Synthesis of “Indigenous Resistance and Racist Schooling on the Borders of Empires: Coast Salish Cultural Survival"

     For hundreds of years, the boundaries that separate the many different territories in the world have been erased and re-drawn as powerful nations and communities urge for expansion of power. During the globalization era attacking a smaller, inferior nation or territory was a minute cost that must be paid in order to grow into a more powerful nation. The benefits of taking over land outweigh the negative side effects. Not only does the superior country gain more land and resources but the leaders make a point to unite the already present community with the new community. This unity is forged often through force and violence. The indigenous people rebel against the force that is attempting to civilize the natives. After the initial rebellions take place, the invading nation makes schooling mandatory for all. The purpose for this forceful education is to show the natives the ways of the new nation. All native culture, language, and lifestyles are demolished and the schooling teaches the new, cultures and ways of the country, forcing assimilation.

     The article “Indigenous Resistance and Racist Schooling on the Borders of Empires: Coast Salish Cultural Survival” by Michael Marker focuses on one example of this historic battle between countries. Border disputes between British Columbia and Washington State have resulted in many racial and religious issues. The US is generally more liberal in freedoms and rights than Canada however both nations have struggled with assimilating natives into the modern day world. These issues date back to the first English settlements on the new world. The native people were living in an unknown world, able to sustain the ways of the community. To the English settlers, the natives were corrupt and immoral because they did not practice Christianity and were uneducated. “Education was the ultimate weapon of colonial conquest in this arena” (Marker 758).  The settlers were at a disadvantage as they did not know the land and there were fewer settlers than natives so education and a little force were the only tools that were available. In the Coast Salish and Washington situation, the school districts were divided  by residential areas in attempts to give everyone a fair and equal chance to education but it was not always so progressive. 

Essay 3 Brainstorming

     Wrightsville Beach, a vacation destination on the coast of North Carolina, is a place of beauty, relaxation. The community within the confines of this beach town relies heavily on tourism and nature to gain profit. A major benefit to being an island is the easy access to fresh seafood. Hundreds of fishing boats dock on the borders of the island each night and set out to reap the benefits of the wild and catch many different kinds of seafood. The island's few restaurants take seafood from the local fishermen and both the locals and tourists dine at the restaurants, therefore stimulating the local economy and making a complete cycle. While relying on nature for food and economic success is a tradition passed on through the generations of mankind, the relationship between man and nature is quickly becoming abusive and parasitic. The fish populations in the world oceans are rapidly depleting as more fish are being caught quicker than fish can reproduce. As Wrightsville Beach grows to be a bigger community due to the increasing population numbers, more people are requesting fresh seafood and more people are starting to pursue the career of a fisherman; all of these variables will ultimately lead to a fish shortage on a larger scale as there are many beach communities just like Wrightsville Beach.
     While fishing for food can be seen as an honest attempt for Wrightsville Beach to be a self-sustaining community, people do not solely live off of fresh seafood. Many other necessary food items are needed on the island, which forces the people to go off of the island and find the other food staples they need. The island is connected to the mainland by a drawbridge and a grocery store is under one mile away from the drawbridge; therefore, it is not difficult for the beach community to get other foods. Even though some of the seafood is locally caught, Wrightsville Beach is still very dependent on places for food. The need for mass production of vegetables and meats from factory farms is an epidemic that majority of the country's communities face. Wrightsville Beach is only a small fraction of the dependency but even the community on the other side of the bridge is heavily dependent on the big factory farms, partly due to the soil quality of the coastal bioregion. In an ideal world, a self-sustaining beach community would be the best option for places like Wrightsville Beach; however, with the large population, being self-sustaining is far from realistic.
   

Expanding the Topic of Environmental Ethics

The Dilemma: Landfills

Landfills are a necessary component to society as not all of our products and wastes are biodegradable. While this issue could be solved all together by making any product that is not easily biodegradable illegal, that is truly unrealistic for this generation of mankind. 

Thinking on an ethical level, the areas surrounding landfills are far from pristine areas as the fumes and from the decomposing waste taints the air and the "ugly" sight of garbage does not draw the eye. The fact of the matter is, the increase in human population has led to an increased need for landfills. The government has to make a plan of action as to how to handle the waste. So the dilemma arises when government officials decide where the landfill will go. Due to other people being irresponsible about their waste, one town or small society will be burdened for many years down the road. In addition, the toxins that come from a large pile of trash can get into the water supply and bring harm to the surrounding areas. 

So the government has to act on the majority's need. To some officials, that small town where the landfill is being re-located to, is more important than the glooming overflow of waste. To other officials, the little town being disturbed by the landfill is an afterthought. Which side is right? There is no definite answer but the ethical approach and the practical approach rarely are the same idea.

Environmental Ethics

     Every environmental decision is made with the majority’s condition in mind. The minority group generally is less likely to gain some kind of benefit from the decision. For example, there have been many regualtions and laws put into place surrounding the endangered species that still live in specific areas of the Earth. The major “popular” animals, such as polar bears and whales, receive the most attention and the most protection but the smaller species are still in harms way as they do not receive the same attention.

     In another way, the human population’s health and safety are the government’s first priorities. The only way to make sure that people do not die is to maintain the perfect division between civilization and chaos. In that respect, the government must keep the majority of the population happy to prevent the chaos. Things like clean drinking water and fulfilling waste needs are big factors in society. The government must cater to the majority’s needs and to do so, it often becomes a burden on the minority’s behalf. With every issue of questioning the equality and the environmental ethics, the EPA argues that every decision made is made in the best interest of the general public and that every decision is fair. The EPA also insists that the group as a whole makes decisions surrounding “the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, culture, education, or income with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies."

     Environmental justice and environmental ethics connect with each other as the government has to make the final decision of where the burden must lie, in return for keeping the majority of the population safe and healthy, or relatively so.

Article Information:

Environmental Justice: Merging Environmental Law and Ethics. By: Rinne, Julia G., Dinkins, Carol E., Natural Resources & Environment, 08823812, Winter2011, Vol. 25, Issue 3