ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES DISSOLVE SOCIOLOGICAL

BARRIERSGlobalization and environmental concerns

can trigger cooperation across national borders.

By Sean Wetmore

Introduction

Transport of environmental pollutants is often rapid, and is not impeded by international borders. The physical characteristics of the contaminant largely determine it’s mobility. For example, air currents are not impeded by international borders and can carry pollution over vast distances: Air – Fastest mobility. Water – Medium mobility. Soil – Least mobility.

Introduction

Case study – Toxin Accumulation in the Arctic

It has been long noted that certain airborne and persistent contaminants have made their way to the arctic circle where they have accumulated in the food chain and work their way into the diet of people who live there. The contaminants, mainly PCBs, are released from industrial activity, but only impact a small non-industrialized population. Concern for these people has had the potential to affect a cohesive international action restricting the use of PCBs.

Source: (http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/08/0827_040827_tvarctic_toxins.html

Introduction

Case study: The Alberta Oil Sands, local and non-local contaminants.

Every Canadian is at least aware of the Alberta Oil Sands, a crude oil extraction technique using water as a solvent to ‘soak out’ refineable oil. It has been noted that First Nations communities near the oil sands have had an increase in rare cancers, while wildlife has displayed genetic dysfunction (mutation). While concern has been raised as to the local detrimental effects of the effluent referred to as ‘tailings’, there is a larger responsibility in the oil sands exacerbating global warming (oil extracted using tar-sands techniques generates much more greenhouse gases than conventional methods). The effects of the oil sands project may be a concern on a global scale, rather than just for Canadians.

Source: http://oilsandstruth.org/rare-cancer-strikes

Introduction

Conclusion: Environmental pollutants travel across borders

without stopping to ‘check in at customs’. Some pollutants, weather by quality or scale,

are capable of causing significant harm to human and ecosystem health, far away from where they have been released.

Because their tendency to easily cross international borders, they have a unifying effect on people proactively trying to prevent their use (sociological effect).

Globalization

Globalization ties in closely with environmental concerns and the sociological implications of those concerns in that it facilitates international manufacture and rapid use of natural resources. Nations that enjoy the advantages of Globalization through free trade agreements are typically first world nations with heavy natural resources per-capita. By examining the process of Globalization through free-trade agreements it is possible to see the sociological effect it has on its participants.

Globalization

Canada\USA Free Trade Agreement Facilitated the quick import and export of goods between

Canada and the USA (1987) -- by removing duty, tax (annex), and documentation requirements for certain goods.

North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) Facilitated the ease of trade between Canada, the USA, and

Mexico (1994). Reinforced a ‘Western Bloc’ market, increased industrial

activity (factory labor, natural resource extraction).

Both trade agreements were regional examples of Globalism, a culture in which cultural identity and ownership of natural resources are partially dissolved for material gains.Source: http://www.international.gc.ca/trade-agreements-accords-commerciaux/agr-acc/nafta-alena/

Globalization

SIMA – Special Import Measures Act An “anti-dumping” measure to prevent goods being

dumped into the Canadian market with ultra low values for which Canadian businesses cannot compete (ie: cell phones that cost $1).

Targets specific HS tariffs and origins, ie: steel fasteners under 8mm long originating from China; and imposes heavy duty rates on importation to discourage import (duty collected goes to the CRA).

SIMA is an example of globalism failing at a fundamental level due to material wealth disparity between nations (consider soft wood lumber trade levies between Canada \ USA).Source: http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/S-15/

Globalization

Conclusion: The ‘tie-in’ between contaminant transport and globalist culture is that they both have a socially unifying force on a population without necessarily being restricted to a single country. The effects of globalization are felt, much like pollution, across borders and cultures. Often there is a linkage between the two due to an increase in foreign market influence and increased industrial activity.

For example: oil refined at the Alberta oil sands is mainly destined for the US market, while harmful environmental effects remain largely on Canadian soil.

Source of above: http://oilsandstruth.org/projects-region/alberta-tar-sands

Sociological Implications of Globalism and Environmental

Harm *Structural Functionalist Perspective

Features the human species as contiguous with their environment.

Interdependence between human beings and the natural environment proposes that nature itself depends, to some degree, on human activity (the environment is a ‘garden to be tended’).

Is actually an anthropocentric perspective of the relationship between humans and nature in that it presupposes dependence of nature on humanity.

