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E COLOGY E NQUIRER :
August 2008
WORLD INFORMATION TRANSFER, INC
PROMOTING HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY
Note from the Editor
By Gloria Liu Inside This Issue
Gloria is a rising senior at Wellesley College and as Note from the Editor 1
an International Relations major she recognizes the
importance of looking at government responses to From Tangshan to Sichuan: 1
sustainable development issues. Hence, she chose to
Earthquake PTSD Relief in China
compile this particular issue to fulfill that purpose.
At our current rate of development, a precarious future ―Dominican Chernobyl‖ 6
awaits us with open arms. As an increasing number of
governments around the world recognize the truth Arsenic Poisoning in Bangladesh 7
behind this deadly premonition, efforts have been made
to stymie this rate of decline. That the Economic and Myanmar‘s Government Response to
Social Council would meet this year to discuss Cyclone Nargis 8
sustainable development and a great amount of talk is
now circulating around the expiring Kyoto Protocol is Hurricanes of Florida vs. Katrina:
a testament to this recognition. Yet, the effects of The Main Differences 10
human negligence are not all tangibly manifested in
The Pisco Earthquake: Shaking the basis of 12
crises like the food and oil crisis; rather, this
Disaster-management programs in Peru
negligence has been heralded as contributing to the
frequency of natural disasters. This month‘s Ecology Africa‘s Population Dilemna: A Hindrance
Enquirer examines government responses to both To Sustainable Development 14
natural disasters like the Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar
and human-induced disasters like garbage build-up in Europe‘s Garbage 16
Naples. Our examination offers case studies from all
regions of the world in an attempt to offer a global Sakhalin: The Energy Projects 18
comparative perspective to facilitate comprehensive
analyses. Human negligence has induced a volatile The Invasion of the Cane Toad 19
threat and governments bear witness to this truth in the
increasing number of disasters and crises arising on Destruction of Olive Groves in Palestine: 21
their agendas, therefore, in compiling this edition, we ―The Third Nakba‖
hope to offer some insight on our contemporary
Concluding Remarks 23
plagues and the efficacy or inefficacy of certain
approaches.
From Tangshan to Sichuan: In 1976, the second most lethal earthquake in
history, with a magnitude of 7.8 on the Richter
Earthquake PTSD Relief in scale, quietly flattened a sleeping Tangshan on the
China night of July 28th. The catastrophe diverted some
By Emmy Chow, Greta Liao, Kent To and Lillian Tsang officials‘ attention from their political instability in
the ―Year of Curse‖. However, relief work was
criticized as insincere and inadequate. Rescue
efforts were conducted secretly behind the world
curtain when the Chinese government turned its
back against international aid from the United
Nations. The exact death toll, estimated from
242,000 to 650,000 still remains uncertain.
2
Thirty-two insomnia, emotional instability, and tension.
years later, on For instance, a man witnessed with shock
May 12th, his wife‘s death from the Sichuan
another deadly Earthquake as a building suddenly collapsed
earthquake with and buried his wife. He could not accept the
the same fact and kept blaming himself. This man‘s
magnitude hit case indicates what is termed ―survivor
Wenchuan, syndrome‖ or survivor guilt.
Sichuan.
Complete Destruction of the City of Hundreds of Overall situation in China
Tangshan by the July 28, 1976 Earthquake thousands of China at that time was still closed under the
(Photo source: China Earthquake buildings, Cultural Revolution when the Tangshan
Administration) especially earthquake hit. Infrastructure was
schools, were leveled, claiming more than underdeveloped and loose. Therefore, the
69,000 lives. The Chinese government, in government's response was slow, ineffective
this case, was highly praised by the and unwilling as reflected in the flow of
international community for its immediate information and the reluctance to foreign
response. Two months later, the direction of help. Furthermore, the flow of information
the aftermath relief gradually cast its light was almost stagnant at the government level.
on reconstruction and psychological It took 12 hours for the central authorities in
assessment. This article attempts to assess Beijing to learn that Tangshan, the epicenter,
the progress of government relief in was completely leveled. It was discovered
addressing Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder only when a Tangshan coal miner, Li Yulin,
(PTSD) victims from Tangshan to Sichuan. drove an ambulance for six hours along dirt
roads to reach Beijing to reveal the
PTSD information.1 The
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a common people were
psychiatric condition that can arise from any almost ignorant about the
traumatic and catastrophic life experience, situation. Hu Chengxi
has been attracting increasing recognition from Mianyang in
and concerns in the scope of natural disaster central China's Sichuan
relief. Normally it does not appear during province talked about his
the catastrophe; instead, it gradually parents' experience:
emerges as the trauma endures. The most ―during the Tangshan Lu Guilan, rescued by soldiers
vulnerable groups to PTSD include victims earthquake, after being trapped for 13 days.
(Wang Wenlan, 1976).
and survivors from disasters as well as telecommunications
rescuers. weren't as developed as nowadays -- even
television wasn't very popular -- so my
The findings on the long-term impact of the parents could only get news from the radio.
Tangshan Earthquake on human‘s physical They don't have many relatives or friends in
and mental health show that after 32 years, Tangshan, so at first they did not understand
PTSD has cast a shadow on the rest of the the severity of the situation there. But they
victims and survivors‘ lives after the were naturally shocked by the number of
earthquake and contributed to their suffering casualties.‖1 All communications were cut
from neurosis, anxiety and fear. The chance
of getting such a disorder among the 胡金喜.袁藝.楊洋. ―心理之療 靠好心人持之以恆‖ 6 June, 2008. www.People.com.cn . 5 July, 2008. <http://www.512gov.cn/BIG5/123054/7350350.html>
2Tyler, Patrick E. ―Tangshan Journal: After Eating Bitterness, 100 Flowers Blossom‖, 28 January, 1995. New York Times. 5 July 2008.
Tangshan population is approximately 3-5 <http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=990CE7D91F30F93BA15752C0A963958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all>
3 Björkell, Stina. ―Special report---Earthquake in China--- Hu Chengxi: Overseas Chinese struggle to cope with Sichuan tragedy‖ 23rd May 2008. Radio 86 All
about China. 5 July, 2008. <http://www.radio86.co.uk/node/6530>
4Szczepansk, Kallie. ―The Great Tangshan Earthquake of 1976, the Natural Disaster That Ended China's Cultural Revolution‖ About.com. 5 July, 2008.
times higher than normal. Those who have <http://asianhistory.about.com/od/china/a/TangshanQuake.htm>.
5Zhang, Hou can; Zhang, Yi zhong. (1991) Psychological consequences of earthquake disaster survivors. International Journal of Psychology Special Issue: The
psychological dimensions of global change, 26: 613-621. 1991.
experienced the trauma are more vulnerable 6 Martinsen, Joel. « Why commemorate the Tangshan earthquake?" 28 July 2006. Danwei. 6 July, 2008.
<http://www.danwei.org/trends_and_buzz/why_commemorate_the_tangshan_e.php>
7史占彪, 王菁华. 四川省抗震救灾―安置安心‖心理援助德阳工作站成立. 23 June 2008. Institute of Psychology, CAS. 6 July, 2008.
<http://www.psych.ac.cn/CN/xwzx.html>
to high blood pressure and cerebral vascular 8 Anonymous. ―Company News: All-in-one Outpatient Insurance Introduces Clinical Surgery Coverage‖ Blue Cross (Asia-Pacific)
Insurance Limited. 5 July, 2008 <http://www.bluecross.com.hk/eng/aboutus/press.htm>
9 Anonymous. ―Psychologists suggest long-term counseling for China quake victims‖19 May 2008. Xinhua. 6 July 2008.
diseases. Many of them are suffering from 12 赛迪网. ―第一视频1800万网络视频播放器直播赈灾现场 » 15 May 2008. CCID. 10 July 2008
<http://news.ccidnet.com/art/1032/20080515/1449653_1.html>
3
off from the outside. Foreign journalists Rescue Ourselves." 4 With no water and
were not allowed into Tangshan until 1983, only bags of biscuits dropped from airplanes
after the opening up of China. Information at in the first few days, the people of this city
the time was so tightly controlled that the had little time to mourn the dead, whose
scale of destruction and the number of bodies were dumped in mass graves and
casualties were not revealed until 1979, psychological relief was seriously
when Xinhua released the data to the world.2 inadequate.
Rescue efforts PTSD relief and aftermath
The rescuers encountered tremendous Unable to address PTSD in a timely and
difficulty in rescuing the victims. It took effective manner, the victims of the
another few days before the government Tangshan earthquake showed serious and
took action regarding the severe conditions long-term mental disorders. "No one cried,"
in Tangshan. The first relief operations were recalled Mr. Lu, "it was so big and so many
56 medical teams from Shanghai sent to join people died that the streets and alleys were
the survivors in Tangshan desperately all piled up with corpses. People became
digging through the rubble of their homes by numb and didn't even think to cry." 2 Doctor
hand and stacking the corpses of their loved Yang Haimen who has been conducting
ones in the streets. Several days after the research on the psychological impact on the
earthquake, the first People's Liberation Tangshan people for 30 years said that the
Army (PLA) troops reached the devastated victims were still facing disorders 20 to 30
area to aid in rescue and recovery efforts. years after the earthquake. More than 75%
Although they finally arrived on scene, the of victims tried to turn their faces away from
PLA lacked trucks, cranes, medicines, their psychological problems. They refused
masks and other necessary equipment. Many to watch or hear anything about the
of the soldiers marched or ran for miles to Tangshan earthquake. Although a few
the site because of the lack of passable roads mental health doctors provided medical
and rail-lines. Once there, they too dug service for the victims of the Tangshan
through the rubble with their bare hands, earthquake, the problem was addressed 20
lacking even the most basic of tools. 4 years after the earthquake. Nearly a
generation later, many older city residents
Denial of foreign aid to address PTSD
still cannot bear to talk about it.
