In the world there are a lot of types of disasters that affect us as a society and our environment. These can range from a small scale, to a very large one. However, there is a point that differentiates this class of disasters. The reason is that some of the catastrophes that occur are caused by forces beyond human control. Therefore, we can act as collateral damage, without being the cause of it.
On the other hand, there are those disasters that we cause ourselves. These may affect a small sector or a broad sector of our society, and not only to populated areas, but also to the natural environment that is involved.
Although we can say that natural disasters could also be a consequence of the environmental damage that humans have done. The truth is that we will focus on evils that directly involve people. That is why here we will explain what an anthropic disaster is. On the consequences that these can cause for our society and the environmental crisis. So you can make use of this information on your next slide and raise awareness.
Definition of an anthropic natural disaster
Throughout history, human beings have been characterized as consumerists. That is, we need appeal to our environment to obtain benefits towards us. These range from something as basic as food, to luxuries encompassed in entertainment.
However, the level of consumerism that human beings have developed in recent centuries has been increasing until today, and continues like this. Perhaps the straw that broke the camel’s back was the first and second industrial revolution. These led to a huge change thanks to globalization.
All this entrepreneurial activity has brought benefits worldwide. Around the comfort of life of the human being. Now we are more connected, we have smart devices for our daily use. We can also choose a wide variety of types of food to eat at any moment of the day.
However, every action has its reaction, and this case is no exception. Anthropic disasters they are governed by that in which man is the first guilty of generating them. Greatly affecting other living beings or species. And, mainly, to the environmental environment that surrounds us.
It is not a secret that, at present, nature and the environment has seen a monumental deterioration. This is growing slowly but worryingly. And worst of all, no government does anything to reduce this cycle of contamination.
As a result, various environmental movements have emerged. In order to make people around the world see the danger that is approaching with each passing day. But unfortunately, the news and various countries that live off industrialization of commerce have done everything possible to silence them.
A great example of this occurs in the movie “Don’t Look Up (Don’t Look Up)”. In it, a group of scientists tries to warn the world about the impact of a meteorite on earth that will end life. The most worrying thing is that many of the things that happen in the film are already seen in reality.
What are the causes of man-made disasters?
Although the main culprit of these phenomena is presided over by humans, the truth is that the direct causes that come from it enter here. That is to say, that these occur from the action of the people, but properly of the action.
Therefore, the defined causes come from activities that are generated by man. One of these would be the forest fires, which consume a large part of the world’s flora and fauna. In fact, there have been fires that have also affected populated sectors of a certain region.
On the other hand, there are oil spills. These seriously damage the maritime ecosystem, attacking not only the purity of the water, but also all the aquifers that inhabit the affected places. In fact, it is not difficult to think that areas of large territory, such as the Caribbean Sea are also involved. That’s how serious the situation is.
Finally, there are also catastrophic events such as wars, plane crashes, water disasters or explosions. Likewise, air pollution enters through carbon dioxide. And, in case you haven’t noticed, it has a huge environmental impact and also on us as a society.
How are anthropic phenomena classified?
As well as natural disasters have a classification, anthropogenic phenomena as well. In this way, they can be classified into three different types of anthropic phenomena:
- Chemical-Technological: These relate more than anything to the industrial part that large companies run, spewing massive carbon dioxide into the earth’s atmosphere. Those related to explosions, forest fires, spills of chemical substances in the sea, among others, also enter.
- Sanitary-Ecological: They have been those that are related to massive contamination. The most common activity is contamination through the garbage that human beings leave on the streets, as well as the use of entertainment devices that affect and damage the environment (fireworks).
- Socio-organizational: They are those in which the dispute and struggle of human beings come into play. In this category come civil wars, world wars, attacks by armed troops. Or, in a more subtle example, the demonstrations that use any substance or artifacts that are harmful to nature, among others.
What is the difference between a natural and anthropic disaster?
Although anthropogenic disasters make drift, in a certain way, to natural disasters, in the end it is not always like that. For example, an earthquake has occurred since even before humans became harmful to the environment.
That being said, the definition regarding a natural disaster acts autonomously. That is to say, that it is caused under the same forces of nature. They are not directly related to environmental pollution (although in the long term they are).
For example, earthquakes occur by the release of energy from the depths of the earth through plate tectonics. In this way, it is a necessity of nature to fulfill a function that can directly affect the human being.
In addition, tsunamis are derived from seismic movements occur in areas filled with water. This, consequently, ends up causing a movement of water that touches coastal lands and civilian populations.
On the other hand, the creation of hurricanes or strong tropical storms, as well as volcanic eruptions, are governed by natural reactions which are, to an almost total extent, caused by the environment itself. The laws of nature, so to speak. That is why anthropogenic disasters are different, since they are phenomena caused by the hand of man, and that affect nature.
What are the risks of a man-made disaster?
The amount of negative consequences left by anthropic disasters they are extensive. And, furthermore, they do not only involve the environment, but also society and human beings.
Starting with nature, deteriorate its fauna and wildlife, being able to cause the death of species of animals or other types of organisms. In addition, it promotes the creation of natural disasters (floods), and affects the atmospheric layers of the earth, as well as its average temperature.
On the other hand, they dirty the spaces of our society, since contaminate the places we visit during the day and the air we breathe or aggravate the state of purity of the water we consume.
And all this, ends up affecting each one of us as individuals. From the risk of our health through diseases, or even being a collateral damage through the social reactions that occur.
Examples of an anthropogenic disaster
Examples of anthropic disaster there are an infinity. Obviously, the industrial revolution favored many of the factors that caused man-made disasters. However, there are many other catastrophic events that have affected the environment (and also our society). A flagship example is the First and Second World War. These events ended with a lot of human lives. In addition, they contaminated through the height of the battles, and strong explosions that destroyed aware societies (Hiroshima Atomic Bomb in Japan).
And speaking of explosions, one of the most sadly tragic and famous is the one that occurred in the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. Said disaster, which was caused by the use of nuclear energy in a specialized company, generated a cloud of smoke that spread high levels of radiation and contamination in the environment.
Many people (if not almost all), who were during the event, died from radiation or got cancer at some point in their lives. Such was the disaster that occurred that the area was left uninhabitable and still has levels of radiation that can be dangerous and harmful to health. Even more than 30 years after the explosion.
