DOCSLIB.ORG

Representations of Environmentally Displaced People in Canadian Print

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Representations of Environmentally Displaced People in Canadian Print Representations of Environmentally Displaced People in Canadian Print Media Bianca Stumpf Thesis submitted to the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies In partial fulfillment of the requirements For the Master of Arts degree in Sociology Supervisor: Dr. Nathan Young School of Sociology and Anthropology Faculty of Social Sciences University of Ottawa © Bianca Stumpf, Ottawa, Canada, 2019 Table of Contents Abstract .................................................................................................................................................. iv Résumé ................................................................................................................................................... v Abbreviations ......................................................................................................................................... vi Acknowledgements ............................................................................................................................... vii Chapter One: Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 1 Introduction of the Topic ..................................................................................................................... 1 Organization of the Thesis ................................................................................................................... 2 Chapter Two: Context ............................................................................................................................. 6 Definitions........................................................................................................................................... 6 Overview of Recent Statistics .............................................................................................................. 8 Canada’s Role ................................................................................................................................... 10 Chapter Three: Background and Rationale ............................................................................................. 14 Literature Review .............................................................................................................................. 14 i) History of Migration and the Classification of EDP ............................................................. 14 ii) Debate over Terminology .................................................................................................. 16 iii) Literature on Climate Change and Migration ..................................................................... 19 iv) Political and Security Concerns Surrounding Migration..................................................... 22 v) Literature on Media Representations of Climate Issues ....................................................... 23 vi) Media Representations of EDP and Refugees .................................................................... 26 Research Objectives and Rationale .................................................................................................... 28 Chapter Four: Theoretical Framework ................................................................................................... 31 Chapter Five: Methodology ................................................................................................................... 40 Search Strategy .................................................................................................................................. 40 Analysis Procedures .......................................................................................................................... 45 Chapter Six: Analysis ............................................................................................................................ 49 Part A: Results Pertaining Specifically to EDP ................................................................................... 49 i) Uncertainty Surrounding EDP Terms .................................................................................. 49 ii) Definition of EDP .............................................................................................................. 55 iii) EDP’s Country of Origin .................................................................................................. 57 iv) Description of the Event(s) leading to/causing displacement .............................................. 60 v) EDP as Quantitative Numbers ............................................................................................ 63 ii vi) Security Concerns ............................................................................................................. 67 vii) EDP as Active or Passive ................................................................................................. 69 viii) Tone of Articles .............................................................................................................. 72 ix) Frequency of EDP Coverage ............................................................................................. 73 Part B: A More General Analysis of the News Articles ...................................................................... 76 i) Consulted Sources and Experts ........................................................................................... 76 ii) Climate Change Solutions .................................................................................................. 