Concerning PTSD, some foreign countries
Zhang & Zhang (1991) examined the long-
have started examining mental treatment
term psychological effects of the 1976
since the 1970s. China, however, embarked
Tangshan earthquake in China. They
in this field of study only in the 1990s. In
administered the 16PF, 2 attitude tests, and
dealing with the aftermath of Tangshan,
individual interviews to 110 paraplegic
China's leaders, forbade foreigners from
(aged 25-70) and 100 non-paraplegic
entering the area and rejected offers of aid
subjects (aged 20-70). Results suggested the
from international relief agencies like the
presence of long-term psychological effects.
United Nations aid agencies and the
They suggested that earthquakes should be
International Committees of the Red Cross.
considered not only as physical disasters,
Instead, they organized a lean recovery but also in conjunction with psychological
operation called "Resist the Earthquake and after-effects.3
The government response to the Tangshan
13
15
新浪财经. ―五叶神为灾区我要爱心理援助行动资助100万‖ 20 May 2008. Sina. 9 July 2008.
<http://finance.sina.com.cn/chanjing/b/20080520/17484890005.shtml>
<http://www.tcmadvisory.com/2008/5-23/200852383451.html>
AFP. ―China: no foreign rescue teams please‖ 13 May 2008. Asiaone News. 9 July 2008.
earthquake censored the world‘s knowledge
<http://www.asiaone.com/News/Latest%2BNews/Asia/Story/A1Story20080513-64978.html>
16 Dasgupta, Saibal. ―China ready to accept foreign aid, not experts‖ 13 May 2008. The Times of India. 10 July 2008.
17 Alexandri, Maya. ―Supporting Caregivers‖ Mercy Corps. 10 July 2008. <http://www.mercycorps.org/topics/emergencies/2251>
of this tragedy. Not much was known except
through the famous reportage literature---
4
The Great Tangshan Earthquake by Qian shortage of professional psychologists to
Gang. There are some that even doubt the teach them. In response to such shortages,
earthquake‘s occurrence6. Throughout these local governments have held workshops for
past 32 years however, the world witnessed psychological experts to train volunteers on
many changes and development in the how to provide support for the needy. Due
Chinese government and the country. The to the flood of unskilled volunteers, the
Sichuan earthquake on May 12, 2008 Central Government has adopted a policy
reflects its more open attitude to the people. that only volunteers who have already
certified as psychological counselors at the
The Sichuan Earthquake national level are qualified to join the
program. But they will receive
Immediate action further training before heading to
The Chinese the earthquake-hit areas to begin
government has their work.10
taken immediate
action since the Apart from face-to-face
day of the Sichuan counseling, the ministry has
earthquake. It has organized universities to launch
received and counseling hotlines and websites
adopted eight for quake victims. Nine
The parents and relatives are mourning the
suggestions killed pupils.(photo source: Getty Images)
universities including the Beijing
regarding Normal University and Sichuan
psychological relief proposed by the Normal University have opened hotlines and
Institute of Psychology.7 The eight websites. For example, websites, such as
suggestions include actions ranging from www.newssc.org and www.nen.com.cn,
immediate action to long-term strategies. have started operations to help young
Two days after the disaster, May 14th 2008, Sichuan migrant students and employees.
the first bundle of counselors including more Psychologists stay online to answer
than 300 professional psychologists have questions concerning post-quake problems.11
been sent by the Ministry of Health and
other institutions to the quake zone. By The Chinese
June, the number of counselors had government has
increased to 50 teams numbering over 1,000 also initiated self-
individuals in total to assist in psychological help programs for
counseling, but most of them did not have the victims,
proper training in post-disaster counseling.8 distributing self-
As China's psychological counseling service help booklets and
has just developed in the past few years, the posters. Mass
number of psychologists that are specially media informs the Premier Wen Jia-bao talks to the
orphans.(Photo Source: Xinhua)
trained for treatment and intervention for public about the
post-disaster psychological trauma is limited resources being distributed for psychological
and those having on-spot experience are relief. Participating mass media corporations
even fewer.9 include CCTV, Guangming Daily, Science
Times Daily, Hong Kong TaKungPao and
Thousands of volunteers from around the Vodone Broadcasting Production.12
country have registered through local
psychological service stations to help Sixty thousand posters have been sent to
counsel victims. Before their frontline tasks, quake areas in a bid to help the
they have joined training programs at the psychological counseling of traumatized
local level. Even though many Chinese survivors.13 These posters, drawn and
citizens want to volunteer, there is a serious printed under the organization of the Health
5
Ministry, are targeted at adults, middle- had been granted access. The Japanese
school students, and preschool and primary government, with their expertise on dealing
school students. Consoling words have been with earthquake aftermaths, had been one of
written into doggerel verses to make them the first foreign governments to offer China
easier for people to understand and assistance following the initial earthquake.
remember. Foreign rescue teams from Russia, the
On May 20, the first 50,000 books had been Republic of Korea and Singapore were
sent to students in hard-hit Mianyang city in subsequently allowed to assist in the search
the southwest Sichuan province, where for survivors.15
classes have resumed in tents. These books
were especially written by experts on child The authorities of China in charge of
psychology after the quake. More disaster relief works and civil affairs have
psychological pamphlets are being now welcomed the aid from international
distributed to the victims, including one community and they have made contact with
covering the treatment for children, the relevant countries and organizations. The
particularly orphans, following a deadly Chinese government has developed a
catastrophe.14 According to the Ministry of partnership with international organizations
Education, starting on May 27, 800,000 in the relief work. Ministry of Water
copies of this counseling book regarding Resources (MWR), along with the project
treatment of child victims were sent to partners-- UNDP China, China International
schools handling quake-affected children. Center for Economic and Technical
Another 10,000 psychological manuals have Exchange (CICETE) and The Coca-Cola
been distributed to the general public of Company, provided urgent assistance with
Sichuan from Tianjin. The manuals tents, medicines, food and drinking water
compiled by experts and students at Nankai valued at RMB 100,000 to the quake
University, teach people how to comfort affected areas under the joint Water Project
themselves and help others to recover from in Chongzhou city of Sichuan Province.
psychological trauma.11
Without the relatively open policies and
Open for foreign aid humanitarian principles of the Chinese
For the Sichuan Earthquake relief and government in both the rescue and post-
recovery, the Chinese government opened quake recovery, all these efforts from civil
their door to foreign aid and shared the societies and international community are
rescuing work burden with the international futile. Hence, the government‘s role in crisis
community. Compared to the response to the management and in the cooperation with
Tangshan earthquake, the Chinese NGOs, civil society and the international
government eventually allowed foreign community are vital. The Chinese
relief workers access to the government has made contrasting
“People became
region surrounding the epicenter responses to the two quakes. After
numb and didn't
of the earthquake. Immediately 30 years, China now has enabled
even think to cry”
after the earthquake, the head of people to mobilize and muster
China's Civil Affairs Ministry resources at a time of great need;
had cited poor travel conditions in the the quick and active participation of NGOs
Sichuan area as the reason for not allowing has marked the milestone in the
foreign rescue teams access. However, on development of civil society in China. In the
May 15th, three days after the earthquake, coming future, reconstruction and recovery
the Foreign Ministry has changed their are of equal importance as is relief from the
stance and announced that a Japanese team mental-health perspective.
6
drinking water supply4. The health implications
“The Dominican of this careless disposal system have resulted in
Chernobyl” almost an 80% lead poisoning rate, which is
By Vanessa Matthews highest among children. This data is superseded
by a multitude of other health implications,
which includes 93% of the residents having
asthma, 83% with bronchitis, 69% having flu
symptoms, and 68% having diarrheal infections.
Most of the 90,000 residents of Bajos de Haina
suffer from more than one, if not all, of these
ailments5. The D.R. Academy of the Sciences
also emphasized the effects of non-toxic waste
in the region, which is a result of the 85 tons of
garbage produced daily and disposed of in open-
This fall Vanessa enters her senior year as an
undergraduate at Rutgers University. As a double major in
air dumps. This leaves residents susceptible to
Political Science and Spanish, she hopes to work for a infection, disease, and poisoning because of the
United Nations delegation or become the President of an ―inappropriate means of disposal,‖ reported the
NGO in the future. Her decision to write about Bajos de Academy.
Haina reflects her family heritage as well as her overall
The weak environmental protection laws
concern about poverty, the economy and the environment.
and the lack of government intervention in
Developing nations constantly face a barrage of
clean-up and health-care only worsens the
social, political, and environmental issues when
situation in Bajos de Haina. In 2006, the Council
attempting to leap out of the sphere of
of Environmental Affairs of the CAFTA-DR
‗developing‘ and into that of ‗modern‘. The
agreement established the Secretariat of
Dominican Republic is no exception to this
Environmental Affairs to enforce the weak
notion and since its industrial boom in the 1970s
environmental laws of the country in order to
it has faced more challenges in reaching this
clean up the hazardous waste materials all over
point. The region of Bajos de Haina, about 20
by having the Secretariat report annually to the
kilometers west of the capital of Santo
Council on its activities.6 Unfortunately, this
Domingo, is one of the biggest industrial ports
legislation is still insufficient because the
in the country and accounts for more than 60%
environmental protection laws are still in the
of the nation‘s industrial success. In 1997, Bajos
beginning stages of enforcement and
de Haina became one of the world‘s most
enforcement is limited by a lack of fiscal
polluted cities and the catastrophe of the
sources.7 Still, the government has established
Baterias Meteoro battery swelter left the
organizations and training programs to promote
residents of Haina without much hope of
environmental protection awareness and
governmental help.
enforcement, but the underlying factor is money,
The automobile battery recycling plant,
and without the proper funding, successful
Baterias Meteoro, was shut down in 1997
protection can only go so far.
because of failing results. Problems arose,
Although the CAFTA-DR treaty
however, when the plant did not do its part to
enforces a healthier environment, few efforts
clean up the chemical and metal waste that it
have been made on the government‘s behalf to
produced from the battery acids. After five
eradicate the health consequences of the people
years, it was evident that the abandoned factory
in Bajos de Haina. Because it continues to be a
and its ill-disposed trash were having negative
developing nation, the Dominican Republic
repercussions for the residents of Bajos de Haina
lacks the necessary funds to advance technology
because of the dangerously high levels of heavy
metal began seeping into the air, soil, and
drinking water of the region. According to the 4
The Blacksmith Institute. ―World‘s Worst Polluted Places.‖
2004 Blacksmith Institute‘s report on the most http://www.blacksmithinstitute.org/search2.php?program=lead&industry=le
ad-all&flag=2.
polluted cities in the world, all of the factories in 5
Pina, Diogenes. ―Dominican Republic: Thick Smog on the Caribbean
Coast.‖ http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=36404
the region annually release 457 tons of heavy 6
Communique of the Environmental Affairs Council of the Dominican
metals into the air, 577 tons of heavy metals into Republic- Central America- United States Free Trade Agreement.
