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CBSE-i,CLASS-X, POLITICAL SCIENCE

STUDENTS’ MANUAL

UNIT IV- ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES IN GLOBAL POLITICS

Environment: An Increasing Political Concern

Environment became an increasing political concern because after rapid industrialization of

the world in 1960’s many environmental problems started. These problems were inherently

global in nature and their effects crossed National Boundaries. To control them strong

National and International laws were required.

Before we talk about how these environmental problems became part of “world politics” we

will first discuss some of these problems and how their effect was felt by the world

community.

I. Global Warming

Source: (stuffintheair.com)

The world today is witnessing an increase in temperatures due to increase in green house

gases in the atmosphere. Scientists have found that the Earth’s temperatures has increased

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STUDENTS’ MANUALby 0.6oc (1oF) during the 20th century. If the green house gases will continue to increase

further warming will take place, perhaps by up to 3.5oc (6.3oF) over the coming decades.

Effects of global warming are seen all over the world.

Firstly, large scale food and water shortage will have catastrophic effects on wildlife.

Secondly, Sea levels could rise between 7 and 23 inches by this century’s end. This could

cause flood in many South Sea Islands and swamps large part of South East Asia. For

example, if sea level will raise then Maldives in Indian Ocean which is made up of 1190

islands will be submerged under water. The state of Florida will be completely covered

with water. Netherland also faces a serious threat of flooding if sea level rises.

Thirdly, glaciers around the world will melt, due to which there will be shortage of food

and these glaciers are sources of water supply to many rivers. Glaciers in The Himalayas

and in the Tibet-Qinghai plateau are melting. Gangotri glacier provides water to Ganges

all the year around which in turn helps in the increase in food crops in northern India. If

this glacier will stop supplying water to river Ganges, then the river will turn into a

seasonal river, having water only during rainy season.

Practice: - worksheet no.1&4

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INTERESTING FACTSA BLANKET OF GASSome of the gases in the atmosphere such as carbon dioxide, methane, ozone, behave like glass in a green house. These gases are called green house gases. They let light and heat energy pass through the atmosphere but they trap some of the heat that is radiated back and stop it from leaving the earth’s atmosphere. This keeps our planet comfortable warm at 15oCwithout green house gases the temperature of our planet would be around -18oC


STUDENTS’ MANUAL

Source :( nccsdindia.org)

Polar bears will become extinct by the end of this century. They are very unlikely to

survive in the increased temperature.

SOURCE: (mairedubhtx.wordpress.com) SOURCE: (mairedubhtx.wordpress.com)

Diseases like Malaria, West Nile Fever, Dengue fever and river blindness will spread to a

wider area. One third of living on land species living on land will be threatened by 2050.

Rain forests of Brazil and S.Africa will be affected because of high temperatures and less

rainfall. Strong hurricanes, droughts, heat waves, wild fires will become common place in

many parts of the world.

All these effects are global in nature as they will affect the entire World Community.

Therefore, need was felt to have International laws and participation of countries all over

the world.

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INTERESTING FACTS1. Arctic ice is rapidly disappearing and the region may have

its first completely ice free summer by 2040.2. Coral reefs , which are highly sensitive to small changes in

water temperature, suffered the worst bleaching or die-off in response to stress- ever recorded in 1998 with some areas seeing bleach rate of 70%. Expert expect these sort of events to increase in frequency and intensity in the next 50 years


STUDENTS’ MANUALII. Ozone layer Depletion

Source: (oocities.org)

Ozone layer absorbs UVB (Ultra Violet Rays) from the sun. CFC (chlorofuoro carbons) is

the major cause of global warming. The loss of ozone allows more Ultra Violet lights to

pass through the atmosphere at a sufficient rate to warm the earth by 0.48oc.

Source: (earthsky.org) (ucsusa.org)

Effect of ozone depletion can be seen in the Polar region. It has caused Permafrost to melt

which is releasing captious quantities of methane estimated at 100 times that of manmade

Co2releases. Ozone hole has been seen over Arctic, Tibet and Antarctica. The ozone hole

over Antarctica has grown so large as to reach southern parts of Australia, New Zealand,

Chile, Argentina and South Africa.

Environmentalists all over the world are concerned about skin cancer, cataracts, damage

to plants and reduction of plankton population in the ocean.

Practice: - worksheet no.2

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INTERESTING FACTSIn 1994, the United Nations General Assembly voted to designate September

16 as “World’s Ozone Day” to commemorate the signing of the Montreal

Protocol.


STUDENTS’ MANUALIII. Pollution in the sea

Third environmental problem which concerns the world community is pollution in the

sea. Tankers wash their hold in the sea killing many sea birds. Sewage lines are opened

into the sea, radioactive waste is thrown into the sea causing sea pollution.

Source :( pollutionarticles.blogspot.com) (news.nationalgeographic.com)

Effects of sea pollution can be seen in Gulf of Mexico which has become a dead zone due

to pollution. Mississippi which is the second largest river in America passes through 31

states before it reaches the Gulf of Mexico. People living near this river throw household

rubbish; fishermen throw litter out of their boats. The pollution increases due to oil spills

which occur when oil is transported from rigs to oil refineries. Discharge of fertilizers

from farms adds nitrates and phosphates into the Mississippi river. The nutrients allow

algae growth in the gulf. This algae blocks sunlight that marine life needs to survive. Fish

and other animals move away and those who cannot move away die. Thus, creating dead

zone there.