77 iii) The Political in the Environmental .................................................................................... 81 Part C: Discussion ............................................................................................................................. 83 i) Canadians’ Perceptions of EDP ........................................................................................... 83 ii) The Victimization and/or Devictimization of EDP in Canadian Printed News Media .......... 88 iii) Critical Analysis of Coverage on EDP .............................................................................. 93 Chapter Seven: Conclusion .................................................................................................................. 100 Limitations of the study ................................................................................................................... 102 Future Implications and Steps .......................................................................................................... 104 References........................................................................................................................................... 107 Appendix A ......................................................................................................................................... 117 Appendix B ......................................................................................................................................... 128 iii Abstract Context: This thesis analyzes media coverage in Canada of environmentally displaced people (EDP) due to their recent prominence in political discussions on a national and international level as well as in the literature. Objectives: This thesis has three goals, notably (1) to raise awareness of EDP as a social phenomenon; (2) to understand how EDP are currently constructed in the public sphere; and (3) to analyze whether Canadian media characterizes EDP within discourses of victimization and/or devictimization. Ultimately, this thesis investigates: How does Canadian print media represent environmentally displaced people? Methodology: A total of 149 (132 English and 17 French) Canadian news articles, appearing from 2000 to 2017, were selected for analysis through a search strategy that included specific key words. The articles selected appeared in the Toronto Star, Globe & Mail, Montreal Gazette, Ottawa Citizen, Vancouver Sun, Le Journal de Québec, La Presse, and Canada Newswire. Results: The results were analyzed by using a frame analysis. Based on this analysis, a few key points were commonly used to represent EDP, including the uncertainty over which terms to use, their quantification, as well as a scare tactic to entice action towards climate change. Overall, the media tended to portray EDP using themes of devictimization. Conclusion: Future research should be conducted to continue to analyze media representations of those displaced. It is also imperative to collect more data on EDP in order to resolve the debate around their definition and officially recognize one term to help facilitate research and increase the legitimacy of those displaced - whether they are recognized as migrants or refugees. iv Résumé Contexte : Cette thèse analyse les reportages médiatiques au Canada des personnes déplacées par l’environnement (PDE). Ce sujet a récemment attiré attention à cause des discussions politiques nationaux et internationaux, ainsi que des publications dans la littérature. Objectives : Cette thèse a trois buts, notamment (1) d’apporter attention à ce phénomène social, (2) de comprendre comment les PDE sont construits dans le sphère publique, et (3) d’essayer d’analyser si les médias canadiens caractérisent les PDE par des discours de victimisation et/ou de dévictimisation. Cette thèse examine : Comment la presse écrite canadienne représente-t-elle les personnes déplacées par l’environnement? Méthodologie
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Eco - Migrations
    VIII Skup privrednika i nauč nika ECO - MIGRATIONS Marko Ćirović Fakultet organizacionih nauka u Beogradu Abstract: This paper considers the fast-growing numbers of people who can no longer gain a secure livelihood in their homelands because of these problems are of great concern within regions and also within the international community as a whole. In the 2011, at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), experts warned that in 2020, the UN has projected that we will have 50 million environmental migrants. The Climate Institute published in 1995 the first-ever rigorous assessment of the plight of a growing number of people displaced as a result of environmental problems such as drought, soil erosion, desertification and deforestation. Key words: Enviroment, Migrations, Climate change, Eco-migrants 1. INTRODUCTION With the certainty of global warming, the term “climate refugees” is gaining popularity in public discourse. There seems to be some fear in the developed countries that they, if not flooded literally, will most certainly be flooded by “climate refugees”. From a forced migration perspective, the term is flawed for several reasons. The term “climate refugees” implies a mono-causality that one rarely finds in human reality. No one factor, event or process, inevitably results in forced migration or conflict. It is very likely that climate change impacts will contribute to an increase in forced migration. Because one cannot completely isolate climate change as a cause however, it is difficult, if not impossible, to stipulate any numbers. Importantly, the impacts depend not only on natural exposure, but also on the vulnerability and resilience of the areas and people, including capacities to adapt.
