Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-t5tsf Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-03T08:41:07.129Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Environmental Crime and Victimization: A Green Criminological Analysis of the Endosulfan Disaster, Kasargod, Kerala

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 February 2018

Faisal Melangadi
Faisal Melangadi*
Affiliation:
Department of Criminology, University of Madras, Chennai – 600 005, Tamil Nadu, India
*
*Corresponding Author: Faisal Melangadi, UGC Junior Research Fellow, Department of Criminology, University of Madras, Chennai – 600 005, Tamil Nadu, India. E-mail: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Pesticides are chemicals used to kill pests and other “rival” organisms which may cause damage to crops in agriculture. In some instances the vast usage of pesticides may create negative effects on the environment and its units like living and non-living organisms. Green criminology counts such harmful activities upon the environment as crimes or harms though such activities can be legal or illegal in nature. The case of the endosulfan disaster that occurred in Kasargod, Kerala can be accounted to environmental harms which detrimentally affected the environment and its units, especially humans. The pesticide endosulfan was sprayed aerially for around 25 years in cashew plantations situated in Kasargod and caused severe diseases and extensive malformations among people living in the region. In this paper the endosulfan disaster of Kasargod is approached through the green criminological perspective of environmental harms.

Sinopsis

Los pesticidas son productos químicos utilizados para matar plagas y otros organismos "rivales" que pueden causar daños a los cultivos en la agricultura. En algunos casos, el amplio uso de pesticidas puede crear efectos negativos en el medio ambiente y sus unidades, como organismos vivos y no vivos. La criminología verde considera actividades dañinas sobre el medio ambiente como crímenes o daños, aunque tales actividades sean de naturaleza legal o ilegal. El caso del desastre del endosulfán que ocurrió en Kasargod, Kerala, India puede ser considerado como un daño ambiental que afectó negativamente al medio ambiente y sus unidades, especialmente a los humanos. El pesticida endosulfan fue rociado aéreamente alrededor de 25 años en plantaciones de anacardo situadas en Kasargod y causó enfermedades graves y malformaciones extensas entre las personas que viven en la región. En este artículo, el desastre del endosulfán de Kasargod se aborda a través de una perspectiva criminológica verde de los daños ambientales.

Résumé

Les pesticides sont des produits chimiques utilisés pour tuer les insectes nuisibles et autres organismes nuisibles qui peuvent causer des dommages aux cultures agricoles. Dans certains cas, l'utilisation massive de pesticides peut engendrer des effets négatifs sur l'environnement et ses occupants comme les organismes vivants et non vivants. La criminologie verte considère ces activités nuisibles sur l'environnement comme des crimes ou des dommages collateraux importants, bien que ces activités soient légales ou illégales. Le cas de la catastrophe de l'endosulfan survenue à Kasargod, Kerala, en Inde, est un exemple de préjudice qui a nui à l'environnement et à ses habitants, en particulier les humains. Le pesticide endosulfan a été pulvérisé par voie aérienne pendant 25 ans dans des plantations de noix de cajou situées à Kasargod et il a provoqué de graves maladies et de graves malformations parmi les habitants de la région. Dans cet article, la catastrophe endosulfan de Kasargod est abordée à travers la perspective criminologique verte des dommages environnementaux.

摘要

農藥是用來殺死害蟲和其他可能對農作物造成損害的“對手”生物的化學物質。在某些情況下，農藥的大量使用可能對環境及其單位如生物和非生物體產生不利影響。綠色犯罪學把這種對環境有害的活動視為犯罪或危害，雖然這些活動是合法的或非法的。印度喀拉拉邦卡薩爾戈德發生的硫丹災害案例是環境危害的一個例子，這種危害對環境及其單位，特別是人類造成不利影響。農藥硫丹在Kasargod的腰果種植園大約25年的空中噴灑，造成該地區居民嚴重的疾病和廣泛的畸形。本文通過環境危害的綠色犯罪學視角探討了卡薩爾戈德的硫丹災難。

