Summarizing the Book in Eco-Imperialism - Essay Example

This three page paper looks at the book Eco-Imperialism: Green Power:Black Death by Paul Dreissen. Summarising the key points and outlining several factors raised by the author. The paper looks at the issues concerning the use and the lack of use DDT in Africa, with a discussion on the loss of human life with the rise of malaria in this region. The paper also argues in favour of Driessen's book. They say that the earth is slowly being destroyed by man's slow disregard for the planet he lives on. Furthermore, it is the rich imperialist that has allowed the standards of world protection to fall below what is considered ecologically friendly. Paul Driessen's book Eco-Imperialism: Green Power, Black Death considers the subject of how the extremists of the environmental lobby within the rich and developed countries of the west are pushing their own ecological standards upon those of the less developed world (Driessen, 2003). Paul Driessen has worked within the Senate and Department of the Interior as well as being involved in support groups. However, through out his time in Washington he has slowly realised that the process of support for the environment has slowly ground to a halt, or has become so blinkered by its own ideologies that it has stopped accepting fresh new ideas and evidence that would help saves the lives of billions (Driessen, 2003). Driessen puts forward the statement that has been argued by many that the environment and theories concerning its values should always be taken into consideration and placed over saving human lives. This statement and its actions is seen as being the cause of so many lives being lost in the third world countries (Driessen, 2003). What makes matters worse is that many of these eco-imperialist groups are advocating the need to heal the earth, these groups include Greenpeace, who through the many years of its existence may have used up more oil on it's boat the rainbow warrior than any other shipping or whaling industry. Their aim and agenda is to save the world but at the cost of human life, which sadly can be found in much of the third world (Driessen, 2003). Driessen illustrates that those eco-imperialists are purposely and deliberately forcing their own ideals onto the world and as such are responsible for the death of so many lives around the globe. It is ideas such as the removal of DDT as a pesticide that has caused the rise of mosquitoes. This has caused the death of nearly 2 million people a year in sub Saharan Africa (Driessen, 2003). Driessen points out that when DDT is sprayed in the homes there is no risk to the environment or to people. Moreover, it has been illustrated that by using DDT the South African government had stemmed the number of deaths to around 10,000 per year. Sadly when DDT was halted the deaths rose to a staggeringly 62,000 a year and again fell when DDT was reintroduced (Driessen, 2003) Furthermore, the book illustrates the change in economies and demands for new doctrines for Corporate Social Responsibility, in this the demands are placed upon these groups instead of their own goals and profits, sadly once these ideals are defined then the policies that look at human suffering and misery become less important in favour of profit (Driessen, 2003). Driessen offers up the new ethical codes as a questionable way for the eco-imperialists to push for their ideologies upon the world (Driessen, 2003). The argument by such groups that invoke the eco-imperialistic ethos that science, technology and industry should be removed or refused to the third world countries can be seen as once again elitist, how can a country develop if it is refused the technology in which to do so. Many of the third world countries population seek to move out of their stone age huts and live in modern houses with electricity and clean fresh running water, the kind of things at many in the west take for granted. Yet these poor people are denied even the right of living like modern humans by elitist groups whose only ideal is their own back yard principles (Driessen, 2003). Driessen's book has illustrated that man is not only destroying the world but also himself, however, it is not the destruction of civilised worlds he is destroying by war and nuclear threat but the less developed worlds and he is simply forcing the ideal of attrition through disease and poverty. It is as if the eco imperialist has decided that by making changes to the industries within the western world and changing economies for the better in his own back yard he is making a difference on a global scale (Driessen, 2003). Dreissen's book should be seen a herald in the darkness, in many ways it will be taken as a revolutionary antiestablishment treatise, and in many ways it is, for without revolution there can be no change. Not all revolution is bad and as such, Dreissen's book should be taken as such. If only the governments of the developed world realised that by attempting to help save the world they are destroying lives. If man is to change then the change must come from within, not from saving the world, there are many advances in modern technology that do not disturb the ecology of the world, yet these are being withheld by rich governments and also third world governments who seek to line their pockets. Sadly until governments of the developed world say no to capitalism and offer free help for the people of the world then no change or little change will happen (Driessen, 2003). Paul Dreissen does not pull his punches, in fact his words should barb in the flesh of these skin and hearts of many if not all eco-imperialists, for his words ring with truth. When it is left up to pop stars and actors to give up their time for nothing and seek to do charity work in order to help the starving children or provided health care where none or little is provided then the world is a sorry place. The damage has been done by man, and when Greenpeace or the Green party or other such ecological parties cry out save the world, they must remember that man is just as a part of the world as the flora and fauna, if not for man then the world would slowly die. Paul Driessen's book has touched an already soft part of my heart and I would recommend this book to any one, especially those in the high elitist places who can have some authority to help change the world and make it a better place where money doesn't talk and human life no matter where it is found is sacred. Sources Driessen, P (2003) Eco-Imperialism: Green Power Black Death: Merril Press Read More