Guatemala City, Guatemala. May 2006.
the ground, and 89 tons of heavy metals into the 7
Communique of the Environmental Affairs Council of the Dominican
Republic- Central America- United States Free Trade Agreement.
Guatemala City, Guatemala. May 2006.
7
and social welfare as it pertains to healthcare. they reached their goal of supplying 80% of the
Because of lack of national funding to hospitals people of Bangladesh with ―clean‖ water, via
and clinics, residents are required to pay for their tube-well system.8
their health services prior to reception. In direct However, the supposed purity of the
correlation with the national poverty problem, water became suspect in the early 1980s. In
more than half of Bajos de Haina residents live 1983, numerous hospital cases linked to arsenic
below the poverty line. This makes it near surfaced in West Bengal. As years passed, the
impossible for any families to receive medical silent serial killer, arsenic poisoning, emerged,
treatment for the lead poisoning, asthma, and hospitalizing victims with lesions, skin pigment
other health problems caused by the deteriorated changes, and tumors. The lesions were traced to
environment in Bajos de Haina. water, initiating scientists to speculate about the
Ultimately, the poor health of the cleanliness of the water. Investigations found
Hainans makes it more difficult for a healthy that the water from the tube-well systems was
environment to exist and more difficult still for a contaminated with inorganic arsenic. The
strong economy to grow. The crisis occurring in aquifers were the root of the problem because
the Dominican Republic speaks to all corners of they were never tested for arsenic.2 As a result,
the globe concerned with either environmental, many people developed illnesses, causing
economic, or health issues. Success on any of physical deformities, which were passed from
these matters will never come to fruition without generation to generation. The higher the
applying a comprehensive approach that concentration of arsenic in a certain tube-well,
includes them all with a focus on the vital role of the faster the terminal diseases struck. When the
people and cooperation. West Bengali population was exposed to lower
dosages of arsenic, they were infected anytime
Arsenic Poisoning in Bangladesh within 20 years, and experienced slower deaths.
The crisis soon intertwined into the daily lives of
By Anushka Chadha the Bangladeshi people.
The health crisis was somehow masked
Anushka is a rising senior at Millburn from the media, and it did not make headlines
High School in New Jersey. She is
interning at WIT because she is until twenty years later. Since then,
interested to learn how approximately 33 to 75 million out of the 125
the United Nations works, and how million Bangladeshi people that encompass the
international bodies exchange entire population have been at risk to arsenic
information. She chose the topic of
arsenic poisoning in Bangladesh
poisoning from the contaminated water.8
because she feels that public health According to data reports, the concentration of
issues are a growing concern and arsenic in the most toxic water well reached
people should be provided with 4000 parts per billion. Relative to the maximum
accurate information about them permissible
The world‘s largest mass poisoning, a blemish standard
on the face of public health officials, was a concentration in
simple lapse in judgment. In the 1970‘s, the United
UNICEF collaborated with the Department of States, which is
Public Health Engineering in a public health 50 parts per
campaign to create a tube-well system – a billion,
system of underground water wells in Bangladeshi
Bangladesh. They wanted to give the country waters are
access to ―clean‖ water, as opposed to the perilous. The
disease-infested, animal-shared water routed severity of the
from ponds and rivers. The new tube-well issue is captured Two men from Bangladesh are
pictured collecting water from a
system created an underground connection with by Allan Smith, typical tube-well.
the pipes in the wells to the aquifers; aquifers a professor of
are water filled surfaces that transmit the water epidemiology at University of California at
to the pumps. The pump is the basic operating Berkeley: ―…the scale of this environmental
mechanism of the tube-wells. Bangladeshi disaster is greater than any seen before. It is
people pumped the water from this system for
their every need from drinking, to bathing, to
cleaning. In 1997, UNICEF announced that 8
http://www.who.int/inf-pr-2000/en/pr2000-55.html
8
beyond the accidents at Bhopal, India, in 1984, in the calamity than the Bangladesh government.
and Chernobyl, Ukraine, in 1986.‖9 That idea adds to the incongruity of the situation
It took the Bangladesh government because the source of the problem also helped
about 10 years to investigate and acknowledge eliminate the problem. But, the fact that the
the serious health problem. Meanwhile, other international community ignited the crisis
countries and international agencies, such as the actually balances the fact that the international
British Geological Survey, felt the need to take community came to the rescue when the
immediate action in the form of investigative Bangladesh government was weak. So, whether
research.8 During the investigations, health the international community acted as a ―cure‖ or
officials from the British survey made sure to a ―disease,‖ is not part of the equation. The
mark the well pumps, contaminated with arsenic significance lies in the sense that the
levels above the standard concentration, with red international community banded together, to
paint. Concurrently, the few new pumps that help part of the human population in dire need
replaced contaminated ones are thoroughly of assistance. And this gives life to the term
tested for arsenic before and after the ―United Nations.‖
installation.
At the time of the incident, government
response was weak. The Bangladesh
Myanmar’s Government
government did not immediately respond to the Response to Cyclone
health crisis. 10The former chief engineer for the Nargis
Bangladesh government provided the following By Peter John Davis Peter Davis is a rising
explanation: ‗‗ [we] were concerned about senior at Cornell
creating a scare. If you tell people there is University, majoring in
American Studies. He
arsenic in the water, they won't even use it for finds the government‘s
bathing. They'll be afraid their hair will fall out.'' reaction to Cyclone
11
But, eventually the government adopted an Nargis extremely
agenda called Bangladesh Arsenic Mitigation important because it is a
great case study of how a
Water Supply Project (BAMWSP) in 2005. government‘s reaction to
Donor countries such as the United States of a natural disaster can
America funded the project. Recent reports, directly impact the
however, criticize BAMWSP for its sluggish aftermath of a crisis.
exploits and minimal impact. The project
director of BAMWSP, Khoda Bux, On May 2nd 2008, Cyclone Nargis swept
―…admitted…that lack of finances and through Myanmar, taking with it over 90,000
coordination between bureaucrats and people at lives and leaving more than 50,000 people
the grassroots, has prevented the government missing. While acting witness to the destruction
from tackling the problem adequately.‖12 and devastation, the world responded with a
However, the Bangladesh Director General of clear voice of support, offering aid in all shapes
Health cajoled the public by announcing that the and forms to help the people of Myanmar
government was training doctors in early survive the
detection of arsenic poisoning, so that they can aftermath of the
implement treatment as soon as possible.12 storm. However,
The catastrophe in Bangladesh may not the relief effort,
be entirely resolved for years to come. However, which could have
it is top priority on the United Nations agenda been a triumph of
because it is an element of Millennium international
Development Goal number seven. This MDG cooperation and a
strives ―…to halve the proportion of people beacon of hope
without sustainable access to safe drinking water for the survivors
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/06/worl
and basic sanitation.‖ 13 It appears that the of the Cyclone, d/asia/06myanmar.html?_r=5&em&ex=1
international community is much more involved became an 210305600&en=ac6f159a24c81fe2&ei=5
exercise in 087%250A&oref=slogin&oref=sl&oref=l
ogin
9
governmental negligence. The ruling military
http://www.unesco.org/courier/2001_01/uk/planet.htm
10
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/17/international/asia/17arsenic.html junta of Myanmar stifled the aid efforts, clinging
11
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0CEFD6113EF933A25 to a false sense of national security and hiding
752C1A96E958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all
12
13
http://us.oneworld.net/node/79978 behind a long held distrust of foreign nations.
http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/bangladesh_35701.html
9
Furthermore, the government of Myanmar had still the amount of lives lost to this negligence
put the survivors of the Cyclone in more danger has yet to be determined.
for political reasons. The aftermath of Cyclone
Nargis can serve as an excellent case study in With the United Nations declaring that only a
the dangers of government negligence and also quarter of the two million people affected by the
provide a blueprint for how, together; the world cyclone received the required aid, the world
community can act to ease the suffering of community has pressured the ruling junta to
people due to government failures. loosen their aid restrictions.3 Led by Secretary
General, Ban Ki-Moon a wave of international
The reaction of the ruling junta to hamper aid pressure ensued to counter the Junta‘s misguided
efforts spurs from a long line of distrust of claims of isolation and open the doors to aid. In
foreign influence. Preceding the cyclone, the the Group of 8 summit in Japan, world leaders
junta had remained adamantly closed off to called upon Myanmar‘s government to lift all
outside influence, resisting economic sanctions remaining bans on aid. Following this pressure,
and dismissing public criticism of human rights the government of Myanmar invited Secretary
violations. However, with the cyclone‘s tragic General Ban Ki-Moon back to Myanmar to
impact, the junta‘s position of isolation came further discuss how to proceed with aid relief. It
under immediate scrutiny because of the deadly was this constant pressure that allowed aid to
consequences that came from the government‘s flow more freely to the survivors. With aid
response to reject aid. Proofs of the workers now in Myanmar, reports have
counterintuitive priorities held by the junta were suggested that the people of Myanmar have
found in the constitutional referendum for which countered the lackluster response of their
a vote was held in the wake of the disaster. The government through their own will and
referendum sought to extend the Junta‘s power resourcefulness. Partly due to luck, with low
and was alleged to be rigged by members of the rates of serious injuries caused directly by the
government.1 This stubborn isolationism led to cyclone, but mostly due to unbelievable local
the impediment of much needed aid to the organization, the people of Myanmar have
survivors of the cyclone and collective criticism managed to avoid widespread disease outbreak
of the Junta‘s actions. As pressure grew for the and starvation. This grassroots aid relief was an
Junta to lessen its restrictions on aid, various amazing accomplishment in light of the junta‘s
deals were slowly negotiated to facilitate the response to the disaster. Without such an
assistance for the survivors. Although food was overwhelming, organized response at the local
beginning to be permissible, the Junta remained level, the disaster could have been much worse.
