Congo Equals Environmentalism
The struggle over oil exploration in Africa’s parks has for long demonstrated the urge for economic development over environmental preservation. The oil exploration in Congo’s Virunga National Park is yet another reminder of Congo’s bloody past. The hunt for natural resources like oil has put pressure on ecologists to preserve the environment including Virunga national ark. This paper study seeks to discuss the effect of natural resources like oil and the environmental impact including war and instability in the region. If oil is to be found in a significant quantity within Virunga national park, then the government will with no doubt allow SOCO International oil company from Britain to pursue its oil exploration project. It is imperative then to discuss the environmental and social impact of oil if to be found on the national park (Gentleman 2).
Congo’s Virunga National Park is Africa’s oldest national park. It is considered as an outstanding universal value for mankind with a rich biodiversity. Its ecosystem consists of jungles, swamps, animals such as lions and gorillas, and a cloud forest; these integrate the environmental aspect of Virunga Park. In this notion we can define the theme of ‘Congo equals environmentalism’ as an amazingly diverse nation with the few forest areas found in Africa having survived the ice age. Congo has the largest extent of tropical rainforest in Africa with forests providing a habitat for large species of animals. However, despite its rich ecosystem, the presence of natural resources has created conflict, human suffering, and violence which consequently spill to the neighboring countries of Rwanda and the others (Gentleman 3). Ecologists like the Virunga’s park director, Mr. Merode have made enemies trying to preserve the environment from poachers and other outlaws in the eye of the recent war in the oil exploration project.
According to Gentleman (2014) of the New York Times, the recent oil dispute in Congo reminds one of the bloody past the nation as gone through. The news article argues that the oil exploration project by SOCO International from Britain through the eyes of Congo’s president Mr. Kabila only exposes the environment from instability and war. In addition, the environmentalists cite that Virunga’s Lake Edward where the government and the oil explorer company believe the oil lies, is exposed to an oil spill if the project continues. This will cause contamination that might stretch all the way up in the River Nile to the Mediterranean Sea. Jeffrey Gentleman (NY Times author of the article) argues that the battle to save Virunga National Park from oil exploration is also a battle to save World heritage sites. If Virunga Park is exposed to this project, it will allow other similar projects in Africa to commence. Therefore, it is imperative for the environmentalists like Mr. Merode to signify the relevance of preserving this environment. But the argument also takes another side; if oil is found on Virunga Park then this might rid off the poverty levels in the country hence increase the economic development of Congo (Gentleman 5).
The connection of this article is relevance to notions such as preserving the environment, socialism, and liberalism. It is imperative for governments like Congo’s to engage the people around Virunga in the negotiations and community talks in order to know what they think of the project in general. Environmental preservation in a park like Virunga is highly significant as the forest serves a rare mix of habitat for mammals and amazing beautiful scenes like volcanoes. In addition, the project by SOCO will create instability in the region from oil wars.
The argument from the author of this news article signifies the essence of oil presence in the park versus the environment in the park. Socialism plays a relevance part in enhancing community talks in order to avoid conflicts that rise as a result of natural resources. Otherwise, lack of the government engaging the community in such talks will only result to social injustices and inequality.
In reflection of this article and the issues that arise as a result of the oil exploration project in Congo, the authors Jana Everett and Sue Charlton explore gender roles through feminist lens in order to understand the impact of globalization and development to enhance the lives of millions of people. Women and children are the most affected during conflicts which end up in war deaths. This chapter uses a feminist approach to help students and the general community in understanding alternative strategies and the complexity of development in improving the lives of people in war tone regions like Congo.
Ideologies like socialism and environmentalism greatly influence and enhance the lives of millions of people in the world. By reflecting the case study of Virunga National Park, it is imperative for environmentalists and the society to preserve the ecosystem of bio diverse places like Virunga Park. Relying on the government to instigate such measures is not usually the best strategy since some governments as seen by Congo, link with international agencies like SOCO in the oil exploration project yet they know the depth of the environmental impact like destroying the eco-system and oil spill that might affect the waters from Lake Edward in the park all the way up through the Nile River to the Mediterranean Sea.
Work Cited
Gentleman, Jeffrey. “Oil Dispute Takes a Page From Congo’s Bloody Past.” The New York Times (2014): 1-6. Print
