Godzilla is one of the most famous characters in horror films – even those who have never watched a monster movie have heard of him. First, Godzilla depicts a massive monster awakening as a result of the H-bomb test (Honda 24:16–27:36). The appearance of Godzilla was a response to the development and use of nuclear and atomic weapons against humanity. If Godzilla existed, it would bring more benefits to the environment than destruction.
Godzilla appears as a result of testing a hydrogen bomb and emitting radiation. Humanity’s aggressive response drives Godzilla’s attack on Tokyo, and the potential threat monster poses to coastal cities. If Godzilla remained alive, it would entail a change in the geography of the population and a decrease in the negative impact of humanity on the environment. According to the World Bank, more than four billion people currently live in cities (“Urban Population | Data”). If Godzilla was alive, the population in coastal cities and large port centers would likely decrease to avoid the threat of a monster attack. Fewer people would dare to have offspring, realizing the risks and dangers that the monster carries. This would lead to a more even distribution of the population on the Earth’s territory, and a solution to the problem of overpopulation. In turn, addressing overpopulation would make it possible to reduce the human activities impact on the environment: over-farming, water pollution, deforestation, and global warming.
Godzilla is the result of radioactive contamination and epitomizes nature’s rebellion against pollution. Other monsters, for example, Hedorah, also arise as a result of water and air pollution caused by humans (Banno 22:50–24:40). The inalienable right of humankind to air, clean water is at risk precisely because of the increase in production capacity, and not because of the explosion of bombs. Reducing activity in cities and factories will reduce the carbon dioxide emissions produced by vehicles from fuel processing as well as water pollution. A similar effect can already be observed as a result of the total lockdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic when most of the people were locked in their homes. Humanity’s awareness of the fact that a negative impact on nature contributes to the emergence of dangerous monsters would force us to minimize the negative impact and move to more environmentally friendly production methods.
Reducing the human impact on the environment will help prevent the effect of global warming on Earth. Thanks to Godzilla and other monsters, humanity will be forced to develop production methods and change consumption habits to reduce pollution in order not to wake more titans. A change in consumption will lead to a change in logistics and, as a consequence, a decrease in carbon dioxide emissions. This means that the global warming impact on the planet will decrease, as well as the number of forest fires and severe storms, and their adverse effects on endangered species. Thus, changes in demand and supply chains to stop kaiju can help stop global warming and help restore the environment.
Godzilla, which emerged as a response to nuclear and atomic bombs, could be a decisive factor in the struggle to reduce the impact of humanity on the environment. So, its existence could help solve the fundamental problems of humankind: overpopulation, pollution, and global warming. Modern society should not wait for the emergence of supernatural monsters, but take active measures aimed at creating a safer and healthier environment.
Works Cited
Banno, Yoshimitsu. “Godzilla Vs. Hedorah Japanese Version (HD).” Internet Archive, uploaded by Toho, 2020, Web.
Honda, Ishiro. “GODZILLA (1954) Japanese Version (HD).” Internet Archive, uploaded by Toho, 2018, Web.
“Urban Population | Data.” World Bank, 2020, Web.