Shaikh Zeeshan
CRIME AGAINST ENVIRONMENT
SHAIKH ZEESHAN
ABSTRACT
Crime against environment is crime against humanity because environmental crimes by humans adversely affects natural environment directly. Humans are also part of natural environment so indirectly all the human race will suffer the adverse effects of those crime which is committed by humans against environment. Concern for environmental protection and preservation started globally in the second half of 20th century. Environmental crimes includes all the illegal activities which negatively impact on natural resources, wildlife, ecosystem, biodiversity and natural environment of earth as a whole. If we think deeply about the issue we will find that human greed and ignorance are the main cause of this. Greedy desires to possess more and more wealth and comfort and luxuries have made humans blind because of which humans are not able to see the disastrous effects of their so called material development for which they are ready to degrade, damage and destroy natural environment through their illegal and immoral activities against environment. Because of ignorance humans are not able to realize their interconnectedness with natural environment. By damaging and destroying environment for our selfish purposes, we are unknowingly damaging and destroying ourselves as well as our future generations indirectly. Despite being various laws and regulations related to environment conservation and protection crimes against environment are increasing year by year. Criminals of these crimes deserves reformation and liable for prosecution, fines and imprisonment. Crime against environment includes various activities such as pollution crime,wildlife crime, illegal mining, illegal fishing, illegal logging etc. It is a multi-billion dollar crime industry. They are now known as Ecomafia. This word Ecomafia implies all criminal activities whichcauses damage to the natural environment. All the leaders of the globe since the last fifty years cameto realize the importance of natural environment for human survival therefore this global environmental issue of crime against environment came into forefront. Environment can regenerate itself after few centuries but we can not. Our whole existence is depend of natural environment be itwater, air, food, temperature, or other natural resources. We need environment but not vice versa.
Keywords: Ecomafia, greed, ignorance, interconnectedness, future generations, human survival, conservation, protection, degradation, destruction.
Introduction
Man is surrounded by biotic and abiotic components together known as environment. Human beings need environment. Environment does not need us. They are not dependent on us for their existence. But our existence is totally dependent on our environment. We can only pollute, degrade and damage environment but we can not keep our environment in the same degraded manner in future time because earth has the limited and slow capacity to regenerate itself. Environmental crime means violation of those laws that are made to protect and preserve environment. It could be irresponsibility, mistake and careless attitude of concerned environment authority and it majorly includes actual illegal dumping of pollutants into environment or extracting natural resources illegally by damaging the natural environment. The degrading quality of environment has threatened the possibility of survival of humans and animals in future on this planet because of various crimes related to environment. Man made activities like industrialization, transportation, technological advancement, agriculture, mining etc. have disturbed the natural balance of our environment.
Environment plays very important role in developing economies, livelihood and livestock. Clean environment provide the platform upon which future food production and life of future generations will depend. There are two types of activities which affects environment weather, and climate. They are natural activities and man made activities. Man made activities are also known as anthropogenic activities. We should plan a comprehensive programme for the prevention and control of air pollution through automobiles. We should lay down new standards for emission of air pollutants intothe atmosphere from automobiles.
Desire to have a better living standards in terms of material comforts leads to various types of problems like rise in temperature, low agricultural productivity, loss of ecosystem & biodiversity, deforestation, rise in sea level uncontrolled exploitation of natural resources and various adverse effects on human health. Economic development is need of the hour because human beings wants better standard of living. Better materialistic life style resulted in multiplication of needs and wants and these have accelerated the pace of development to the extent of depletion of natural resources. In the name of development humans have damage the life supporting system of human biology and nature’s ecology. The limited natural resources and unlimited human wants have disturb the natural balance between the environment and development. Development should not affects the needs of future generations and such development is known as sustainable development. We must fulfill the needs of the present generation without compromising the needs of the future generations. We have some obligations towards our future generations therefore we should not pollute and degrade our
natural environment so that future generations can also enjoy their life happily in the same manner we are enjoying and using different natural resources like clean air, pure water, fertile soil, favorable climate, healthy food etc.
Environmental problems since last four decades have become a matter of not only national concern but of international importance. Conservation and protection of environment is essential for survival of human beings on this planet. Environment means conditions that surround someone or something. It also means the conditions and influences that affect the growth, health, progress, etc., of someone or something. Now it has been said that human beings are natural environments’ worst enemy. The environment proves that all human activities are interconnected with the nature. Law is regarded as a means of controlling human conduct.
Now environmental pollution is a global concern. Pollution means presence of some undesirable substances in air, water, and soil. In Millennium Development Goals environmental sustainability was one of the goal out of eight goals. In Sustainable Development Goals main emphasis was given to environmental related issues like to take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts, conserve and sustainably use of the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development, protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems.
