Overview of Environmental Problems
Photo taken by Musadeq Sadeq, AP
(retrieved from mysanantonio.com)
The Environmental Aspects: refers to everything human effected and naturally occuring within and around borders of the country. This includes such factors as geographical location, climate, terrain, surrounding countries, pollution, and exploitation of resources.
Though the environment doesn't directly effect the inequalities experienced by woman, the cumulative forces and stressed by the environment create a struggle for power and depression with woman being the sole source of stress relief in the form of abuse. The World Health Organization (2011) summarizes the environmental state of the country:
"Environmental issues in Afghanistan predate the political turmoil of the past few decades. Forests and wetlands have been depleted by centuries of grazing and farming, practices which have only increased with modern population growth. In Afghanistan, environmental conservation and economic concerns are not at odds; with 80% of the population dependent on herding or farming, the welfare of the environment is critical to the economic welfare of the people. In 2007, the World Health Organization released a report ranking Afghanistan as the highest among non-African nations in deaths from environmental hazards."
(World Health Organization, 2011)
Though the environment doesn't directly effect the inequalities experienced by woman, the cumulative forces and stressed by the environment create a struggle for power and depression with woman being the sole source of stress relief in the form of abuse. The World Health Organization (2011) summarizes the environmental state of the country:
"Environmental issues in Afghanistan predate the political turmoil of the past few decades. Forests and wetlands have been depleted by centuries of grazing and farming, practices which have only increased with modern population growth. In Afghanistan, environmental conservation and economic concerns are not at odds; with 80% of the population dependent on herding or farming, the welfare of the environment is critical to the economic welfare of the people. In 2007, the World Health Organization released a report ranking Afghanistan as the highest among non-African nations in deaths from environmental hazards."
(World Health Organization, 2011)
The Landscapes
Image from http://koklichgeog1202.blogspot.com/
Temperatures can rise up to 120 degrees Farenheit in the summer and be as low as -15 degrees Farenheit in winter. These extreme changes are due to Afghanistan's arid conditions create an overall sense of discomfort in the region. Low water supplies, and poor agricultural practices and deforestation have made farming/agriculture very difficult. the land is mountainous, which makes it hard to travel throughout the country. In addition, the terrain has been torn by lots of natural disasters like droughts and earthquakes (PBS, 2013).These natural disasters cause hunger, destruction, and stress in Afghanistan. In addition, Much of the buildings and countryside has been subject to destruction from bombings and previous war. Just like the “blue collar worker” who is stressed and powerless in the U.S, when times are hard, those in control (men) choose to put woman down first. This is a power struggle issue.
Air pollution
"Air pollution in Kabul may be hastening the death of over 3,000 people every year", according to the Ministry of Public Health (2009). (Image from rferl.org)
Water Pollution
Afghanistan Water Pollution from a Chemical Industry. Today 27.95% of water sources are affected heavily by pollution , compared to 40.32% last year. This is lower than the long term average of 34.14%. Though this is an improvement, these rates are still relatively high for the already scarce water sources in an arid Afghanistan.