long period of Cold War and the constant threat of a catastrophic World War. This did not however mean the end of war or violence between countries as we have witnessed the disastrous wars in Eastern Europe, Iraq and Afghanistan.
During the last phase of the existence the USSR, a major accident took place in its nuclear plant in Chernobyl. This caused the death of a large number of workers in Chernobyl. But more important, it contaminated the atmosphere of a very large region including many other countries of Europe. Its effects created a new awareness among the people of the world about the danger of nuclear power whether for peaceful
or warlike purposes. It helped to merge anti war concerns with the concerns of environmental protection.
Globalisation, marginalised people and environmental movements
The economic and political changes happening worldwide since 1990s which go by the name of 'globalisation' or 'neo-liberalism' have deeply impacted the lives of the underprivileged and poor. Tribal people, poor farmers, landless workers, women, urban poor working in the unorganised sector and industrial workers have been the worst hit. By and large, these are also the people without access to formal education or adequate nutrition and health. As a result, they had no access to better paying jobs or to legal or other constitutional remedies.
During the last few decades, tribal and marginal farmers have also been threatened by commercial farmers, mining corporations, dam projects etc. As the large companies find rare resources in remote rural areas, like minerals, rare plants or animals and water, there has been a rapid increase in the ousting of the farming and tribal population from their traditional areas. This resulted in dispersion of the communities into new areas and the destruction of tribal cultures. As a result, they have been reduced to being the most vulnerable sections of the society. Along with this, such processes of development have severely threatened the natural resource base giving rise to environmental movements that seek to combine the voice of the marginalised with the anger over the destructive and violent nature of these development forces. These movements seek a vision that is different.
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