Human Environmental Tragedies: Self-inflicted Wounds (Springer Studies on Populism, Identity Politics and Social Justice)

By: Bruce E. Johansen

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Synopsis: This volume examines environmental disasters worldwide, often stemming from extractive industries like fossil fuels. Questioning human desires for comfort, convenience, and national defense, it confronts the relentless pursuit of profit in a capitalist system. From the development of nuclear weapons to the damaging effects of climate change, the book questions humanity's capacity to address these challenges. As temperatures soar, can we endure inconvenience and unite globally to tame climate change? From the lethal coal mines of India to the haunting aftermath of nuclear testing in the Marshall Islands, each chapter presents different cases of struggles against relentless exploitation. Among other topics, the book discusses China's environmental crisis, Nigeria's oil-infested lands, and Australia's uranium conflicts. It sheds light on the Amazon's indigenous defenders confronting mining and disease, while Vietnam and Cambodia grapple with the enduring legacy of Agent Orange. Finally, it looks into the Philippines' battle against mining giants and mirrors Russia's oil-ravaged reindeer herders. Presenting the fight for survival against the onslaught of profit-driven extraction, the volume pictures a world where tradition clashes with modernity, and where the price of progress is often paid in blood and displacement. Hence, this book underscores the urgent need for cooperation in safeguarding our planet's future.