Ecological violence is a relatively unknown, but growing problem in the world. It manifests slowly over time through environmental degradation like air pollution, water pollution, deforestation, land degradation and heat. It's effects can be long-lasting, subtle, and hard to spot, and can become normalized over time. Ecological violence is a reality on a large scale that affects human health, livelihoods and ecosystems, but in political and public discourse it is virtually invisible. Invisible makes it even worse since it keeps on degrading without proper urgency.
Ecological violence is, at its most fundamental, a degradation of the environment that damages human life, in unequal ways. It's not just about harm to nature, it's about harm to people and society as well. Cleaning up the environment is not always shared equally. Its effects are felt by the poorest and most vulnerable, and, its advantages are felt by those who are best endowed with resources and benefiting from industrial development. But environmental injustice is what makes environmental change a structural violence.
Bangladesh is an example of the inequitable effects of environmental degradation. India is also a densely populated nation, which is also rapidly urbanizing, resulting in increased environmental concerns in the country. In Dhaka, air pollution is a frequent occurrence that can have devastating impacts on the health of its citizens. Poorly-resourced communities are frequently in close proximity to industrial areas, waste sites and overcrowded transport infrastructure, leaving them vulnerable to environmental risks every day. Meanwhile, numerous rivers that have traditionally been vital to the livelihoods and local economies have become vulnerable to pollution, encroachments, and inadequate waste management practices, compromising the health of the environment and public health.
Rural communities have another but still serious ecological pressure outside urban areas. Agricultural life is being transformed due to the changing rainfall patterns, degradation of soils and the increase in salinity in coastal areas. Many farmers are feeling the effects of unreliable weather on their livelihoods and food security. Sea level rise and salinity intrusion in coastal regions of Bangladesh are not future scenarios but present challenges for families to cope, relocate or altogether abandon their traditional livelihoods. These are not just environmental issues, but social issues as well.
Ecological violence has a specific impact on children. Growing up in polluted environments can have lifelong consequences on physical and cognitive development. Extreme weather makes schools challenging places to learn when they are not properly ventilated or have a cooling system. In many instances, environmental stress is compounding educational inequality, as disadvantaged children are more likely to go to poorly resourced schools in environmentally at-risk neighborhoods. In this way, ecological violence becomes intergenerational, it impacts not just the here and now, but the opportunities of the future.
To combat ecological violence, there needs to be more than just an eco-awareness. It calls for a rethinking of development itself. Any growth that relies on environmental degradation which disproportionately affects vulnerable communities is not sustainable. Livability and environmental justice should be at the forefront of city planning, rather than expansion. Development of industry should be controlled to ensure not only economic production but also the safeguarding of the surrounding communities. Climate adaptation needs to be targeted at those most vulnerable and least resilient to protection.
The fight against ecological violence is a fight that is constantly fought by public awareness �" otherwise, environmental damage can be invisible if it is considered normal. Knowing its social effects moves environmental issues from technical issues to questions that can only be addressed in terms of justice and accountability. Vulnerable groups are at a higher risk of ecological violence, revealing inequalities in distribution of environmental goods and burdens. This silent crisis needs to be addressed by advocating for environmental justice, addressing inequality and rethinking development models so that environmental protection and human wellbeing are carefully considered as interconnected pillars.
The writer is Lecturer, Department of English, Bangladesh University of Business and Technology (BUBT)
