EFFECT OF GLOBALIZATION ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Globalization can have both positive and negative effects on the environment. It can exacerbate environmental problems as well as provide new means for addressing them. However, the negative effects of globalization seem to outweigh its positive effects.
DEFORESTATION
Globalization has had a negative impact on the environment through deforestation. According to Wikipedia Encyclopedia, globalization is often viewed as a root cause of deforestation. The overuse of natural resources due to increased demand and also the removal of ecosystems due to population growth have had a large negative impact on the environment. According to one research by Francesco, 2010 found out that; extensive deforestation has occurred world-wide with the logging industry being fuelled by the need for disposable products. Thus, deforestation whether it is for an increase in demand or for expansion is causing a loss of biological diversity on the planet. Nigeria is not exempted from the impact of deforestation, Kalbessa 2007 observed that, The Nigeria’s rain forest is depleting fast majorly as a result of international trade.
Under the current international law, trans-national corporations are free to promote their interests in any part of the world. They have continued to establish industries in various countries by destroying the natural forest and dismantling the source of the peasant farmers’ survival. Various plant and animal species are doomed to extinction owing to the loss of forest.
Apart from contributing to the depletion of the ozone layer, deforestation also affects water cycle. Trees extract groundwater through their roots and release it into the atmosphere. When part of a forest is removed, the trees no longer evaporate away this water, resulting in a much drier climate. Deforestation reduces the content of water in the soil and groundwater as well as atmospheric moisture. Deforestation reduces soil cohesion, so that erosion, flooding and landslides occur.
E- WASTE
Electronic waste (e-waste) is a major challenge of globalization in Nigeria. E waste may be defined as all secondary electronics such as computers, entertainment devices, mobile phones, TV sets, refrigerators etc. whether sold, donated or discarded by their original owners. It includes electronics which are destined for reuse, resale, salvage, recycling or disposal.
According to Achim Steiner (2007), UN Secretary General and executive director of UN environmental program, globalization is triggering a massive rise in the amount of e-waste. Investigation has shown that at least 100,000 computers arrive at the port of Lagos alone each month and about 75% of this electronics end up in open air and incinerators.
Large number of machines are rapidly becoming obsoletes within a very short period of time due to technological advancement hence generation of even more e-waste. A report by Domwatch an anti-dumping group in a report said, a UK-based organization once offered to donate 10,000 computers to a Nigerian NGO but only 2000 of the computers were found to be okay and in reusable conditions. Consequently gadgets that are unusable and unserviceable have to be dumped in dumpsites, constituting health hazards for the people within the environment. These dumped e-waste results in toxic emission and air pollution, the toxics are leached into the soil, air and ground water which is ingested by animals and humans and also taken up by plants. Also exposure to these substances causes damage to blood, CNS, DNA, immune system, kidney, skin disorder and cancers.
Incidentally, a serious dumping incidence that occurred in Nigeria was one of the factors which triggered and expedited the creation of the Basel Convention which came into force on 5th May, 1992. It was in 1988 that, 5 ships transported 8,000 barrels of hazardous waste from Italy to the small town of Koko, Delta State in Nigeria in exchange for $100 monthly rent which was paid to a Nigerian farmer for the use of his farmland to dump these waste thereby polluting the environment and subsequently lead to health hazard to Nigerians.
Globalization which has led to accumulation of e-waste is a threat to sustainable development. Children of affected areas in the future generation will probably be given birth with defects or genetic mutation.
MINING
Mining is the process of extraction of minerals deposits from the surface of the earth, beneath the earth for economic and developmental use. While it has importance on economic development, artisanal and small scale mining can be viewed negatively by environmentalist because of its potential for environmental disruption and damage. Some of the menace of mining includes depletion of the environment such as land degradation, devegetation, and loss of aquatic life, water and air pollution including health detritiation. Toxic materials released during panning and sluicing pose health problems to miners, their families and the surrounding environment.
In March 2010, medecins sans frontieres (MSF) discovered an epidemic of lead poisoning in the north western part of Nigeria, Zamfara to be precise, particularly in Anka and Bukkuyum local government areas of the state. Investigation by the center for disease control (CDC), WHO, and Zamfara state ministry of health confirmed serious acute and chronic health effects due to extremely high level of lead and mercury affecting at least 10,000 people. The source of this catastrophic event was associated with the artisanal gold ore processing that occurs in the village. People got infected through drinking water and food and also inhalation of contaminated dust.