Keywords

green criminologyenvironmental crimeendosulfanhealth consequencescriminología verdecrimen ambientalendosulfánconsecuencias para la salud.criminologie vertecriminalité environnementaleendosulfanconséquences sur la santé.綠色犯罪學環境犯罪硫丹健康後果
Type
Articles
Information
International Annals of Criminology , Volume 55 , Issue 2 , November 2017 , pp. 189 - 204
Copyright
© 2018 International Society of Criminology 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Aggrawal, Anil. 2006. “Agrochemical Poisoning.” Pp. 261–330 in Forensic Pathology Reviews, Vol. 4. Totowa, NJ: Humana Press Inc.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Anonymous. 2011. The Insecticides Act, 1968. New Delhi: Universal Law Publishing Co. Pvt. Ltd.Google Scholar
Bradshaw, Elizabeth A. 2012. “Deepwater, Deep Ties, Deep Trouble: A State–Corporate Environmental Crime Analysis of the 2010 Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill.” Dissertations. Paper 53. Western Michigan University. Retrieved September 2013 (http://scholarworks.wmich.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1078&context=dissertations).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Carson, Rachel. 1962. Silent Spring. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin.Google Scholar
Centre for Science and Environment. 2001. “A Centre for Science and Environment Report on the Contamination of Endosulfan in the Villagers.” Retrieved February 2013 (http://www.cseindia.org/userfiles/CSE_report-1.pdf).Google Scholar
Clifford, Mary Edwards, Terry D.. 1998. “Defining ‘Environmental Crime’.” Pp. 5–30 in Environmental Crime: Enforcement, Policy, and Social Responsibility, edited by Mary Clifford and Terry D. Edwards. Gaithersburg, MD: Aspen Publishers, Inc.Google Scholar
Committee for Government of Kerala. 2001. “Report of the Committee to Study and Analyse the Effects of Aerial Spray of Endosulfan in the Cashew Plantations of PCK Ltd. in Kasaragod District.” Retrieved June 2013 (http://www.cseindia.org/userfiles/Government%20of%20kerala-1.pdf).Google Scholar
Department of Health and Family Welfare. 2011. “Endosulfan: The Kerala Story. Report on Health Effects of Endosulfan and Progress of Rehabilitation Activities in Kerala.” Government of Kerala. Retrieved June 2013 (http://www.cseindia.org/userfiles/endosulfan_kerala_story.pdf).Google Scholar
Eman, Katja, Meško, Gorazd Fields, Charles B.. 2011. “Crimes Against the Environment: Green Criminology and Research Challenges in Slovenia.” VARSTVOSLOVJE, Journal of Criminal Justice and Security 11(4):574–592. Retrieved June 2013 (http://www.fvv.uni-mb.si/Varstvoslovje/Articles/VS-2009-4-Eman-Mesko-Fields.pdf).Google Scholar
Endosulfan Spray Protest Action Committee (ESPAC). 2001. “A White Paper on the Report on the Visit of the Expert Team Constituted by the Kerala Agriculture University for Investigating the Environmental Effects of Aerial Sprayed Endosulfan on Cashew Plantations in Perla Area of Kasargod District.” Retrieved June 2013 (http://www.cseindia.org/userfiles/white_paper.pdf).Google Scholar
Endosulfan Victims Relief and Rehabilitation Cell. n.d. Retrieved March 2013 (www.endosulphanvictims.org).Google Scholar
Faisal, M. 2017. “Green Criminological Reading on Deforestation with Special Reference to Oil Palm Industry, Indonesia.” The Investigator 3(1):64–71.Google Scholar
Gibbons, Don C. 1994. Talking About Crime and Criminals: Problems and Issues in Theory Development in Criminology. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall.Google Scholar