skeptical of foreign aid workers, specifically by However, the effects on drinking water and food
denying search and rescue teams. The ruling supply leave the survivors in an unstable habitat
junta denied the response of aid groups such as with incalculable consequences for their future
UNICEF, Red Cross and Red Crescent by health.
denying these workers proper travel visas. The
consequences of this delay were significant, not The destruction and devastation of Cyclone
only because with every second that workers Nargis left the people of Myanmar in desperate
with expertise in disaster response were denied straits. Effects were only exacerbated by a
access, the chances of finding missing persons government stifling aid because of outdated
decreased, but also because the isolationist ideology. But the world responded
“Without such an high amount of dead bodies were by rallying behind the basic principles of human
overwhelming, contaminating the drinking water compassion and proved that this desire to help,
organized response and increasing the chances of could mute differences between international
at the local level, the disease to spread. Many of the powers and take precedence over long held
disaster could have survivors were left drinking from rivalries.
been much worse.”
puddles, fighting off dysentery
The New York Times. "When It Comes to Politics, Burmese Say,
and diarrhea2. Despite all of the Government Is All Too Helpful ," New York Times 28 May 2008. 7 Jul
public pressure on the junta 2008 <http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/28/world/asia/28delta.html>
"Burma 'to let in all aid workers' ," BBC News 23 May 2008. 7 Jul 2008
to lift aid restrictions, the junta maintained that it <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7416143.stm>
provided a timely response by setting up refuge "Burma 'to let in all aid workers' ," BBC News 23 May 2008. 7 Jul 2008
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7416143.stml
camps and restoring electricity promptly.
However, it is clear the Junta‘s response
undoubtedly cost aid workers valuable time, and
10
Hurricanes of Florida hurricanes pummeled through the state of
vs. Katrina: The Main Florida, leaving about 20% homeless and
killing around 124 people.1 With the constant
Differences weather updates and continuous press
By: Natalie Miller
coverage, the majority of Floridians had
ample time to prepare and possibly evacuate
with Hurricanes Charley, Francis and Jeanne
all becoming tropic storms then hurricanes
hundreds of miles of the Floridian coast.
Though the three hurricanes all came
through Florida within weeks of each other
and their courses were unpredictable, paths
were foreseen and safety and evacuation
plans were constantly televised. Many
Natalie Miller will be a senior this fall at the citizens were able to board up their
University of Central Florida in Orlando Florida. She windows, take special valuables and
studies Communications along with International and
Global Studies. Being a Florida native, the hurricane
evacuate to a safer area.
season of 2004 directly affected her and her
hometown of Daytona Beach where Charley, Jeanne Florida is, for the most part, at either sea
and Francis all caused damage.
level or below, and most of the land is only
60 miles from the coastline, leaving it
Throughout American history, natural
vulnerable to hurricanes and tropical
disasters have been a large factor in shaping
storms.1 But given proper warning and
our country‘s environmental and
preparations, lives can be saved and houses
governmental policies. From tornados to ice
can be preserved. Following Florida‘s
storms, nature has changed the way our
evacuation plan, the first step is to prepare
government acts when a crisis is thrust upon
before hurricane season even begins, by
it. Specifically in Florida, hurricanes have
determining an evacuation plan, checking
become a great threat where just in the fall
emergency equipment (flashlights, extra
of 2004 alone, with Charley, Frances and
Jeanne all came through
Daytona Beach. Although
F.E.M.A. (Federal
Emergency Management
Agency) was not actively
present during the
hurricane of 2004, many
Americans remember its
disappointing performance
during Hurricane Katrina in
the fall of 2005. The impact
of Hurricane Katrina was a
lot more damaging than the
three hurricanes that hit
Florida combined
respectably due to the
6
structure of the city of New Weather forecast of Florida Hurricane Season
Orleans overall, even with
water, etc.), purchasing extra food and
the similar emergency procedures in place.
supplies, and making sure the yard is secure
from low branches and shrubbery that could
Starting in August and lasting through
become airborne during a high powered
September, three category three and four
11
storm.4 Moreover, it is important to listen to Many F.E.M.A. employees shared their
the radio for updates, keep away from concern of the upcoming brutal hurricane
windows, close all doors, and evacuate with their supervisors.3 Days before the
when told.4 With the help of local news storm hit, employees wrote about their
channels, especially Channel 13, this concerns for the low leveled city in daily
information was readily available to all reports to Homeland Security.3 But these
citizens of Florida, especially in those area letters were met with no response.3 One
predicted to be hit by hurricanes. particular employee, Leo Bosner, spoke out
Comparing to the Hurricanes Charley, when no one else would voice their
Francis and Jeanne, Hurricane Katrina was a concerns.3 He said that the F.E.M.A.
much more devastating attack of nature with director, Michael Brown, was not the
appropriate man for the job, with his only
“five out of the eight top F.E.M.A officials had no experience being in law and not in
previous crisis management experience.” emergency management.3 It was later found
out that five out of the eight top F.E.M.A
higher winds, killing more then 1,800 officials had no previous crisis management
people with estimated damages cost more experience.3
than $81 billion dollars.2 Katrina was more
damaging and destructive because it hit east With the inexperienced officers and the
of the city of New Orleans, which is on delaying of the much needed aid, Hurricane
average eight feet below sea level.2 The city Katrina quickly became known as one of the
is maintained by water levees, which help worst hurricanes to hit the United States.1
hold the water back from overflowing into Once the levees broke, and the town was
the city. When Hurricane Katrina hit in soon flooded, the people left behind were
August 2005, although 80% of the residence soon stranded on the tops of their homes,
were able to evacuate, many stayed behind.2 which was highly televised. Days after the
Many New Orleans citizens did not adhere brutal natural disaster, F.E.M.A. was still
to the evacuation warnings because they nowhere in sight.
trusted the levees would hold back the water
that surged into the area. With the force of The storms that hit the state of Florida were
the wind and water at a high of 140 mph, the less powerful that Hurricane Katrina, with
levees securing the city were no match and the overall wind speed of 30 mph less.5
broke, releasing the ocean‘s water into the Taking this into consideration, and the
city.5 Many media location of the storms, small cities at
outlets, similar sea level in Florida and the large city
during the fall of of New Orleans eight feet under sea
2004 Hurricane level, the aftermath of the storms
season in Florida, were dramatically different.
constantly F.E.M.A. was not present during the
informed the locals Florida storms mainly because there
of the evacuations was no overall need for their help.
plans in their area Weather forecast for Hurrican Katrina 7
The state of Florida was very
and the proper prepared for the storms and many
materials to store, like water and canned evacuated before hand. In New Orleans,
goods.5 Even with the warnings and media although many were aware of the impending
coverage of the dangers of staying behind, storm and prepared with supplies and food,
many citizens, especially in the lower the levees protecting them broke causing the
income part of town, stayed in their homes city to flood, leaving many people stranded
during the storm. in their homes. With this unforeseen
aftermath of the storm, F.E.M.A. was
desperately needed to help rescue citizens.
12
An emergency plan is just that, a plan of The Pisco Earthquake:
action to take when disaster strikes. But Shaking the Basis of
even though it was unexpected for the
impact of Hurricane Katrina was
Disaster-Management
unexpectedly great, F.E.M.A. is still the Programs in Peru
organization for the assessment and By Mariana Sentieri
handling of crisis situations. When the
nation needed them the most, they were
nowhere to be found. This delay allowed Mariana Sentieri is a rising junior at
Rutgers University pursuing a major in
more lives to be most and more damage to Economics. Within the environmental
be wrought. field, she is interested in the concept of
sustainable development and disaster
management programs. The choice of
In conclusion, when comparing the Florida her topic derived from her willingness to
Hurricanes of 2004 (Charley, Francis and combine such interests with her own
Jeanne) to Hurricane Katrina of 2005, there cultural background, Latin America.
is a substantial difference in the
management. With the hurricanes in Florida, Almost a year ago, on August 15 2007, an
there was a lot of media coverage, with earthquake of 8.0 magnitude14 hit the coast
many news outlets constantly reporting the of Peru. The Pisco earthquake, named after
proper emergency preparedness needed to the city that was hit the hardest by the
stay in homes or evacuate. Many were able disaster, was neither the first, nor the last
to retreat to safe houses and many lives were natural
saved. With Hurricane Katrina, although
there was constant coverage of the possible
track of the storm, citizens were not as
prepared as they should have been for such a
powerful category three storm. The city was
not prepared for the levees to give way, and
the subsequent flooding. Moreover, the
absence of F.E.M.A. exacerbated the
situation.
