CRIME AND DEVIANCE: Green/Environmental Crime Flashcards
What do sociologists mean by ‘Green Crime’?
Actions that break laws protecting the natural environment are green/environmental crime.
What does Wolfe (2011) say about the definition of ‘Green crime’ ?
Suggests adding non-crime environmental harm to this definition; every country has different laws and standards but we should be able to agree that all harm is bad
What is the Transgressive Approach to Green Crime?
Disregard objective definitions to focus on subjective experience. Suggest anything that harms the environment, people’s ability to live within it or even plants/animals should be criminal.
What are some examples of green crime?
- Pollution
- Toxic dumping
- Destruction of ancient forests
- Trafficking endangered animal species
What are some real world examples of green crime?
- Bhopal Disaster: Union Carbide owned an Indian factory that leaked poisonous gas, harming local environment and people. Staff broke regulations and failed to check equipment. Transgressive sociologists claim TNCs do dangerous work in LEDCs because they have no health and safety rules.
- Deepwater Horizon Incident: oil rig suffered explosion in 2010. Crude oil leaked into Gulf of Mexico killing 11 people and damaging wildlife. Company relied on taxpayer-funded clean up teams and avoided responsibility > transgressive sociologists see this as an act of crime through omission of responsibility
How is green crime related to globalisation and Beck’s (1992) ‘Global Risk Society’?
Beck suggests that in the past, most environmental disasters were natural, beyond human control. Increasingly, they’re a result of human activity. Leading to arguments, insecurity and ‘global risk society’. All environmental harm is a global issue > we all inhabit the same ecosystem
According to transgressive sociologists, who commits green crime?
Wolf (2011) identified:
- Individuals
- Private business organisations
- States and governments
- Organised crime
Who are some of the victims of green crime?
- Working class
- Poor
- Ethnic minorities
Potter says they suffer because of ‘environmental racism’ where ethnic minorities are forced to live with the consequences of environmental damage cause by white people.
Who does Snider (1991) say about enforcement action against green crime?
Marxist sociologist that claims that governments don’t do enough because they are often financially supported by the businessman responsible for the crimes.
Who does Sutherland (1983) say about enforcement action for green crime?
Suggests that in Western countries, environmental crime isn’t seen to be on the same level as other crimes, so punishments from the courts are more lenient.
Who is responsible for enforcement action against green crime in the UK?
The Environment Agency is responsible for sanctioning people/companies for green crime. Have a very low conviction rate and fines are not enough to deter TNCs
Why does White (2008) say green crime happens?
Suggests it’s because most people have an anthropocentric (Human-centred) view. They’re happy to sacrifice the environment and other organisms for our progress.
Why does Wolf (2011) say that green crime happens?
We can apply established individual motivations for crime such as:
- Strain Theory (competition)
- Rational Choice Theory (in-group preference)
Why does Pearce (1976) say green crime happens?
It’s an example of criminogenic capitalism - we make money at all costs, including cost to the environment. Powerful companies only need to consider the environment their customers can see, harm caused in LEDCs is unlikely to affect business.
What are the main problems in researching green crime?
- Different laws : findings wont apply/be accepted everywhere
- Different definitions: hard to compare claims
- Measurement Issues: criminals try to conceal their crimes
- Reliance on case studies: there are some scary stories bu they’re all in far away lands so people in the West aren’t interested or worried enough to take a stand.