    [Show full text]
  • ECSP Report 1
    TABLE OF CONTENTS FEATURES ENVIRONMENTAL SECURITY: ISSUES OF CONFLICT AND REDEFINITION Geoffrey D. and David D. Dabelko 3 ENVIRONMENTAL SECURITY: DEMYSTIFYING THE CONCEPT, CLARIFYING THE STAKES Richard A. Matthew 14 WORLD POPULATION GROWTH AND U.S. NATIONAL SECURITY Alex de Sherbinin 24 ENVIRONMENT AND SECURITY: THE CHALLENGE OF INTEGRATION Eileen Claussen 40 TIME FOR A THIRD WAVE OF ENVIRONMENT AND SECURITY SCHOLARSHIP? Marc A. Levy 44 IN EACH ISSUE OFFICIAL STATEMENTS AND DOCUMENTS 47 DISCUSSION GROUP SUMMARIES 63 1994 and 1995 U.S. National Security Strategy 47 Critical Review of Various Conceptions 63 William J. Clinton 50 of Environment and Security Al Gore 52 Assesment of Research to Date on 66 Madeleine K. Albright 53 Environmental Change and Conflict R. James Woolsey 53 Environment and Security: To What End? 71 William J. Perry 53 Environment and Security: By What Means? 73 John M. Shalikashvili 53 Timothy E. Wirth 54 Sherri Wasserman Goodman 55 UPDATE SECTION 79 Kathleen A. McGinty 55 Bill Proposed by Rep. Benjamin Gilman 58 Non-Governmental Activities 79 Governmental Activities 83 BOOK REVIEWS 59 Academic and Professional Meetings 87 Official Meetings 90 Ultimate Security 59 Ecological Disaster 60 The Hot Zone and The Coming Plague 61 BIBLIOGRAPHICAL GUIDE TO THE LITERATURE 92 1 Introduction INCE THE COLD WAR ENDED, SCHOLARS AND POLICYMAKERS HAVE DELIBERATED OVER WHETHER TO redefine traditional notions of security in light of new threats. Within this context, there Sis an increasingly prominent, multi-disciplinary debate over whether environmental prob- lems—exacerbated by demographic change—should be considered as security concerns. An increasing number of scholarly articles have appeared on the subject, and the Clinton administration has issued several statements (included in this Report) that embrace environ- mental problems as security concerns.
    [Show full text]
  • A Study of Strategies for Handling Climate Migration
    Master thesis in Sustainable Development 2019/15 Examensarbete i Hållbar utveckling Who’s responsible? A study of strategies for handling climate migration My Andersson DEPARTMENT OF EARTH SCIENCES INSTITUTIONEN FÖR GEOVETENSKAPER Master thesis in Sustainable Development 2019/15 Examensarbete i Hållbar utveckling Who’s responsible? A study of strategies for handling climate migration My Andersson Supervisor: Jörgen Ödalen Subject Reviewer: Elin Jakobsson Copyright © My Andersson and the Department of Earth Sciences, Uppsala University Published at Department of Earth Sciences, Uppsala University (www.geo.uu.se), Uppsala, 2019 Content Abstract .................................................................................................................................................. 4 Summary ................................................................................................................................................ 5 Abbreviations ......................................................................................................................................... 6 1. Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 1 1.1. Purpose and Research questions ............................................................................................ 1 1.2. General outline of the study ................................................................................................... 2 2. Background ...................................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Debating Environmental Migration: Society, Nature and Population Displacement in Climate Change
    Journal of International Development J. Int. Dev. 24, 1058–1070 (2012) Published online in Wiley Online Library (wileyonlinelibrary.com) DOI: 10.1002/jid.2887 POLICY ARENA DEBATING ENVIRONMENTAL MIGRATION: SOCIETY, NATURE AND POPULATION DISPLACEMENT IN CLIMATE CHANGE ANTHONY OLIVER-SMITH* University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA Abstract: This article approaches the problem of environment and migration through a consideration of convergent themes regarding nature and society in ecological theory and in social scientific disaster research. The paper argues that the articulation between ecological and social theory provides grounding concepts for both framing the issue and research on the problem of actual and potential mass displacement of human populations by environmental change, specifically global climate change. This article asserts that effective policy responses to environmental displacement and migration cannot be developed without an in-depth understanding of the phenomena of climate change, human-environment relations, and migration and the linkages among them. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Keywords: displacement; environmental migrants; environmental refugees; ecology 1 INTRODUCTION Today, it is an increasingly accepted scientific tenet that nature and society, because of human activities, are no longer seen as separate interacting entities but rather as mutually constituting components of a single system, often referred to as socio-ecological systems (Young et al., 2006). Nevertheless, although implicit in many of the discussions about climate change effects, this tenet is generally not referred to explicitly in the analyses, and nature and society are treated essentially as a duality in interaction. This seems particularly true of the debates surrounding the issue of environmental migration, including those regarding climate change.
