*I’ve seen people post asking with all the fires in the north west, why is the “Ring of Fire” not on fire?*

It is because that ridiculous name has nothing to do with actual condition of the place. It is definitely a billions of years old volcanic area, but right now, it is the James Bay lowlands and a massive wetland. It is one of crucial ecological importance – the second largest and one of the last remaining peatlands in the world. Peatlands are one of the best carbon sinks and they are under rapid decline/exploitation.

It is the traditional lands of the Muskegowuk, Webequie First Nation, Neskantaga First Nation, Attawapiskat First Nation, Nibinamik First Nation (Summer Beaver), Eabametoong First Nation, Matawa First Nations, and a total of 15 First Nations in consultation, many of whom you are likely hearing their names for the first time in the current fire crisis. (Treaty 9)

It was monikered The Ring of Fire by a mining exec in the 2000s who must have not studied grade 7 geography. There is an actual geological Ring of Fire – the pacific rim is composed of plates that hold several volcanic areas all around the rim of the Pacific ocean. THAT is the Ring of Fire. This is the TheRingOfFireTM

It is the home to many endangered species including polar bears and the dwindling muskeg caribou.

The fires are in the proposed area for the “Road to the North.”

One thing that is clear – despite fiduciary duty to First Nations, infrastructure on or near reserves is almost never developed unless it fulfills resource extraction. The consultation for the road has been a long, arduous process for the Ford gvt as First Nations struggle to protect what remains of the last areas that protect the planet from even worse climate disasters ( and yes, these are fires are exactly that)

This project has been under scrutiny since February 2020 and heavily criticized as avoiding “Free, prior, and informed consent” – again one of the duties of gvt over treaty lands that it has been abusing along this process.

Northern First Nations are alert to neglect and abuse. From Grassy Narrows to Attawapiskat, climate abuse is a feature of daily life. And a climate abuse that has been opposed, defended against, and consistently neglected and forced through since industry and Ontario “discovered” a “use” for forests, and the veritable fortress of rock in the northern places.

While forest fires are a natural disaster, the government caused disaster of bad communications, late and absent evacuations, poor evacuation plans and locations, lack of funding and capacity for evacuees, lack of fire lines and infrastructure are not – these are human made trauma increasing shock doctrine sure to be followed by disaster capitalism.

Mark my words – this road will be prioritized as a “rebuilding infrastructure” project when the fires are over.

What is a Shock Doctrine?

The “shock doctrine” is a political and economic theory describing how governments and corporations intentionally exploit the public’s disorientation following major crises—such as wars, terrorist attacks, coups, or natural disasters—to push through radical, unpopular free-market policies like privatization and deregulation.

Check out this Teen Vogue article for a great description of Disaster Capitalism.

The Theory of “Disaster Capitalism”

Popularized by Canadian author and activist Naomi Klein in her 2007 book, The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism, the theory argues that the global spread of unfettered free-market capitalism was not a democratic or peaceful process. Instead, Klein argues that it has consistently relied on violence and societal trauma.

The concept operates in three stages:

1. The Shock: A collective trauma hits a society (e.g., a natural disaster, financial crash, or military coup) leaving the public disoriented and overwhelmed. In this case include displaced and devastated.
2. The Therapy: Political leaders use this panic to implement extreme, previously unpopular economic reforms, often called “shock therapy”. I am waging on this including an expansion of private mining interests to the north.
3. The Lock-in: The policies are pushed through so rapidly that the public cannot resist, permanently altering the economy to favour corporate interests. This will likely hold a shape of dumping free, prior, and informed consent for the sake of infrastructure rebuilding that favours industry.

Origins and Promoters

The doctrine is heavily tied to the “Chicago School of economics” and economist Milton Friedman. Friedman famously advocated that only a crisis creates “real change,” and that societies must be prepared to implement radical free-market policies immediately when chaos strikes.

Historical Examples

According to Klein’s research, the shock doctrine has been applied globally over the last several decades, including:

• Chile (1973): Following a violent military coup, General Augusto Pinochet implemented radical free-market economic policies.
• Post-Soviet Russia (1991): The economic collapse and political chaos following the fall of the Soviet Union were used to rapidly privatize state industries.
• Hurricane Katrina (2005): The disaster was used to aggressively privatize the public school system and other public services in New Orleans