In this paper I will attempt to examine the root causes of the Aral Sea disaster that implicate in ecological, societal, economic, and cultural environments throughout the time and space. This paper will challenge the traditional view of the Aral Sea disaster as of “natural”, but rather “crescive” and “constructed”. I will analyze the Aral sea disaster through the following lenses, first is political - harsh Soviet politics and transition to the market economy that had subsequently resulted in recession, second is socio-economic- impoverishment of the local communities, deterioration of health, and outmigration, and third is ecological - overexploitation of the sea, loss of flora and fauna, desertification, and etc. (Saiko, 235, 1998). Further,
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One of my favorite bands of all times Pink Floyd had released their debut album Endless River in 2014, featuring their last track “Louder Than Words” shot in the Aral Sea region, Kazakhstan. Greene notes, “A surreal image if ever I saw one," says Powell, "and a shocking example of human mismanagement and one of the planet 's worst environmental disasters... The river has shrunk to 10 percent of its original size, destroying the fishing industry and whole townships.” ” (RollingStone, 2014). The political and biophysical characteristics of the environmental and public health crises need to be conceptualized in the broader context of the existing societal order; thus, the crescive nature of the Aral Sea disaster penetrates into the bigger realm of socio-spatial chaos affecting the region for almost five …show more content…
Needless to say, that environmental jurisdictions and regulations during Soviet era were almost non-existent; but moreover, there were few acknowledgements and/or signs of potential threats to the surrounding communities. Furthermore, the relaxed environmental policies and regulations in the modern day Kazakhstan reinforce and perpetuate the intensification of the Aral Sea disaster. It is evident that the socio-economic consequences of the Aral Sea disaster extended well beyond the geographic boundaries of the region; however, the focal point of the disaster had not been pronounced. Notwithstanding, the “creeping” nature of the Aral Sea disaster faced a multitude of regional and national legislations, regulations at the policy level, as well as international aid to rehabilitate the area; however, these ambitious considerations were bound to lack of autonomy and corruption within the
One of my favorite bands of all times Pink Floyd had released their debut album Endless River in 2014, featuring their last track “Louder Than Words” shot in the Aral Sea region, Kazakhstan. Greene notes, “A surreal image if ever I saw one," says Powell, "and a shocking example of human mismanagement and one of the planet 's worst environmental disasters... The river has shrunk to 10 percent of its original size, destroying the fishing industry and whole townships.” ” (RollingStone, 2014). The political and biophysical characteristics of the environmental and public health crises need to be conceptualized in the broader context of the existing societal order; thus, the crescive nature of the Aral Sea disaster penetrates into the bigger realm of socio-spatial chaos affecting the region for almost five …show more content…
Needless to say, that environmental jurisdictions and regulations during Soviet era were almost non-existent; but moreover, there were few acknowledgements and/or signs of potential threats to the surrounding communities. Furthermore, the relaxed environmental policies and regulations in the modern day Kazakhstan reinforce and perpetuate the intensification of the Aral Sea disaster. It is evident that the socio-economic consequences of the Aral Sea disaster extended well beyond the geographic boundaries of the region; however, the focal point of the disaster had not been pronounced. Notwithstanding, the “creeping” nature of the Aral Sea disaster faced a multitude of regional and national legislations, regulations at the policy level, as well as international aid to rehabilitate the area; however, these ambitious considerations were bound to lack of autonomy and corruption within the