What Is the Significance of the Concept of Risk for Contemporary Criminology - Coursework Example

1 Introduction Negative mind set of humans have lead to the deterioration of the social and cultural value as well as uproar in thesystem of nature. In order to achieve success in short period humans have selected ways that are considered crime and causing extreme harm to this planet (Fulcher, 2011). In order to discontinue these attempts and save the mother earth it is important to understand the risks that are involved in environmental crimes. However this understanding can only be gained when criminal behaviour is closely examined. 1.1 Criminology Man has been committing crimes on this earth since its existence. People who are working for the betterment of the social and cultural environment and want to promote positive deeds by minimizing the rate of crimes have studied over crimes. This study is called criminology which deals in the explanation of the causes that leads to criminal behaviour (Rod Morgan, 2012). It deeply examines the human psychology, economy situation, anthropology, biology and many other aspects that can lead towards nonhuman nature exhibition by man. Scientists who study about criminology take into consideration various aspects like official records, case histories, statistics and sociological field methods in order to examine the reasons that lead to criminal behaviour. They have determined four elements that are necessary for a crime to occur. These elements are law, offender, victim and place (Rod Morgan, 2012). Human has harmed nature in many different ways especially in the past two centuries where the natural resources of the planet have been both used and misused with no accountability. Especially the era of industrial revolution and forth coming period have lead towards the deterioration of the environment. 1.2 Environmental Criminology Environmental Criminology focuses over the fourth element necessary for a crime to occur which is ‘place’. For a crime it is essential to happen in a place since no offense can take place in a vacuum (Rod Morgan, 2012). However it has no direct relation to the natural environment which is important to mention since people unintentionally tend to merge the concept of environment crimes and environmental criminology. The term environment crimes also know as green criminology will be discussed in detail throughout the paper. 2.1 Green Crime 2.1 Green Criminology Green Criminology is the branch that analysis the harmful act that causes impairment and destruction to environment and nature (Burke, 2009). Green Criminology branches into social, political and environmental conditions that lead to such harm of nature and environment. On the basis of study of Green Criminology biologist and environmental experts have been able to determine various crimes that humans are committing on this planet causing extreme danger to not just the world life but also to their coming generations. Most of these green crimes are conducted by human on land in industrial areas, forests and densely populated cities (Rod Morgan, 2012). Before analysis the different green crimes practices it is important to look on the causes that lead to environmental deterioration. 2.2 Causes of Green Criminology There are various factors that leads to pollution driven by man due to it criminal negligence. Some of these factors are as follows 2.2.1 Reducing Cost Competition in the corporate world has been getting tougher every day. Companies cannot only grow by increasing their revenue. They also have to focus on activities and practices that could help in reducing the cost especially the ones that come under the head of operations (Vito, 2011). Also factors that could lead to the distortion of their focus towards core competency are deemed extremely unnecessary by these organizations. One of such activities that not only increase their cost of product and lead towards their concentration to twist is recycling of waste. This is extremely essential practice for the saving this planet and its nature are ignored by most of the multinational corporations (Rod Morgan, 2012). Corporate Social Responsibility as promoted by these MNC’s is not actually practiced as promoted especially in terms of recycling waste which can be easily deferred since its backdoor activity. 2.2.2 Population Increase Another very important factor which is causing evident and unavoidable harm to natural environment is increase in the population. At present world holds around 7 billion people which have been increasing at an annual rate of 1.14% (Worldometers, 2014). Increasing population requires space to live and resource to consume which all comes from the natural reserves of the world. This means forests are required to be cut at more rapid pace which will result in the extinction of wildlife. Importance of forests and wildlife has been discussed later in this paper. 2.2.3 Globalization World has become a global village and this has not helped nature. People are not more interested living in cities and metropolitan areas instead of village where they require energy source like fuel for automobile to commute and electricity as utility (White, 2011). All source not only require natural resources but also when consumed results in emission of gasses not healthy for the nature. Globalization has also led people to chase higher living standards which are not only luxurious but also unique. Now people who can afford tend to commute in private transport and consider the ones for public as a shame (Committee, 2004). This has resulted in increasing the rate of pollution and consumption of more natural reserves to produce these automobiles. On the other hand, manufactures tend to favour those countries generally the under developed and developing which have no strict policies for waste disposal and recycling (Fulcher, 2011). The reason is again globalization that has leaded the way for such organizations conducting criminal activities. 