Source: (serc.carleton.edu)Another effect which shook the world community was the fallout at Chernobyl in the

Soviet-Union. On 26th April 1986, an explosion took place in the nuclear plant there

releasing radioactive material into the atmosphere. The amount of radiation that escaped

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STUDENTS’ MANUALfrom the plant was 200 times higher than that released from the atom bombs that were

dropped at Hiroshima and Nagasaki. It poisoned lakes, rivers, streams and ground water

sources. Even the soil got contaminated. It led to brain tumors; leukemia, blood diseases

and the babies born after this disaster had many birth defects.

Source: (chernobylee.com)

IV. Space Debris Pollution

Space may be infinite but earth’s orbital space is finite. Space debris was created at the

time of cold war. There was a race for space and military superiority between USA and

former USSR which led to many space missions creating space debris.

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INTERESTING FACTSThe effect of oil pollution on wild life can be terrible. Between January 1971 and June 1979, 36,000 birds were found dead around the British coast as a result of oil spill. Migrating species like the puffin, guillemot and razorbill are especially at risk, as they look for areas of calm water on which to rest or catch fish.Oil covered seas look calm, but if a bird land in a slick, the oil coats its feathers and makes it unable to fly away. Even slightly oiled birds sometimes die because they preen their feathers, and in doing so, ingest oily substances which are poisonous to them. An animal killed by oil may then be eaten by fish or birds, which in turn are poisoned by oil.


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There are four kinds of space debris:-

1. Inactive pay loads- which mean these satellites have run out of fuel or are not fit

enough to function. They are repaired and debris are created during that process.

2. Operational debris -it includes debris left in space after launching a satellite.

3. Fragmentation Debris-are created when there is explosion or collision in the space.

4. Micro particulate matter- is created due to surface degradation. Surface of space craft

is exposed to space environment and debris are created due to gradual disintegration.

These space debris area cause of concern for the future as space debris can lead to chain

of collisions in the coming years. Space debris will collide with satellites and other space

objects and will become the most important debris generating mechanism in future.

V. Depletion of Natural Resources

Depletion of natural resources especially non-renewable resources like forests, minerals

and fossil fuels are of great concern to the world community. It has taken millions of

years to form these natural resources and the world community has to use it judiciously

keeping in mind their present needs without compromising the needs of future

generations. With this we enter the realm of sustainable development that takes place

without damaging the environment.

Forests are the breathing lungs of the civilization and therefore are very important for the

survival of life on earth and the ecosystem. It holds the soil, attracts rain and is the habitat

of millions of wild animals, birds and insects.

Indiscriminate cutting of these forests is the matter of great concern for the world

community. By the end of 19th century, most of the forests of North America, Australia

and New Zealand had been cleared.

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STUDENTS’ MANUAL

Source: (environmedia.com)

Source: (Incli-nation.com)

World community has seen the example of America when it was changed from the Bread

Basket to dust bowl. When Europeans started settling in America they slashed, burnt

forests, pulled out stumps, and cleared the land for agriculture. Gradually, America

became the largest wheat producing nation of the world.

In 1930’s dust storms began to blow black blizzards, varying from 7000 to 8000 feet

high, rising like monstrous waves of muddy water. They came day after day, year after

year, through the 1930’s. People were blinded and choked. Castles were suffocated to

death, their lungs choked with dust and mud. Dead bodies of birds and animals were

strewn all over the land. Ordinary dust storms became black blizzards because land was

devoid of trees and grass which held the soil together.

After 1930 the settlers realized that they had to respect nature.

Minerals and fossil fuels are non renewable resources. Minerals like iron, bauxite, copper,

mica, manganese, limestone, gold, diamonds and fossil fuels like petroleum has taken

millions of years to form. They are exhaustible resources. We have to conserve them for

future generations and use them economically.


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STUDENTS’ MANUAL

CLEAN DRINKING WATER

Source: (chemistryexplained.com)

Earth is known as ‘Blue Planet’ because water covers three quarters of its surface and

makes it look Blue from Space. Almost 97% of the water found on the earth is sea water.

The salinity of the water in oceans and seas makes it unsuitable for drinking. The fresh

water that people need to drink makes up only 3% of Earth’s water. Almost all of this is

found in the form of ice at the North and South Poles. Only 1%of fresh water is found at

the surface-rivers, lakes and wet lands. This 1% of water is getting polluted by Industries

and human waste, garbage and toxins. There is a dire need to produce clean drinking

water for the next generation.

Thus, concern about global warming, ozone depletion, space debris, depletion of natural

resources forced the world community to make laws as their consequences were not

limited to the boundaries of the concerned countries. These issues had political

consequences and we enter the world of global politics.

Environmental Global Norms

We have just studied about the various environmental problems which should be studied

in geography rather than in political science. But if various governments of the world will

take steps to check environmental degradation of this kind, these issues will have political

consequences and will become part of world politics.

“Issues of environment and natural resources are political in another deeper sense. Who

causes environmental degradation? Who pays the price? And who is responsible for

taking corrective action? Who gets to use how much of natural resources of earth? All

this raises the issue of who wields how much power. They are therefore, deeply political

questions”

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STUDENTS’ MANUALEnvironmental consequences of economic growth acquired a political character from

1960 onwards.

The Club of Rome

Source: en.wikipedia.org

The club of Rome was founded in 1968 in Bellagio, Italy. This club is a global think tank

that deals with International political issues. It describes itself as “A group of World

citizens, sharing a common concern for the future of humanity” and they want to act as a

“global catalyst for change”.

