Paradigm Wars : Indigenous Peoples' Resistance to Globalisation
Posted by aurora at 22:44, 03 Jul 2010
Jerry Mander :
"No communities of peoples on this Earth have been more negatively impacted by the current global economic system than the world's remaining 350 million indigenous peoples. And no peoples are so strenuously and, lately, successfully resisting these invasions & inroads.
It is the first purpose of this book to describe the nature, breadth & ferocity of the assaults upon native societies that are ongoing today, and the global institutions and corporations that drive them, while desperately seeking access to their own lifeblood - the planet's fast disappearing resource supply.
But it is also our purpose to convey the impressive energy, scale, and clarity of purpose of a global indigenous resistance. It is growing increasingly broad, powerful, well organised and effective in both domestic and international contexts. Indigenous peoples are demanding respect, recognition and codification of the 'prior rights' to live where they have always lived, in the manner they choose, and with control over all decisions about their ancestral lands, and what is on them and in them.
Here is the basic problem : Economic globalisation, and the corporations and bureaucracies that are its driving forces, literally cannot survive without an ever-increasing supply of oil, natural gas, forests, minerals of all kinds, fish, freshwater, and arable lands, among other crucial needs. They also require supportive infrastructures - new roads, pipelines, dams, electricity grids, airports, seaports, etc. - to take the resources from the often pristine places where they are found and carry them across vast terrains and oceans to market.
In fact, the ultimate success of global corporations, and the entire economic model they sponsor and promote, is built upon a highly rickety platform requiring never-ending exponential economic growth, itself dependent upon never-ending resource supply to feed the growth. In the long run, of course, such never-ending growth is impossible on a finite planet. By now we already see a clear, sharp decline in availability of the most basic resources - leading to fierce contention over the remainder, even wars, as in Iraq over oil, and elsewhere on a smaller scale, over water.
Corporate growth and expansion are the primary bases of most short-term corporate profits. They also determine rates of investment and loans, shareholder value, and executive salaries. These factors, which are all intrinsic to the economic model, mandate that the global system continue to feed its ever more needy exploration for the last resources in nature, wherever they may be, to feed into the voracious maw.
Alas, a large percentage of these last resources are found today on lands where native peoples thrive, as they have for millennia. And so we have the roots of serious conflict: invasions, double-dealings and forced removals, cultural & political assaults, and very often, extreme violence, as we will see in these pages. You could call these resource wars. But more precisely they are world-view wars; paradigm wars, actually, deeply based in opposite understandings of how human beings should live on the earth. This book is dedicated to amplifying that main point."
International Forum on Globalization
"My own final comments are directed less to indigenous peoples than to communities of scholars, activists, and journalists who have thus far focused primarily on such issues as the environment, human rights, social justice, and democracy, and to suggest to them that indigenous struggles embody all of these issues. In more ways than one, indigenous issues are the frontier issues of our time. They deal with geographic frontier struggles where the larger, destructive globalisation process attempts to suck up the last living domains on the planet - its life forms, its basic resources, its peoples - in the empty cause of short-term wealth accumulation. And it is also a frontier struggle in conceptual terms: What are the values that can sustain us for the future? What are the worldviews that can keep the earth alive? How are we to live on behalf of coming generations of human beings and the larger community of beings and creatures?
It is increasingly clear to me that indigenous peoples of the earth have the answers to many these questions, if we would listen. Our job is to work to dismantle the institutions that now lead the world in the opposite direction, and to join forces in all efforts to replace those institutions with a hierarchy of values and standards that serve the earth and the communities who simply want to live their lives in peace and stability, in a traditional manner, on their own ancestral lands with control of their livelihoods and resources.
So, my personal plea is that all communities of activists should recognise that their own particular issues will only be benefited if they include the indigenous struggles as part of their own and permit the interests of indigenous peoples to share the front burners of their causes."
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28 June 2006
7 hours 21 min
Here is the basic problem : Economic globalisation, and the corporations and bureaucracies that are its driving forces, literally cannot survive without an ever-increasing supply of oil, natural gas, forests, minerals of all kinds, fish, freshwater, and arable lands, among other crucial needs. They also require supportive infrastructures - new roads, pipelines, dams, electricity grids, airports, seaports, etc. - to take the resources from the often pristine places where they are found and carry them across vast terrains and oceans to market. In fact, the ultimate success of global corporations, and the entire economic model they sponsor and promote, is built upon a highly rickety platform requiring never-ending exponential economic growth, itself dependent upon never-ending resource supply to feed the growth. In the long run, of course, such never-ending growth is impossible on a finite planet. By now we already see a clear, sharp decline in availability of the most basic resources - leading to fierce contention over the remainder, even wars, as in Iraq over oil, and elsewhere on a smaller scale, over water.