[Anthropocentric: “Regarding humans as the central element of the universe.”] http://www.thefreedictionary.com/anthropocentric*(Source: Mooney, 2013. p. 299-300)

Sociological Implications of Globalism and Environmental

Harm Conflict Perspective

A ‘law of the jungle’ approach suggesting pursuit of material and financial wealth of the largest and most powerful countries and industries causes the majority of environmental problems - ie: The powerful dominate the weak.

Suggests that environmentalism is tolerated only in so far as it does not impede this pursuit of these gains.

Suggests the primary consumers of natural resources and causers of pollution (big industry) use deceptive means to ‘trick’ the population – ie: planned obsolescence, the deceptive ‘going green’ initiatives of some businesses.

For example: Stephen Harper announcing commitments to the Kyoto Accord, while simultaneously saying they cannot realistically be met. It’s then possible to “adhere to the spirit of [a contract] while simultaneously backing away from it…” (Mooney, 2013. p 301) – ie: Good press with no meaningful involvement.

Sociological Implications of Globalism and Environmental

Harm Symbolic Interactionist Perspective

Features the individual’s behavior, or interaction, with symbols delivered by media and collective social agreements – Consider for example the popularity of “Organic” foods, or non-polluting businesses implementing “green-initiatives” to gain popularity.

Known as Greenwashing, it “involves manipulation of public preception to maximize profits” (Mooney, 2013. p302).

According to the symbolic interactionist perspective, concern for the environment is adhered to only in so far as it improves one’s sense of pride and self-respect -- Consider someone buying a very expensive electric car, and charging it a station that derives electricity from coal-burning. The impact is the same if not worse, but the individual has offset their supposed responsibility.

More than the other two perspectives, is dependent on media and social popularity.

Discussion of Perspectives

Each perspective looks at different segments of the environmental ‘movement’: Structural Functionalist = Humanity and Nature Conflict Perspective = Industry and Profit Symbolic Interactionist = Media and Individual

Perception Sociological discussions of different environmental

concerns should therefore have different sociological perspectives as their base. For example, a discussion about wastewater sludge land application would benefit more using a conflict perspective than it would using a symbolic interactionist perspective.

Conclusion ½ (the pessimist)

Sociological interpretations of environmental issues reveals that humanity on the whole does not, or cannot, genuinely care about the environment on a global & international scale.

Environmental concerns arise primarily when they directly endanger human health, rather than the health of an ecosystem – ie: a spill of a dangerous chemical causing increased environmental concern only where the spill occurred.

When concern is centered on environmental preservation and protection, the impulse is often fueled by a need for having a good opinion of one’s self rather than genuine concern for the environment.

Conclusion 2/2 (the optimist)

There is a complexity to environmental concerns and contaminant transport across borders which is very difficult for sociological perspectives to fully capture.

Environmental concerns from a sociological perspective can be fully quantified using scientific means (concentrations, spatial measurements, et), unlike other sociological concepts which use ordinal statistics (unsatisfied, satisfied, very satisfied).

There is a growing interest in environmental sciences, and many environmentally sound initiatives even in heavily industrialized nations (recycling in North America, hydroelectricity in China).

Technology is reaching a point where many industries could be made sustainable if it’s applied correctly.

References

Guynup, S. (2004). Toxins accumulate in arctic peoples, animals, study says. Retrieved from: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/08/0827_040827_tvarctic_toxins.html

Song, V. (n.d.) Rare cancer strikes. Retrieved from http://oilsandstruth.org/rare-cancer-strikes

Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada. (2013). North American free trade agreement (NAFTA). Retrieved from http://www.international.gc.ca/trade-agreements-accords-commerciaux/agr-acc/nafta-alena/

Justice Laws Website. (2010). Special Import Measures Act. Retrieved from http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/S-15/

Oil Sands Truth. (n.d.) Alberta & Saskatchewan Tar Sands. Retrieved from http://oilsandstruth.org/projects-region/alberta-tar-sands

Mooney, L. A., Holmes, M., Knox, D., Schacht, C. (2013) Understanding social problems (custom edition). Toronto, ON: Nelson.

Notes for our discussion…

The oil sands and their environmental impact is still a hotly debated issue. While there is an obvious danger to the tailings ponds, actual human harm has not yet been proven.

I have nearly completed the 3-year Environmental Technologist program at Georgian, but am more interested in environmental mechanics and contaminant transport than environmentalism as a cause. Science > media bluster.

I have a background in customs and the classification of goods entering Canada as a customs broker.