In the management of hurricanes in Florida,
Earthquake‘s epicenter and Impact Area (U. S. Geological Survey
F.E.M.A. has become a crucial outlet for
)Website)
assistance. Hurricane Katrina differed from occurrence of this sort to strike Peru.
previous hurricanes because it hit a city with
a low sea level and attacked the levees It was considered the most significant
barricading the city from the ocean. But the earthquake in the past 100 years to occur in
delay and inexperience of the workers of the region of Ica, a coastal area southeast of
F.E.M.A. resulted in more dramatic effects. Lima15.. In fact, after 11 months, Ica still
1.―Weather Safety: Hurricanes‖ National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of
struggles to recover, regardless of all the
Commerce. 2002 13 July
2.<http://www.weather.gov/os/hurricane/pdfs/hurricane_safety.pdf>
2008 international support and the much promised
―The First Year After Hurricane Katrina: What the Federal Government Did‖ Homeland
Security. Feb. 2006 13 July 2008
– but still insufficient, some claim – help of
3http://www.dhs.gov/xprepresp/programs/gc_1157649340100.shtm>
Foreman, Tom. ―A Disturbing View from Inside FEMA‖ CNN. Nov 2005 13 July 2008
the Peruvian Government. The Pisco event
4http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/09/17/katrina.response/index.html>
―The State of Florida: Family Preparedness Guide‖ The State of Florida. 2001 13 July
resonates not only the importance of
2008 5http://www.doh.state.fl.us/rw_webmaster/prepareenglish04.pdf>
Simmons, Lesly. ―Gulf Coast States Prepare for Hurricane Katrina‖ American Red Cross.
sustainable development and good
27 August, 2005 13 July 2008
http://www.redcross.org/article/0,1072,0_312_4467,00.html
6. https://firstclass.wellesley.edu/Login/FOV1-000CD99D/982E0C65-3B9ACA00-
1A125B1E.0/2004hurricanes.png?InAttach=1&U1U=/Login/FOV1- 14 Mooney, Walter. ―M8.0 Pisco Earthquake.‖ Video Clip. U.S. Geological Survey. 21
000CD99D/&SAEO=/Login/FOV1-000CD99D/ Sept. 2007. 12 July 2008
7. https://firstclass.wellesley.edu/Login/FOV1-000CD99D/982E0C65-3B9ACA00- <http://earthquake.usgs.gov/regional/world/peru/pisco/>
1A125B1E.1/hurricane_katrina.jpg?InAttach=1&U1U=/Login/FOV1-
000CD99D/&SAEO=/Login/FOV1-000CD99D/ 15, 3Tavera, Hernando, ed. El terremoto de Pisco (Peru) del 15 de agosto de 2007 (7.9
Mw). Lima, Peru: Instituto Geofísico del Perú, 2008. 11 July 2008.
<http://khatati.igp.gob.pe/Webs/cns06/libro/indice.htm>
13
government management on disaster
programs, but also the capacity of self-
preparedness of the population on a regional
level. In the light of the current international
scenario, where climate change can increase
the incidence and intensity of natural
disasters, Pisco not only serves as a lesson
for Peru, but for the entirety of the world Survivors still sleeping outside of their torn homes. (Photo: Ricardo
Mazalan/Associated Press, picture extracted from The New York Times
governments. website)
―Peru is a land of earthquakes. Its history Both international and domestic
has shown us that it is only a matter of time; responses to the disaster were made in a
so let‘s not close our eyes to reality. It‘s matter of a couple of days. In a report made
time we begin to work and prepare by OCHA, from August 16, 200719, the
ourselves.‖16 It is with these words that Peruvian Government had declared a state
Hernando Tavera, current director of the of emergency in the Department of Ica and
Instituto de Geofísica de Perú (Geophysics the province of Cañete. INDECI, Peru‘s
Institute of Peru), introduces the recent national defense organ, was working on a
online report on the Pisco earthquake. response plan. Internationally, emergency
Indeed, the Lima newspaper ―El cash grants had been released by UNDP and
Comercio‖17 claims that 191 earthquakes OCHA and help was being offered by
have stricken Peru in 2007; Pisco‘s being various different entities. In a matter of eight
the most devastating of all4. According to days20 from the initial report, the
IGP, the seismologic process was particular government of Peru declared that 800 tons
due to its uncommonly long duration, about of humanitarian aid had been delivered in
210 seconds, and the subsequent 4,500 after- Pisco, several shelter sites were set up in the
shocks that it produced. Also, a by-product areas hit the hardest, and the humanitarian
of the Pisco earthquake was a tsunami that aid had reached 95% of the affected
did not produce as much devastation as the population. Internationally, the UN had
earthquake but nonetheless, the Peruvian released an approved budget totaling $9,591
Government posted an alarm. million dollars to Peru and many
Although the mortality rate of this governments and organizations were
disaster was relatively low, approximately sending supplies, personnel, and cash
600 deaths, because most people were donations. Nonetheless, regardless of all the
outdoors when it occurred, more than a resources that were allocated to sooth the
thousand were injured, and 39, 741 houses disaster, help still arrived too slowly to some
were destroyed. Almost 100 hospitals were areas and many Peruvians felt abandoned in
either destroyed or had their functioning a time of hardship.
compromised by the earthquake. The Indeed, many believe that,
electricity and water were cut, and early immediately after the disaster, the relief was
estimations18 believed 150,000 people were organized neither quickly nor efficiently
deprived from those two basic resources2. enough. The local population insists that,
The earthquake of Pisco isolated each had help arrived faster, many deaths would
community within their devastated locality, have been avoided. ―Families in the area say
without water supplies or electricity. they were left to sift the ruins for the dead
and the living‖, reported a journalist for The
New York Times eight days after the
17 ―Peru fue sacudido por 191 sismos sensibles durante el 2007‖.El Comercio [Lima].
July 12 2008< http://www.elcomercio.com.pe/ediciononline/HTML/2008-01-02/el-peru-
fue-sacudido-191-sismos-sensibles-durante-2007-informo-igp.html> 19 OCHA-Geneva. ―OCHA Situation Report No. 1/ Earthquake- Peru‖.16 august 2007.
RedHum Website. < http://redhum.org/informes_documentos.php>
18 UN News Center. 20 august 2007.―OPS responde en Perú a emergencia por
terremoto‖.13 July 2008. 20 OCHA-Geneva. ―OCHA Situation Report No. 1/ Earthquake- Peru‖.24 august 2007.
http://www.un.org/spanish/News/fullstorynews.asp?NewsID=10168 RedHum Website. < http://redhum.org/informes_documentos.php>
14
disaster occurred21. The government, on the The peril of Africa's explosive population
other hand, defended itself by blaming the growth is often overshadowed by other
delays in distribution of aid on the scale of epidemics in the continent; ironically,
the damage to infrastructure. ―No matter however, the threat posed by the growing
what we do, people will complain‖, said population is one of the greatest challenges
Women‘s Issues and Social Development hampering Africa‘s development. As the
Minister, Virginia Borra22. African population growth rate continues to
But has the government done enough accelerate upward, it hinders the continent's
after eleven months? Contradictory accounts efforts to tackle poverty, reduce the spread
continue to arise. Early in February, a of diseases, and construct its economy.
Spanish newspaper published a story These impediments propel the people to
explaining that, the lack of a registry had exploit environmental resources for survival
hampered the beginning of the and consequently, such actions present an
reconstruction projects in the affected obstruction to progress and development in
region, and that life continued ―chaotic and Africa.
difficult‖23 for the local population. Some
affirmed that the help that was promised Africa is the second most-populated
never arrived. On the other hand, last June, continent in the world after Asia. In sub-
the UN released accounts on the continued Saharan Africa alone, there are 788 million
effort to promote recovery in the area in people—approximately twelve percent of
partnership with the government24. the world's population1. Yet, according to
Earthquakes, as Mr. Tavera has wisely Mr. John May, a demographer at the World
stated, will continue to be part of Peru; it is, Bank, Africa's population is growing at 2.5
therefore, of uttermost importance that the percent per year--twice the rate of other
country devises an efficient plan on how to regions. At this rate, Africa's population
respond to them. will double in twenty-eight years 2.
Africa’s Population Given these statistics, one may question why
Dilemma: A Hindrance population growth reduction is overlooked
by African leaders and not a priority in the
to Sustainable international arena. During the 1960s and
Development the 1970s, various international
By Wing Yin (Maggie) Leung organizations collaborated with
Maggie (Wing Yin) Leung is governments of developing countries to
a recent graduate from New establish effective family-planning programs
York University. Upon
graduation, she worked as a to control population growth. While African
pharmaceutical consultant at leaders largely neglected and illegalized
IBM where she developed an such programs which were believed to
interest in health and policy.
In hopes to expose the often- encourage immorality7, they were
overlooked population crisis successfully implemented in Asia and Latin
in Africa, Maggie chose this America. With the successes in the latter
topic to discuss its
repercussions to the continents, world population growth rate
continent's sustainable stabilized and international funding was
development efforts. shifted to tackle other urgent issues1. Yet, to
establish sustainable development in Africa,
the issue of population growth reduction
21 Barrionuevo, Alexei. “Quake Orphan Reflects Peru’s Loss, and Anger”. The New York Times [New York] 23 August
2007. July 12 2008. <http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/25/world/americas/25peru.html> must be brought back to the forefront.
22 Chauvin, Lucien O. “Government’s earthquake relief in Peru not enough, say experts.” Christian Science Monitor
99.185 (2007): 7. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO Host. Rutgers University Lib., 11 July 2008
<http://www.libraries.rutgers.edu>
One of the major obstacles undermining
23 “Los afectados por el sismo de Pisco todavía esperan.” Video clip. La Vanguardia. 15 February 2008. 11 July 2008.
<http://www.lavanguardia.es/premium/publica/publica?COMPID=53436663398&PAGINACIO=35&ID_PAGINA=1810082
development in Africa is poverty—a factor
&ID_FORMATO=9&PARTICION=2006&SUBORDRE=3&SECCIO=51234268255&NAVEGACIO='SI'>
24
Sistema de Las Naciones Unidas en el Perú. UN. 13 July 2008. <http://www.onu.org.pe/Publico/OnuPeru/MenuPrincipalPeru.aspx>
that is directly linked to population size. As
15
Mr. Joe Santangelo from Medical News likelihood that the market can absorb an
Today asserted, ―population growth overwhelming number of low-skilled job
threatens food security in already seekers is very slim. As unemployment
malnourished states, makes long-term rates climb, some unemployed individuals
dependence on international assistance more may turn to criminal activities to survive. In
likely, and increases the pressure for fact, as stated by Ms. Dorothea Schmidt
international migration.3‖ Instead of from the International Labour Organization
focusing efforts to develop infrastructures, (IL0), ―there is a strong correlation…
African nations must provide basic between
human needs to its growing population high
and prevent massive illegal migration
in order to stop perpetuating the
existing destitution of the continent.
