How world is dying from slow violence
Environmental degradation responsible for more deaths than war. Myrtle Ryan finds out more
JIM Taylor, the environmental education director of Wessa (Wildlife and Environment Society of SA) recently came down from the clouds – well, the misty cloud forest of Costa Rica.
He was invited to this Central American country by the UN Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation (Unesco).
Costa Rica is famous for its exotic birds, dense forests and adventure activities – the original canopy tour, soaring above the giants of the jungle, was launched there, capturing the imagination of all who long to get a close-up view of the elevated regions of the arboreal kingdom.
Not that Taylor spent his time playing at Tarzan. He and other like-minded spirits had much more serious thoughts on their minds, such as the future of humankind.
It does not get more than that.
“The UN’S Sustainable Development Goals are the focus of the largest public participation process in the history of humanity,” says Taylor.
“These provide a roadmap to the future by integrating development and sustainability.”
Put simply, this means a complete rethink of how we live and work on Earth; the aim being to minimise the destructive tendencies which have almost become the norm. Instead, the intention is that humans work as partners with nature to restore Earth’s ability to support life.
“More people die every year from slow violence and environmental destruction, than all the war and violence in the world.”
This statement is chilling. What is slow violence? Is this yet another arrow in its already bursting quiver?
Taylor says it is a process where humans imperceptibly erode the life support systems around them.
“The accumulative effect of degrading the air, water, soil, plants and animals is devastating.” lofty To back up the thinking that environmental pollution is lethal, Taylor says the esteemed Lancet Medical Journal points out that “one out of every six premature deaths in the world in 2015 (about 9 million) can be attributed to disease from toxic exposure”.
Worldwide, we slowly pollute our rivers with nutrients.
South Africa is certainly guilty of this.
Eventually, rivers become so degraded that a tipping point is reached, and we can no longer use their water. It needs no spelling out where this will lead.
Taylor grew up on a farm in Underberg, Kwazulu-natal. Here he learned about nature, how the farm was managed, and isizulu, through his many Zulu friends.
Interestingly, he now lives 20km from where he was born.
“I took up canoeing in the beautiful rivers of the region and was devastated to realise how quickly they were becoming polluted.”
How was it possible that humans were destroying fresh water, the most important resource that they needed survive, he asked himself.
While working for Wessa, the importance of caring for the environment and its life-supporting systems became clearer.
“I also realised through education that we were all able to live our lives more sustainably. If it is people who are destroying the environment that supports them, it has to be through people that solutions need to be found,” he said.
“Education thus becomes the long-term solution.”
Taylor, himself, packs an educational punch. He graduated from the University of Kwazulu-natal with a BA degree in geography and psychology, as well as a teaching diploma. He completed a Master’s degree in environmental psychology at Surrey University in the UK, then went on to gain a PHD in environmental education at Rhodes University, Eastern Cape.
While his work is broadbased and holistic, his special interest lies in water and climate change.
Taylor thinks the key to our sustainable future lies with to the youth; he believes young people are learning more about environmental issues than before.
“They also have the opportunities and imperative to overcome the destructive forces around us. I am continually encouraged by their dedication, commitment and enthusiasm.
“This augurs well for the future. It will be in good hands.”