Minna and its environment as a major gold field also suffer in the hands of miners particularly in Luku village. Its activities happened to be dangerous to the environment such as land degradation, deforestation, erosion and loss of soil quality chemical analysis of Luku village soil has showed significant amount of lead, copper, nickel, cadmium, mercury, and gold in the soil. These elements can easily be absorbed by plants and subsequently by man through feeding which will results in catastrophic health issues. The dispersion of these heavy metals into the environment may render them unsuitable for consumption not only for people of present generation but future generation as well, therefore hindering sustainable development.
Similarly, in Jos plateau where tin and columbite mining took place has results into destruction of landscapes and left behind over a thousand water ponds, lakes , alluvial heaps and widespread erosion. There have been reports of humans and animals drowning in such sites. Some of the un-reclaimed mining pits have even become dead traps and habitats for dangerous reptiles. These vast lands have been rendered useless for anything productive which reclaiming it can take at least 25-35 years and it is very expensive.
In Nassarawa state, Ezeaku (2011) reported that soils around mine sites in the selected areas of the states such as Azara, have lost bee degraded due to erosion, sedimentation and contamination of the soil. Removals of rocks and over burden from mining operations have exposed the soil, changing its original texture and structure, making the soil not suitable for plants life.
In summary, mining as a process of globalization has been a major source of the presence of heavy metals in our environment, some of its effects include:
Male Infertility
Cardiovascular Diseases
Hypertension
Keratoconjunctivitis
Nephrotoxicity
Diabetes
Cancer
Osteoporosis
All these are a major disease that reduces the life span of people within the affected areas and hence hinder sustainable development.
GAS FLARING AND OIL SPILLS
Gas flaring and oil spills are common events in Nigeria. Gas flares have potentially harmful effects on the health and livelihood of nearby communities as they release poisonous chemicals including nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide, benzene, toluene, xylene, hydrogen sulphide as well as carcinogens like benzapyrene and dioxins. Many communities claim that nearby flares cause acid rain which corrodes homes and other structures. Gas flares also release methane which has high global warming potential accompanied by greenhouse gas.
Oil spills as a result of pipeline and tanker accidents, sabotage, oil production operations and spills from inadequate or non-functional production equipment has major impact on the ecosystem into which it is released and many constitute ecocide (complete destruction of an ecosystem due to human activities like exploitation or dumping of harmful chemicals). These two activities lead to chronic health issues, and kills both flora and fauna, also leads to loss of biodiversity. Because of the careless nature of oil operations in the Delta, the environment is increasingly becoming uninhabitable. A report issued by UNEP on August 4th 2011, which talked of the environmental disasters in the Niger Delta in Southeastern Nigeria, US shell company and other oil companies over half a century have led to environmental damage as a consequence of their activities. They failed to clean 100 square kilometers of ‘ogoniland’ zone after contaminating which led to devastating consequences for humans and wildlife.
GENERATORS
Another major environmental hazard associated with globalization is the influx of generating sets, commonly called generators in Nigeria. Due to incessant cut in power supply in Nigeria, most homes and industries resort to the use of generators. Nigeria is the largest importer of generators in the world, with over N1.3 trillion been spent in the last four years purchasing generators in an effort to respond to the declining power supply in the country. The generator is a source of noise and air pollution in the country. Many industries as well as many homes use generators for twenty four hours as an alternative source of power supply, despite the fact that they are only meant to be backups for electricity. Also, apart from the nuisance it constitutes as a result of noise in the neighbourhood, many Nigerians have lost their lives from the use of generators either through an electrical shock or the inhalation of generator fumes, which often contain carbon monoxide.
Also, the way and manner diesel and petrol are stored in many homes for use in their generators portends high risk for the environment. This is due to their inflammable nature, making generators unsafe for use sometimes within homes. Many houses do not have designated places for storing these items, and the fuel and generators are often kept carelessly around or even within the building, thereby increasing the risk of fire outbreaks. Undocumented incidences of fire outbreaks caused by the use of generators happen almost every week around the country.
Furthermore, burning of fossil fuels such as petrol and diesel have contributed a lot to the depletion of the ozone layer which results to climate change. Climate change as we all believe is the major cause of most of our today environmental problems therefore it is one of the major threats to future generations and hence disrupting sustainability of the environment.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, globalization has made so many changes in our lives that reversing them is not that possible at all. Researchers are of the view that the answer to this problem lies in problem itself, that is to say globalization itself can lend support to building a better structure which is economically feasible, socially acceptable, politically unbiased and environmentally-friendly because globalization is all about the competition and if at all certain privately-owned companies can take the lead in being environmentally-friendly, then this will encourage others to follow the trends. I’m ending my words with the environmental quotation which says:
“It is only when the last tree has died, the last river has been poisoned, the air we breathe has been intoxicated and the last fish on the earth has been caught, we will then realize that we cannot eat money!”
TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENT!!!
