Environmental Crime in Latin America: The Theft of Nature and the Poisoning of the Land (Palgrave Studies in Green Criminology)

This book is the first green criminology text to focus specifically on Latin America. Green criminology has always adopted a broad horizon and explicitly emphasised that environmental crimes and harms affect countries and cultures around the world. The chapters collected here illuminate and describe the “theft of nature” and the “poisoning of the land” in Latin America through and from processes of agro-industry expansion, biopiracy, legal and illegal trafficking of free-born non-human animals, and mining. An interdisciplinary study, this collection draws on research from a wide range of international experts on not only green criminology, but also social justice, political ecology and sociology. An engaging and thought-provoking work, this book will be an essential text for anyone interested in current issues in environmental crime. Environmental Crime in Latin America 4 Contents 6 Contributors 9 List of Figures 11 List of Tables 12 1 Introduction: The Theft of Nature and the Poisoning of the Land in Latin America 13 References 20 Part I Sociological Analyses of the Theft of Nature 22 2 The Environmental Damages and Liabilities of Collective Suicide 23 Introduction 23 Agricultural Irrigation with Wastewater in the Mezquital Valley, Hidalgo, Mexico 25 Justice in Socio-Environmental Dynamics 32 Green Criminology Contributions to the Debate 35 Final Reflections 37 References 38 3 The Archipelago of Chiloé and the Uncertain Contours of its Future: Coloniality, New Extractivism and Political-Social Re-vindication of Existence 41 Introduction 41 The Archipelago of Chiloé and How it is Considered an Internal Colony 42 Neoliberal Consolidation, New Extractivism and Plundering of Nature in the Archipelago of Chiloé 47 The Salmon Industry in Chiloé: a Model of Destructive Use of Natural and Social Common Goods 48 The Quiet Advance of Monoculture Tree Plantations 53 “Green Neoliberalism” or Conservationist Land-Grabbing 55 Mining Concessions and Exploration 56 The Impact of Mega-Wind Farms on Chiloé 58 Bridge over the Chacao Channel: The Zenith-Point of Centralist and Undemocratic Violence 59 Conclusion: Re-Signification and Identity Reconstruction as Part of Socio-Political Re-Vindication of Existence 60 References 61 4 Understanding Environmental Harm and Justice Claims in the Global South: Crimes of the Powerful and Peoples’ Resistance 66 Introduction 67 Theoretical Framework: Points of Departure 68 State-Organized Crime in the “Alegal” World: The Trajectory of Colonial Law 71 Terra Nullius: The Legal Justification of Accumulation by Dispossession? 73 The Wayuu and Cerrejón Mining Project: A Case Study of Harm and Resistance 75 Historical Injuries and Resolution 60/2015 of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights 77 IACHR and the Limits of Adjudication 80 Peoples Permanent Tribunal 84 PPT as an Alternative Historical Record for Justice Claims of Subaltern Groups 86 Conclusion 88 References 90 Rulings 91 Press 92 Reports 92 Documentaries 92 5 Mining in Colombia: Tracing the Harm of Neoliberal Policies and Practices 93 Introduction 93 Neoliberalism: An Introductory Framework 94 The Application of Some Neoliberal Tenets to the Colombian Mining Sector 101 What is at Stake? La Colosa, a Case Study 110 Conclusion 115 References 116 Part II The Takeover of Land and the Plundering of its Products 122 6 Global Pollution, Multinational Oil Companies and State Power: The Case of Yaiguaje v. Chevron Corporation 123 Introduction 123 Methodology 124 Setting the Stage: Ecuador and Oil Exploration 125 Proper Disposal and Scientific Evidence 128 US Federal Court Litigation 130 Plaintiff’s File Action in Ontario to Collect Damages 134 Conclusion: Criminological Theory and Geopolitical Analysis 140 References 142 Cases 145 7 A Decade of Social and Environmental Mobilization Against Mega-Mining in Chubut, Argentinian Patagonia 147 Introduction 147 Taking it to the Streets and to the Polls 149 The Eco-Philosophy behind Esquel’s Social Movement 153 To Subvert and Decolonize Rather than Invert 156 The Implementation of an Eco-Philosophically Informed Subversion 158 Resistance Movements After Esquel and the Threat of Reactionary Laws 162 Conclusion 165 References 167 8 Agro-Industry Expansion Through “Strategic Alliances”: The Shifting Dynamics of Palm Oil-Related Dispossession 169 Baldíos, Empty Forests and Marginal Populations 171 Amassing the Lands 176 Closing the Gap: Incorporating the Small Grower 181 Conclusion: From Accumulation by Dispossession to Dispossession by Consent? 