Source: dailyrealityslap.com

Their book “the limits to growth” published in 1972 dealt with the issue that economic

growth is related to depletion of natural resources especially oil. In their second report

“Mankind at the turning point” they stressed on the fact that economic growth is still in

the hands of the humans and environmental catastrophe can be avoided. In 1993, the club

also published “the first global revolution” in which they stressed that pollution, threat of

“global warming, water shortages and famines” should unite the different nations of the

world and they should work towards preventing the environmental degradation it and

building a better world.

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THE CONCEPTUAL BASISThe Club of Rome wanted to think holistically and to seek a deeper understanding of interactions within the tangle of contemporary problems- political, social, economic, technological, environmental, psychological, and cultural in every sense- for which we coined the phrase “The world problematique”


STUDENTS’ MANUALUNEP- United Nations Environmental Programme

Source: topnews.in

UNEP began holding International conferences and started encouraging detailed studies to

get a more coordinated and effective response to environmental problems. Since then, the

environment has emerged as a significant issue of global politics.

EARTH SUMMIT

We do not inherit the earth from our fathers; we borrow it from our children.

Environment issues were further discussed by world community in June 1992,

at Rio-de-Janerio, in Brazil. This is also called as Earth summit. It was attended by

government officials from 178 countries and between 20,000 and 30,000 individuals from

government, non government organizations and the media participated in it.

Source: bonfireblog.wordpress.com Source: worldwatch.org

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STUDENTS’ MANUALMore than 130 nations signed the convention on climate change. All of them agreed on

Agenda 21, an action plan for developing the planet sustainability through the 21st century

and a broad statement of principles of protecting forests.

I. The main objective of the convention was to have green house gas concentration in

the atmosphere at a level that would not harm the climate system.

II. The developed world must take the lead in combating climate change and its adverse

effect.

III. U.N Intergovernmental Panel on climate change predicts that if present emission

trends for green house gases continue, the average global temperature will increase by

1.5-4.5oC by the middle of next century.

IV. There should be transfer of technology to developing countries and an institutional

mechanism to enable the international community to manage climate change problem.

i. Agenda 21 which was accepted to ensure that development proceeds in a

sustainable manner.

ii. Another goal is to remove poverty throughout the world with better management

of energy and natural resources.

iii. It also ensures sustainable use of global regional resources such as atmosphere,

oceans, seas fresh water and marine organisms.

iv. Agenda also wants to improve the management of chemicals and waste.

Source: (newint.org)

Many contentious issues were not agreed upon like protection of forests, desertification,

financing and who would oversee implementation of Agenda 21.

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STUDENTS’ MANUALIn Rio Summit the developed and rich countries of the world generally referred to as ‘Global

North’ had different environmental agenda. They were more concerned with ozone depletion

and global warming. The third world and developing countries were called ‘Global South’

were more concerned with economic development and environment management.

The summit also dealt with the principle of ‘Common but differentiated responsibilities’. The

global south i.e. the developing countries blamed the developed countries for the present

environmental degradation of the world. Since industrialization started in developed countries

they should bear more responsibility.

The developing countries are in the process of Industrialization and should not be subjected

to the same kind of restrictions. Due to different contribution of global environmental

degradation, states have common but differentiated responsibilities.

Protection of Global Commons

Source: (navycaptain-therealnavy.blogspot.com

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COMMON GOAL BUT DIFFERENT RESPONSIBLITIESThe United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

1. The largest share of historical and current global emissions of green house gases has originated in developed countries.

2. Per capita emissions in developing countries are still relatively low.3. The share of global emissions originating in developing countries will

grow to meet their social and development needs.


STUDENTS’ MANUAL

Source: karlquirino.wordpress.com

The term ‘Global Commons’ refers to the earth’s unowned natural resources, such as the

oceans, the atmosphere and the space. Atmosphere, Sea beds, Outer space and Antarctica

comes under the jurisdiction of global commons.

There are many agreements such as 1959 Antarctica Treaty, 1987 Montreal Protocol and

1991 Antarctic Environmental Protocol. The discovery of the ozone hole over the Antarctic

in the mid 1980 revealed the dangers in tackling global environmental problems.

There is North-South inequalities also in global commons. The developed north is

technologically superior as compared to the developing south. As a result, the exploitative

activities in outer space are far from being equal.

KYOTO PROTOCOL

Source: (waronterrortheboardgame.com)

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We cannot betray future generations. They will judge us harshly if we fail at this critical moment.-Gro Harlem Brundtland, Prime Minister of Norway, UNCED, 1992

We can waste the planets resources for a few decades more. We must realize that one day the storm will break on the heads of future generations. For them it will be too late-

U.N Secretary General Boutros- Ghali, UNCED, 1992.


STUDENTS’ MANUALKyoto Protocol treaty was negotiated in December, 1997 at the city of Kyoto, Japan and

came into force on February 16, 2005.

The protocol was developed under

UNFCCC (The United Nations

Framework Convention on Climate

Change).

This protocol was a legally binding

agreement under which industrialized

countries would reduce their collective emissions of green house gases by 5.2% compared to

the year 1990. The green house gases include carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, sulfur,

hexafluoride, HFC’s and PFC’s calculated as an average over the five years period 2008-12.

National targets range from 8% reductions for the European Union and some others to 7% for

the US, 6% for Japan, 0% for Russia and permitted increase of 8% for Australia and 10% for

Iceland.

India and China are not obliged to reduce green house gas production at the moment as they

are developing countries. They were not seen as the culprits for emissions during the period

of industrialization.

Source: eoearth.org

Copenhagen Climate Conference

Another conference by the world

community to solve global environmental

problems was held at Copenhagen on

December 18, 2009 in Denmark under

United Nations climate change conference. 15


STUDENTS’ MANUALCopenhagen Conference was not successful because there was an enormous divide between

rich and poor countries. Poor countries wanted deep cuts in emissions by the industrialized

world but the developed countries resisted cuts and legally binding targets.

