As the countries of the Third World struggle with population growth, poverty, famines, and wars, their residents are discovering the environmental effects of these problems, in the form of increasing air, water, and land pollution. Pollution is almost unchecked in many developing nations, where Western nations dump toxic wastes and untreated sewage flows into rivers. Many times, the choice for Third World governments is between poverty or poison, and basic human needs like food, clothing, and shelter take precedence.

Industrialized nations often dump wastes in developing countries where there is little or no environmental regulation, and governments may collect considerable fees for accepting their garbage.In 1991, World Watch magazine reported that Western companies dumped more than 24 million tons (22 million metric tons) of hazardous waste in Africa alone during 1988.

Companies can also export industrial hazards by moving their plants to countries with less restrictive pollution...