Public Anthropology in Environmental Degradation - Research Paper Example

Public Anthropology in Environmental Degradation The degradation of the environnemnt has been a menace in the 21sr century especially in the third world countries and mostly in developing states. Since the end of the second world war, the United Nations has put efforts in trying to reclaim the environmental potency in various countries. The organization does this by involving in a number of activities geared towards helping the reclaim the purity of the environment. This is why anthropologist since then have launched a study on how people interelate in their environment and how human errors and activities contribute in the envronmental degradation. The main concern of anthropologist is to find solution to major environmental problems by identifying the major and minor causes of environmental problems. In succint study of environmental degradation, both the ecological and environmental ecology are applied but environmental anthropology stands to be the one mostly applied in this study because it covers wide range of field. The environmental ecology encompasses such studies as political ecology, primate ecology, and evolutionary ecology. On the other hand, ecological ecology refers to a particular research concerning single ecosystem for instance environmental degradation. With this, the research paper provides an overview of contemporary anthropology in the area of environmental degradation. Environmental degradation is the destruction of the natural resources by intentional and or un-intentional activities by human beings of by natural phenomena. This encompasses the destruction of soil, trees and other natural scenes like rivers and mountains. When the natural resources are polluted, the ecosystem is degraded. Hence, public anthropologists seek to find solutions to the adverse environmental degradation (Ervin 385). They do not only focus on understanding the problems resulting in environmental degradation but also looking for solutions to the problems at hand. Because environmental degradation has become a global problem, environmental anthropologists focus on finding the universals that can be put under control to put to an end the problem of environmental degradation (Batterbury 65). Originally, public anthropology was concerned with cultural contexts in which human being relates to the environment and also appreciating different cultural differences. Public anthropology states that, environmental problems are as a result of cultural and historical configurations (Ervin 385). In addition, human beings are not only confronted by cultural differences and adaptation but also cultural commonalities in terms of resource scarcity and habitat loss as a result of environmental degradation. That is why public anthropology focuses on looking for possible solutions as a result of environmental degradation. Consumption rates in different countries affect the rate of environmental degradation. This is because the pollutants that lead to environmental degradation mostly come from the material goods that are consumed by human beings. Environmental degradation according environmental anthropologists does not only affect human race but also the living things in different habitats (Goldschmidt 791). Thus, when human beings pollute the environment they affect other creatures in different habitats for instance sea creatures in the sea. Over time, public anthropologists focus on issues, which relate to environmental and social justice on issues concerning environmental degradation (Suhrke 475). They focus on environmental justice to solve issues on equitable distribution of resources and providing a clean environment for the human race and other species in a given environment. Environmental justice seeks to bring out issues concerning environmental degradation by ensuring that environmental problems are distributed equally in a given country. This is to reduce environmental burdens concerning the issues of preventing hazardous pollutants to the minority groups such as the economically disadvantaged members of the society. Thus they focus on equitable distribution of burdens on the issue of environmental pollutants between different nations and countries. In addition, public anthropologists advocate for the rights of the indigenous groups in the society. They also criticize the government for its failure to compensate local population for causing environmental degradation (Suhrke 473). This is to say that, the government should take an upper hand to prevent environmental degradation. This is by setting up rules and regulations, which aid in preventing environmental degradation. Primarily the main focus of the environmental anthropologists is to ensure that the regulations developed by the government are implemented. For instance, they are interested in making sure that, they take care of the welfare of the poor and the disadvantaged members of the society because they are adversely affected by environmental degradation (Goldschmidt 800). Global warming is an example of the effects of environmental degradation which mostly affects the poor people. Mostly, global warming results to the rise of the sea levels hence crop failure. As the population increases the poor are pushed into the marginal areas. Thus, anthropologists ensure that, every member of the society lives in a clean environment and has access to clean drinking water. By doing so they fight for the rights of the people, who are disadvantaged who cannot voice out their problems to the government (Mabogunje 15). Environmental degradation is mostly caused by the increase in population in the developing countries. Hence public