Moreover, as the population continues
to grow, conflicts over scarce
resources—such as arable land—will
intensify. In such dire conditions, the The average desired number of children in African families is between
African people are likely to live in six tocountries per household—a number significantly greater than
most
nine children
7
poverty for years to come.
unemployment rates and recruitment into
Besides poverty, rapidly expanding human terror groups‖5.
populations also contribute to the spread of
diseases—another major challenge Based on a research conducted by the World
undermining development in Africa. In both Bank in 1994, the availability of family
past and recent history, dense population planning programs and improvement in
and crowding conditions provided an ideal contraceptive practices—two elements that
environment for the spread of infectious are often lacking in African nations—can
diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis (TB), greatly reduce population growth. African
and HIV4—all of which plague Africa. leaders should consider granting access to
Infections can be spread quickly in such services and education for their people.
overcrowded regions as bacteria find Furthermore, by increasing schooling and
numerous hosts to thrive in. While there are improving economic opportunity for
treatments and strategies to counter these women, the study revealed that the desire
illnesses, the funding is very costly. As a for children could be significantly lowered.
continent that is already facing severe health Currently, the average number of desired
challenges, development will children in African families is between six
“One of the major inevitably be hindered if more to nine children per household—a number
obstacles funding is allocated to address much greater than most countries6. Because
undermining the outbreaks of other of women‘s lack of financial independence,
development in infectious diseases. they feel that they must have a large number
Africa is poverty— of children to support them during old age.
a factor that is
Excessive population growth Raising the status and bargaining power of
directly linked to
population size.” also jeopardizes economic African women will reduce the demand for
development in Africa. With children.
a large number of people
living in poverty, African governments face The immediate need to stem rapid
the daunting task of providing education— population growth in Africa is real and
an essential element for long-term urgent. The extent to which rapid
development—to their nations‘ youth. population growth will threaten the
Without education, African citizens are development effort in Africa will largely
likely to remain low-skilled workers. The depend on the actions taken by the African
16
leaders. A prompt implementation of a Whether or not this industrial waste is the
practical and effective long-term population cause, doctors say that cancer rates in the
policy is therefore vital to Africa‘s future. area are much higher than the national
1
May, John, and Jean-Pierre Guengant. ―Africa‘s greatest challenge is to reduce average, but the presence of organized crime
fertility.‖ Financial Times. 13 Mar. 2008.
2
May, John. “Africa’s Population Growth: a Development Challenge.” The World makes the situation almost impossible to
Bank. 1 April 2008.
3
Santangelo, Joe. “Reducing poverty in Africa, population growth may be bigger rectify locally.2 Consequently, and in
hurdle than AIDS. Medical News Today. 29 Oct. 2005.
4
McMichael, Anthony J. Planetary Overload: Global Environmental Change and the reaction to the ripening effects of summer
Health of the Human Species. Oct 1993.
5
Fowler, Jonathan. ―UN on Youth Unemployment and Crime.‖ 11 Aug. 2004. heat, residents have begun burning the piles
6
Ainsworth, Martha. ―Population Policies for Sub-Saharan Africa‖ The World Bank.
Dec. 1994. of rotting waste, the public health effects of
7
Mundell, Jonathan. ―Family Planning Integration: A Proven, but Highly Under-Utilised
Prevention Strategy.‖ Consultancy Africa Intelligence. May. 2008. which have not been evaluated.3
7http://www.ctcgiftshop.org/catalog/african%20yellow%20women%20children.jpg
The national government has spent over 1.3
Europe’s Garbage bn euros over the past thirteen years trying
By Hillary S. Kabach unsuccessfully to clean up the streets,4 and
Hilary is a second-year
Masters student at
now Berlusconi has two new plans. The first
Columbia‘s School of is to add ten new landfills in the region. This
International and Public plan has been met with dissent by residents
Affairs. She is interested in
sustainable development,
who fear the effects on both their health and
social justice and cognitive that of the local environment.5 The second is
linguistics. She chose to to treat the trash crisis as a natural disaster
write about garbage in
Europe because it is a
and relinquish control to civil services
significant development forces, such as the military.6 Up to four new
issue that is often incinerators will also be added.7 Berlusconi
overlooked until it reaches
crisis proportions.
has declared that landfills, dump sites and
incinerators ―will become virtually military
People don‘t like to think about garbage. We zones and will be guarded by soldiers to
throw it in a bin, put it out on garbage day, ensure that they can be cleared,‖ and that
and then someone comes to take it away. they are ―areas of strategic national
But what happens when no one comes to interest.‖8 As such, any interference with
collect it? It stays in the street, piling up and waste disposal or management is punishable
stinking, as the residents of by a prison sentence.
Naples know. Since Interestingly, on
December 2007, garbage July 10th the Italian
dumps in the Campania parliament voted to grant
region of southern Italy have legal impunity to the four
been overflowing, and as a highest ranking
result garbage collectors government officials: the
have stopped collection, President, the Presidents
which has led to an of the Senate and the
estimated 3,000 tons of House of
waste lining the streets of Representatives, and the
Naples, and as much as head of the government
200,000 tons in the wider Garbage piled up in front of a school in (the Prime Minister).9
1
Campania region. Naples. EPA/CIRO FUSCO at M&C Europe Garbage or no, this lack
Further complicating of accountability is
matters, the Camorra, the local version of unlikely to help the functioning of public
the Mafia, operates in every part of the services in general and should call into
region‘s sanitation system, often bringing in question the aims of the Italian government.
large quantities of industrial waste from the The European Union has taken note
north to dump in Campania‘s landfills, as of Italy‘s problem and in June sent the
well as in the surrounding countryside. Italian government a ―letter of formal
17
notice‖ that it was violating the EU's Waste which make people pay for their garbage
Framework Directive.10 The European output, as well as a charge for collection.
Commission has also taken Italy to the Meanwhile Germany appears to take the
European Court of Justice, saying it does not lead in recycling programs, with separate
believe Italy has proposed an adequate bins for glass, sorted by color, one for paper,
solution,11 and the EU‘s Environmental another for plastics, tins and composite
Commissioner, Stavros Dimas, has called materials, one for biological waste and the
for "concrete and immediate measures to stuff of compost, and one for other things.
resolve the situation, keeping the needs of This program has the added benefit of
public health and the environment in encouraging people to simply produce less
mind.‖12 Punishments for not complying waste.
with EU directives include imposition of The lesson is that Europe‘s waste
fines and withholding of regional funds, in output is unsustainable, and it needs to
addition to national humiliation. produce garbage. While EU, national and
Although the Waste Framework local authorities have the responsibility of
Directive encourages states to become self- rolling out environmentally friendly
sufficient in waste-management and to schemes to do so, ultimately private citizens
produce less waste and recycle more, as simply need to produce less waste.
much as 160,000 tons of waste is being
―Clashes over Naples rubbish site.‖ BBC News. 24 May 2008. Site accessed
taken out of Italy altogether in an effort to 1 July 2008. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7418558.stm
remedy the garbage crisis. It is being moved ―Clashes over Naples rubbish site.‖
―Naples faces 'disaster measures.'‖ BBC News. 21 May 2008. Site accessed
to Germany, which has a much more 1 July 2008. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7412123.stm
―EU sues Italy over rubbish crisis.‖ BBC News. 6 May 2008. Site accessed
developed waste management system and 2 July 2008.
creates less waste in general. According to http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7385282.stm
―Clashes over Naples rubbish site.‖
Martin Mineur, technical director of two of ―Naples faces 'disaster measures.'‖
―Naples garbage crisis to end.‖ UPI. Site Accessed July 5, 2008.
Hamburg's incinerators: ―We are doing this http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2008/07/02/Naples_garbage_crisis_to_end/
UPI-14591215004386/
because we were asked to provide ―Naples faces 'disaster measures.'‖
emergency aid, but we will do it only for a ―Protégé par l'immunité pénale, Silvio Berlusconi pourrait échapper à la
justice.‖ Le Monde with AFP. 10 July 2008. Site accessed 11 July 2008.
few months, not years."13 http://www.lemonde.fr/europe/article/2008/07/10/protege-par-l-immunite-
penale-silvio-berlusconi-pourrait-echapper-a-la-
It thus appears that a temporary justice_1068858_3214.html#ens_id=999907
solution has been found, and cleanup has ―Q&A: Can the EU clean up Naples?‖ BBC News. 8 January 2008. Site
Accessed 2 July 2008. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7175380.stm
begun. However, Naples is not the only ―Clashes over Naples rubbish site.‖
―Q&A: Can the EU clean up Naples?‖
city—and Italy not the only country—in Rosenthal, Elizabeth. ―All of Europe getting a whiff of Naples
garbage problem.‖ International Herald Tribune. 8 June, 2008. Site
Europe with a waste problem. Britain, for accessed 7 July 2008.
example, Europe‘s most prolific trash- http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/06/08/europe/trash.php
―All of Europe getting a whiff of Naples garbage problem.‖
producer, will have filled its garbage dumps ―All About Recycling.‖ How to Germany. Chuck Emerson Media Services:
2008. Site Accessed 07 July 2008.
in nine years if current trends continue. As http://www.howtogermany.com/pages/recycling.html
landfills across the continent fill, the
European commission is issuing stronger
calls for waste reduction. By 2020, for
example, member states will be required to
have reduced the amount of waste sent to
landfills to a mere thirty-five percent of
what it was in 1995.14
Some of the schemes devoted to
reducing landfill waste include recycling
programs, waste-capping with fines for
exceeding the cap, and power-generating
incinerators. The UK is considering both
capping programs and increased ―bin taxes,‖
18
The Others
With growing attention paid to biodiversity, the growing consensus has
realized that the human population is not the only one affected by human
actions and damages done to other populations holds great repercussions for
the world as a whole
Sakhalin: The Energy pipelines away from the feeding grounds of the
WGW, it refused to move a drilling platform
Projects adjacent to those grounds. With such a serious
By Nickolai Belakovski disturbance nearby, the WGW population‘s
chances for survival are reduced, and NGOs and
Nickolai is a rising environmentalists continue to call for the
sophomore at Purdue
relocation of the drilling platform.