Common but Differentiated Responsibility Principle Sidelined

Common but differentiated responsibility principles were also sidelined. Rich nations had

emitted most of the green house gases during the period of industrialization. Therefore,

responsibilities to reduce green house gases lie with the developed countries. Developing

countries emissions are likely to rise on their path to industrialization and trying to meet

basic, social and development needs. India and China were blamed for being unco-operative

and reacting negatively when faced with pressure to submit to emission reduction targets.

LOWERED EXPECTATIONS AND OUTCOMES

Four essential issues were to be addressed at Copenhagen:-

i. How much are the industrialized countries willing to reduce their emissions of

green house gases?

ii. How much are major developing countries such as China and India willing to

limit the growth of their emissions?

iii. How is the help needed by the developing countries to engage in reducing their

emissions- going to be financed?

iv. How is the money going to be managed?

In the end there was a vague agreement.

Thus, environment degradation and efforts to curb it by world powers. Both the developed

and developing countries are definitely political issues and they fall within the scope of world

politics.

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STUDENTS’ MANUAL

Source: economist.com

Environmental Movements

We have so far studied about the work of governments on national and international

forums working for the protection of the environment. Many environmental conscious

citizens have also started movements all over the world for the protection of their natural

resources. These environmental movements are amongst the most vibrant, diverse and

powerful social movements across the globe.


Environmental Movements in India

Chipko Movement

“Maatuhamru, Paanihamru, hamra hi chhanyibaunbhi…

Pitronnalagaibaun, hamunahi ta bachonbhi”

Soil ours, water ours, ours are these forests. Our forefathers raised them; it’s we who

must protect them – Old Chipko song in Garhwali language

Source: treehugger.com Source:hindu.com

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STUDENTS’ MANUALAIM: - The main aim of this movement was to protect the forests in Garhwal Himalayas

of Uttrakhand. This movement is also known as ‘Tree Hugging Movement’ and later it

inspired many eco groups who wanted to stop rapid deforestation, increase ecological

awareness and demonstrate the strength of people’s power. “India Today”mentioned the

people behind the ‘Forest Satyagraha’ of the Chipko movement as amongst 100 people

who shaped India.

REASON: - After the Indo-China war of 1962 in which India faced heavy losses, a need

was felt to secure its borders. Government started building roads, army bases, into the

upper reaches of Garhwal as this region shares its boundaries with Chinese ruled Tibet.

Garhwal, which was inaccessible till now because of its dense forests and difficult terrain,

opened up to the people living in plains of India. With subsequent development, came

mining projects for limestone, magnesium and potassium. Timber merchants and

commercial foresters also had access to these areas.

Reckless deforestation led to many incidences of landslides. Soon, villagers started

organizing themselves under several small groups and started to cut the forests.

The first occasion occurred in 1972 when the forest department gave permission to

company from Allahabad to cut 300 trees to make tennis rackets. When the contractor

came to this region on April, 24 1973, he was met with workers beating drums and

shouting slogans.

The final flash point came on June 1974, for 2,500 trees near Reni village, overlooking

the Alaknanda River. When the men came to cut the trees, the villagers decided to protest

against the actions of the government by hugging the

trees. Over the next few weeks, rallies and meeting

continued.

On March 26, 1974 when the contractor came to cut the

trees, the girl on seeing them rushed to inform Gaura

Devi, the head of the village Mahila Mangal Dal. Gaura

Devi with 27 other women confronted the loggers. When

all the talks failed and the loggers started threatening

them with guns, the women hugged the trees and stopped

them from felling. The women kept an all night vigil

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STUDENTS’ MANUALguarding their trees from the cutters. Next day when the men returned, people from

neighboring villages joined them and compelled the contractor to leave.

The news reached the state capital, the chief minister, Hemwati Nandan Bahugana set up

a committee to look into the matter, which ruled in favor of the villagers.

This became the turning point in the history of eco-development struggles in the region. It

became a bench mark for socio-ecological movements in India.

“Embrace the trees and

Save them from being felled

The property of our hills,

Save them from being looted”

Narmada Bachao Andolan

Source: justseeds.org

Narmada Bachao Andolan was another mass movement against the construction of Sardar

Sarovar Dam built across Narmada River, Gujarat in India. On October 6, 1969, 30

major, 135 medium and 3000 small dams were granted approval for construction

including raising the height of Sardar Sarovar Dam.

This was a multi crore project that would generate big revenue for the government. The

Narmada Valley Development plan is the most promised and most challenging plan in the

history of India. It would produce 1450 MW of electricity and pure drinking water to 40

million people covering thousands of villages and lawns.

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STUDENTS’ MANUALIn 1985, when Medha Patekar and her colleagues visited the construction site, she came

to know that the tribals and villagers

who will be displaced due to

construction of dam were not given

any kind of rehabilitation. The

project was financed by the World

Bank but no sanction was taken from

the ministry of environment and

forests.

MedhaPatekar established Narmada

Bachao Andolan in 1989. Many groups joined this movement like environment and

human rights activists, scientists, academics and project affected people.

She went on a fast for 22 days. The fast almost took her life. Her action led to an

unprecedented review of the World Bank. President Barber Coinable conducted its first

independent review of a World Bank project. This independent review stated that

“performance under these projects has fallen short of what is called as under bank policies

and guidelines and the policies of the government of India.” The World Bank’s

participation in these projects was cancelled in 1995.

