Assignment Part A:
Colonialism and climate change are interconnected in several ways. One example is the exploitation of natural resources by colonial powers, leading to significant deforestation and the destruction of the environment. In "Ice & Fire: Tracking Canada's Climate Crisis," the impact of climate change on Indigenous communities in Canada is discussed. The documentary highlights the disproportionate effects of climate change on Indigenous communities, as they rely heavily on the land and sea for their subsistence. However, their traditional ways of life are being threatened due to changing weather patterns. These changes are linked to the historical colonial policies that have disrupted traditional land use and management practices. In many indigenous areas, colonialism is one of the causes of industrialization and according to reports, the industrial activities that our modern civilization depends upon have raised atmospheric carbon dioxide levels by nearly 50% since 1750. This increase is due to human activities as scientists can see a distinctive isotopic fingerprint in the atmosphere. (Course module, page 3 para 2) and carbon dioxide is the root cause of the climate crisis (Course module).
Colonialism and food and agriculture are also connected. In early times, indigenous people used simple farming practices, they used handmade equipment and animals to do farming. However, when Europeans started colonizing different indigenous places, they brought different farming methods such as modern tools and chemicals with them to yield more crops. Chemical fertilizers & pesticides led to reduced efficiency of the agricultural resource base (Course module, page 7). The article "Unsettling Settler Food Movements: Food Sovereignty and Decolonization in Canada" explains how colonialism has affected Indigenous food systems. Colonial policies such as the Indian Act of 1876, residential schools, and forced replacement disrupted traditional Indigenous food systems, resulting in the loss of knowledge and practices. This loss of knowledge has significantly impacted Indigenous food security, as they have had to rely on non-Indigenous food systems, leading to health issues and loss of cultural identity.
Colonialism and plastics are also linked. As I mentioned earlier, the industrial society we live in is due to colonialism. Colonizers captured different areas of the world and made a place to live and to improve those lives they invented new materials and things. As a result, plastic came to life. Plastic is versatile, malleable, strong, light, and cost-effective to produce (Course material(plastic), page 4). And as the reserves of petroleum are on decreasing, plastic is ultimately one of the most profitable products for industries (Plastic Wars, 2020, (Season 1, Episode 164)). The production and disposal of plastic have disproportionately affected Indigenous communities around the world, especially in the Global South. Many of these communities live in areas where plastic waste is dumped, affecting their health and the environment (Plastic Wars, 2020, (Season 1, Episode 164)). The documentary plastic wars highlight how the colonial mindset of exploiting resources without regard for the environment has contributed to the plastic crisis.
Assignment Part B:
One issue that I consider the most important in our world today is Plastic. Plastic is versatile, malleable, strong, light, and cost-effective to produce. It is an important invention that has simplified and improved the lives of countless people worldwide, as it can be used for storing, transporting, protecting and preserving food and medication (Course module (plastics), page 4). Plastic was created to improve the lives of human beings and in the early times, it was very beneficial but the problem here is plastic waste. Plastic waste does not decompose as other things do over a long period of time. Therefore, industries started dumping plastic everywhere on land and in the seas. Now, we are living in a time period where plastic waste is everywhere and it is literally harming our environment. It is believed that by the year 2050, there will be more plastic waste than fish in the sea (Plastic Wars, 2020, (Season 1, Episode 164)).
I believe that plastic is the most paramount issue today because other problems such as climate change and problems related to food and agriculture are all interconnected. Due to increasing plastic waste in seawater, many animal species are being extinct. As we learned in Ice & Fire: Tracking Canada's Climate Crisis (Season 61, Episode 1), some animals have a vital role in preserving the environment. Plastics contribute to carbon and other toxin emissions through their entire lifecycle and this ultimately impacts the climate ((Course module (plastics), page 6). Moreover, the food we get is all covered in plastic because it can be preserved for a long time in plastic that why industries produce more and more plastic (Plastic Wars, 2020, (Season 1, Episode 164)). As we learned in Plastic Wars (Season 1, Episode 164) that not all types of plastic waste can be recycled. Ingestion of microplastics could have detrimental to both human and animal health. The small size of these particles makes them difficult to track and monitor though there are blood tests available (Course module (plastics), page 8).). This issue needs to be addressed as soon as possible because after that it will be too late to go back.
Question: Please write some opinion after reading parts A and B and also give one new idea linked with this text. Also, include a new reference/source that is an outside source to substantiate their response with proper citation.