The Amazon is Dying
A Comparative Analysis of Deep Ecology and Ecofeminism
Since Brazil’s election of the right-wing populist, Jair Bolsonaro, in 2018, the condition of the Amazon rainforest has worsened.
According to some estimates, 17% of the Amazon has been lost by 2018. In 2019, the National Institute for Space Research (NISR) estimated that 3,769 square miles had been destroyed in one year ‒ a 30 percent increase from 2018. In 2020, these figures went up by 50 percent in the first three months alone.
So, should we lose hope for the Amazon?
In this blog post, I will briefly analyze Brazil’s deforestation of the Amazon rainforest with a focus on recent years. First, I will explore how deep ecologists would defend stopping deforestation of the Amazonia.
Then I will analyze an ecofeminist approach and show why ecofeminists focus on the liberty of individuals, particularly women, when combating climate change.
Lastly, I will look at any potential problems that both deep ecology and ecofeminist theories of environmentalism pose to liberty/human rights. In my view, both views are important; however, ecofeminism is better equipped to protect human rights.
There are many different reasons for deforestation, ranging from cattle ranching to…
