Blog #2: Cocaine Production Increases Destruction of Colombia’s Rainforests
Molly Davis
SOC 202-01
31 January 2011
Stony Brook University Scientists have compiled evidence of destruction in the rainforests of Colombia. This is caused by people planting coca plants (what cocaine is made from) and increasing this in several areas in the rainforests of Colombia, which could potentially (or rather, more than likely) ruin the biodiversity of the animals and plants that make up the rainforests. Not to mention, taking away an awe-inspiring rainforest filled with living creatures and plants that one wouldn’t see in any other place. Thereby threatening “the region's "hotspots" of plant and animal diversity.” This is an issue not to be considered lightly. Let’s look at the facts: “the pace of deforestation in Colombia has accelerated over the past 20 years, even as population growth has slowed and the economy has shifted from agriculture to other revenue sources. This increase in deforestation overlaps with an increase in the cultivation of coca for cocaine production, and the country accounted for 75 per cent of the world's coca in 2000.” Now, the question is, what is it about the coca plant, or the production of cocaine, that makes it necessary to destroy a habitat devoted to plants, animals, insects, etc? Why cocaine? Why not marijuana, or another kind of drug? Why not something more medicinal? And how can we decrease the amount of coca plants over time? This article left me filled with several questions. It just has to do with the fact that cocaine is worth money for other people, and people will spend money on it. This does not mean, however, that the rainforest has to be the place for the production. There has to be a way to bring awareness about this subject. With the evidence out and heard about, there needs to be a way to stop people from ruining the life of the rainforest with the coca plant.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/01/110128144723.htm
No comments:
Post a Comment