Sociological interpretation of environmental issues and concerns with an emphasis on globalization. For GNED2056, ID# 100079239

1. Globalization and environmental concerns
can trigger cooperation across national
borders.
By Sean Wetmore

2. 
Transport of environmental pollutants is often
rapid, and is not impeded by international
borders. The physical characteristics of the
contaminant largely determine it‟s mobility.
For example, air currents are not impeded by
international borders and can carry pollution
over vast distances:
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
Air – Fastest mobility.
Water – Medium mobility.
Soil – Least mobility.

3. 
Case study – Toxin Accumulation in the Arctic
It has been long noted that certain airborne and
persistent contaminants have made their way to the
arctic circle where they have accumulated in the food
chain and work their way into the diet of people who
live there. The contaminants, mainly PCBs, are
released from industrial activity, but only impact a
small non-industrialized population. Concern for
these people has had the potential to affect a cohesive
international action restricting the use of PCBs.
Source:
(http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/08/0827_040827_tvarctic_toxins.ht
ml

4. Case study: The Alberta Oil Sands, local and non-local
contaminants.
Every Canadian is at least aware of the Alberta Oil Sands, a
crude oil extraction technique using water as a solvent to „soak
out‟ refineable oil. It has been noted that First Nations
communities near the oil sands have had an increase in rare
cancers, while wildlife has displayed genetic dysfunction
(mutation). While concern has been raised as to the local
detrimental effects of the effluent referred to as „tailings‟, there
is a larger responsibility in the oil sands exacerbating global
warming (oil extracted using tar-sands techniques generates
much more greenhouse gases than conventional methods). The
effects of the oil sands project may be a concern on a global
scale, rather than just for Canadians.

Source: http://oilsandstruth.org/rare-cancer-strikes

5. 
Conclusion:
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Environmental pollutants travel across borders
without stopping to „check in at customs‟.
Some pollutants, weather by quality or scale, are
capable of causing significant harm to human and
ecosystem health, far away from where they have
been released.
Because their tendency to easily cross international
borders, they have a unifying effect on people
proactively trying to prevent their use (sociological
effect).

6. 
Globalization ties in closely with
environmental concerns and the sociological
implications of those concerns in that it
facilitates international manufacture and rapid
use of natural resources. Nations that enjoy the
advantages of Globalization through free trade
agreements are typically first world nations
with heavy natural resources per-capita. By
examining the process of Globalization through
free-trade agreements it is possible to see the
sociological effect it has on its participants.

7. 
CanadaUSA Free Trade Agreement
Facilitated the quick import and export of goods between
Canada and the USA (1987) -- by removing duty, tax (annex),
and documentation requirements for certain goods.
North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)
 Facilitated the ease of trade between Canada, the USA, and
Mexico (1994).
 Reinforced a „Western Bloc‟ market, increased industrial
activity (factory labor, natural resource extraction).


Both trade agreements were regional examples of
Globalism, a culture in which cultural identity and
ownership of natural resources are partially dissolved for
material gains.
Source: http://www.international.gc.ca/trade-agreements-accords-commerciaux/agracc/nafta-alena/

8. 
SIMA – Special Import Measures Act
An “anti-dumping” measure to prevent goods being
dumped into the Canadian market with ultra low values
for which Canadian businesses cannot compete (ie: cell
phones that cost $1).
 Targets specific HS tariffs and origins, ie: steel fasteners
under 8mm long originating from China; and imposes
heavy duty rates on importation to discourage import
(duty collected goes to the CRA).

SIMA is an example of globalism failing at a
fundamental level due to material wealth disparity
between nations (consider soft wood lumber trade
levies between Canada USA).
Source: http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/S-15/

9. 

Conclusion: The „tie-in‟ between contaminant
transport and globalist culture is that they both
have a socially unifying force on a population
without necessarily being restricted to a single
country. The effects of globalization are felt, much
like pollution, across borders and cultures. Often
there is a linkage between the two due to an
increase in foreign market influence and increased
industrial activity.
For example: oil refined at the Alberta oil sands is
mainly destined for the US market, while harmful
environmental effects remain largely on Canadian
soil.
Source of above: http://oilsandstruth.org/projects-region/alberta-tar-sands

10. 
*Structural Functionalist Perspective
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Features the human species as contiguous with their
environment.
Interdependence between human beings and the
natural environment proposes that nature itself
depends, to some degree, on human activity (the
environment is a „garden to be tended‟).
Is actually an anthropocentric perspective of the
relationship between humans and nature in that it
presupposes dependence of nature on humanity.
[Anthropocentric: “Regarding humans as the central element of the universe.”]
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/anthropocentric
*(Source: Mooney, 2013. p. 299-300)

