13. Green Criminology
13.10 Discussion Questions
Dr. Gregory Simmons; Dr. Mark Vardy; and Dr. Rochelle Stevenson
- How might the three justice perspectives (environmental, species, ecological) address the issue of the Aamjiwnaang First Nation and the Chemical Valley in southern Ontario? What would each perspective focus on, and what solutions would each perspective suggest?
- Imagine you are part of group of students planning a lawful and peaceful protest in order to pressure politicians to act on climate change. Do you feel that surveillance should be allowed? Would you feel differently about joining the protest if you knew that police were going to conduct surveillance at it? Why or why not?
- In what ways might being a member of a privileged group in society make somebody less likely to be aware of environmental racism? Is there evidence of environmental racism in your neighbourhood or broader community?
- Consider the article “A Scourge of the Sea” that discusses the environmental impact of salmon aquaculture in British Columbia. How could the issues raised be understood from each of the perspectives on environmental victimisation and justice (environmental, species, ecological)? How might they be viewed from an anthropocentric, biocentric or ecocentric “big philosophy”?
- Consider an example of marketing you have encountered in which a company makes claims regarding the positive environmental aspects of its product. Do these claims hold up when investigated further? Is this an example of greenwashing?