Stephen Robert Miller, "Over the Seawall: Tsunamis, Cyclones, Drought, and the Delusion of Controlling Nature" (Island Press, 2023)
Oct 20, 2023
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Stephen Robert Miller, author of 'Over the Seawall: Tsunamis, Cyclones, Drought, and the Delusion of Controlling Nature', discusses the unintended consequences of attempting to control nature. Topics include failed preventive measures in Japan, the purpose and symbolism of tsunami walls, the failures in flood management in Bangladesh, and rethinking climate change and its long-term impacts.
Attempts to control nature through infrastructure, like seawalls, can often lead to unintended consequences and perpetuate maladaptation.
The short-term profit-driven decisions made by a few individuals have resulted in the failure of embankments and levees in Bangladesh, causing devastating flooding and displacement.
Deep dives
The Delusion of Controlling Nature
This podcast episode discusses the delusion of controlling nature and highlights instances where attempts to control nature through infrastructure have led to unintended consequences. The episode explores three specific cases: the failure of seawalls during the tsunami in Japan, the ongoing problem of embankments and levees in Bangladesh, and the long-lasting impacts of water management decisions in Arizona. In each case, the decisions made by a few individuals, driven by arrogance and short-term profit, have perpetuated maladaptation. The episode emphasizes the need for a change in mindset towards sustainable solutions and individual responsibility in making decisions that consider the long-term impacts of infrastructure projects and human settlement choices.
The Failure of Seawalls in Japan
The episode delves into the failure of seawalls during the 2011 tsunami in Japan. While the seawalls were not designed to withstand such a massive wave, people's trust in them led to tragic consequences as individuals chose not to evacuate and believed they were protected. Despite this failure, Japan has continued to build higher seawalls, driven by the need for immediate action and a desire to show commitment to protecting its people. However, concerns have arisen about the psychological and environmental impacts of living behind these massive walls.
The Problem of Embankments in Bangladesh
The podcast discusses the ongoing issue of embankments and levees in Bangladesh. Embankments were initially built to control river flooding and facilitate agriculture, but they have caused more harm than good. These embankments prevent the natural distribution of sediment, leading to river water levels rising and the land on either side sinking. As a result, when storms or monsoons occur, the embankments fail, causing devastating flooding and displacing communities. Despite warnings about the risks of embanking rivers, the economic interests of foreign investors and short-term profit overshadowed the long-term implications for the region and its people.
Water Management Decisions in Arizona
The episode explores the water management decisions made in Arizona in the 1920s, particularly the construction of the Central Arizona Project (CAP) to address water shortages. The CAP saved agriculture in the region but had long-lasting consequences. The reliance on the CAP perpetuated agricultural practices that are unsustainable in a desert environment, leading to environmental degradation and water scarcity issues. The emphasis on short-term profit and the idea of controlling nature exemplify the challenges of adapting to climate change while maintaining unsustainable growth. The episode calls for a holistic approach and encourages individuals to consider the long-term impacts of their choices and to challenge conventional thinking.
In March 2011, people in a coastal Japanese city stood atop a seawall watching the approach of the tsunami that would kill them. They believed—naively—that the huge concrete barrier would save them. Instead they perished, betrayed by the very thing built to protect them. Erratic weather, blistering drought, rising seas, and ecosystem collapse now affect every inch of the globe. Increasingly, we no longer look to stop climate change, choosing instead to adapt to it.
Never have so many undertaken such a widespread, hurried attempt to remake the world. Predictably, our hubris has led to unintended—and sometimes disastrous—consequences. Academics call it maladaptation; in simple terms, it’s about solutions that backfire. Over the Seawall: Tsunamis, Cyclones, Drought, and the Delusion of Controlling Nature (Island Press, 2023) by Stephen Robert Miller tells us the stories behind these unintended consequences and about the fixes that can do more harm than good. From seawalls in coastal Japan, to the reengineered waters in the Ganges River Delta, to the artificial ribbon of water supporting both farms and urban centres in parched Arizona, Miller traces the histories of engineering marvels that were once deemed too smart and too big to fail. In each he takes us into the land and culture, seeking out locals and experts to better understand how complicated, grandiose schemes led instead to failure, and to find answers to the technologic holes we’ve dug ourselves into.
Over the Seawall urges us to take a hard look at the fortifications we build and how they’ve fared in the past. It embraces humanity’s penchant for problem-solving, but argues that if we are to adapt successfully to climate change, we must recognize that working with nature is not surrender but the only way to assure a secure future.
This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose doctoral work focused on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars.