Gibbs, Carole, Gore, Meredith L., McGarrell, Edmund F. Rivers, Louie III. 2010. “Introducing Conservation Criminology: Towards Interdisciplinary Scholarship on Environmental Crimes and Risks.” British Journal of Criminology 50(1):124–144.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Government Medical College Calicut. 2011. “Epidemiological Studies Related to Health in Endosulfan Affected Areas at Kasargod District, Kerala 2010–11.” Department of Health and Family Welfare, Government of Kerala. Retrieved January 2017 (http://www.cseindia.org/node/3182).Google Scholar
Government of Kerala. 2003. “Health Hazards of Aerial Spraying of Endosulphan in KASARAGOD district, Kerala. Report of the Expert Committee, Government of Kerala, August 2003.” Retrieved June 2013 (http://www.cseindia.org/userfiles/KeralaGovt_FinalReport(1).pdf).Google Scholar
Hall, M. 2013. “Environmental Victims: Challenges for Criminology and Victimology.” VARSTVOSLOVJE, Journal of Criminal Justice and Security 13(4):371–391. Retrieved July 2015 (http://www.fvv.uni-mb.si/rV/arhiv/2011-4/02_Hall.pdf).Google Scholar
Harikrishnan, V. R. Usha, S.. 2004. Endosulfan – A Fact Sheet and Answers to Common Questions. IPEN Pesticide Working Group Project-2004. Thanal. Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. Retrieved March 2013 (http://www.endosulphanvictims.org/resources/ENDOSULFAN_FACTSHEET.pdf).Google Scholar
Jayakumar, C. 2011. “Oru Naad Swantham Janathaye Ottukodutha Vidham.” Pp. 51–59 in Endosulfan: Narakathilekk Thurakkunna Vaathil, edited by P. Saleem. Kerala: Solidarity Youth Movement.Google Scholar
Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment (KSCSTE). 2011. “Report on Monitoring of Endosulfan Residues in the 11 Panchayaths of Kasaragod District, Kerala.” Retrieved February 2013 (http://www.cseindia.org/userfiles/endo_report1.pdf).Google Scholar
Kerala State Pollution Control Board. 2010. Notification: No. PCB/L/1541/2001. Retrieved June 2013 (http://www.cseindia.org/userfiles/Notification_Endosulphan(1).pdf).Google Scholar
Lah, K. 2011. “Pesticides – History.” Retrieved January 2017 (http://toxipedia.org/display/toxipedia/Pesticides+-+History).Google Scholar
Leelakumariamma. 2011. Jeevadayini. Kottayam, Kerala: D C Books.Google Scholar
Lynch, Michael. 1990. “The Greening of Criminology: A Perspective on the 1990s.” Critical Criminologist 2(3–4):11–12.Google Scholar
Lynch, Michael J., Long, Michael A., Barrett, Kimberly L. Stretesky, Paul B.. 2013. “Is it a Crime to Produce Ecological Disorganization? Why Green Criminology and Political Economy Matter in the Analysis of Global Ecological Harms.” British Journal of Criminology 53(6):997–1016.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lynch, Michael J. Stretesky, Paul B.. 2001. “Toxic Crimes: Examining Corporate Victimization of the General Public Employing Medical and Epidemiological Evidence.” Critical Criminology 10:153–172.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
National Crime Records Bureau. n.d. “National Crime Records Bureau.” Retrieved February 2017 (http://ncrb.gov.in/).Google Scholar
National Institute of Occupational Health (NIOH). 2002. “Final Report of The Investigation of Unusual Illnesses Allegedly Produced by Endosulfan Exposure in Padre Village of Kasargod District (N.Kerala)”. National Human Rights Commission, India. Retrieved June 2013 (http://www.cseindia.org/userfiles/NIOH-FinalReport(1).pdf).Google Scholar
Nellemann, C., Henriksen, R., Kreilhuber, A., Stewart, D., Kotsovou, M., Raxter, P., Mrema, E. Barrat, S. (editors). 2016. “The Rise of Environmental Crime – A Growing Threat To Natural Resources, Peace, Development and Security. A UNEP-INTERPOL Rapid Response Assessment.” United Nations Environment Programme and RHIPTO Rapid Response–Norwegian Center for Global Analyses. Retrieved October 2016 (http://wedocs.unep.org/handle/20.500.11822/7662).Google Scholar
Pearce, Frank Tombs, Steve. 1998. Toxic Capitalism: Corporate Crime and the Chemical Industry. Aldershot: Ashgate Publishing.Google Scholar