Corporate growth and expansion are the primary bases of most short-term corporate profits. They also determine rates of investment and loans, shareholder value, and executive salaries. These factors, which are all intrinsic to the economic model, mandate that the global system continue to feed its ever more needy exploration for the last resources in nature, wherever they may be, to feed into the voracious maw.
Alas, a large percentage of these last resources are found today on lands where native peoples thrive, as they have for millennia. And so we have the roots of serious conflict: invasions, double-dealings and forced removals, cultural & political assaults, and very often, extreme violence, as we will see in these pages. You could call these resource wars. But more precisely they are world-view wars; paradigm wars, actually, deeply based in opposite understandings of how human beings should live on the earth. This book is dedicated to amplifying that main point.
Aurora,
In the long run, corporations, bureaucracies, and their wealthy backers have a very dead draw as a best case scenerio; whereas, Native Peoples have a very dead draw as a worst case scenerio. The reasons for this can be generally classified under the following categories: Misconception, Miscalculation, and Faulty Reasoning. Let me explain.
The biggest misconception of the last few years is that the on going crisis is a simple financial crisis. It's not a simple financial crisis! It's a structural breakdown crisis! Both social order and financial structure are breaking down in the world. Things are changing rapidly and the speed of change is increasing. Only native peoples and other peoples who can live a very simple basic life style, like me, will be able to survive this crisis.
Furthermore, the general manner in which corporations, bureaucracies, and their wealthy backers are proceeding in this crisis is going to prove to be a suicidal miscalculation. Their only real concern is for the survival of themselves. They give lip service to everything else, i.e. the environment, human rights, etc.. This is a miscalculation on their part. People are not going to be treated like sh!t much longer. Corporations, bureaucracies, and their wealthy backers seem to think that they can do anything. This is a serious miscalculation on their part; because, when the people find out that they won't have anything to eat tomorrow and that they might not have a home to live in, they will stand-up to you and fight. They will kill you!
It is faulty reasoning to presume that the present world order can continue in the midst of the present structural break down. There are no miracles. Things are going to change drastically. And, the change will not benefit the powers that be. The only chance that the powers that be have of surviving is for them to submit to the new changing reality and become part of the solution instead of being part of the problem. But, this will cost them both revenue{money} and power. I personally don't believe that the powers that be are going to be willing to sacrafice power, some money maybe, but never power. They may, however, flinch if they realize that they are in a no win situation; but, win-win scenarios are possible in a much simpler social order if they are willing to make substancial concessions. If not, it's all over but the shouting!
We have much to learn from Native Peoples and even more to be forgiven for by them!
What do you think?
cnnek
{You Can Teach People How To Think Critically Or What To Think; But, You Can't Do Both! It Is Better To Teach People How To Think Critically!!!}
1 May 2004
1 week 2 days
cnnek:
"The biggest misconception of the last few years is that the on going crisis is a simple financial crisis." cnnek
Indeed!
It's not only financial & social it is also - & perhaps, in some ways even more seriously - cultural, political, environmental & spiritual.
"The only chance that the powers that be have of surviving is for them to submit to the new changing reality and become part of the solution instead of being part of the problem." cnnek
Agreed!
Although the problem/s may have initally stemmed from the corporate mentality, that very mentality is now embedded within the psyche of a great many number of peoples. Wouldn't every consumer on the planet need to drastically readjust their lifestyle if there is to be any notable change/s? If we do decide to do things the responsible way surely the consequences will be revolutionary in nature?
28 June 2006
7 hours 21 min
It's not only financial & social it is also - & perhaps, in some ways even more seriously - cultural, political, environmental & spiritual.
Although the problem/s may have initally stemmed from the corporate mentality, that very mentality is now embedded within the psyche of a great many number of peoples. Wouldn't every consumer on the planet need to drastically readjust their lifestyle if there is to be any notable change/s? If we do decide to do things the responsible way surely the consequences will be revolutionary in nature?
Aurora,
Sturcture, also known as socio-economic political structure, actually includes financial, social, cultural, political, environmental, morals of spirituality, educational, etc.. I was trying to emphasize that the crisis is an all encompassing structural breakdown crisis and not a mere financial crisis. Spirituality expresses itself in society it terms of codes of conduct that are called morals, dogmas, etc. and organizations called religions, cults, etc.. Spirituality's expression of itself in the social order is part of structure, not spirituality itself.
