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UNITED STATES : 1c Colonial Context
In the US, many privileged Americans have a large footprint. They use lots of materials and water for their own benefit and don’t think about the impact it has on the environment and other people. The average carbon footprint in the USA is about 20 metric ton. Being that the world average is 4 metric tons, 20 metric tons is very alarming. US citizens don’t realize the impact their decisions has on the world and they continue to take their long showers and constantly use single use plastics.
As a privileged citizen, I and my peers also experience some of these issues. We live in an area where things are accepted and thought of as “okay” even though the hurt our environment. People waste food and don’t recycle or compost properly. Taking a long hot shower isn’t a ridiculous action. These communities have created habbits and don’t know right from wrong. When a group thinks a certain way, it become socially acceptable and right to do that thing.
These negative impacts also occurred during the California gold rush. Even then, deforestation and water usage was a big issue. Miners dug up lots of land and used several amounts of water, all for their benefit. Animals had to adapt to new conditions and some of them didn’t survive.
Indigenous people had their own balance to life and new how to respect the growing plants and animals around them. They had their own systems and ways of life. When other people came, they frightened them and with more power they tricked the people into agreeing to do things like cut down trees. The people didn’t understand what they were doing and what impact it was having on the earth. They didn’t have the same education and didn’t know about global warming. The other communities held more power because they had better technology and education.
