In order to better understand the impact of colonialist nations on indigenous populations, it is important to evaluate the perspectives of all individuals involved. Currently we have evaluated colonialism purely the perspectives of only the indigenous populations from Nigeria to America. Their side of the story is one of pain and loss of culture. In Oil on Water, we saw the impact that the oil industry had on the local villages and how badly it affected their livelihood and their ecosystem. Just the images of dead birds and animals as Zaq and Rufus made their way down the river created a sense of dread and foreboding. However who in this case is the villain? Surely not the innocent villagers affected by the actions of the oil companies? Is it the government of the economically colonized countries? Is it the oil companies?
Through the story, we clearly see that the oil companies are the villains coldheartedly stealing the livelihood of the villagers, yet realistically, they are not purely to blame for the villagers’ suffering. In fact, the blame falls on both the actions of the government as well as the oil companies who are taking advantage of the government’s inaptitude in order to meet the high demands of oil in the western countries. The lack of a strong centralized colonial government due to war or tyranny is also reason for the environmental pollution and the exploitation and economic colonization of these countries. Yet sometimes, in order to grow the country and reach future independence, it is necessary to first go through this phase of economic colonialism. Therefore, unless one first understands the perspectives of the different factions involved in the issue it is hard to fully label one group the villain.
