Industrial and Agricultural Environmental Disasters: Causes, Impacts, and Link to Neoliberal Policies

This essay explores the causes, impacts, and link between industrial and agricultural environmental disasters, such as the Bhopal gas tragedy and Exxon Valdez oil spill. It also discusses the influence of neoliberal policies and practices on these disasters. The essay highlights the importance of proper regulations and policies to prevent such disasters.

Sociology
Essay

Topic 3
INTRODUCTION
Disaster is define as a serious disruption that occur over a long or short period of time
which lead to widespread material, economic, human or environmental loss that exceeds ability
of those communities or society who get affected in order to cope by using resources. It is also
consider as accident or natural catastrophe which will create great or huge damage as well as loss
of life. It is divided into three category i.e. natural, man made and technological disasters (Types
of disaster, 2019). Industrial disasters are consider as huge disaster which is cause by industrial
firm through incompetence, negligence or accident. This disaster is also consider as
environmental disaster because it will highly impact on the environment or surrounding of a
country. These disaster can be natural or man originated incident. This report will include wide
range of information about the recent industrial disaster or agricultural environmental disaster
such as Bhopal disaster, OK Tedi mining in Papua New Guinea and many others (Bairner,
2012). Along with this assignment will also include relationship between the disaster and
neoliberal policies and practices which are developed by different world institutions like World
Bank, International Monetary Fund and World Trade Organisation. As well as it will also link of
include influential government countries such as United State of America, Canada, Britain and
Australia.
MAIN BODY
About disaster
Disaster is define as serious disruption which occurred for a long or short time duration
which lead to widespread material, human, environmental or economical loss as well as it will
also decrease the ability of society or communities which get affected due to disaster. It is
divided into three type that are natural, human caused or technological disasters (Bovenkerk,
2012). Natural disaster are consider as major event which is cause by the nature itself such as
flood, earth quack, volcanic eruption, tsunamis and many more. These are generally take place
due to drought, famine and several other cataclysmic events.
Human caused disaster are those event which are take place due to human inaction or
action. Some of the major man made disaster which take around the world are Bhopal Gas leak,
Jilin Chemical Explosion, Tennesse Coal Ash Spill, Sidoarjo mud volcano and many others. This

will lead to huge loss of company or industry as well as human life. The last type of disaster is
technological disasters which is consider as catastrophic event that will take place by human
error while controlling technology or conducting malfunctioning of technology system. This
disaster is consider as wide or huge as a natural disaster. So it is essential for a people as well as
industries to conduct proper and effective activities or actions which will snot impact on
environment directly or indirectly.
Industrial or agricultural environmental disaster are consider as man maid disaster which
is caused due to industrial companies or firm either by incompetence, accident or negligence.
This will lead to realise of huge amount of hazardous as well as toxic wastage which impact on
life of human being in various ways such as death, psychosocial issues, physical illness and
many others. There are major four reason which lead to industrial or agricultural environmental
disaster and they are error of human, inappropriate training of employees, defect occur in
manufacturing or production and improper maintenance (The 4 Main Cause of Accidents in a
Chemical Plant, 2019). There are various example of world's worst industrial disasters such as
Tianjin (China), Centralia minig disaster (United State), Bhopal Disaster (India), Phillips disaster
(Texas, United State) and many more (9 of the world's worst industrial disasters, 2019). Due to
this respective countries face huge loss of man power, capital or economy and many others.
Different human based disaster
Bhopal disaster is also know as Bhopal gas tragedy in which gas leakage incident get
occur at the mid of the 2nd and 3rd December 1984 at the UCIL pesticide plant (Union Carbide
India Limited) at the Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India. This is consider as world's worst
industrialor agricultural environmental disaster which take place over 33 years ago (Bhopal gas
tragedy: What had happened this day 33 years ago that killed thousands?, 2019).