2.2.4 Wars and Civilian Wars The biggest enemy of human on this planet is human itself as the history proves. Tribes, castes, nations and people from different religion have fought with each other time and again (Clifford, 2011). This also has resulted in deterioration of the nature especially after industrial revolution which brought weapons and ammunition that can cause destruction at mass level equally on land, water and air. At present there are still millions of landmines potentially active in this world and some are those deployed in World War I & II. 2.2.5 Travel & Tourism Domestic and foreign tourism has also helped in green crime activities though at not such an effective rate as cost cutting, population increase and globalization (Martin, 2012). People visiting any scenic place tend to behave in manner not supportive for the environment and wildlife. In fact some tend to visit for hunting animal not allowed legally and declared species as endangered. 3.1 Green Crime Practices 3.1 Improper Disposal Industrial Chemicals & No Recycling of Waste Industries operated by humans generate solid and liquid waste. This waste is extremely harmful if it is disposed off without proper treatment. It has been observed especially in under developed countries that waste that industries excrete is lead to go and mix in river or sea water (Botchway, 2011). This waste includes harmful chemical that can not only result in various diseases and virus among humans and wildlife but also to their death and extinction from this planet. 3.1.1 Risk in Chemicals and Waste No matter this extremely hazardous waste is made to spill in water or land it is equally effective and causes problems for any living being even the plants, animals and marine life. If left unaddressed can lead to barren the soil and permanent extinction of crop fertility. On the other hand marine is equally in jeopardy from those chemicals which when mixes into the water can be extremely toxic (White, 2011). There have been lots of incidents where thousands of fishes and other sea animal were found on coasts where there was no oil spill. Investigations revealed that this is due to the industrial waste and chemicals that resulted in such brutal genocide of marine life. Not only marine life but also those birds and animals who feed from sea and river water can also be impacted negatively due to these toxic elements. These chemicals and garbage also release methane gasses which are harmful to all living creatures living on this planet. 3.2 Cutting of Forests The importance of forests cannot be denied even in the centre of city filled with concrete building walls. The higher the ratio of forests in the world the more will be clean environment and lesser polluted air (Sally Stoecker, 2013). Trees serve as the lungs of this planet and home for a range of animal species. However due to increasing population of human, forests are becoming distinct day by day in order to fulfil their demands. Although technology has lead towards lesser usage of woods however forest cutting has not decreased. Humans are making different excuses in order to make this source scarce on this planet. Non existence of forests will lead to various calamities which would be fatal not only for wild life but humans as well. 3.2.1 Risks in Cutting Forests Forests help in holding the upper crust of mountains together and save landslides which can be fatal people living nearby. Forests also help in keeping the rivers alive by providing those fountains as a source of input (Kären Hess, 2008). Forests are the home of wildlife from small insects to large elephants and they serve humans in different forms like medicine, food, clothing etc. Their non existence can be extremely detrimental for humans as the source of various essential requirements will no more exist. Similarly, purification of environment is the responsibility of green nature that is forests as they inhale Carbon dioxide and provide us with oxygen in return (Rod Morgan, 2012). Without these forests there would be pollution that cannot be altered into any other form and will therefore cause harm and can even bring toxic rain. 3.3 Ozone Destruction Ozone is a shield that has surrounded earth from all around and protects its inhabitants from various harmful rays like ultraviolet (UC) which emerge from sun and other sources (Brack, 2002). There are various gasses that are leading towards the depletion of ozone like chlorine and bromine and have been termed as Ozone-Depleting Substances (ODS). These substances do not cause any destruction to the environment and living creatures on Earth however at the same time they have the tendency to float up at height due to their light weight even up to ozone (Katja Eman, 2011). ODS can be extremely risky there since they can eat up ozone at an alarming rate. These substances can exist for decades and are not produced naturally only man is responsible for their excretion in open air. Luxurious