Analysis of the Threats Defense Argument

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Analysis of the Threats Defense Argument 

Society is increasingly changing due to globalization. Globalization has enabled people to move from one country to another and enhanced the growth of internet connectivity. As a result, the global environment has been under threat from climate change, the use of non-renewable energy resources, and poor health outcomes. Cultural taboos and lack of education opportunities are increasingly becoming an insignificant threat to the environment since people are altering their lifestyles. Initially, people in African and Asian countries observed cultural taboos, but Western culture has changed their beliefs. There is also an increase in education opportunities through global connectivity and internet connections. Cultural taboos and lack of educational opportunities are not significant threats to the global environment since they do not significantly impact people’s lifestyles and activities. 

Cultural Taboos 

Cultural taboos are not a major global threat since some promote community well-being, are not universally applied, and are becoming insignificant. In Africa, for example, cultural taboos have been instrumental in preserving the wildlife ( Anoliefo et al., 2015). Compared to non-renewable energy sources, climate change, inadequate access to care, and globalization, cultural taboos do not pose a significant threat to the global environment. Although some cultural taboos like the protection of sacred forests are linked to spiritual reasons, they directly benefit the environment. In Ghana, the people living between Boabeng and Fiema are forbidden from cutting trees since they believe that monkeys are unique creatures ( Anoliefo et al., 2015). Such cultural taboos are beneficial to the natural environment, and they align with the global goals of sustainable management. One of the recent growing concerns is water pollution. Sea turtles have died from plastics that companies and people dispose of in the water. In Brazil, the cultural taboo forbids turtle meat consumption; one can only collect traditional medicine from water (Alexander et al., 2017). Cultural taboos are enhancing global biodiversity. Sea turtles are an integral part of tropical and temperate oceans. Sea grass beds, coral reefs, and beach dunes rely on sea turtles' migration to have a healthy environment (Alexander et al., 2017). Besides, sea turtles enhance the trophic structure, which improves the health of diverse fish species. Cultural taboos focus on the preservation of the natural environment. For this reason, they should not be considered as a threat to the natural environment. 

Furthermore, cultural taboos do not apply equally to every individual, making them an insignificant threat to the global environment. In most societies, cultural taboos are strictly imposed on women and children (Angsongna et al., 2016). Some communities forbid pregnant women and children from eating meat and eggs. Men are free from adhering to some cultural taboos; most cultures allow men to kill animals and harvest plant species. However, these cultural taboos forbid hunting or gathering during the reproductive seasons (Angsongna et al., 2016). Cultural taboos can enhance the health outcomes of men and worsen the health of women and children. Regardless, they do not pose a significant threat to the environment since not everyone observes them. Globalization, migration, and the influence of western culture have led to the erosion of cultural values. 

Cultural taboos are changing. Initially, most cultures encouraged men and people from high-income backgrounds to eat meat (Avielli, 2018). People associated eating meat with status and prestige. This belief is slowly changing. People are no longer observing traditional cultural taboos. Initially, most cultures forced women to eat vegetables. The vegetarian lifestyle was linked to weakness and passiveness (Avielli, 2018). Today, these cultural taboos are no longer significant. Men no longer viewing meat as a component of masculinity. Even bodybuilders are eating vegetables to enhance their metabolism (Avielli, 2018). People slowly realize the impact of intensive farming on the natural environment. Today, men have been at the forefront of advocating for vegan and vegetarian lifestyles. A new culture that focuses on the preservation of natural resources is emerging. Hence, cultural taboos are not a significant threat to the global environment. 

Lack of Education Opportunities 

Lack of education opportunities does not constitute a significant threat to the global environment. Africa has the highest population of people with no access to education opportunities, and despite this problem, Africans have been conserving natural resources. Before the introduction of western education, Africans had laws that preserved forests and streams. For example, it was an abomination to kill python, urinate in streams meant for drinking, or starting bushfires ( Alexander et al., 2017 ). Up to date, Africans believe that murder is an abomination. The village elders banish people who commit such crimes. Besides, most rural communities believe in the preservation of natural forests since they consider them sacred. Access to education does not determine whether people will protect the natural resources. Most Africans have no access to formal education but rely on their cultural values to preserve the environment. Besides, the traditional medicine that communities obtain from nature has proven to effectively cure different diseases (Alexander et al., 2017). Access to education does not influence environmental conservation strategies. Hence, it should not be compared to climate change, non-renewable energy sources, poor health of an entire population, and globalization when analyzing threats to the global environment. 