Patekar led Narmada Bachao Andolan had filed a written petition with the Supreme Court

of India, the nation’s apex court, seeking stoppage of the construction on the Sardar

Sarovar Dam. The court ruled the decision in Andolan’s favor thereby affecting an

immediate stoppage of work at the dam and directing the concerned states to first

complete the rehabilitation and replacement process. The court introduced a mechanism

to monitor the progress of resettlement.

Subsequent to the court’s verdict Press Information Bureau (PIB) featured an article

which states that: “The Narmada Bachao Andolan has rendered a yeomen’s service to the

country by creating a high level of awareness about the environmental and rehabilitation

and relief aspect of Sardar Sarovar and other projects on Narmada. But, after the court

verdict it is incumbent on it to adopt a new role. Instead of damming the dam any longer,

it could assume the role of vigilant observer to see that the resettlement work is as human

and painless as possible and that the environmental aspects are taken care of.”

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STUDENTS’ MANUAL

Source: hindu.com Source: prathapchandra.blogspot.com


Bolivia’s Water Supply

Source: askbjoernhansen.com

Bolivia is a country located in the heart of South America. Its struggle against

privatization of water and the right of elected government to sell the natural resources of a

country is a very interesting example of a struggle of people for the protection of their

natural resources.

In order to establish its economy the government of Bolivia took loan from the World

Bank. Bolivia privatized its railways, telephone system, national airlines and hydro

carbon industry. The World Bank declared that it will not renew a 25million USD loan to

Bolivia unless it privatized its water services.

Water works of Cochabamba were controlled by the state agency SEMAPA. Due to the

pressure from the World Bank, the Bolivian government put SEMAPA up for auction for

privatization. Aguas del Tunari bought the company. Immediately it increased the price of

water by four times. Many people received monthly water bill of Rs.1000 in a country

where average income is around Rs.5000 a month. This led to a spontaneous popular

protest. 21


STUDENTS’ MANUAL

Source: academic.evergreen.edu

Water is essential for living. The inhabitants of Cochabamba, the peasants, the farmers,

all reacted against the multinational company. Protestors were able to halt Cochabamba’s

economy by holding a general strike that shut down the city for four days. The

government agreed to negotiate and the strike was called off. On February 4, 2000,

thousands of protesters clashed with police. Almost 200 demonstrators were arrested, 70

protestors and 51 policemen were injured.

On April 8, 2000 the President declared a state of emergency. Information minister

Ronald Mac Lean said “We find ourselves with a country with access roads to the cities

blocked with food shortages, passengers stranded and chaos beginning to take hold in

other cities.

After a televised recording of Bolivian army captain firing a rifle into a crowd of

demonstrators wounding many and hitting high school students Victor Hugo Daza in the

face, killing him, intense anger erupted. The police told the executives of the consortium

that their safety could no longer be guaranteed. After coming out of four days of hiding,

Oscar Olivera signed an agreement with the government guarantying the removal of

Aguas del Tunari and turning Cochabamba’s water works cover to the municipality at old

rates.

This came to be known as Bolivia’s Water War.

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STUDENTS’ MANUALThus it is not only the Government at National and International levels which are

concerned about protecting the World from environment degradation but common people

have also led movements against exploitation of their Natural Resources.


Indigenous People

Indigenous people are those who historically belonged to a particular region or country,

before its colonization or transformation into a nation State. They have different culture,

linguistic traditions from those who came later to that region.

As defined by the United Nations “They form at present non dominant sector of society and

are determined to preserve, develop, and transmit to future generations their ancestor’s

territories, and their ethnic identity, as the basis of their continued existence as peoples, in

accordance with their own cultural patterns, social institutions and legal systems”

Attitude of Europeans towards indigenous people.

Two important reasons for European conquest of Asia and Africa was first to civilize the

Blacks and Browns. The second reason was to spread Christianity. The Europeans saw them

as ‘savages’ who could be saved by civilizing them and converting them into Christians.

Condition of Indigenous people

Indigenous people throughout the world share one thing in common, a history of injustice.

They have been killed, tortured and enslaved. They have been the victims of genocide and

conquest. Colonization attempted to steal their dignity and identity as indigenous people as

well as their fundamental right of self determination.

In India, Brazil, Thailand and Malaysia Multinational companies have been accused of

participating in ‘biopiracy’ where by biological resources used by them for centuries have

been patented away. Construction of dams, roadways and other infrastructure gets built

without compensating indigenous people.

Massai of Africa

The Maasai are ethnic group of semi-nomadic people located in Kenya and northern

Tanzania. They are pastoralists, and are famous for their fearsome reputations as warriors and

cattle rustlers. The title Maasai derives from the word Maa .Maa-sai means ‘My People’

The Maasai are traditionally nomadic and pastoral people who depend on milk and meat for

sustenance.

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STUDENTS’ MANUALWith the creations of Nation States of Kenya and Tanzania the tribal people lost their

sovereignty and system of Government. Maasai who were a strong sovereign and indigenous

nation became powerless. They had to struggle to maintain their identity in a hostile political

environment.

In the late 19th century, European Imperial Powers divided Africa into different Colonies. In

1885, Massai Land was cut into half with an International Boundary between British Kenya

and German Tanganiyaka.

The best grazing land were gradually taken over for white settlement and the Maasai were

pushed into a small area in south Kenya and north Tanzania. The Maasai lost about 60% of

their pre-colonial lands and were restricted to a dry region with little rainfall and poor

pastures.

Main source of income of the British was taxes; therefore they encouraged local peasants

communities to expand cultivation. Pasturelands were turned into cultivation fields. Large

areas of their grazing land were also turned into game reserves like the Maasai Mara

Samburu National Park in Kenya. Serengeti National Park was created over 14,760 km of

Maasai grazing land.