11. 
Conflict Perspective
A „law of the jungle‟ approach suggesting pursuit of material and
financial wealth of the largest and most powerful countries and
industries causes the majority of environmental problems - ie: The
powerful dominate the weak.
 Suggests that environmentalism is tolerated only in so far as it
does not impede this pursuit of these gains.
 Suggests the primary consumers of natural resources and causers
of pollution (big industry) use deceptive means to „trick‟ the
population – ie: planned obsolescence, the deceptive „going green‟
initiatives of some businesses.
 For example: Stephen Harper announcing commitments to the
Kyoto Accord, while simultaneously saying they cannot
realistically be met. It‟s then possible to “adhere to the spirit of [a
contract] while simultaneously backing away from it…” (Mooney,
2013. p 301) – ie: Good press with no meaningful involvement.


12. 
Symbolic Interactionist Perspective
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Features the individual‟s behavior, or interaction, with symbols
delivered by media and collective social agreements – Consider
for example the popularity of “Organic” foods, or non-polluting
businesses implementing “green-initiatives” to gain popularity.
Known as Greenwashing, it “involves manipulation of public
preception to maximize profits” (Mooney, 2013. p302).
According to the symbolic interactionist perspective, concern
for the environment is adhered to only in so far as it improves
one‟s sense of pride and self-respect -- Consider someone
buying a very expensive electric car, and charging it a station
that derives electricity from coal-burning. The impact is the
same if not worse, but the individual has offset their supposed
responsibility.
More than the other two perspectives, is dependent on media
and social popularity.

13. 
Each perspective looks at different segments of the
environmental „movement‟:
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Structural Functionalist = Humanity and Nature
Conflict Perspective = Industry and Profit
Symbolic Interactionist = Media and Individual
Perception
Sociological discussions of different environmental
concerns should therefore have different
sociological perspectives as their base. For
example, a discussion about wastewater sludge
land application would benefit more using a
conflict perspective than it would using a symbolic
interactionist perspective.

14. 
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Sociological interpretations of environmental
issues reveals that humanity on the whole does
not, or cannot, genuinely care about the
environment on a global & international scale.
Environmental concerns arise primarily when they
directly endanger human health, rather than the
health of an ecosystem – ie: a spill of a dangerous
chemical causing increased environmental concern
only where the spill occurred.
When concern is centered on environmental
preservation and protection, the impulse is often
fueled by a need for having a good opinion of
one‟s self rather than genuine concern for the
environment.

15. 
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There is a complexity to environmental concerns and
contaminant transport across borders which is very
difficult for sociological perspectives to fully capture.
Environmental concerns from a sociological
perspective can be fully quantified using scientific
means (concentrations, spatial measurements, et),
unlike other sociological concepts which use ordinal
statistics (unsatisfied, satisfied, very satisfied).
There is a growing interest in environmental sciences,
and many environmentally sound initiatives even in
heavily industrialized nations (recycling in North
America, hydroelectricity in China).
Technology is reaching a point where many industries
could be made sustainable if it‟s applied correctly.

16. Guynup, S. (2004). Toxins accumulate in arctic peoples, animals, study says. Retrieved from:
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/08/0827_040827_tvarctic_toxins.html
Song, V. (n.d.) Rare cancer strikes. Retrieved from http://oilsandstruth.org/rare-cancer-strikes
Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada. (2013). North American free trade agreement
(NAFTA). Retrieved from http://www.international.gc.ca/trade-agreements-accordscommerciaux/agr-acc/nafta-alena/
Justice Laws Website. (2010). Special Import Measures Act. Retrieved from http://lawslois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/S-15/
Oil Sands Truth. (n.d.) Alberta & Saskatchewan Tar Sands. Retrieved from
http://oilsandstruth.org/projects-region/alberta-tar-sands
Mooney, L. A., Holmes, M., Knox, D., Schacht, C. (2013) Understanding social problems (custom
edition). Toronto, ON: Nelson.

17. 
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The oil sands and their environmental impact is still a hotly debated
issue. While there is an obvious danger to the tailings ponds, actual
human harm has not yet been proven.
I have nearly completed the 3-year Environmental Technologist program
at Georgian, but am more interested in environmental mechanics and
contaminant transport than environmentalism as a cause. Science > media
bluster.
I have a background in customs and the classification of goods entering
Canada as a customs broker.