Environmental terrorism

Environmental terrorism is the unlawful destruction of resources in order to deprive others of its use.

History

In recent years, individuals and governments have become concerned about the possible increased threat of terrorism in new and dangerous forms. Yet traditional military establishments and institutions have focused primarily on traditional threats and have only slowly refocused on ethnic, religious, and economic factors that may now motivate terrorist actions. Among these factors are environmental conditions and resources that may be tools or targets of terrorists. This has led to a new discussion of “environmental terrorism.”

An examination of environmental terrorism requires understanding the links among population growth, resource use (including water, energy, soils, and more), and environmental conditions such as climate, human health, and well-being. As populations grow, the existing resource base is being stretched to provide for more people, and is being consumed at a faster rate. As the value and vulnerability of these resources increases, so does their attractiveness as terrorist targets.

Environmental security scholars know that a strong argument can be made for linking certain resource and environmental problems with the prospects for political tension, or even war and peace (Gleick, 1993, Schwartz 1998, Gleick 1998, Baechler 1999, Leitzmann and Vest 1999, The Gilmore Commission 2000). History shows that access to resources has been a proximate cause of war, resources have been both tools and targets of war, and environmental degradation and disparity in the distribution of resources can cause major political controversy, tension, and violence. [cite web | last = Gleick | first = Peter | authorlink = Peter Gleick | coauthors = | title = Water conflict chronology | work = | publisher = Pacific Institute | date = 2006-10-12 | url = http://www.worldwater.org/conflictchronology.pdf | format = PDF | doi = | accessdate = 2007-07-22 ]

Defining environmental terrorism

There are academic and semantic difficulties in defining “terrorism” and specifically “environmental terrorism.” But discussions of environmental terrorism are growing, with a focus on identifying possible risks to natural resource or environmental features. Some, [cite web
last = Chalecki
first = Elizabeth
authorlink = | coauthors =
title = A New Vigilance: Identifying and Reducing the Risks of Environmental Terrorism
work =
publisher = Pacific Institute
date = September 2001
url = http://www.pacinst.org/reports/environment_and_terrorism/environmental_terrorism_final.pdf
format = PDF
doi =
accessdate = ] including in the military [cite web
last = Butts, K.H., C.W. Turner, and C. Jasparr
first =
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = Environmental Security Cooperation
work =
publisher = Center for Strategic Leadership, U.S. Army War College, Carlisle, Pennsylvania
date = September 2003 | url = http://www.carlisle.army.mil/usacsl/Publications/CSL%20Issue%20Paper%2007-03.pdf
format =
doi =
accessdate = ] argue that attacks on natural resources can now cause more deaths, property damage, political chaos, and other adverse effects than in previous years.

Chalecki distinguishes between environmental terrorism and eco-terrorism. She notes that environmental terrorism can be defined “as the unlawful use of force against in situ environmental resources so as to deprive populations of their benefit(s) and/or destroy other property". In contrast, eco-terrorism is the violent destruction of property in the interest of saving the environment from human encroachment and destruction (San Francisco Chronicle, July 1, 2001, page A10). More concisely, environmental terrorism involves targeting natural resources. Eco-terrorism involves targeting the built environment such as roads, buildings and trucks, ostensibly in defense of natural resources. Other analysts may fail to distinguish between these different threats. [cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = Environmental terrorism - definition | work = | publisher = | date = | url = http://law.jrank.org/pages/11976/Terrorism-Environmental-terrorism.html | format = | doi = | accessdate = ]

References

Sources

*Baechler, G. 1999. “Environmental Degradation and Violent Conflict: Hypotheses, Research Agendas, and Theory-building.” In Ecology, politics, and violent conflict, edited by Mohamed Suliman, 76-112. London: Zed Books.

*The Gilmore Commission. 2000. “Second Annual Report to the President and the Congress of the Advisory Panel to Assess Domestic Response Capabilities for Terrorism Involving Weapons of Mass Destruction. II. Toward a National Strategy for Combating Terrorism.” Santa Monica, CA: RAND, 15 December 2000.

*Gleick, P.H. 1993. "Water and conflict." International Security Vol. 18, No. 1, pp. 79-112 (Summer 1993).

*Gleick, P.H. 1998. The World’s Water 1998-1999: The Biennial Report on Freshwater Resources. Covelo, CA: Island Press.

*Lietzmann, K.M. and G.D. Vest. 1999. Environment & Security in an International Context. Committee on the Challenges of Modern Society - Final Report, March 1999. Report No. 232. North Atlantic Treaty Organisation. 174 pp.

*Schwartz, D.M. 1998. “Environmental Terrorism: Analyzing the Concept” Journal of Peace Research. Vol. 35, No. 4, July 1998, pp. 483-496.

ee also

*Environmental vandalism