life and high living standards are the main cause of these ODS emission in air. 3.3.1 Risks in Ozone Destruction Depletion of ozone layer has proved to be harmful in many different ways for every creature i.e. humans, animals as well as plants. It can cause skin cancer premature aging of skin and sunburns. Even eye diseases and infections can be the result of these ultraviolet rays reaching earth. Crops like wheat, rice, oat, barley, soybeans etc can change their botanical structure and even resulting in intoxicated production (Cohen, 1992). Similarly, animals including marine life also suffer from this phenomenon as biodiversity decrease at a very rapid pace due to ultraviolet rays (Fulcher, 2011). Animals have been observed to migrate from those places that were impacted from ultraviolet rays in Arctic and Oceania regions. 3.4 Green House Gasses Chlorine and Bromine are not the only gasses that are detrimental for this planet and its living beings. There are some other gasses too which have been green house gasses that are extremely hazardous for everything that breathes on this planet. There are fifteen various sources of Green House Gasses (GHG) some of the most frequent ones are power plants, electrical appliances, transport, burning of forests and last but the most injurious is industrial processes & production (Rice, 2008). This industrial process and production does not include industrial waste discussed earlier. These GHG carry high amount of heat and radiation. Some of the most commonly found green house gases include Carbon dioxide, Methane, Nitrous Oxide and Fluorinated Gases. 3.4.1 Risks in Green House Gases Emission Greenhouse gases are the reason of increase in Earth’s temperature. Rise in the temperature of this planet means there would be not a single consequence in the form of a huge disaster (Biello, 2011). Rather this increase will lead to the series of various forms of natural catastrophes on both land and water. One of those risks is the scarcity of water which can be the subject of wars in the coming years. At present various regions that include South Asia, Mediterranean, North Africa and Middle East are facing water scarcity issue. Some regions in West that include East United States and Northern Mexico are also in dire need of required amount of water resources. Green house gases are the cause of rise in water temperature and this will bring water to limited availability if the situation is left to get worse (Brown, 2013). However before the scarcity of water there will be another calamity that will be faced by human in the form of floods and storms due to rise in temperatures. This planet has huge reserves of glaciers that exist from millions of years holding billions of tons of water. If temperature rises it will lead to the melting of those glaciers brining flood to nearby regions. This will cause huge number of casualties as man is still novice in dealing with such disasters (Brown, 2013). This water outburst would not be limited in rivers and oceans will also be creating huge menace in the form of storms and rise in water level. 4.1 Conclusion This planet was given to by man in its purest forms and all the changes that occurred naturally were for the wellbeing and good of the humans. However man instead of thanking God has misused this resource and still living a life that is against the rule of set by nature (Rod Morgan, 2012). Lack of vision and achieving success through wrong means has made humans make wrong use of resources so that it can have luxurious life, more wealth and dominate its competitors. Man over the past few centuries has been conducting such activities on this planet that are no good for its survival. This mad nature has brought different calamities and more are expected to harm in the coming decades (Burke, 2009). All the living creatures including wildlife and plant have suffered along with man due to such lunacy. It is important that people who want the good of this planet must look to study such actions committed by their fellow beings. Man must be stopped from repeatedly executing such criminal activities against the environment. This could only be done by more closely examining the daily life activities man do for their living (Fulcher, 2011). Government authorities and world governing bodies must make strong policies and laws that could help in hindering those people who are only looking for their own success rather than thing for the welfare of the whole society and mother Earth. References Biello, D., 2011. Are Greenhouse Gases Upping the Risks of Flooding, Too? 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Environmental Crime and Corruption in Russia: Federal and Regional Perspectives. 4th ed. Moscow: Routledge. Vito, G., 2011. Criminology: Theory, Research, and Policy. revised ed. Manchester: Jones & Bartlett Publishers. White, R., 2011. Transnational Environmental Crime: Toward an Eco-global Criminology. 3rd ed. Austin: Routledge. White, R., 2011. Transnational Environmental Crime: Toward an Eco-global Criminology. illustrated ed. Los Angeles: Routledge. Worldometers, 2014. World Population: Past, Present, and Future. [Online] Available at: https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CBwQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.worldometers.info%2Fworld-population%2F&ei=U0nrU-SYFsiw7AbIr4DAAg&usg=AFQjCNErbPyUCHWnx-PRFhnobEtJRV06Mg&sig2=OAfIViSnAzX-7-d-nrd2jA&bvm=bv.7 [Accessed 13 August 2014]. Read More