Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Modern Military Weaponry And (Un)Sustainable Treatment Of The Environment, Melanie Siacotos

The Commons: Puget Sound Journal of Politics

An often ignored aspect of environmental degradation in the modern age is military pollution. How has the military impacted environmental health over time, from ancient Rome to the Marshall Islands? This paper compares and contrasts types of environmental degradation, like chemical warfare and deforestation, and attempts to lay out the steep increase in their negative impact following industrialization in the west entering into the 20th century. The paper concludes that a different understanding of human relationship with the earth is necessary to combat environmental degradation going forward.