188 References 191 9 The Injustices of Policing, Law and Multinational Monopolization in the Privatization of Natural Diversity: Cases from Colombia and Latin America 193 Introduction 194 Colonialism and Private Force 194 The Privatization and Commercialization of the Products of Nature 196 The Monopolization and Control of the Seeds of Life 198 Armed Groups in Colombia 201 Illegal Armed Groups 202 Legal Armed Bodies 204 The Dynamics of Monopolization of Lands and Products 206 Discourses and Events 208 From Public Policing to Private Security 211 Conclusion 213 References 214 Part III The Subjugation of Nonhuman Animals 219 10 The Use and Abuse of Animals in Wildlife Trafficking in Colombia: Practices and Injustice 220 Introduction 220 Dynamics and Control of the Trade in Wildlife 221 Categories of Animals and Motivations for Use in and from Colombia: Present and Historical 224 Colombian Trafficking in a Historical Perspective 229 Modus Operandi 232 Is WLT in Colombia Organized Crime? 236 Animal Abuse and Species Injustice 239 Conclusion: Stopping the Evils of Wildlife Trafficking 242 References 244 11 Wildlife Trafficking in the State of São Paulo, Brazil 249 Introduction 249 The Chain of Wildlife Trafficking in Brazil—Wildlife Hunting 250 The Chain of Wildlife Trafficking in Brazil—Transport of Wild Animals 253 The Chain of Wildlife Trafficking in Brazil—Sale of Wild Animals 254 Limitations on Actions to Address Wildlife Trafficking—Transport and Destination of Recovered Wild Animals 256 Limitation on Actions to Combat Wildlife Trafficking—Exchange of Intelligence Information Between Police and Between Brazilian States 258 Limitations on Actions to Combat Wildlife Trafficking—Traffickers’ Sense of Impunity 259 Breeding of Wild Animals in Captivity—An Ineffective Strategy 262 Conclusion 263 References 263 12 Biomedical Research vs. Biodiversity Conservation in the Colombian-Peruvian Amazon: Searching for Law Enforcement Where There is Lack of Accountability 265 Introduction 266 Background 268 Malaria Research in the Colombian Amazon 268 Malaria Research and the Infringement of Colombian Legislation 270 Environmental Damage 272 Methods 279 Interviews 279 Auto-Ethnography 279 Acción Popular 280 Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) 280 Results 281 Legal Case 281 Lack of Accountability 284 Discussion 291 Conclusion 293 References 295 Part IV Afterword 299 13 An Epilogue to the Book, Not an Elegy for the Earth 300 References 304 Index 305 1. Introduction: The Theft Of Nature And The Poisoning Of The Land In Latin America / Avi Brisman, David Rodríguez Goyes, Hanneke Mol And Nigel South -- Part I. Sociological Analyses Of The Theft Of Nature. 2. The Environmental Damages And Liabilities Of Collective Suicide / Cleotilde Hernández Suárez ; 3. The Archipelago Of Chiloé And The Uncertain Contours Of Its Future : Coloniality, New Extractivism And Political-social Re-vindication Of Existence / Eduardo Mondaca ; 4. Understanding Environmental Harm And Justice Claims In The Global South : Crimes Of The Powerful And Peoples' Resistance / Gustavo Rojas-páez ; 5. Mining In Colombia : Tracing The Harm Of Neoliberal Policies And Practices / Laura Gutiérrez-gómez -- Part Ii. The Takeover Of Land And The Plundering Of Its Produnts. 