anthropologists have the responsibility to enlighten the humanity that it is their responsibility to make sure that they think on behalf of the world because they live in it (Ali 17). This means ensuring that they keep the environment clean and do away with all forms of pollutants this is to prevent environmental degradation. On the other hand, they also have the responsibility of ensuring that, all issues concerning the environment and environmental conservation are given an upper hand especially on the part of the government. They should not only think about the world but also think on behalf of it. They should look into the issues that cause environmental degradation and look for ways of making sure that, the environment is not degraded. Additionally, public anthropologists should be ready to work for the interest of the humanity and solve global issues (Ali 24). They should not only focus on solving issues in their locality but also globally. This is because environmental degradation affects the whole world for instance depletion of the ozone layer which results in the release of the ultraviolet rays, which cause cancer. Thus, they should be ready to work for the interest of the whole world to ensure that environmental degradation does not affect the whole world. They will only be able to do this if they confront the government and ensure that, the required order in the environment is implemented to prevent environmental degradation. Thus, they should be able to take their position as a framework for change. In addition, public anthropologists ensure that they take an upper hand in informing the members of the society on the measures to take to ensure that they do not pollute the environment. This is because it is not only for their good but for the other species which inhibit the ecosystem. This can be done easily by carrying out a research and writing books and magazines which give the members of the information concerning the measures to take to prevent environmental degradation. Notably, the factors that result to environmental degradation mostly are as a result of human activity thus they should be educated on environmental conservation to prevent environmental degradation. For instance, agriculturist claim that water runoff results to depletion of nutrients from the soil. It is important to also not that water runoff carry the pollutants which pollute the water bodies hence destroying the ecosystem inhibited by sea creatures (Ali 25). As earlier stated anthropology deals with the study of people’s culture scientifically this means that, public anthropology in their application of their discipline of anthropology they should ensure that they enlighten the members of the society on the importance of family planning and ensuring that, the population is moderate to prevent adverse effects on overpopulation, which results in environmental degradation (Batterbury 67). This is because overpopulation results to decrease in groundwater, which is as a result of climate change. In addition, due to overpopulation most people migrate into the urban areas resulting to overcrowding. When people migrate into the urban areas, there is a demand for clean and fresh water supply into industries and the population. In addition, as a result of overcrowding there is a lack of access to sewerage systems resulting in deaths and diseases of many people in the urban areas. Thus, it is important for the public anthropologists to ensure that they enlighten the people on the importance of family planning methods to prevent overpopulation, which results to environmental degradation. In conclusion, it is worth noting that for people to leave in a clean environment, public anthropology takes the lead in shaping people into this noble practice. It is important to note that, public anthropologists play an important role in ensuring that people live in a clean environment. They do this by informing the people on the public health policy. This is by working with the non-governmental institutions and the government. By so doing, they are able to educate the people on the measures to take to prevent environmental degradation. This is to say that, public anthropology discipline is as important as the medical field. This is because they deal with the preventive measures compared to the medical field, which mostly deals with the curative measures. Public anthropology has taken an upper hand in today’s society this is because the public anthropologists are able to practice what they learn in their field of specialization. It is important to note that, public anthropology has taken an upper hand to inform the people on the measures to implement to prevent environmental degradation, which has brought adverse effects to the population. Work cited Ali, H. M. A. "Anthropology and the Changing World: How can Anthropologists Serve Humanity?" Management Science and Engineering 3.4 (2009): 16-26. ProQuest. Web. 12 Dec. 2013. Batterbury, Simon. "Anthropology and Global Warming: The Need for Environmental Engagement." The Australian Journal of Anthropology 19.1 (2008): 62-8. ProQuest. Web. 6 Dec. 2013. Ervin, Alexander. "Environmental Anthropology: From Pigs to Policies." American Anthropologist 104.1 (2002): 385-389. ProQuest. Web.12 Dec. 2013. Goldschmidt, Walter. "A Perspective on Anthropology." American Anthropologist 102.4 (2000): 789-807. ProQuest. Web. 12 Dec. 2013. Mabogunje, Akin L. "Poverty and Environmental Degradation: Challenges within the Global Economy." Environment 44.1 (2002): 8-18. ProQuest. Web. 12 Dec. 2013. Suhrke, Astri. "Environmental Degradation and Population Flows." Journal of International Affairs 47.2 (1994): 473-480. ProQuest. Web. 12 Dec. 2013. Read More