Graham Huggan and Helen Tiffin’s books 'Postcolonial Ecocriticism: Literature, Animals, Environment'. London: Routledge, 2015
·
Part 1
Postcolonialism and
Environment
·
Part 2
Zoocriticism and the
Postcolonial
Summary of the Postscript: After Nature
Pages 224-237
1.
What Does "After
Nature" Mean?
o
The phrase
"After Nature" suggests that we can no longer think about nature as
something separate from humans. People have altered nature so much that it is
impossible to return to a "pure" or untouched natural world.
o
Example:
Deforestation in the Amazon rainforest is not just a natural event—it is a
result of human actions like farming, industry, and politics.
2.
Colonialism and
Environmental Damage
o
Colonial powers took
control of lands, cut down forests, exploited animals, and changed local
ecosystems for their own benefit. This damage continues even today.
o
Example: The British
cleared vast areas of forests in India and Africa for tea, coffee, and rubber
plantations. This destroyed local environments and displaced native
communities.
3.
Climate Change and
the Global South
o
Many postcolonial
nations (like those in Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean) suffer the most from
climate change, even though they contributed the least to the problem.
o
Example: Small island
nations like Tuvalu and the Maldives are at risk of sinking due to rising sea
levels, which is a result of industrial pollution from wealthier nations.
4.
The Role of
Literature in Understanding Nature
o
Writers from
postcolonial countries often describe how colonial history affected both people
and the environment.
o
Example: Amitav
Ghosh’s novel The Hungry Tide talks about how climate change, politics,
and local communities interact in the Sundarbans, a coastal region in India and
Bangladesh.
5.
Animal Rights and
Colonialism
o
The postscript also
highlights how animals were exploited during colonial times, often for economic
purposes. Many species were hunted to extinction, and animals were treated as
resources instead of living beings.
o
Example: The
Tasmanian Tiger went extinct partly because of British colonists in Australia
who saw it as a threat to their sheep farms.
Key Takeaways
- The idea of "nature" has changed because of
human actions, especially colonialism.
- Environmental destruction is not just a modern issue—it
has deep roots in history.
- Climate change affects poorer nations the most, even
though richer nations caused the most pollution.
- Literature and stories help us understand these issues
better.
- Protecting nature also means thinking about justice for
both humans and animals.
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