6. Global Pollution, Multinational Oil Companies And State Power : The Case Of Yaiguaje V. Chevron Corporation / Matthew G. Yeager And Jade L. Smith ; 7. A Decade Of Social And Environmental Mobilization Against Mega-mining In Chubut, Argentinian Patagonia / Ana Mariel Weinstock ; 8. Agro-industry Expansion Through Strategic Alliances : The Shifting Dynamics Of Palm Oil-related Dispossession / Hanneke Mol ; 9. The Injustices Of Policing, Law And Multinational Monopolization In The Privatization Of Natural Diversity : Cases From Colombia And Latin America / David Rodríguez Goyes And Nigel South -- Part Iii. The Subjugation Of Nonhuman Animals. 10. The Use And Abuse Of Animals In Wildlife Trafficking In Colombia : Practices And Injustice / Ragnhild Sollund ; 11. Wildlife Trafficking In The State Of São Paulo, Brazil / Marcelo Robis Francisco Nassaro ; 12. Biomedical Research Vs. Biodiversity Conservation In The Colombian-peruvian Amazon : Searching For Law Enforcement Where There Is Lack Of Accountability / Ángela María Maldonado And Thomas Lafon -- Part Iv. Afterword. 13. An Epilogue To The Book, Not An Elegy For The Earth / Avi Brisman. David Rodríguez Goyes, Hanneke Mol, Avi Brisman, Nigel South, Editors. This Palgrave Macmillan Imprint Is Published By Springer Nature--title Page Verso. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Front Matter ....Pages i-xiii Introduction: The Theft of Nature and the Poisoning of the Land in Latin America (Avi Brisman, David Rodríguez Goyes, Hanneke Mol, Nigel South)....Pages 1-9 Front Matter ....Pages 11-11 The Environmental Damages and Liabilities of Collective Suicide (Cleotilde Hernández Suárez)....Pages 13-30 The Archipelago of Chiloé and the Uncertain Contours of its Future: Coloniality, New Extractivism and Political-Social Re-vindication of Existence (Eduardo Mondaca)....Pages 31-55 Understanding Environmental Harm and Justice Claims in the Global South: Crimes of the Powerful and Peoples’ Resistance (Gustavo Rojas-Páez)....Pages 57-83 Mining in Colombia: Tracing the Harm of Neoliberal Policies and Practices (Laura Gutiérrez-Gómez)....Pages 85-113 Front Matter ....Pages 115-115 Global Pollution, Multinational Oil Companies and State Power: The Case of Yaiguaje v. Chevron Corporation (Matthew G. Yeager, Jade L. Smith)....Pages 117-140 A Decade of Social and Environmental Mobilization Against Mega-Mining in Chubut, Argentinian Patagonia (Ana Mariel Weinstock)....Pages 141-162 Agro-Industry Expansion Through “Strategic Alliances”: The Shifting Dynamics of Palm Oil-Related Dispossession (Hanneke Mol)....Pages 163-186 The Injustices of Policing, Law and Multinational Monopolization in the Privatization of Natural Diversity: Cases from Colombia and Latin America (David Rodríguez Goyes, Nigel South)....Pages 187-212 Front Matter ....Pages 213-213 The Use and Abuse of Animals in Wildlife Trafficking in Colombia: Practices and Injustice (Ragnhild Sollund)....Pages 215-243 Wildlife Trafficking in the State of São Paulo, Brazil (Marcelo Robis Francisco Nassaro)....Pages 245-260 Biomedical Research vs. Biodiversity Conservation in the Colombian-Peruvian Amazon: Searching for Law Enforcement Where There is Lack of Accountability (Ángela María Maldonado, Thomas Lafon)....Pages 261-294 Front Matter ....Pages 295-295 An Epilogue to the Book, Not an Elegy for the Earth (Avi Brisman)....Pages 297-301 Back Matter ....Pages 303-313 This book is the first green criminology text to focus specifically on Latin America. Green criminology has always adopted a broad horizon and explicitly emphasised that environmental crimes and harms affect countries and cultures around the world. The chapters collected here illuminate and describe the ztheft of naturey and the zpoisoning of the landy in Latin America through and from processes of agro-industry expansion, biopiracy, legal and illegal trafficking of free-born non-human animals, and mining. An interdisciplinary study, this collection draws on research from a wide range of international experts on not only green criminology, but also social justice, political ecology and sociology. An engaging and thought-provoking work, this book will be an essential text for anyone interested in current issues in environmental crime