University, where he is
double majoring in
Astronautical Engineering The salmon population is facing a number of
and Applied difficulties as well due to the sedimentation
Mathematics. He has a caused by construction of the pipeline. Scientific
great interest in research says salmon cannot spawn in water
international affairs and is with more than 220mg of suspended solids, and
President of the Model while the report of Sakhalin Environment Watch
UN club at Purdue. (an NGO monitoring the situation) does not
Projects to develop the natural resources include the actual
of Sakhalin Island assume a very muddled level of suspended
environmental picture. For one thing, the solids, it contains
infrastructure they require is substantial, photographic evidence
and so affects many aspects of marine life showing water so
both in the Sea of Okhotsk where the sediment-filled it is
fields are being developed, and closer to opaque.3 In the photo
the coast where several hundred below, the company
kilometers of pipeline transport the oil and claimed that the water
gas from the frozen waters of the Sea to was cleared of all
transport terminals at the southern tip of suspended solids just
the island. The pipelines and other 100 meters
downstream of the
components threaten to drive into extinction
This is what the river looks like river crossing, but the
the Western Gray Whale (of which only 100 14km downstream from the
photo is taken 14
remain) and damage wild salmon habitats.1 upstream oil pipeline
kilometers downstream
The project also threatens the livelihoods of
and shows a clearly
many local fishermen and the layout of the
dirty river.
pipelines is such that many spots are vulnerable
to damage significant enough to cause a major
Apart from the effects on WGWs and salmon,
oil leak, which would be an environmental
the pipeline holds the potential for numerous
disaster.
hazards. The 800km long pipes are at various
points vulnerable to volatile seismic activity,
The Western Gray Whale is believed to migrate
land erosion, landslides, and at one point are
from eastern Russia to China2 and numbers only
built only 300m away from an old military
around 100. While Shell, then-leader of the
ammunition depot. Russian law stipulates the
development consortium, agreed to reroute the
official prohibited zone around such areas at
19
400m, and construction projects must be placed rectifying the situation. The deal signed by
even further. Gazprom and Shell signed in December 2006
gave little credence to the Russian government‘s
An investigation by the government of the position on the environment. But in late 2007, a
Russian Federation in mid-2006 revealed a large report published by an independent firm of
number of violations of environmental consultants (commissioned by potential lenders
legislation by the consortium developing the to the Sakhalin project) concluded that the
pipeline. Not only did they provide little or no project was largely in compliance with all the
protective measures against erosion in many relevant environmental requirements.7
areas, entire tributaries were covered with soil
due to the unauthorized construction of access In spite of this independent assessment, the
roads and little or no measures were put in place murky waters of Sakhalin are not clear. Several
to prevent mudslides in some of the most public banks are either still deciding whether to
vulnerable areas. Also, the pipeline route give funds to the project, or have otherwise
deviated significantly from the original plan, and decided against it. These banks have strict
now goes through a nature preserve. The environmental policies for the projects they
investigation prompted finance and groups like Sakhalin
Oleg Mitvol, the deputy “…The 800km long pipes are Environment Watch claim the
head of the Russian at various points vulnerable decisions to withhold funds was due to
Federal Service for the to volatile seismic activity, the consortium‘s failure to comply
Oversight of Natural land erosion, landslides, and with said policies. On the whole, it
Resources, to, in at one point are built only would appear that the actions of
September 2006, order the 300m away from an old governments as well as government-
halt of all construction military ammunition backed bodies such as the public
works on the development depot…” banks, have led a successful campaign
project and threatened to against the environmental degradation
revoke environmental authorization for pipeline of Sakhalin Island.
installation. Mitvol suggested that the
Sources:
environmental damages could cost up to $50 1.Sakhalin Environment Watch. ―Sakhalin 2 still not rejected by EBRD in spite of
4 increased violations from Shell.‖ November 29, 3005.
billion to repair. After several months of http://www.sakhalin.environment.ru/en/
uncertainty, Gazprom, Russia‘s natural gas 2. International Union for the Conservation of Nature. ―Western Gray Whale
Conservation Initiative.‖ 2007. http://www.iucn.org/themes/marine/sakhalin/
giant, took control of 50% plus one share of the 3. Dmitry Lisitsyn. ―Sakhalin Phase II: environmental and social problems: What‘s
new?‖ October 20, 2005. http://www.pacificenvironment.org/
consortium developing the island. Then- 4. Parfitt, Tom. ―Kremlin attack dog vows to take on Shell in the battle of Sakhalin.‖
October 4, 2006. http://www.guardian.co.uk/
President Vladimir Putin said the environmental 5. Kommersant. ―Russian Authorities Pull Out of Dispute with Sakhalin Energy.‖ March
29, 2007. http://www.kommersant.com/
issues had been resolved. Finally, on March 29, 6. Sugiyama, Yoshikuni. ―Russia‘s economic roulette: Gazprom wants more than 50% of
Sakhalin II.‖ September 30, 2006. http://royaldutchshellplc.com/
2007, Mitvol stated the government would not 7. ―Sakhalin‘s Phase 2 HSES Report Gets High Marks from AEA.‖ October 9, 2007.
be taking any action in the courts against Shell http://www.rigzone.com/news/article.asp?a_id=51196
for its environmental violations. The decision
was made on the basis that the consortium was
willing to solve the problems.5 The Invasion of the
Cane
At first, many independent analysts saw the Stacy is a rising junior at
move by Russian government to halt pipeline
Toad Tufts University,
construction as a way to ―strengthen its position, majoring in International
and increase its role in the project.‖6 The deal By Stacy Jen Relations and Chinese.
She is interning at WIT
struck in the 1990‘s between the Russian
because she believes that
government and Marathon, McDermott, and focusing on sustainable
Mitsui (Shell and Mitsubishi joined later on, and development and
Marathon and McDermott sold their stakes) was environmental and health
very unfavorable for the government, and so the issues is crucial to
move to halt construction was seen as a way of improving human
welfare. She became
interested in the problem
of cane toads through her
environmental biology
class last year.
20
With its large build and dry, warty skin, the cane goannas, snakes, and salt-water crocodiles have
toad is a seemingly mundane and innocuous been declining since the introduction of the
creature. However, the Bufo marinus is proving toad.2 Furthermore, these native animals are
to be a huge environmental problem for forced to compete with the prolific toads for
Australia. One hundred of these toads were food sources, especially insects, in addition to
shipped from Hawaii to northern Queensland in the struggle to habitat space., Furthermore,
1937 as a natural method to control the beetles, without any natural diseases or predators in the
which were devastating sugarcane crops. The region checking these growing populations, the
species of beetles found in Australia differed cane toad continues to consistently expand its
from those found in Hawaii, and the toads, territory southward each year by an estimated
unable to jump high enough, were not capable of 1.3 kilometers. 1 In all life stages, the cane toad
dealing with the pests. 1 Nevertheless, by is fatally poisonous. In its adult form, both the
releasing these animals into the wild, a great upper surface of its skin and the protruding
threat was unknowingly introduced to the glands on its sides exude toxins. The poison is
environment. absorbed through body tissue, and predators that
It is without a doubt that this invasive get their mouths around the toad die from
species is wreaking havoc on the biodiversity of contact with the poison. The cane toad is also
known to eat feces, and in areas of poor
sanitation, they are able to transmit
bacteria and diseases, such as
salmonella. 1
The cane toad‘s massive
takeover of the continent can also be
attributed to its prolific reproductive
cycle. Although preferring to breed
during the wet season and in still waters,
the toad is capable of reproducing year
round. Females lay anywhere from
8,000 to 33,000 eggs in one spawning,
whereas native Australian frog species
lay only 1,000 to 2,000 eggs at a time.
The eggs of cane toads are also more
resistant to certain herbicides and
eutrophic waters, environments that are
uninhabitable to other frogs. Moreover,
these eggs quickly hatch into tadpoles,
The spread of cane toads throughout Australia which subsequently develop into adults
quicker than the natives, heightening the
Australia, ultimately compromising the level of competition between species for
environment in terms of food security, pest available resources. 3
control, and water and soil quality. The cane The cane toad is a declared pest in
toad is a nocturnal, resilient animal, able to certain regions of Australia, calling forth
survive in temperatures of 5° to 40° C and a government responses on a more local and
multitude of environments. A land-dweller, it regional level. In Western Australia, the WA
feeds on almost anything that it can swallow, Cane Toad Initiative was implemented as a
ranging from smaller frogs to petite mammals means to delay the encroachment of the toad.
and reptiles, and even food left out for pets. Between 2006 and 2009, a 7 million dollar
Because of the toad‘s nonspecific diet, native survey across 20 Kimberley Islands is being
species are constantly being eaten by these undertaken to gain a more accurate picture of the
amphibians, endangering species that are already biodiversity and the flora and fauna at risk, and
marginalized. Populations of northern quoll, how to protect these species more efficiently. 4
21
Other state governments have invested millions Destruction of Olive
of dollars in genetic research. Peter Koopman,
the professor of Developmental Biology at the
groves in Palestine:
University of Queensland, is currently “the third Nakba”
developing a gene that results in only the birth of By Jennie Ellison
Jennie is a rising second year
male toads. If successful, the numbers of toads Master's student, studying
will plummet. 5 International Community Health
Biological methods are also effective at at Steinhardt School of Culture,
Education, and Human
controlling the cane toad. At the University of
Development, New York
Sydney, a lungworm parasite that is deadly to University. She is interested in
the cane toad but not Australian frog species has international communities and
been discovered. In addition, when ―alarm the many social, economic,
pheromones‖ are released from injured tadpoles, political and behavioral
determinants that produce health
it signals that danger is in the area, urging them statuses. She chose this topic as it
to flee. However, these pheromones stress out is an example of how political
the tadpoles to an extreme level, and as a result, determinants affect people´s
many of them die due to stress. Luckily, this livlihoods and health statuses.
pheromone can be produced and can be used as
a means to control the population. Combined, Since the Israeli occupation of Palestinian
these biological methods are proving effective. 6 territories in1967, Palestinians have lived under
Governments are also relying on Israeli restrictions on olive harvesting. In 2000,
organizations and volunteers to physically go these restrictions became harsher, making
into the environment and humanely dispose of harvesting extremely difficult, if not impossible,
the toads. Long strands of cane toad eggs can be for the farmers. The Israeli occupation
found in lakes and removed. Fine mesh fencing authorities‘ policies include curfews, permits,
is also useful in preventing toads from reaching confiscation of ID cards and equipment, fines,
ponds to reproduce. 1 and destruction of crops25. Israeli settlers have
As cane toads continue their march attacked and killed harvesters during the harvest
across Australia, both national and local season and the military regularly shoots at
governments are stepping up to meet the ever Palestinians outside after curfew.
increasing environmental challenges posed by Since 1967, Israel has been responsible for
these troublesome amphibians. This destroying over 1 million olive trees in
decentralized approach is more efficient, able to Palestinian territory26. Olive groves make up
meet the challenges posed by the toads in the 4.6% of Palestine‘s GDP and serve as a main
various terrains of the country. Scientific source of income for over 100,000 families27.
advances are also helping to mitigate the From 2000-2004 alone, the Palestinian Ministry
problem, but the possibility of these methods of Agriculture has reported the uprooting of
negatively impacting the environment still approximately 400,000 trees worth over 60
exists. A more careful and thorough study and million US dollars28. Besides the habitual
testing should be undertaken to ensure its safety. uprooting of olive trees, the Israeli construction
1
"The feral cane toad (Bufo marinus) - Invasive species fact sheet." Australian of the segregation wall, or Israeli West Bank
Government - Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts. 2004.
