How the world’s dirtiest industries have learned to pollute our politics
Summary: As the effects of climate change continue to manifest (just look at the wildfires raging from Alaska, to Serbia, to the Amazon Rainforest), governments across the world still stand in support of industries and corporations responsible for the majority of the consequential environmental changes, despite democratic and scientific consensus against doing so. Each year five trillion dollars are spent by governments on fossil fuel subsidies and the United States spends 10 times more on the stated subsidies than on its education budget. Not only is money being pumped into these industries, but governments are also protecting them from civil protests. For example, 18 US states have put bills forwards which outlaw democratic protests of pipelines. Environmental protest has also been framed as extremism in many nations across the world. This is primarily due to the faction of lobbyists which represent the most environmentally unclean industries.
Response: It is clear that the responsibility of protecting the environment is no longer on the shoulders of scientists researching into it, rather on policymakers'. The evidence on the ramifications of climate change is apparent, yet little action has been taken by many politicians who are supposed to represent "the people." Instead, they neglect their constituents and accept significant bribes from corporations. While this environmental catastrophe is going to be on of the pivotal issues of this century, the question remains of what comes after. It is obvious from this that the fundamental essence of our society is, in fact, undemocratic. With many more economic, social, and environmental battles peering around the corner, what shall we value more, the prosperity of the few or the many?
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/aug/07/fossil-fuel-lobby-pollute-politics-climate-crisis
Response: It is clear that the responsibility of protecting the environment is no longer on the shoulders of scientists researching into it, rather on policymakers'. The evidence on the ramifications of climate change is apparent, yet little action has been taken by many politicians who are supposed to represent "the people." Instead, they neglect their constituents and accept significant bribes from corporations. While this environmental catastrophe is going to be on of the pivotal issues of this century, the question remains of what comes after. It is obvious from this that the fundamental essence of our society is, in fact, undemocratic. With many more economic, social, and environmental battles peering around the corner, what shall we value more, the prosperity of the few or the many?
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/aug/07/fossil-fuel-lobby-pollute-politics-climate-crisis
It's a twisted and sad cycle that we have ourselves in as a society, isn't it? And I fear that the dissolution and undermining of unions across the world is feeding the system. Scary stuff.
ReplyDeleteIt is frustrating to live in a world where making money is prioritized over the conservation of the environment. Corporations and politicians would rather make easy money than trying to make the world a better place. I fear soon enough some damage will occur to the environment that will be irreversible, and the blame will rest entirely on the leaders who failed to take action.
ReplyDeleteIts a shame that we live in a world where business and political popularity matter more than that world itself and the fact is its only a matter of time when this becomes more of a serious issue than it already is and we do something to our planet that cant be undone.
ReplyDelete