In this disaster more than 5, 58, 125 people were exposed or injured by methyl isocyanate
(MIC) gas, this gas or highly toxic substance travel around the near by towns slowly which affect
the city. Along with this according to research around the 8000 to 10000 people are put in the
figure of death. In this case generally approx 45 tons of the dangerous gas i.e. methyl isocyanate
(MIC) escaped from the plant which is owned by the Indian subsidiary of American firm i.e.
Union Carbide Corporation (Bhopal disaster, 2019). The concentration in air get arise to 21 ppm
(parts per million) which lead to death of an individual within a minute. Slowly respective gas
drifted over nearby population around the gas plant which killed thousand of people in very short
time. According to research conducted it has been analyse or find that in the within the few hour
of gas leakage around 3000 people get died and this data is affiliated by government.
Along with this report reported or presented by Plant number C of Union Carbide India
Limited, methyl isocyanate gas got mixed along with the waster which they are using for cooling
the plant, then that mixture started generating volumes of gases that put tremendous pressure on
the 610 tank number. Then the tank cover started leaking due to high gas pressure which lead to
releasing of methyl isocyanate gas all over the area near to plant. Due to this half of the
population of Bhopal get caught by several diseases such as coughing, itching in eyes and skin,
breathing issues and many more (Mannheim, 2012). This gas also cause internal damage,
pneumonia and death. In year 1984 there are not too many hospitals in Bhopal due to which two
government hospitals not able to treat or accommodate half of the effected population.

At first peoples are complaining about the skin irritation and breathing issues due to
which doctor were not able to understand reason of it. That suddenly leads to increase in number
of patients complaining about dizziness, skill irritation, rashes, breathing issues and sudden
blindness, doctor of both the hospital never faced such kind of issues before due to which they
not able to handle the situation. According to the report in two days of Bhopal gas tragedy there
are more than 50000 patient came to hospital. The Bhopal gas tragedy occur at 1984 but its effect
is bothering people till now.
Exxon Valdez oil spill disaster is also one of the biggest human made disaster which
occurred when Exxon Valdez that is an oil tanker owned by the Exxon Shipping Firm, spilled
approx 11 million gallons of crude oil into the Alaska's Prince William sound at 1989 24th
March. It is consider as worst or biggest oil spill in history of United State. The Exxon Valdenz
oil Slick had covered approx 1300 miles of coastline due to which thousand of seabirds, seals,
whales, otters and other sea animals get killed (Exxon Valdez Oil Spill, 2019). Even after 30
years pocket of crude oil remain stiff at some locations which impact on the sea birds and
animals.
For the cleaning of this massive oil spill thousands of people are undertaken or involved.
According to the final report of death due to The Exxon Valdenz oil Slick are 250000 seabirds,
3000 sea otters, 250 bald eagles, 300 Harbor seals, 22 killer whales and billions of salmon eggs
(Exxon Valdez changed the oil industry forever—but new threats emerge, 2019). This will also
directly impact on the local fishing industry as well as it also lead to bankrupt situation of
fishermen. Along with this high oil spread affect the ecosystem which lead to increase in threat
among the marines and other species as well as it not only impact on the sea of respective place
it also affect the people leaving at location Prince William Sound.

This is generally take place due to mixing of oil and water and in respective year The
Exxon Valdenz company faced loss of near by $ 580 million. It will also impact on more then
26000 jobs in tourism industry and it also lead to closing of near by $ 2.4 billion companies (The
Complete Story of the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill, 2019).
According to research conducted by The National transportation Safety Board (NTSB),
the most of the blame for Exxon Valdez oil spill disaster is Exxon and their incompetent as well
as overworked crew. They also consider United State coast guard to be faulted for conducting
inadequate practices or system of traffic standard or rules. Along with this by gathering various
evidences it is found that Joseph J. Hazelwood who is the captain of ship is drinking exactly
before the accident (Exxon Valdez oil spill. 2019). After such huge disaster respective company
terminated his various employees who are at the ship.
OK Tedi mining is an open pit copper as well as gold mine at Papua New Guinea which
is established near the headwaters of Ok Tedi River at Star Mountains Rural LLG of Noeth Fly
District of Western province of Papua New Guinea. In this disaster discharge started from the
mine which have caused widespread as well as diverse harm for both society and environment
along the 1000 kilometres (620 mi). This will take place between year 1984 and 2013 and it
directly affect 50,000 peoples who are leaving at or near mine (Australian mining giant leaves
environmental disaster in Papua New Guinea. 2019).