Maasai, were bound down to a restricted area and they could not shift their cattle to places

where pastures could be found. An enquiry in 1930 showed that the Massai in Kenya

possessed 720,000 cattle, 820,000 sheep and 171,000 donkeys. In just two years – 1933 -

1934, over half of their cattle died.

The Europeans also brought with them diseases like they did in America. Africans had not

developed immunity for these diseases like Bovine Pleuropneumonia Rinderpest and

Smallpox.

90% of their cattle and half of wild animals perished from Rinderpest. According to the

German doctor every second African had a pock-marked face as the result of Smallpox.

24


STUDENTS’ MANUALAustrian explorer Oscar Bauman travelled in Massai lands in 1891-93. He wrote in his book

‘Through the land of Maasai to the source of the Nile’, “There were women wasted to

skeletons from whose eyes the madness of starvation glared – warriors scarcely able to crawl

on all fours, and apathetic languishing elders. Swarms of vultures followed them from high

awaiting their certain victims.”

Exploitation of this kind needs International laws and strong Intervention.

Case Study 2

Bushmen

The Indigeneus people of southern Africa whose territory spans most areas of South Africa,

Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Mozambique, Switzerland, Botswana Namibia and Angola are variously

referred to as Bushmen, San, ShoBarwa, Kung or Khwe. These people were traditionally

hunter-gatherers, part of the Khoisan group and are related to the traditionally pastoral

Khoikhar.

The Bushmen are said to be more than 10,000 years old and are the second oldest people on

the Earth. The Bushmen are “the forgotten people”, have been in their area hunting/

gathering and living their traditional life-style. There are approximately 200 families in

existence.

They speak a click dialect that only a few know and understand. Their innate hunting

abilities and fierce survival skills have little documentation. These living treasures are being

pushed further and further away from the land that they knew, to drier pastures. They believe

that their traditional lifestyle is coming to an end and their usefulness is finished.

Problems and their struggles.

In the early 1980s, diamonds were discovered in the reserve. Soon after, Government

Ministers went into the reserve to tell the Bushmen living there that they would have to leave

because of the discovery of diamonds.

25


STUDENTS’ MANUALIn three big clearances, in 1997, 2002 and 2005, virtually all the Bushmen were forced out.

Their homes were dismantled, their school and health post were closed, their water supply

was destroyed and the people were threatened and trucked away.

The Government since mid 1990’s started relocation policy and tried to move the Bushmen

out of their ancestral land on the Central Kalahari Game reserve. The Government wanted to

remove them for the lucrative tourist trade and diamond mining.

Political Struggle

1. One December 13, 2006, the Bushmen won a historic ruling in their long running court

case against the Government. The court ruled the refusal to allow the Baser into the

Central Kalahari Game reserve without a permit, and the refusal to issue special game

licenses to allow the Bushmen to hunt was “unlawful and unconstitutional.”

2. In April 2008 the United Nations Human Right Council (UNHRC) criticized Botswana’s

Government for not allowing certain Bushmen to return.

3. In January 27, 2011 the Bushmen woman appeal against the Government in Botswana

High Court after they were initially prohibited from accessing drinking water inside the

Reserve through Bore hole. Barrister Gorden Benett found the Government guilty of

‘degrading treatment’ and described the case as ‘a harrowing story of human suffering

and despair’.

Hoodia traditional knowledge agreement

Hoodia gordonii, used by San Bushmen was patented by the South African Council for

Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in 1998. Without the knowledge of the San, the

CSIR patented the plant for its appetite suppressing quality. Once their Patent was

brought to the attention of the San, a benefit sharing agreement was reached between

Bushmen and the CSIR in 2003. This would award royalties to the San for the benefits of

their indigenous knowledge. San was represented by a regional organization formed

under San leadership, the working group of indigenous Minorities in Southern Africa

(WIMSA). The San have yet to profit from this agreement.


26


STUDENTS’ MANUALArticles on

United Nations Declaration on the Right of Indigenous Peoples

After 30 years of struggle by Indigenous People, the United Nations finally passed the

declaration on the Right of Indigenous People. The Declaration – with its attention to

equitable and sustainable developments, protecting the Earth’s dwindling natural resources

and biodiversity, and human rights.

TRIBES OF INDIA

The Santhals are Indigenous tribes of India. They used to live in the region of Mayurbhanj,

Chhotanagpur, Palamau, Hazaribagh, Midnagar, Bankura and Birbhum. They were confined

to their forests and were engaged in hunting for subsistence.

Britishers started claiming their lands. British policy was to increase agricultural lands as they

wanted taxes from the farmers which were their main source of income.

The simple and honest Santhals were cheated and turned into slaves by zamindars and money

lenders. They first turned them into debt by giving those loans for goods. Santhals tried to

repay these loans but the interest was so high and the debts multiplied to an amount for which

generation of the Santhal family had to work as slaves. The Santhals women were disgraced

and abused. The loss of freedom that they once enjoyed turned them into rebels.

On 30 June 1855, two great Santhal rebel leaders, SidhuMurmu and his brother Kanhu,

mobilized ten thousand Santhal and declared a rebellion against British colonists.

In the battle which followed, the British, equipped with modern firearms and war elephants,

subdued the rebellion.

The British attacked every village of the Santhals and brutally suppressed the Santhals.

