Gender and Environmental Injustice, Essay Example

Women and Gender Studies

Environmental changes, such as global warming, and environmental justice, such as creating justice for all nature, human and non humans, is a current political topic of increasing interest. Feminism is one issue within environmental justice that is prompting curiosity. As the interest in Feminism and environmental justice grows, the view of the two movements combining or the two movements having the same goal is acknowledged.

The primary course of change that the principles of feminism consider is based on the balance of rights and balance of opportunities between all; a philosophy that could be applied towards the different aspects of social reform. At present, in line with the desire to pursue ecological movement, public officials and environmentalists are looking into the said movement of the feminist groups to impose as part of their desire to make extensive adjustments on the ways things are occurring at present. Most likely, the connection between feminism and ecological movements bears down from the presentation of women to be more fragile than men as nature is. With extensive courses of industrialization embracing the society today, it could be observed how the fragile gift of nature becomes specifically denuded by the desire of humans to live in an industrially advanced world. Industrialization come in many forms and approaches the new world in many aspects of development. Considerably, one of which is through extensive, improved agricultural procedures which are designed to increase crop production therefore enabling the said industry to support the growing population of individuals around the globe. One specific story that could related to this truth is that of Teresa De Anda’s story which was defined to be an outspoken definition on how a large-scale pesticide drift[1] affected her and her family and how she personally reacts to the said matter. In her story, she points out how this even specifically tramples her rights not only as a resided of Earlimart but also as a mother who is supposed to be given the opportunity to give her children a better future[2]. In her story, she relates how the agricultural developments did feed many, and yet killed a lot more at the same time; perhaps considered as the price of development, should people actually die for the sake of others’ survival? Raising this particular thought provokes the need to see things in a more balanced manner, a process from which the rights of every stakeholder is considered seriously hence lessening the negative effects of advancement.

The results of development on some areas such as that of Ontario have been drastic. With people losing their homes to natural disasters such as floods and wild fires, people have been displaced out of their homes and are in need of serious support from the government.  Linda Nguyen’s report on the said matter insists on the fact that the government seems to have less care about the matter hence are responding slowly to the needs of the people[3]. As a result to this, the local government is being bombarded with several criticisms as to how ineffective they are in completing their responsibilities towards the people they hope to serve. At this point, the government is being challenged to step up to the situation and respond to the needs of the people[4].

An even larger scope of the situation could be noted on the situation that involved water contamination in Oglala Lakota[5]. While the natives there trusted the natural process of purifying water, specific industrial movements in the area changed the natural system and subjected the community into great problems. One specific example is that of White Plume who is an environmental activist in the area. She experienced how drastic the changes were as it directly impacted her health causing her to undergo thirteen surgeries that due to arterial aneurysm. While her fight continues to echo towards the governors of the area, their place remains to be an epitome of what happens to nature when it is subjected to extensive course of industrial developments.

True, the role of women in line with the pursuance of ecological movement is to represent the vulnerable members of the society and how they are directly affected by the situations involving developments that institute natural changes. The relative indication on how the view of women as valuable members of the society is expected to create a responsive voice among the governments as they define their roles as guidance towards a more developed yet sustainable community of satisfied individuals. Environmental injustices are incurred in line with the course of defining developments to be the priority and proper life to be the lesser concern. The change of attention and focus upon these matters should be duly considered so as to make sure that the value of life is given proper consideration which has a higher level of priority compared to the value of attention given to options of social and industrial development.

True to its sense, the stories of the people noted in the readings presented herein ought to be shared so as to raise awareness among others. It serves as a mirror of truth that other individuals from other places facing the same challenges should give attention to. It could be noted that at some point, the release of such stories ought to create a relative function that would awaken the concern of the society, appealing to the more human-based concern for life rather than the luxury of living in a modernized world, a truth that everyone should know about.

References

Teresa DeAnda’s Story. http://twentyfive.ucdavis.edu/includes/tt/09/story-teresa-deanda.pdf. (Retrieved on January 30, 2012).

Natives Struggle to Stay One with the Land. http://cojmc.unl.edu/nativedaughters/environmentalists/natives-struggle-to-stay-one-with-the-land. (Retrieved on January 30, 2012).

Lives at risk on Ontario’s Attawapiskat reserve, Chief Says. http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/Lives+risk+Ontario+Attawapiskat+reserve+chief+says/5735930/story.html. (Retrieved on January 30, 2012).

[1] Teresa DeAnda’s Story. http://twentyfive.ucdavis.edu/includes/tt/09/story-teresa-deanda.pdf. (Retrieved on January 30, 2012).

[2] Teresa DeAnda’s Story. http://twentyfive.ucdavis.edu/includes/tt/09/story-teresa-deanda.pdf. (Retrieved on January 30, 2012).

[3] Natives Struggle to Stay One with the Land. http://cojmc.unl.edu/nativedaughters/environmentalists/natives-struggle-to-stay-one-with-the-land. (Retrieved on January 30, 2012).

[4] Natives Struggle to Stay One with the Land. http://cojmc.unl.edu/nativedaughters/environmentalists/natives-struggle-to-stay-one-with-the-land. (Retrieved on January 30, 2012).

[5] Lives at risk on Ontario’s Attawapiskat reserve, Chief Says. http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/Lives+risk+Ontario+Attawapiskat+reserve+chief+says/5735930/story.html. (Retrieved on January 30, 2012).