It is consider as one of the worst or huge environmental disaster that is caused by human,
in this near about two billion tons of untreated mining waste into Ok Tedi which is from Ok Tedi
Mine. In year 1999, according to research conducted by Brake Horse Power, there are more then
90 million tons of mine waste are discharged annually into the OK Tedi river for near by more
then 10 years (McFall and Ossandón, 2014). This will slowly impact starting impact or
destroying downstream fisheries, villages and agriculture of respective location as well as near
by locations.
Along with this in year 2006, OK Tedi mining, continued discharge 80 million tones of
overburden, tailings and mine other waste material ever year due to which forest get impacted
and died. Due to respective activities of OK Tedi mine, lands of huge numbers of farmers get
destroyed as well as it also poisoned near about 2000 square kilometres of forest (Environmental
Impact of OK TEDI Mine, 2019). In addition to this it will also impacted on the fish business of
respective company as it will lead to decrease in the fish stock from 50 percent and 80 percent.
In addition to this there are several issues or damage face by society due to respective
disaster like it lead to sediments deposition from mine over the huge range of river system as
well as it also deposit deep in the river as well as three meter of attached area. It also lead to
increase in bio available copper which is harmful for animals and aquatic plants as well as it also
develop acid rock drainage which flank several channels of main river (The Ok Tedi
Negotiations, 2007). Due to this large area of near OK Tedi get destructed because it lead to
lowland rainforest at some location due to inundation, sedimentation and flooding.
About Neo-liberal policies and practices
Neo-liberalism is consider as policies which are generally associated with the policies of
economic liberalization that will include deregulation, free trade, privatization, austerity as well

as decreasing in government spending for enhancing role of private sector in the society and
economy. Here neo-liberalism policies are related with the rules and regulation which are
developed by different government bodies around the world in order to avoid disaster. Along
with this there is also link among the disaster as well as neo-liberal policies and procedures
which are promoted by world institution such as world bank, world trade organisation,
international monetary fund and so on and it also influence by western government which
include countries like Australia, Canada, Britain and United State of America.
Disaster and neo-liberalism policies are linked with each other because government
develop several rules, regulations and policies after occurrence of any disaster. This is so because
after any incident government and non government companies understand the importance of
policies through which they can avoid the issues (Platts, 2013). Such as in respect of Bhopal gas
disaster there is mistake of both government as well as companies because company ignore the
essential policies which they must consider while operating in chemical industry. Along with this
government office not bother about the design of factory which is not appropriate for chemical
factory. Due to irresponsibleness of both such a big issues or disaster get occur which lead to
deal of huge number of peoples.
Neo-liberal policies and practices according to disaster
After Bhopal gas disaster Delhi Pollution Control Committee screened about 9000
industrial units from which only 283 had installed waste material treatment plants (Corporate
and Governmental Responsibilities for Preventing Chemical Disasters: Lessons from Bhopal,
2018). In addition to this International Labour Organization (ILO) as well as other inter state
companies have also develop policy which is related to conventions and proclamation in order
tot ensure that firms will match specific standards when are operating in foreign countries. For
example according to European Parliament it is essential for companies who are conducting
business in foreign need to maintain proper level of safety of both place home as well as host. In
addition to this there are also several plans are develop by corporate social responsibility
organisation that they every company need to engage themselves in such kind of activities and
for that they need to consider high ethical standard which help in minimising business as well as
legal risk.
After the incident took place in 1989, there has been pressure by government for building
oil spill clean up technology which should be adopted by all organisation which works on