    [Show full text]
  • Assessing Vulnerabilities and Responses to Environmental Changes in Cambodia Country Report
    ASSESSING VULNERABILITIES AND RESPONSES TO ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGES IN CAMBODIA COUNTRY REPORT IOM OIM REPORT INFORMATION Citation G. Oudry, K. Pak, C. Chea. Assessing Vulnerabilities and Responses to Environmental Changes in Cambodia. International Organization for Migration, Phnom Penh, 2016. Editors G. Oudry, K. Pak, C. Chea, J. Bigham Published by International Organization for Migration, Phnom Penh #281, Tai Ming 4th Floor, Preah Norodom Blvd, Phnom Penh 12301, Cambodia P.O. Box 435 Tel: +855.23.216532 Fax: +855.23.216423 E-mail: [email protected] Supported by IOM Development Fund © 2016 International Organization for Migration Photos NASA - Tropical Storm (Front cover), Gnomeandi (p25), Alexander Podshivalov (p 29), CC 2.0 by Emilio Labrador (p32), CC 2.0 by Ariel Leuenberger (p36), CC 2.0 by Michael Cory (p40), NASA (p41, p44-45, p59), CC 4.0 by Dmitry A. Mottl (p50), CC 2.0 by Michael (p72), C 2.0 by Spotter_nl (p87), CC 2.0 by Jen Hunter (p93), Jaume Juncadella (Back cover) The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the section and do not necessarily reflect the views of the International Organization for Migration. This publication has been issued without formal editing by IOM. ASSESSING VULNERABILITIES AND RESPONSES TO ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGES IN CAMBODIA COUNTRY REPORT Edited by Guénolé Oudry, Dr Kimchoeun Pak, and Chou Chea FOREWORD Cambodia regularly experiences almost all types of natural hazards, including floods, droughts, heavy storms, riverbanks collapses, fire incidents and epidemics affecting people and their assets repeatedly, almost every year, and putting the country’s economy at high risk. Between 1996 and 2013, the National Committee for Disaster Management (NCDM) recorded no less than 7,800 disaster events.
    [Show full text]
  • Environmentally-Induced Displacement
    Bogumil Terminski Environmentally-Induced Displacement. Theoretical Frameworks and Current Challenges Geneva, 2012 TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction ................................................................................................................................5 1. Environmentally-Induced Displacement: A New Challenge for the International Com- munity.......................................................................................................................................10 1.1 Case Study: Rising Sea Levels – the Situation of the Maldives Archipelago Population..50 2. The Most Common Causes of Environmentally-Induced Displacement..............................55 2.1 The Types of Natural Disasters...........................................................................................58 2.2 The Most Common Causes of Environmentally-Induced Displacement............................60 3. Comments and Bibliographical Notes .................................................................................72 4. Bibliography..........................................................................................................................80 4.1 Books .................................................................................................................................80 4.2 Chapters in Books...............................................................................................................86 4.3 Articles, Book Reviews.......................................................................................................97
    [Show full text]
  • Environmental Refugees’-A Problematic Issue in 21St Century
    International Journal of Law and Legal Jurisprudence Studies :ISSN:2348-8212:Volume 2 Issue 7 237 The Legal Status Of New class Of People-‘Environmental Refugees’-A Problematic Issue In 21st Century Subhranil Palit1 Abstract In 1985, El Hinnawi identified a new class of persons, called as Environmental Refugees. He defined them to be those who have been forced to leave their traditional habitat, temporarily or permanently, because of a marked environmental disruption that jeopardized their existence, and/or seriously affected the quality of their life. It is estimated that there are currently about 10 million environmental refugees world over. The concept of environmental refugees is a relatively new phenomenon. Environmental refugees are essentially people who can no longer gain a secure livelihood in their homelands because of drought, soil erosion, desertification, deforestation and other environmental problems, together with associated problems of population pressures and profound poverty. In their desperation, these people feel they have no alternative but to seek sanctuary elsewhere, however hazardous the attempt. Not all of them have fled their countries, many being internally displaced. But all have abandoned their homelands on a semi- permanent if not permanent basis, with little hope of a foreseeable return. As the world delves deeper into the realms of technological advancements, the consequential environmental changes pose new challenges to international law. As predicted in the intergovernmental panel on climate changes synthesis report the average temperature of the air and the sea, pollution and other symptoms of a changing climate will likely lead to a rise of the sea level, desertification, deforestation, extreme storms and earthquakes.
