- Environmental disaster
An environmental disaster is a
disaster that is due to human activity and should not be confused withnatural disaster s. In this case, the impact of humans' alteration of theecosystem has led to widespread and/or long-lasting consequences. It can include the deaths of animals (including humans) and plant systems, or severe disruption of human life, possibly requiring migration.Difficulty in categorization
Some might view, for example, the
Three Gorges Dam as an environmental disaster, requiring the migration of 1 million people. Others might see it as beneficial to stopflooding .Some might see the destruction of most of the
North America nforest s as beneficial, as it cleared land for farming and other uses. InIreland , the clearing of forest led to the formation ofbogs , which some people like for their beauty, as well as their products such aspeat moss . Others might see thisdeforestation as negative.More cynical examples would be, for example, that
Saddam Hussein felt it was beneficial to get rid of the Madan people by draining the Al-Hawizehmarsh , because they had joined theUnited States in the firstGulf War . Another example is the depopulation of theAmerican Bison . It was thought by General William Sherman and others to be a good way to get rid of the American Indians living in theGreat Plains , and would make way for the exploding population of theUnited States of America to take over the area. The pulverization of the Twin Towers with theCollapse of the World Trade Center and the release ofGround Zero dust propelled fine toxic dust into the vicinity; some have challenged whether this was an "industrial" disaster since this was a commercial site.ee also
*
Natural disaster
*List of environmental disasters
*Environmental hazard
*Emergency management
*Environmental emergency External links
* [http://www.barrameda.com.ar/ecology/ecological-disasters.htm Ecological Disasters]
* [http://www.gaiagonewild.com Environmental Disaster Videos]
* [http://devon.freepgs.com/2006/08/burning-oil-night-and-day.php Illustrated overview of environmental disasters due to human activity] , including deforestation, soil erosion and the biodiversity crisis.
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