27

Article:1 – Indigenous people have the right to the full enjoyment, as a collective or as individuals, of all human rights and fundamental freedoms as recognized in the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and International Human Rights law.Article: 2 – Indigenous people and individuals are free and equal to all other people and individuals and have right to be free from any kind of discrimination, in the exercise of their rights, in particular that based on their indigenous origin or identity.Article: 3 – Indigenous people have the right to self-determination. Article: 4 – In exercising their rights to self-determination, have the right to autonomy or self-government in matters relating to their internal and local affairs, as well as ways and means for financing their autonomous functions.


STUDENTS’ MANUALThis was a struggle of tribes against the exploitative policy of the British on their native land

and also against zamindars who worked on behalf of the British.

Bhotiyas of Kumaon

Source: sai.uni-heidelberg.de

Source: indianholiday.com Source: tribuneindia.com

Bhotiyas are a tribal people who live in bhot, a region of highland valleys bordering Tibet

situated in Kumaon Himalayas of Northern India.

They were nomads who used to trade and travelled with their huge flock of goat sheep and

ponies from the trade posts of Gartak and Gyanima in Tibet to ridges and valleys of Kumaon

into the Gangetic plains.

Nomadic trade was in their blood. Tibetan wool, gold dust, borax and rock salt packed on the

back of their ponies and they used to travel down to the plains of India. In mid March they

climbed the mountains to reach Tibet.

There life changed with the Indo-China war in 1962 and occupation of Tibet by China. The

link between the two countries was cut off all of a sudden their life changed. Their struggle

increased with the construction of road by the Indian Government and commercialization of

28


STUDENTS’ MANUALforests. Fuel wood and fodder became scarce and water sources dried up. The government in

order to help them started giving wool to Bhotiya women. But the wool was of poor quality

and middlemen started to exploit these women.

Once a nomadic tribe, who used to move from one place to another for centuries now had to

face a bleak future. Even today they are trying hard to survive. This tribe has expanded,

migrated and readapted to present day life.

Thus depletion of Natural Resources, cutting of forests, mining by the modern Industrialized

world has brought a lot of hardship to the indigenous People and now they are demanding

Rights to protect their culture.

Practice: worksheet- 4.

GLOBALISATION AND ITS EFFECT ON ENVIRONMENT

Globalization has direct and indirect effect on environment.

1. The direct effect includes emissions and environmental damage associated with physical

movements of goods between exporters and importers. This includes emissions from fossil

fuel, oils pills, and introduction of exotic species.

Surface transport -Only one quarter of global trade is between countries sharing land borders

.Trade between North America and Europe is 25% to 35%, between Africa, Asia and Middle

East 1-5% only. Environmental damages arise from land transport.

Shipping related emission – When goods are transported from one country to another by

ships there is a risk of oil spills. The average spill rate is only 24,243 tons. The global

transport sector accounts for 14% of green house gas emission.

Source: library.thinkquest.org

29


STUDENTS’ MANUALBiological invasion –Another direct channel through which trade and transport impact

environment is through introduction of non active, or exotic, species. These species came

through contaminants of trade products, especially food products or nursery stock, packing

material and modes of transport particularly contaminated ballast water.

2. Globalization’s indirect effect on environment –

Positive impact- Due to trade liberalization, if the country’s service sector expands and its

heavy industry contracts, the country’s total emission is likely to fall. This is a positive

impact of globalization. Trade liberalization changes relative prices. As tariff barriers are not

there the price of import competing good is very less. Many countries are expanding these

industries which are less pollution intensive and contracting those industries which are more

pollution intensive.

Demand for environmental quality increases with income. As we get richer we demand more

environmental amenities that influence environmental regulations. High income countries are

likely to set stricter environmental regulations as compared to low income countries,

liberalization leads clean industries to expand in rich countries and dirty industries (polluted

industries) will expand in poor countries. For example. In 2006 Saunders and Taylor in U.K

found out that importing dairy and meat into U.K from New Zealand would lead to fewer

carbon releases than producing the same goods ideally. One tone carcass of lamb in New

Zealand results in 688 kilograms of carbon dioxide emissions, while producing that same

amount of lamb in U.K would result in 2,849 kilograms of carbon dioxide emissions.

Another positive effect of globalization is transfer of technologies. How much pollution a

country emits per unit of a particular good produced depends on the technique of production.

Engineering firms that develop clean technologies engage in the direct sale of their

technologies to firms overseas. Rich countries can have these technologies and limit their

pollution level.

Thus globalization has positive as well as negative impact on the environment.

Environmental degradation has political effect; it’s an integral part of our present “World

Politics”.

30


STUDENTS’ MANUAL

Source: iwritearticle.com

************************************************************************

31


STUDENTS’ MANUALWORKSHEETS

WORKSHEET 1

Q1. Why will Polar Bears not survive due to increased temperature? Give reason.

Q2. Why do Sea birds or Sea animals die if they are covered with oil? Give reason.

WORKSHEET - 2

An explosion took place in the nuclear plant at Chernobyl in the Soviet- union which led

to poisoned lakes, rivers, streams and ground water sources. Find out any such area in

your country where people suffered because of extreme pollution. Write a report in

your own words.

32


STUDENTS’ MANUAL

WORKSHEET NO. 3

Trees play a very important role in protecting the soil and maintaining an ecological

balance .Support this statement with 5 possible suggestions

ADVANTAGES OF FORESTS

1.

2

3

4.

5

WORKSHEET -4

GIVE REASONS FOR THE FOLLOWING EFFECTS OF GLOBAL WARMING

1. Sea levels will rise.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

33


STUDENTS’ MANUAL2. Shortage of food supply. -------------------------------------------------------------------------

3. Ozone hole over Arctic and Antarctica.--------------------------------------------------------

4. Turning of America from Bread Basket to Dust Bowl.--------------------------------------

II) GLOBALISATION HAS BOTH DIRECT AND INDIRECT EFFECT ON

ENVIRONMENT. Write about them.

