Cross-National Environmental Injustice and Human Rights Issues

Abstract

This article focuses on the issues of environmental injustice and human rights violations across nations. Using existing documents, the patterns of the transnational toxic waste trade and natural resource exploitation and the bases of global environmental injustice are explored. The dependency/world-system perspective on toxic waste exports and imports and the environmental justice framework are used to analyze transnational toxic waste dumping schemes and resource exploitation in underdeveloped nations. With an emphasis on the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People, available evidence suggests that environmental activists, powerless indigenous subpopulations, and other minorities face the danger of environmental injustice and human rights abuse, especially under authoritarian regimes. The need for stronger international norms protecting human rights to a safe and sound environment is emphasized, and it is argued that environmental injustice needs to be included as a component of human rights protocols. Policy implications of theoretical analyses are offered.

Evaluating the environmental law and energy policy dimensions of land-grabbing

“…On the other hand poor villagers are the ones to suffer the loss (losing farmlands, and grazing lands, and forest resources) associated with combating climate change and mitigating its impacts. This context is similar to what justice advocates called "environmental injustice," a concept that Francis Adeola (2000) defines as "any undue imposition of environmental burdens on innocent bystanders or communities not parties to the activities generating such burdens".…”

Sustainable Social Work: An Environmental Justice Framework for Social Work Education

“…This effort, led by affected residents rather than social service providers, can be used to illustrate how social workers can learn from and partner with local movements that promote social work values. The Ogoni people are a Nigerian minority ethnic group residing in Ogoniland, an area of Nigeria rich with natural resources, including crude oil reserves (Adeola, 2000). The Ogoni people face multiple levels of oppression and experience economic deprivation, economic and political discrimination, and environmental degradation due to their location amidst oil fields and other sought-after natural resources.…”

Environmental Injustice: Exploitation of Sindh’s Natural Resources in Pakistan

“…In contrast, internal colonialism is a condition in which both the dominant group and subordinate groups co-exist as natives of the same society (Adeola, 2000).…”

“…The Millennium Development Goals Report 2005 issued by the government shows the ranking of three major oil and gas producing districts of Sindh against key development indicators. A New Deal in Pakistan" by Dalrymple (2008) said that Sindh is one of the most under-developed areas in Asia. It lags far behind in all index of development.…”