The Environment and Indigenous People

Introduction

Environmental problems in modern society come from a variety of sources. This becomes even more prevalent because of globalization, which has certain negative effects on the earth's natural processes. These environmental problems and their causes are interconnected in many ways. It is also typical to encounter a "domino effect" on the impact of these problems in small or large areas, which may even become a serious threat to many countries and continents (Weyler 19).

The instability of globalization has made environmental problems and in turn the lack of a stable and sustainable system of trade with respect to the environment have influenced what is now serious problems, such as the evil exploitation of natural resources, over population in some areas of the globe, as well as influencing the progress of the greenhouse effect, among others (Salick & Byg 101). The purpose of this paper is to explore some of the effects it has had the process of globalization on the environment, especially on indigenous people. Initially, a brief history of the processes that have led to the rise of globalization with particular reference to environmental issues is outlined. Following this the nature of current global environmental problems is presented.

Discussion

While today's world of globalization involves realize and recognize that the different actors and economic, political and social are linked to a greater or lesser extent to environmental science, and particularly for ecology (Rebuelta 92). In this sense, addressing environmental problems from the population to the biosphere, to communities and ecosystems, it has always been an implicit reference to the concept globalization of environmental phenomena.

Globalization and Environmental Problems

The past three decades have seen a proliferation of evidence of the rise in environmental problems on a global scale. Although environmental problems of the past have always been present wherever complex societies have developed, until the onset of the Industrial Revolution they remained relatively localized. Today there is an overwhelming recognition of the interconnected nature of the planet's environment and the effect that human populations are having on it. As already outlined, changing drivers such as population growth, economic activities, and consumption patterns have placed increasing pressure on the environment. The volume and intensity of human interaction with the environment have produced environmental problems that are global in nature (Shabecoff 52).

These global environmental phenomena have produced a situation in which global and local populations are united through the recognition of environmental “crisis.” It has become impossible to ignore the fact that people are intrinsically linked on every level on a disparate geographical basis, from the air we breathe to the climate we depend on, to food, water, and every other resource that is used by humanity in a finite global environment. An environmental globalization removes the possibility of any form of opt-out. What is recognized, then, is that the environment itself has an effect on globalization. A number of global environmental problems exist today—transboundary pollution of land, sea, and air; extensive loss of natural habitat and biodiversity; extensive deforestation and ...