POSITIVE IMPACT OF GLOBALISATION NEGATIVE IMPACT OF GLOBALISATION

34


STUDENTS’ MANUAL

WORK SHEET- 5

IF YOU WERE A DELEGATE REPRESENTING YOUR COUNTRY AT EARTH

SUMMIT WHAT WOULD YOU STAND FOR?

1.’Common but Differentiated Responsibility’

2. Reduction of Green House gases.

3. Concern over Global Commons.

WORK SHEET-6

‘Chipko Movement’ or ‘Tree Hugging’ movement was an environmental movement of

India for the protection of forests. Find out if any such movement has taken place in

your country and write a report on it.

35


STUDENTS’ MANUAL

Discuss any two similarities and dissimilarities between the two movements of Chipko

and Narmada Bacho Andolan of India.

SIMILARITIES

CHIPKO MOVEMENT AND NARMADA BACHAO ANDOLAN

1.

2.

DIFFERENCES

1.

2.

WORK SHEET -7

BOLIVIA’S WATER PROBLEM

Q1. Where is Bolivia situated?

36


STUDENTS’ MANUAL

Q2. Why did the government sell Cochabama Water supply to a Multinational Company?

Q3. Why were the people angry with the decision?

Q4. How did they struggle against the MNC for their Rights over the water?

Q5. What conclusion can be drawn from the struggle?

WORKSHEET -8

Find out about any tribal people found in your country and based on the information

complete this work sheet

1. Name of the tribe and the region in which they are found?

2. Dress and food habits of these people

3. Songs and dance practiced by them

37


STUDENTS’ MANUAL

4. Any typical custom followed by them.

5. Are they struggling for survival? How did you reach your conclusion?

References and Links

1. Global Warming

http:// platform.youngeporters.net/post/

38


STUDENTS’ MANUALWhy did the environment emerge as a political issue at the end of 20th.

1. http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/12/1206041206globalwarminghtml .

2. http:/news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/12/1206041206globalwarming.html.

4.Ozone Depletion

http://omsriram.com/globalwarming.htm

5. Sea Pollution

http://www.goodplanet.info/org/pollution/oceans/sea pollution

6. http://www.yple.org.ok/environmental/sea-pollution/36

7. http://www.offshore-environment.com/oilpollution.html.

8. Space Debris

Space Debris Pollution: A Convention Proposal –Thierry seneschal.

9. Depletion of Natural Resources.

http://www.isabelperez.com/selectforest.htm.

10. Waters

Green Alert/Polluted Waters Jennifer Stefanow

11. The Club of Rome

http://www.mega.nu/ampp/car.html.

12. Earth Summit

[email protected]://www.fao.org/sard/en/sard/en/sard/2070/2071/index.html

13.http:/www.johannesburgzsummit.org/html/media_info/pressreleases_factsheats/

wssd2_progress_rio.pdf

14. Global Commons

http://www.actnow.com.au/issues/Global_commons.aspx.

15. http://www.gci.org.uk/

16. Kyoto Protocol

http:/www.kyotoprotocol.com/

17. http:/www.globalissues.org/issue/178/climate_change_and_global_warming

18. http://www.globalissues.org/article/231/climate_justice_and_equity.

19. http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/12/1206041206global warming.html.

20.Copenhagen Climate Conference

Copenhagen Summit :The Verdict

21. Chipko Movement

39

http://www.actnow.com.au/issues/Global_commons.aspx

mailto:[email protected]://www.fao.org/sard/en/sard/en/sard/2070/2071/index.html

http://www.mega.nu/ampp/car.html

http://www.isabelperez.com/selectforest.htm

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/12/1206041206globalwarminghtml


STUDENTS’ MANUALhttp://www.ecoindia.com/education/chipko_movement.html

22. http://www.rightlivelihood.org/chipko.pdf

23. Narmada BachaoAndolan

Fisher, William(1995).Towards Sustainable Development ?: Struggling over India’s Narmada

River.M.E.sharpe.p.166.

24.Bolivia’s Water Supply

N.C.E.R.T X Democratic Poltics II

25. Indigenous people

http://www.globalissues.org/article/

26. 693/rightsof_indigenous_people

http://www.un.org/esa/socdew/un/offi/en/driphtml.

27. NCERT-X India and the contemporary WORLD-I

28.

http://www.culturalsurvival.org/ourpublications/csq/article/masai_autonomy_and_sovereignt

y_kenya_and_tenzania

29. Santhals –http://www.ecoindia.com/tribes/khasi.html

30. Intresting facts

Artic ice- http://news.national geographic.com/news/2004/12/1206041206

globalwarming.html.

Sea Pollution-http://www ypte.org.uk/environmental sea-pollution/36.

Club of Rome- http://www.clubofrome.org.

Earth Summit- http:// dsp-.pwgsc

PICTURES FROM - GOOGLE.COM [IMAGES]

40

http://www.clubofrome.org/

http://news.national/

http://www.culturalsurvival.org/ourpublications/csq/article/masai_autonomy_and_sovereignty_kenya_and_tenzania

http://www.culturalsurvival.org/ourpublications/csq/article/masai_autonomy_and_sovereignty_kenya_and_tenzania

http://www.un.org/esa/socdew/un/offi/en/driphtml

http://www.globalissues.org/article/

http://www.rightlivelihood.org/chipko.pdf

http://www.ecoindia.com/education/chipko_movement.html

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