Thoughts on Environmental Colonialism

When researching “other” outside of the realm of “self” it is important to consider the influence that academics from industrialized nations have on local peoples. The affluence of industrialized nations is often thought of as being mystical far off phenomena but for the majority of the world's population, the ability to participate in the global economy is a very real desire. Although it is a generalization, the willingness for local peoples from non-industrialized countries to participate in research is a very tangible way to possibly gain the affluence which they are shown but unable to attain.

The study of the self largely eliminates this factor. However, researchers must be aware of this willingness to participate when facilitating research among local peoples. An example of this is seen in the recent adoption of “environmentalism” by corporations and governments. In a post-Kyoto agreement world, the environment has become an excellent tool to divert public attention away from abuses of power and towards environmental causes. This “environmental colonialism” uses scientific ideology, developed in industrialized countries, to justify the change the lifeways of local peoples around the world. It often involves the “preservation” of plant species which the local people have intimate knowledge of and have adapted this knowledge to a capitalist benefit. It is no one's decision but those local people what they do with their local resources. Those researchers who claim benevolent action in helping local people preserve their environment are not empowering local people to make their own decision. There are far better ways to enact environmental change, especially considering the majority of environmental damage comes not from local people participating in the cash economy but by big corporations such as oil and coffee companies as well as fast food chains, who do what they do in order to supply the global market with inexpensive products. Attention to this is easily diverted by donating small amounts of money to NGO's and researchers to “preserve” local environments.