits go to the first world owners with, for the most part, the country of manufacture receiving none. Many of the techniques used in the manufacture of these goods are banned in the first would for being too dangerous or too environmentally unsound.
But it is not in the third world that the majority of environmental damage has occurred.
The majority of damage occurs in the industrialised nations such as the USA, Japan, Australia and England. For example, the USA has only a little more than 5% of the world's population but consumes approximately 50% of the world's mineral and energy resources and generates 35-40% of its pollution. The USA also releases over 1 billion kg of toxic chemicals into the air each year. This has worldwide ramifications, as this pollution affects not only the USA but neighbouring countries such as Canada and ultimately the whole world.
Australia also has a poor record on environmental issues, with 50% of Australian farmland already degraded and 60% of NSW wetlands already cleared, drained and filled. Of Australia's land only 2.2% is forest.
This devastation in both nations is caused by consumer society. The majority of environmentally damaging manufacturing techniques can be replaced by safer methods. For instance, for over 20 years the technology has existed to cleanse the air of sulphur dioxide, which causes acid rain. As this costs money
and as yet the steel and metal industries have not implemented it, it can only be surmised that the companies place their own profit before greater environmental good and the well-being of the general public.
The only way this tide of environmental destruction can be turned back is through massive worldwide change. To prevent further damage it is necessary to attempt to change the structure under which the social inequalities which cause this exist.
What many consider the only way to do this is to change the capitalist system under which the majority of the world lives and which perpetuates inequalities. An equal distribution of wealth is essential. Along with this would come a more equal distribution of resources such as food. At the moment enough food is produced to feed the whole world but due to unequal distribution, many are starving. This is while Europe and America are destroying crops in order to maintain artificially high prices.
With this change in economic structure, i.e. more equal distribution of wealth, would come changes to the structure of society. This would also eliminate some of the causes of ecological destruction. With these changes would come an awareness of, and an end to, environmental exploitation for short-term profit.
Until this occurs there are many things that can be achieved. One essential thing is education. People, both young and old, must be made aware of what is occurring and what they can do to help stop it.
Also necessary is a change in laws to make companies accountable for their actions and to enforce laws concerning any environmental damage they may cause. Aid to third world countries to help repair the environmental damage and reparations to indigenous peoples for land stolen or destroyed would also make an impact.
Other things to work for include reforestation, the fight against more nuclear reactors in Australia (i.e. Lucas Heights) and campaigns for increased public transport. Every bit counts, and everyone is needed to play their part in the fight for environmental
justice.