    [Show full text]
  • Helpdesk Research Report: Climate Change and Migration 04.09.09
    Helpdesk Research Report: Climate Change and Migration 04.09.09 Query: How will climate change affect the movement of people living in developing countries? Enquirer: DFID Migration Team Contents 1. Overview 2. Framing the debate 3. Trends and patterns of migration 4. Selected case studies 5. Recent expert meetings on climate change and migration 6. Forthcoming resources 7. Additional information 1. Overview The debate on the environmental drivers of migration and displacement has existed since the 1970s and there is a vast body of literature on the subject. With the recent emergence of climate change as a major issue of concern, there has been a surge in research on the specific links between climate change and migration over the past five years, although this is very much in its infancy. It is this body of research which is the focus of this helpdesk report. Whilst far from a comprehensive review of the literature, it aims to cover the range of perspectives represented. The difficulty of making predictions of future patterns of climate change migration1 is noted widely both in the literature and by a number of experts contacted in the course of this research. According to one commentator, ―climate change is an extremely complicated and complex process. Migration is equally a field of study in its own right. Drawing any direct causal relationships is not only methodologically wrong, it's dangerous.‖ The principle difficulty springs from the fact that, methodologically, it is very difficult if not impossible to unpack the different environmental drivers and triggers of migration. People move for complex sets of reasons of which a changing environment is only one.
    [Show full text]
  • Water Insecurity and Climate Change As Emerging Human Migration Pressures
    Loyola University Chicago International Law Review Volume 16 Issue 1 Article 6 2020 Water Insecurity and Climate Change as Emerging Human Migration Pressures Michael Tiboris Follow this and additional works at: https://lawecommons.luc.edu/lucilr Part of the International Law Commons Recommended Citation Michael Tiboris Water Insecurity and Climate Change as Emerging Human Migration Pressures, 16 Loy. U. Chi. Int'l L. Rev. 87 (2020). Available at: https://lawecommons.luc.edu/lucilr/vol16/iss1/6 This Feature Article is brought to you for free and open access by LAW eCommons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Loyola University Chicago International Law Review by an authorized editor of LAW eCommons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. WATER INSECURITY AND CLIMATE CHANGE AS EMERGING HUMAN MIGRATION PRESSURES Michael Tiboris I. Introduction' Water insecurity is the inability of a population to reliably gather adequate water of acceptable quality to simultaneously meet its needs for health, well- being, and basic economic development. 2 Reflecting on this definition one is struck by how much has to go right in order for a population to be water secure. Even under circumstances of relative abundance, water must be managed well- properly treated and transported-with economic uses balanced against ecologi- cal consequences and shared sources governed by law and policy. The immedi- acy of the emergency caused by a sudden drop in availability or quality is unusually destabilizing. 3 This underscores the extent to which water insecurity, and its consequences, are fundamentally mediated by human institutions and pol- icies. Scarcity, even if quite deep, does not automatically result in lower quality or development, but it makes careful governance and thought- health, well-being, 4 ful planning all the more important.