Yes, I'm talking about a radical across the board adjustment. Consumers around the world have already begun to adjust. But, it's nothing compared to the adjustment that consumers will have to make. It's mainly the educational system that is to blame for the corporate mentality of people today; because, the educational system didn't teach people to think critically and to do research. Critical thinking is very analytical and inquisitive in nature.
Doing things responsibly will creat very revolutionary positive change. Furthermore, survival will require that the peace be maintained and that the peoples of the Earth work together as one. The most revolutionary change that this will bring is that it can only work if their is peace on Earth and good will among all persons on Earth. The change in life styles will be revolutionary also. Atleast 1,000,000,000 people will have drastically improved life styles. They'll have sanitation and clean water. Can you imagine that? They can't!
What do you think?
cnnek
{You Can Teach People How To Think Critically Or What To Think; But, You Can't Do Both! It Is Better To Teach People How To Think Critically!!!}
14 July 2008
50 weeks 4 days
I think there is an ideological hornet’s nest that is… at least in part politically inspired, that favors a sort of bent-kneed begging of forgiveness of anyone and everyone who didn’t manage to be born in one of the industrialized nations.
But before I am fallen upon for this counter-heresy, let me add that I am not necessarily against this sort of thing… I just don’t believe there is a workable paradigm in it for human civilization. And if you don’t mind my using a little Christian lore in the details, it was we who broke the rules to begin with… and were subsequently booted out of paradise.
Don’t buy that? That’s fine. Mankind can still never go back to the garden, just as we can never revisit the womb or the nursery. We have to work and build and strive, learning the hard lessons of existence in order to rise above ourselves and achieve the next level, whatever that may be… at any and all cost.
Sometimes, that cost will entail things like the BP oil spill or Bhopal or Chernobyl. We’ll repulse in anger, fall back in our own blood, foolishness… and greed. But should we ever walk away from the path of progress, we will cease to evolve and eventually extinguish ourselves.
We were never meant for Eden… and this planet was never meant to survive our childhood.
IMHO, that is.
"The power of accurate observation is frequently called cynicism by those who don't have it."
28 June 2006
7 hours 21 min
We have to work and build and strive, learning the hard lessons of existence in order to rise above ourselves and achieve the next level, whatever that may be… at any and all cost.
Sometimes, that cost will entail things like the BP oil spill or Bhopal or Chernobyl. We’ll repulse in anger, fall back in our own blood, foolishness… and greed. But should we ever walk away from the path of progress, we will cease to evolve and eventually extinguish ourselves.
We were never meant for Eden… and this planet was never meant to survive our childhood.
IMHO, that is.
Redoudt,
If this planet doesn't survive our childhood, we won't survive our childhood either. If we do not survive our childhood, we will never evolve and we will not be able to continue to make progress. But, with a simpler life style, we can sustain our environment, make slow steady progress step by step, continue to evolve, and, in the process, make fewer costly mistakes.
If we focus on making practical progress step by step and forget luxary and the need for speed, we can make progress in important areas, i.e. human relations, science, technology, medicine, education, etc., and we will be able to continue to evolve at the same time. Furthermore, with a simpler life style and a focus on making practical progress step by step, we can begin to help our planet heal itself. The BP oil spill is the result of unrestrained greed and the need for speed, not an attempt to make progress. Suggesting, as you did, that the BP oil spill was the result of an attempt to make progress, insults both the good name of progress and my intelligence! If we return to basics, we can make much progress and evolve in the long run. We won't make progress as quickly; but, we will be able to make progress and continue to evolve forever. Well, in about 4,500,000,000 years we'll have to continue to evolve and make progress on another planet in another solar system. But, 4,500,000,000 years gives us enough time to make slow steady progress and evolve before we are forced to leave Earth.
What do you think?
cnnek
{You Can Teach People How To Think Critically Or What To Think; But, You Can't Do Both! It Is Better To Teach People How To Think Critically!!!}
1 May 2004
1 week 2 days
Redoubt:
Although I fully appreciate the value of lessons learned from experience, surely, to continue to ‘progress’ irresponsibly & without regard is the swiftest path to extinction? What is it that evolves from ‘progress’ that does not incorporate responsibility, cooperation & compassionate consideration?
14 July 2008
50 weeks 4 days
If I may pick up and add a few things to my previous comment...
