Nikko Casil

The European College of Human Ecology (COHE) International Online Program 2021

Zharina Nikko T. Casil, University of Oklahoma, BA Political Science & Philosophy, MA Good Governance, Feminist, and Decolonial Philosophy, USA & Philippines, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Human Control- Oriented, Technocentric, and Futuristic Strategies of “Environmentalism”
Assessing Their Social and Moral Harms to Specific Disadvantaged Communities

Abstract

How we conceptualize environmental “activism” has often been framed in human control-oriented, elitist, and futuristic sentiments.

Given the established power structure of society, these EA sentiments create moral and social harm, especially to disadvantaged communities. They impose points of power, privilege, and oppression.

We hear environmentalists say we must save the world “for our children’s future,” denying the urgency of climate change as if the damages and effects of climate change are not presently felt. Secondly, when we think of “protecting the environment,” it is often equated to having “untouched” and “pristine” nature, achieved primarily with “removing all human traces.” Such sentiment is based on the assumption that humans are somewhat “innately destructive.” Thus, it erases the lived experiences of indigenous groups and tribes who have long been pushed out of their homes despite having lived with nature sustainably for a long time. This human control-oriented sentiment also deflects the responsibilities of the foremost perpetrators of environmental degradation; capitalistic multinational companies, toxic industries, economically developed countries, and billionaires who profit from the environment.

Lastly, we hear technological approaches and sentiments to resolving climate change as if all had the capacity to invest in them. The truth of the matter is, less economically developed countries, disadvantaged groups such as indigenous, people of color, and lower-income communities are disproportionately affected by climate change and, at worse, also have the least resources to overcome and contribute to climate change efforts. So how then must we account for Environmental Justice?

Bibliography:
Hoover, Elizabeth. The River Is in Us: Fighting Toxics in a Mohawk Community. University
of Minnesota Press, 2017.
Cameron Butler: A Fruitless Endeavor
Tiffany Onyejiaka: Black Maternal Mortality is Already a Crisis--- Climate Change is
Making it Worse

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