Impacts of natural catastrophic events as State-Corporate harm/crime
Critically evaluate definitions, understandings and theories relating to “Green” or “Environmental” crime.
Identify and critically assess legal and regulatory strategies at a range of scales and evaluate competing
arguments regarding legal and regulatory reform.
May be around a specific incidence of crime or harm, or could be an example of human response to
environmental crime and/or harm – e.g. indigenous resistance, direct action (eco/environmental justice protests,
hunt saboteur movement, climate activism etc.), or a specific piece of national or international environmental
legislation and it’s implementation and effectiveness.
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
The Hidden Crimes: Exploring Environmental Harm and Green Crime
Introduction:
Environmental crime, also known as green crime, refers to offenses committed against the environment, including acts that harm ecosystems, deplete natural resources, or endanger public health. This essay aims to critically evaluate definitions, understandings, and theories related to green or environmental crime. It will also identify and assess legal and regulatory strategies at various scales and evaluate competing arguments regarding legal and regulatory reform. Furthermore, it will explore examples of human responses to environmental crime and harm, such as indigenous resistance and direct action movements. Additionally, it will analyze the effectiveness of specific national or international environmental legislation and its implementation.
Definitions, Understandings, and Theories:
Defining green crime is complex due to the diverse range of actions and actors involved. Traditional criminological perspectives often overlook environmental offenses, as they focus primarily on human-human interactions. However, the field of green criminology recognizes the importance of understanding crimes against the environment.
Green crime can be broadly defined as actions that violate laws designed to protect the environment and natural resources. It encompasses a wide range of offenses, including illegal wildlife trade, pollution, deforestation, and industrial accidents. Green criminology also examines the role of corporations in environmental harm, highlighting the concept of state-corporate crime.
Various theories have been proposed to understand green crime. One such theory is the ecological perspective, which emphasizes the interconnections between social, economic, and environmental systems. It suggests that environmental harms are a result of broader social and economic structures that prioritize profit over ecological sustainability.
Legal and Regulatory Strategies:
At the national level, legal frameworks and regulations are crucial in addressing environmental crime. Governments enact legislation to protect natural resources, regulate pollution levels, and penalize offenders. However, the effectiveness of these strategies depends on their enforcement and the severity of penalties imposed.
International legal frameworks are also essential for addressing transboundary environmental issues. Treaties and agreements like the Paris Agreement on climate change or the Convention on Biological Diversity aim to promote global cooperation in tackling environmental challenges. However, their implementation often faces challenges due to the differing priorities of nations and limited enforcement mechanisms.
Competing Arguments and Reform:
Debates surrounding legal and regulatory reform in environmental crime focus on enhancing effectiveness and achieving justice. Some argue for stricter regulations, increased penalties, and improved enforcement mechanisms to deter offenders. They believe that holding individuals and corporations accountable for environmental harm is essential for safeguarding ecosystems and public health.
However, others criticize the current approach to environmental crime, arguing that it disproportionately punishes individuals while letting corporations escape accountability. They advocate for structural reforms that address the root causes of environmental harm, such as unsustainable production and consumption patterns. This approach emphasizes prevention rather than solely relying on punishment.
Human Responses to Environmental Crime:
Human responses to environmental crime take various forms. Indigenous communities often resist environmentally harmful activities that encroach upon their territories or threaten their cultural practices. Their resistance movements highlight the importance of recognizing indigenous rights and engaging in meaningful dialogue when implementing projects that affect their lands.
Direct action movements, such as eco/environmental justice protests or climate activism, also play a significant role in raising awareness about environmental issues. These movements aim to disrupt harmful practices and advocate for transformative change. They challenge the status quo by demanding stronger regulations, corporate accountability, and a shift towards sustainable practices.
Effectiveness of Environmental Legislation:
The effectiveness of environmental legislation depends on its implementation, enforcement, and ability to address the root causes of environmental harm. In some cases, legislation has successfully reduced pollution levels or protected endangered species. For example, the implementation of the Clean Air Act in the United States led to significant improvements in air quality.
However, challenges persist in enforcing laws against powerful corporations that engage in harmful practices. Regulatory capture, where industry interests influence policy-making processes, can hinder effective implementation. Additionally, weak penalties and lenient enforcement undermine the deterrent effect of legislation.
Conclusion:
Environmental crime poses significant challenges to ecological sustainability and public health. Understanding green crime requires recognition of its diverse manifestations and actors involved. Legal and regulatory strategies at various scales are crucial in addressing environmental harm; however, they must be accompanied by effective enforcement mechanisms and penalties.
Competing arguments regarding legal and regulatory reform highlight the need to balance punishment with structural changes that address the root causes of environmental harm. Human responses to environmental crime, such as indigenous resistance and direct action movements, play a vital role in raising awareness and advocating for change.
The effectiveness of environmental legislation depends on its implementation, enforcement, and ability to address underlying issues. While some laws have achieved positive outcomes, challenges remain in holding corporations accountable and preventing regulatory capture. Moving forward, a comprehensive approach that combines deterrence, prevention, and transformative change is necessary to address green crime effectively.