Besides, western nations have a leading number of educated individuals but are highly polluted. In 2015, about 9% of the US population lived in areas filled with fine particulate matter (Bennett et al., 2019). Western nations' air quality is deteriorating due to the growth in automotive, industrial, and power generation industries. These developments are a result of improved access to education opportunities. Despite having a high population of educated individuals, western nations have a flawed waste management system. Most industrial wastes are deposited into the sea, and companies continue to provide plastic packages (Bennett et al., 2019). One expects the developed countries to implement evidence-based environmental conservation measures. On the contrary, some Western countries do not believe that pollution affects the weather (Bennett et al., 2019). As a result, the lifespan of people living in developed countries has significantly reduced. Inadequate access to education is not a significant global environmental risk. 

Moreover, people from low-income countries are becoming educated. Many students from developing countries are enrolling in higher education (Akareem & Hossain, 2016). Today, there are opportunities for students from African to pursue an education in developed countries like the US. Currently, about half of the world’s population has access to education (Akareem & Hossain, 2016). Although the number is still low, the impact of lack of access to education cannot be compared to fast-rising trends such as climate change and globalization. Currently, most developing countries have universities that offer high-quality education. The students who do not qualify for universities apply for polytechnics, which provides them with hands-on skills. Besides, globalization has enabled students from low-income countries to study online (Akareem & Hossain, 2016). For example, YouTube is available in areas with an internet connection and allows students from remote locations to access diverse learning resources. Lack of education opportunities should not be a significant issue for the United Nations; globalization has made it possible for learning to take place from any place. 

Conclusion 

Overall, the United Nations should not worry about the cultural taboos and lack of education opportunities when investigating global environmental risks. Cultural taboos protect the environment since they guide people to consider their actions’ impacts on the community. Unfortunately, cultural taboos are eroding due to western cultural influence. Even the cultural taboos that encouraged intensive farming are no longer significant since people appreciate vegan and vegetarian lifestyles. Besides, people are becoming educated and learning about the environment. Hence, the United Nations should concentrate on globalization, climate change, non-renewable energy sources, and the lack of healthcare services. These factors pose a significant risk to the global environment. 

References 

Akareem, H. S., & Hossain, S. S. (2016). Determinants of education quality: What makes students’ perception different? Open Review of Educational Research , 3 (1), 52-67. https://doi.org/10.1080/23265507.2016.1155167 

Alexander, L., Agyekumhene, A., & Allman, P. (2017). The role of taboos in the protection and recovery of sea turtles. Frontiers in Marine Science , 4 , 237. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2017.0023 

Anoliefo, G.O., Nwokeji, P.K., & Ikhajiagbe, B. (2015). Influence of traditional taboo practices on natural resource conservation in Uli, Ihiala local government area of Anambra State Nigeria; sustainable community development. Journal of Environmental Sustainability : 4(4). https://doi.org/JES.007.02 

Angsongna, A., Ato Armah, F., Boamah, S., Hambati, H., Luginaah, I., Chuenpagdee, R., & Campbell, G. (2016). A systematic review of resource habitat taboos and human health outcomes in the context of global environmental change. Global Bioethics , 27 (2-4), 91-111. https://doi.org/10.1080/11287462.2016.1212608 

Avieli, N. (2018). Forbidden from the heart: flexible food taboos, ambiguous culinary transgressions, and cultural intimacy in Hoi An, Vietnam. In Food Anxiety in Globalising Vietnam (pp. 77-103). Palgrave Macmillan, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-0743-0_3 

Bennett, J. E., Tamura-Wicks, H., Parks, R. M., Burnett, R. T., Pope III, C. A., Bechle, M. J., Ezzati, M., et al. (2019). Particulate matter air pollution and national and county life expectancy loss in the USA: A spatiotemporal analysis. Public Library of Science Medicine , 16 (7), e1002856. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1002856