Green crime section Flashcards
Examples of Green Crime:
Harm or destruction of wildlife – damage to animals, plants and fish.
Illegal dumping of waste – often toxic material into waterways, the air and land (fly-tipping).
Industrial disasters – chemical, oil and nuclear disasters.
Deforestation – illegal logging and trade in timber.
Air pollution – from motor vehicles (carbon monoxide), and factories (e.g. butadiene)
What is primary green crime and examples and who created it
Primary green crimes are those causing degradation and destruction of the earth’s resources; they are often not seen as breaking any criminal law. (Made by Nigel South)
What is secondary green crime and examples and who is made by)
Secondary green crimes are further crimes that grow out of flouting rules relating to the environment. These are illegal, but may not be enforced e.g hazard waste or state violence
In what ways is green crime ‘global in nature’ rather than restricted to one area?
Green crimes can now be linked to globalisation. This means the effects of environmental crimes are not restricted to a certain location or national boundary but are global in nature — a realisation the planet is a single ecosystem. e.g Chernobyl in Ukraine in 1986 can spread radioactive material over thousands of miles and countries
Abbot (2008), - global warming
Claims rising temperatures and sea levels and the volatile weather could, by 2050, lead to an increase in conflict and tension within and between countries over environmental resources such as clean water and food
White (2008) - defining
should be a clear and broad definition of green crime as any action that harms the physical environment and animals, including humans
Beck (global risk society) in context of green crime
‘manufactured risks’ - demand for goods/consumption and economic growth have meant that our greatest risks are created by us (e.g. nuclear, chemical and biological weapons, global warming, plastic waste and environmental pollution.
Lynch (Marxist) why capitalism is bad
the prioritisation of economic interest over the well-being of the environment
Potter (environmental racism)
who are frequently white, cause suffering to people of a different ethnicity, or minority group.
What are some of the challenges with tackling green crime? (3)
Laws are inconsistent across countries e.g fishing regulations
Many laws that do exist are modified to reduce the impact on powerful TNCs e.g. oil companies, so they are not very effective.
Developing countries are economically vulnerable e.g they may be under pressure to take waste from developing countries or unable to legislate against TNCs because of their economic vulnerability