transportation of oil from one place to another (Pressure builds for better oil spill clean-up
technology, 2019). In current scenario, oil is regarded as most expensive and scarcer which is
declining day by day. In order to stop such incident and wastage, technology has to be adopt by
business in effective and efficient manner. The scientists has made an efforts to find effective
and new ways for dealing with oil though there has been change in technology.
There is pressure on respective company to push towards environmental pristine Arctic
for improving themselves. The industry has ramped for funding in order to improve technology
after incidents. The Obama administration has made new drilling regulation which focus on
preventing repeat of Exxon Valdez oil spill disaster. White House is regarded as brawl with oil
industry that claims various rules which cost billion dollars and imperil thousand of jobs
opportunities (New US oil drilling regulations aim to prevent another Deepwater disaster, 2019).
After the happening of incidents, Department of Interior has made mandatory standards for oil
infrastructure and monitoring and repairs of tools and equipments.
The new rules contain piece of safety equipment which is known as blowout preventer
that is back up measures for such safety. Here, government as well as industry both focus on
protecting environmental and human lives from oil spills. These practices are not improved as
per report published by US Chemical Safety Board. Instead of expanding offshore drilling, they
government has to focus on development of clean energy solutions like offshore wind.
Government has made compulsory for maintaining oil transportation to be done safely and in
good manner.
OK Tedi mining disaster is also one of the huge disaster which impact on peoples or
village badly. So after that government develop various policies so that they can avoid this type
of huge disaster in future as well as they also strictly warn the companies that they need to follow
those standards. World trade organisation set policies such as companies cannot dispose their
waste material or any type of chemical in the near river or sea, they have to build some chamber
where they can dispose it or they have to design canal through which it can be dispose far from
public area. Along with this world institutions also develop policy that company need to conduct
corporate social responsibilities for the locality peoples of that location where their plant is
established (The Ok Tedi Negotiations, 2007). It is also essential for companies to adopt as well
as follow environmental rules, regulations and policies in order to conduct business operations
and functions in legal as well as ethical manner.

Neo-liberal policies and practices according to countries
Australian government also plays initial role in avoiding disaster as well as improving the
nation's resilience toward the disaster such as they develop as well as implement effective risk
based land management as well as also conduct arrangement for planning and other several
mitigation practices. They also conduct arrangement of of informing peoples who are leaving at
risky places in order to avoid exposure as well as vulnerabilities toward hazard or disaster. Along
with this respective place government also educate their citizen that how they can effectively
face or go through disaster as well as they also support peoples and communities so that they
always prepare for extreme disaster or event (NATIONAL STRATEGY FOR DISASTER
RESILIENCE, 2011). In addition to this when any big disaster take place then government of
Australia provide support to those peoples in various ways for example they provide shelter,
water, food, cloth, financial help and many more.
In addition to the United State of America they develop proper emergency and disaster
preparedness strategies on their website so that communities or peoples conduct practices
accordingly at the time of disaster. For this respective nation develop separate section of how to
do preparedness for disaster, at which people they get information about how to find shelter,
route and other things at the time of disaster. This will also help in knowing about different
suppliers of important or survival kit at the time of any king of disaster and at respective website
peoples also get information about the medications.
Along with this at respective website people get information about how they get weather
and emergency alerts at the time of man made disaster as well as natural disaster. In addition to
this governance of Canada also develop rules, regulation and polices for Public safety. At
respective nation these strategies are developed by Disaster financial assistance arrangements
(DFAA). The main aim of this plan is to provide disaster relief for the peoples who are facing
natural or man made disaster (Natural hazards, 2019). The respective nation also develop
separate section at which public can report if they facing key kind of disaster through which
government or communities develop strategies accordingly and provide services for overcoming
it in successful manner.
These all practices or strategies which are developed by diverse countries are based on
the disaster through which they go through in the past. By creating these strategies nation want to
develop guidelines for the other peoples who are leaving at respective nation so that they can

face the issues effectively and get overcome for it successfully (Stark, 2013). Along with this it
will also minimise the high risk associated with the huge disaster that can be natural or man
made such as Bhopal gas disaster, earth quack and many more.
CONCLUSION
By conducting analysis of above report it can be summarise that in a world each and
every country go through various kind of disaster which can be natural or man made. Disaster
impact on peoples, animal as well as economy negatively. Some of the major disaster which are
consider as worst disaster around the world are Bhopal Gas leak, Tennesse Coal Ash Spill, Jilin
Chemical Explosion, Sidoarjo mud volcano and many more. These man made disasters impact
on national economy as well as peoples very badly whose impact can be seen today also.
So in order to overcome or minimise the impact of disaster as well as occurrence of
disaster world institutions as well as western government develop various rules, regulations and
neo-liberal policies. Here, world institutions are World Banhich is essential for society and
companies to follow it so that they can help in avoiding occurrence of huge disaster in the
country. In addition to this there are various rules, regulation and policies which are develop by
government bodies as well as company's it self so that they can avoid such man made disaster in
effective manner. Such as after the Bhopal gas disaster government of India and foreign country
develop policy that companies need to follow proper standards related to safety.