Potter, Gary. 2012. “What is Green Criminology?” Retrieved June 2013 (http://www.greencriminology.org/monthly/WhatIsGreenCriminology.pdf).Google Scholar
Pulla, Priyanka. 2011. “Endosulfan Ban: No Clear Battle Lines Drawn.” Live Mint. Retrieved May 2013 (http://www.livemint.com/Politics/03ejtKJXAV4A1XxOZr3WGI/Endosulfan-ban-no-clear-battle-lines-drawn.html).Google Scholar
Quijano, Romeo F. 2002. “Endosulfan Poisoning in Kasargod, Kerala, India: Report of a Fact Finding Mission.” Retrieved February 2013 (http://archive.panap.net/sites/default/files/endosulfan_report_Kerala_1.pdf).Google Scholar
Rahman, M. A. 2011. “Kasargotte Janithaka Bheekaratha.” Pp. 28–39 in Endosulfan: Narakathilekk Thurakkunna Vaathil, edited by P. Saleem. Kerala: Solidarity Youth Movement.Google Scholar
Rahman, M. A. 2015. Oro Jeevanum Vilappettathanu. Kannur, Kerala: Kairali Books.Google Scholar
Ramachandran, P. V. Mohanan, V.. 2003. “The Endosulfan Controversy in Padre Village, Kasargod, Kerala.” Kerala State Branch of Indian Medical Association. Retrieved March 2013 (http://www.pvramachandran.com/publications/endosulfan Report.doc).Google Scholar
Saleem, P. 2011. Endosulfan: Narakathilekku Thurakkunna Vaathil. Kerala: Solidarity Youth Movement.Google Scholar
Silva, M. H. 2007. “Endosulfan: Risk Characterization Document.” Medical Toxicology and Worker Health and Safety Branches. Department of Pesticide Regulation. California Environmental Protection Agency. Retrieved June 2013 (http://www.cdpr.ca.gov/docs/emon/pubs/tac/tacpdfs/endosulfan/endosulfan_doc.pdf).Google Scholar
The Plantation Corporation of Kerala Ltd. n.d. “The Plantation Corporation of Kerala Ltd.” Retrieved September 2016 (http://www.pcklimited.in/).Google Scholar
United Nations Environment. 2011. “Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants.” Retrieved February 2013 (http://chm.pops.int/Portals/0/download.aspx?d=UNEP-POPS-COP.5-36.English.pdf).Google Scholar
United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI). n.d. “Environmental Crimes.” Retrieved May 2013 (http://www.unicri.it/topics/environmental/).Google Scholar
United States Environmental Protection Agency. 2002. “Endosulfan RED Facts.” Retrieved June 2013 (https://archive.epa.gov/pesticides/reregistration/web/html/endosulfan_fs.html).Google Scholar
United States Environmental Protection Agency. 2010. “Endosulfan Phase-out.” Retrieved June 2013 (https://archive.epa.gov/pesticides/reregistration/web/html/endosulfan-agreement.html).Google Scholar
Usha, O. V. 2011. “Purogathiyude Mugangal.” Pp. 111–112 in Endosulfan: Narakathilekk Thurakkunna Vaathil, edited by P. Saleem. Kerala: Solidarity Youth Movement.Google Scholar
Usha, S. 2000. “Aerial Spraying Harms Plantation Workers in Kerala, India.” Pesticides News no. 47. Retrieved January 2017 (http://www.pan-uk.org/pestnews/Issue/pn47/pn47p6.htm).Google Scholar
Wikipedia. 2013. “Endosulfan.” Retrieved May 2013 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endosulfan).Google Scholar
Wikipedia. 2016a. “Bhopal Disaster: The Leakage and its Subsequent Effects.” Retrieved November 2016 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhopal_disaster#The_leakage_and_its_subsequent_effects).Google Scholar
Wikipedia. 2016b. “Pesticide.” Retrieved November 2016 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pesticide).Google Scholar
Wikipedia. 2016c. “Carbaryl.” Retrieved November 2016 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbaryl).Google Scholar
Williams, Christopher. 1996a. “Environmental Victimization and Violence.” Aggression and Violent Behavior 1(3):191–204.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Williams, Christopher. 1996b. “An Environmental Victimology.” Social Justice 23(4):16–40.Google Scholar