    [Show full text]
  • Environmental Migrants and Global Governance
    MIGRATION RESEARCH LEADERS SYNDICATE IN SUPPORT OF THE GLOBAL COMPACT ON MIGRATION Environmental Migrants and Global Governance: Facts, Policies and Practices The opinions expressed in the report are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the International Organization for Migration (IOM). The designations employed and the presentation of material throughout the report do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of IOM concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area, or of its authorities, or concerning its frontiers or boundaries. IOM is committed to the principle that humane and orderly migration benefits migrants and society. As an intergovernmental organization, IOM acts with its partners in the international community to: assist in meeting the operational challenges of migration; advance understanding of migration issues; encourage social and economic development through migration; and uphold the human dignity and well-being of migrants. This publication has been issued without formal editing by IOM. Any errors or oversights in this publication are the sole responsibility of the authors. Suggested citation: Kälin, W. and S. Weerasinghe (2017) ‘Environmental Migrants and Global Governance: Facts, Policies and Practices’, in McAuliffe, M. and M. Klein Solomon (Conveners) (2017) Ideas to Inform International Cooperation on Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration, IOM: Geneva. Publisher: International Organization for Migration 17 route des Morillons P.O. Box 17 1211 Geneva 19 Switzerland Tel: + 41 22 717 91 11 Fax: + 41 22 798 61 50 E-mail: [email protected] Internet: www.iom.int ____________________________________________ © 2017 International Organization for Migration (IOM) ____________________________________________ All rights reserved.
    [Show full text]
  • Human Consequences of Climate Change, Climate Refugees: an Exploratory Essay
    University of Montana ScholarWorks at University of Montana Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers Graduate School 2015 HUMAN CONSEQUENCES OF CLIMATE CHANGE, CLIMATE REFUGEES: AN EXPLORATORY ESSAY Frederick A. Snyder-Manetti University of Montana - Missoula Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd Part of the Human Geography Commons, Physical and Environmental Geography Commons, and the Social and Cultural Anthropology Commons Let us know how access to this document benefits ou.y Recommended Citation Snyder-Manetti, Frederick A., "HUMAN CONSEQUENCES OF CLIMATE CHANGE, CLIMATE REFUGEES: AN EXPLORATORY ESSAY" (2015). Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers. 4519. https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd/4519 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at ScholarWorks at University of Montana. It has been accepted for inclusion in Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks at University of Montana. For more information, please contact [email protected]. HUMAN CONSEQUENCES OF CLIMATE CHANGE, CLIMATE REFUGEES: AN EXPLORATORY ESSAY By FREDERICK ANTES SNYDER-MANETTI Bachelor of Arts, History (With Honors), The University of Montana, Missoula, Montana, U.S.A., 2010 Bachelor of Arts, Geography (With Honors), The University of Montana, Missoula, Montana, U.S.A., 2010 Certificate of Completion in Geographic Information Systems, The University of Montana, Missoula, Montana, U.S.A.,
    [Show full text]
  • Migration, Displacement, and the Environment
    BRIEFING PAPER #03 APRIL 2017 Migration, displacement, and the environment A Perspective from the Middle East Unclear terminology has led to misrepresentation of Introduction the scale and context of displacement and migration induced by environmental change While environmental change (including climate Although increasingly recognised as a major driver of change) is an acknowledged driver of displacement displacement globally, the impact of environmental change and migration, it is typically one of many on migration and displacement remains underexplored in the interconnected drivers on which people base their Middle East. The Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre decisions to move (IDMC) estimates that an average of at least 25.4 million people are displaced by ‘disasters triggered by natural Environmental change is affecting the Middle East hazards’ each year, a number that is expected to increase.1 and predictions indicate that these effects will While multiple analyses have linked climate change to the increase in the foreseeable future. In a region conflict in Syria, further study is needed to understand the already experiencing significant displacement and complex relationships between environmental issues and large numbers of vulnerable communities, migration in the region. environmental change is likely to further impact the migration decisions of affected populations This briefing paper presents an overview of the available In a region already affected by significant water research and data on migration and displacement
    [Show full text]