Australian Government - Department of the Environment, Water, Heritag. 09 Jul barrier, uprooted 45,000 olive trees29. The wall
2008
toad/pubs/cane-
<http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/invasive/publications/cane-
toad.pdf>. will affect more than 126 communities30 and
2
Cameron, Elizabeth. "Cane Toads, Giant Toads or Marine Toads." Australian Museum
Online. June 2002. Search & Discover. 10 Jul 2008
make about 1 million more trees inaccessible or
<http://www.austmus.gov.au/factsheets/canetoad.htm>.
3
"The Unwanted Amphibian." Cane Toads in Australia. 05 Oct 2005. 10 Jul 2008
<http://www.fdrproject.org/pages/toads.htm >.
4
―Cane Toad Initiative.‖ Naturebase. 2007. 10 July. 2008. 25
Applied Research Institute-Jerusalem. Monitoring Israel Colonization Activities in the
<http://www.naturebase.net/content/view/2548/1371/> Palestinian Territories. ―Olive Harvest in Palestine. Another Season, Another Anguish‖.
5
"Gender bending could see cane toad's end." ABC News Online. 06 June 2006. ABC. 10 Accessed 7 July 2008 at
July 2008 <http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200606/s1656274.htm>. <http://www.poica.org/editor/case_studies/view.php?recordID=455. 6 November 2004>
6 26
Australian Academy of Science. "Biological Weapons To Control Cane Toad Invasion ibid
In Australia." ScienceDaily 10 May 2008. 10 July 2008 27
ibid
<http://www.sciencedaily.com /releases/2008/05/080508131953.htm>. 28
ibid
29
ibid
30
ibid
22
restricted31. It will also ―leave over 50% of In its past and current policies and
Palestinian land in the West Bank and Gaza actions concerning the Palestinian territories and
Strip in Israeli hands‖32 its people, Israel has been in violation of many
As any deforestation will have international laws. The United Nations called
environmental and economic consequences, for the withdrawal of Israel from Palestinian
Palestinians have been affected in even greater territories after the 1967 war; however, Israel
ways by the olive grove destruction. The olive has not relented. Israel is also in violation of the
tree is also a historical, cultural, and religious Hague Convention of 1907 and the Fourth
symbol for Palestinians. It has been grown in Geneva Convention of 1949, the former
the Middle East for thousands of years and prohibiting the seizure or destruction of property
Palestinians see it as ―a symbol of their nation‖ except during war and the latter prohibiting
33
as well as a symbol of peace. It serves as a collective penalties.
religious symbol for both the Muslim and The responses of both governments are
Christian Palestinians, mentioned in the Qur‘an couched in the continuing feuds and violent
and the Bible. In the destruction of olive trees, attacks from both sides. There have been many
Palestinians feel a direct attack on themselves, peacemaking attempts between Israel and
their families and their nation. ―Uprooting the Palestine since 1967, the last of which was the
tree is seen as a form of crushing the Palestinian Annapolis conference of November 2007. The
culture and eliminating their voices‖34. content of those talks was confidential; however,
Both sides offer differing reasons for the both the Israeli and Palestinian leaders have
restrictions and destruction of olive spoken concerning its
groves. In terms of restrictions, progress. An Israeli
Israel has stated that they want to spokesman has stated that
keep the harvesters safe from the ―discussions are
attacks of Israeli settlers and the continuing; we are
restrictions allow them to provide a making progress‖, while
safer environment for harvesting. In a Palestinian
regards to the destruction of olive spokesperson states that
groves, the Israeli military has negotiations ―are not
stated that Palestinians use the trees advancing at the required
for shelter while throwing stones at pace or yielding the
Israelis and therefore they are acting progress necessary for us
to preemptively remove their ability to reach the agreed
to attack the Israelis. The Israeli objectives by the agreed
An olive grove farmer surveys his land.
Defense Force has also Photo: Palestine Monitor
dates.‖36. The destruction
acknowledged that they have of olive groves will not
uprooted trees ―to build settlements, expand be successfully brought to an end until the entire
roads, and lay infrastructure‖35. Palestinians peacemaking attempts are successful.
argue that the restrictions and uprooting are Several organizations are currently
aimed to destroy this sector of the Palestinian involved in efforts to stop the uprooting of olive
agriculture economy and slowly take more land trees. The United Nations provides Palestine
through the destruction of the groves. with $1 million each year to support the olive
economy37. The International Solidarity
31
ReliefWeb. ―The olive harvest in the West Bank and Gaza – Oct 2006‖. 31 October Movement, Rabbis for Human Rights, and
2006. Accessed 7 July 2008 at
<http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWB.NSF/db900SID/EVOD-6V7K9C?OpenDocument> Grassroots International Protection for
32
Applied Research Institute-Jerusalem. Monitoring Israel Colonization Activities in the
Palestinian Territories. ―Olive Harvest in Palestine. Another Season, Another Anguish‖.
Accessed 7 July 2008 at
<http://www.poica.org/editor/case_studies/view.php?recordID=455. 6 November 2004>
33 36
New York Times. ―Palestinian Official Says Talks With Israelis Yield Little‖. 18
―Uprooting Olive Trees in Palestine.‖ Accessed 7 July 2008 at April 2008. Accessed 8 July 2008 at
<http://www.american.edu/ted/ice/olive-tree.htm. November 2002> <http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/18/world/middleeast/18mideast.html?scp=2&sq=anna
polis+convention&st=nyt>
37
ReliefWeb. ―The olive harvest in the West Bank and Gaza – Oct 2006‖. 31 October
34
ibid 2006. Accessed 7 July 2008 at
35 <http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWB.NSF/db900SID/EVOD-6V7K9C?OpenDocument>
ibid
23
Palestinain People are a few of many non- perniciously felt socially,
governmental organizations who are speaking economically, politically and
and acting out in regards to the olive grove environmentally for generations
Ecology
destruction. to come. Furthermore, the Enquirer
Palestine experienced their first Nakba, or poor, minorities, tribal
catastrophe, in 1948 with the dispossession of communities, the environment, World Information
their land and the second in 1967 after the Six- animals and other Transfer Inc.
Day War. An olive grove owner in the village disenfranchised populations 475 Park Avenue
of Ni´lin, Asad Amera, called the building of the will bear these costs at a South
segregation wall ¨the third Nakba¨ or disproportionate rate. 22nd Floor
New York, NY
catastrophe1. The building of the wall will mean
10016
further destruction of olive groves and restricted Yes, our governments must Telephone:
access to the existing groves for farmers. Only take the lead with initiatives to (212)686-1996
with continued peacekeeping efforts from Israel mitigate and prevent disaster Fax: (212)686-
and Palestine will the economic, social, religious but we as citizens have a greater 2172
and environmental consquences of olive grove responsibility to hold ourselves Email:
destruction be either mitigated or brought to an accountable. Citizens of the wit@worldinfo.org
end. world, whether they be
students, professionals, Editors:
Concluding Comments government officials or civil Gloria Liu
Alaya Levi Salley
By Alaya Levi Salley society must vehemently mold
the governments of the globe to
Alaya Levi Salley is a rising become the responsive and Contributors:
junior at Wellesley College. effective bodies needed to Emmy (Chow Yi
She plans on majoring in Tin)
Peace and Justice Studies and create a sustainable, healthy and
Greta (Liao Jing
Economics. She chose to edit safe world. Hua)
this issue of the Ecology Hilary Kaback
Enquirer because of its On behalf of the WIT interns of Jennie Ellison
relevance to her studies.
Summer 2008, we hope you Kent (To Kwok
have thoroughly enjoyed this Wai)
As quoted from World Information Transfer
edition of the Ecology Enquirer Lillian (Tsang Kai
Inc.‘s homepage- ―We have not inherited the Ni)
and realized that disasters end
world from our forefathers…we have borrowed Maggie Leung
only when committed persons
it from our children.‖ Our actions, if we be the Mariana Sentieri
mobilize resources to commit to
agitators, and our reactions, if we be the Natalie Miller
long-term change, prevention
government or identify as politically active, Nickolai Belakovski
and preparedness. Peter Davis
must always consider the near and distant future
in combination with the urgent matters of the Stacy Jen
present. Vanessa Matthews
Anushka Chadha
Thank You.
The exact price we will pay for negligence and
Special Thanks:
recklessness is immeasurable but will be 1
Palestine Monitor: Exposing Life Under Occupation. ¨¨The Nakba of Ni'lin: Landowners Losing
Amy Williams
their Olive Trees to the Wall¨. 9 July 2008. Accessed 25 July 2008 at
http://www.palestinemonitor.org/spip/spip.php?article496
(Assistant Editor)