I do not take the current situation of the planet lightly. In fact, I am very concerned on a number of levels. But I have come to think that mankind is not really deviating from the prescribed course; a path to some greater end than simple survival.
It also seems to me that (again) this world will not survive us *in its current state*, nor was it ever meant to. The resources we are currently using will eventually be depleted - though we must remember they will not be gone, just removed from their more original, or natural state. For every ounce of iron, oil, coal, fresh water, etc. that we consume, there is simply a conversion to another form.
So, that is the non-survival I speak of.
Another thing is that I don't think it is possible to advance technology and so too, civilization without making a certain amount of mess in the process. It's kind of like how one must crack a few eggs to make an omelet. And since I do not entirely buy the current theory of evolution, I don't think that humanity is doing anything that was not expected.
The end result will not be a paradise Earth, but one that has been altered by our passage and one that will eventually evolve either back or into another natural age.
Expanding a bit on the indigenous peoples thing, I think we should be working to raise the level of existence for all nations and peoples so that there are no starving Ethiopias or technologically backward Afghanistans left to boil like an angry wound, manifesting anger and contempt at the world around them.
Now, none of this advocates either government or corporate tyranny that are fueled by greed and/or arrogance. These are serious faults in the human condition that must be overcome in order for our species to succeed and survive. Forced globalization will certainly destroy us.
So, in sum, I don't think we should be expending so much effort to slow the advance and return to the trees, as we should about bringing the stragglers up to speed. I am not advocating moving in... or over these peoples, but merely sharing the know-how and offering some of the tools they can use to raise themselves.
At the end of this path, if we make it, we will find the beginning of a new one that has been waiting our arrival.
"The power of accurate observation is frequently called cynicism by those who don't have it."
28 June 2006
7 hours 21 min
Expanding a bit on the indigenous peoples thing, I think we should be working to raise the level of existence for all nations and peoples so that there are no starving Ethiopias or technologically backward Afghanistans left to boil like an angry wound, manifesting anger and contempt at the world around them....
So, in sum, I don't think we should be expending so much effort to slow the advance and return to the trees, as we should about bringing the stragglers up to speed. I am not advocating moving in... or over these peoples, but merely sharing the know-how and offering some of the tools they can use to raise themselves.
Redoubt,
We need to help indigenous peoples and other impoverished peoples raise their standards of living in their own way, not in our own way. Shoving technology down their throat is not the answer. For example, let's consider the Ethiopian farmer. The Ethiopian farmer is a good farmer; but, he has a few obstacles to over come. Some of these obstacles are a lack of water, insects that eat his crops, and diseases that destroy his crops. So, we need to provide him with fertilizers and other chemicals that will help his crops to grow and keep disease and insects from distroying his crops. If he needs any of his type of farming tools, we need to provide them. Furthermore, we need to develop cloud seeding techniques to bring the rains and help find ways to irrigate the land. Lake Tana and wells have possiblities for irrigation. Then as the farmers become sucessful, we can slowly give them a other technology on a step by step basis and increase their level of farm technology one level at a time. If we do it your way, the technology will rot in the fields. My way slowly introduces them to the technology and, in the long run, they will use the technology. But, they will begin to have good crops immediately. Fertilizers and other chemicals help farmers produce better crops. Technology makes farming easier; but, it doesn't help farmers to produce better crops. We need to help peoples to improve their own life styles in their own ways. And, we need to learn from them also.
Some other points:
1} I'm suggesting a simpler life style, not a return the trees. We will still have our present level of technology; but, our life styles need to be simplified.
2} I'm suggesting a sane slow step by step approach for making progress. Your omelet analogy doesn't hold water in my opinion. We need to break two eggs to make an omelet; because, we need what is inside the shells. We don't need anything that the gulf oil spill, nuclear power plant accidents, etc. bring us.
3} In the long run, the only way for anybody to be able to survive is for everybody to be able to survive. We have to work together and the peace has to be maintained. I'm talking about peace on Earth and good will among all peoples; because, nobody has a choice.
4} I'm talking about a social leveling of society that will eliminate social classes and focus on function in society. All functions have their own dignity and people performing functions in society have equil dignity. In Japan, even retired corporate executives get jobs that are called "Silver-san Jobs"; because, jobs have dignity and being useful in society is dignified.
What do you think?
cnnek
{You Can Teach People How To Think Critically Or What To Think; But, You Can't Do Both! It Is Better To Teach People How To Think Critically!!!}