Stockholm Declaration of 1972 was perhaps the first major attempt to conserve and protect the human environment at the international level. As a consequence of this declaration Indian Parliament inserted two articles i.e., 48A and 51A accordingly in the Constitution. In Indian constitution there are two important articles related to environment conservation and protection. Firstly, Part IV of Indian Constitution that is directive principles of state policy DPSP and its Article 48-A goes like this that The State shall endeavor to protect and improve the environment and to safeguard the forests and wildlife of the country. Secondly, Part IV-A that is Fundamental Duties FDs and Indian citizens’ seventh duty (g) goes like this that It is a duty of all citizens to protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers and wild life, and to have compassion for living creatures.
Problems and Solutions
Environmental crimes means violation and deliberate breach of any national or international environmental laws or rules that was created to ensure conservation, protection and sustainability of natural environment. Environmental crimes include illegal trade of wildlife, improper waste disposal, forestry crime, destruction of wetlands, burning garbage, illegal fisheries, illegal logging and trade,
improper handling of insecticide, pesticide and other toxic and hazardous chemicals, falsifying lab data related to environmental regulation, illegal extraction and trade of natural minerals, bribing government officials, wildlife trafficking, smuggling of ozone depleting substances, committing fraud related to environmental crimes. Environmental law in the implementation of environmentally sound development serves to prevent the occurrence of pollution and or destruction of the environment so that the environment and natural resources are not disturbed continuity and carrying capacity. Strict and effective environmental laws will be conducive for the continuation of environmentally friendly development or sustainable development.
These environmental crimes are committed not by chance or accidently or mistakenly but they are planned and organized crime and the motive behind these types of crimes is to gain material or financial benefits. Violators of environmental law are face penalty fines or punishment of jail time or both. Government has taken so many steps to increase the cases related to environment. Due to awareness, there has been a rise in the activist movement related to environment. Activist movements are the voice of voiceless which is our nature or environment. For tackling the problem of increasing environmental crimes only objective assessment of crime situation is not sufficient because we also need consistent, logical, and non-controversial criminal legislation. Institutional and regulatory failures, poverty, demand, low risks and high profits are some of the main drives behind the environmental crime. Till now huge damaged has been caused to environment by humans for their selfish material wants and this damage is beyond repair but still this harm can be reduced and some recovery of natural environment is possible if people will understand that their and coming generation’s life is directly dependent on environment.
Illegal trade in forest and wildlife products, as well as the illegal exploitation of natural resources is now widely recognized as a significant threat to both the environment and sustainable development. The ultimate aim and goal of all the legislations and acts related to environment is to preserve planet, protect environment and prevent pollution of various kinds. Despite of various acts still people are committing crime against environment which indicates that either laws related to environment are not effectively implemented or lack of awareness. Out of all the species all kinds of damage to our natural environment is caused by only one single species that is homo sapiens. We must accept that environmental crimes have multiple dimensions and it will adversely affect our natural environment and sustainable development goals. Every nation should implement a comprehensive plan for tackling environmental crimes. All countries should support UNEP as the global environmental authority to address the serious and rising environmental impacts of environmental crime.
The damage caused by humans to environment is a crime against humanity because they are harming themselves and their coming future generations. There is a need for strict laws which can control, stop and prevent various kinds of damages to environment. We all are collectively responsible for this loss because some are causing this damage and some are not stopping this damage. By killing animals and trees we humans are welcoming our own end. Rise in sea level, global warming, frequent droughts, vanishing of rivers, extreme weathers etc. all are because of human beings. Strict and effective environmental laws are need of the hour which will serve as a means of legal action for acts that damage or pollute the environment and natural resources.
Conclusion
Man is rapping the nature. Humans are exploiting nature for making their life comfortable. This paper was focused on crime against environment and this must be consider as crime against humanity. It is also a kind of genocide in which humans have completely wiped out some species from this earth and some are going to extinct in future if proper care is not given and some are endangered species. Humans have damaged our earth beyond its capacity to regenerate itself. We, humans have used natural resources in such a huge quantity in just few centuries for fulfilling our material wants which can not be made available in future because it is beyond the producing capacityof earth. We are not only used natural resources extensively but also polluted it. Crime against environment are the acts that cause damage to our natural environment and consequently human health. Good human health is a human right for all people. People have the right to enjoy safe and unpolluted environment and this should be ensure by government. Environment provided and fulfilled each and every basic needs of all humans but we in return caused damage to our natural environment. The environment does not need human beings for its existence but we, humans need environment for our survival. We can’t imagine our life without natural environment.
“The Earth has enough for everyone’s need but not for everyone’s greed”
‐ Mahatma Gandhi
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