The 'war on drugs' is presented as a necessary battle against social evils, writes Benjamin Ramm. But from the Andes to the Caribbean, prohibition has criminalised both religious and cultural expression. And it's a war that is strictly for the global poor: people in Colorado can grow pot - so why not Colombians?
… The 'war on drugs' is a war on culture and human diversity Benjamin Ramm | … War Society Religion Indigenous Peoples Culture Law colombia-cut.jpg The 'war on … and their ancestral traditions. "Coca is our culture and our identity" , Bolivia's …
In his search for alternatives to consumerism and industrialism, Jules Pretty travelled around the world to find surviving nature-based cultures. In this extract from his book 'The Edge of Extinction', he tells of the Tuva people of the Siberian steppe - proud of their traditions and closeness to the land, but very much part of the modern world - strictly on their own terms.
… the world to find surviving nature-based cultures. In this extract from his book 'The … has the capacity to damage and even destroy cultures. Yet many talk of the need for … 1950s, despite a trebling of wealth. Consumer culture has transformed the old equations …
The True Cost Accounting in Food and Farming conference was remarkable - star speakers ... fine food, drink and music ... even an impromptu Panto performance. In short, writes Sharon Garfinkel, it was an inspiration to all who attended.
… where we most forward." Less about agriculture, more about food culture This sentiment was echoed by all the … the caveat: "We need to talk less about agriculture and more about food culture ... The …
As the Paris climate summit falls under the brutal double cosh of terrorism and a heavy-handed security response targeted at climate campaigners, creative non-violent responses are taking shape to express the collective will of the billions who cannot be there, writes Nadine Bloch: the need for equitable solutions to the climate crisis, as a first step towards a healthy, peaceful, sustainable planet.
… Climate Games have taken a page from the pop culture hit the 'Hunger Games', capitalizing … their desire to host and hold space for "a culture of care and reflection, a space for … for feedback forums, building on the culture of harnessing art critiques to make …
Filmmaker, campaigner and environmental pioneer Helena Norberg-Hodge talks to Jemima Roberts about her latest film - The Economics of Happiness - the damage globalisation is doing, and what can be done to counter it
… of the International Society for Ecology and Culture [ISEC] to promote the concept of … on the impact of the global economy: on culture and on agriculture.’ JR: Tell me about The Economics of …
Ensuring women have equal rights to inheritance and property ownership is key to tackling climate breakdown.
… more than 400 million women work in agriculture, producing the majority of the world's … of how family laws that defer to religion and culture have been amongst the most entrenched … to the family, regardless of religion, culture and tradition. International …
Review of 'Another England: how to reclaim our national story' by Caroline Lucas.
… system and overall existing contemporary culture in her new book, Another England: how … strong current of environmentalism in English culture. The sections of this book focused on … already blighting our political culture. Marginalised I do love the idea of …
The EU referendum debate is taking place between different wings of the corporate elite, dominated by assumptions in favour of big business, free trade and endless economic growth, write Helena Norberg-Hodge, Rupert Read & Thomas Wallgren. But to vote for a sustainable future we must adopt a very different, local perspective - one you'll never find in UK's 'mainstream' media.
… integration imposes human and ecological monoculture Europe is home to a great variety of cultures, languages and customs. The economic … traditions is being replaced by the uniform culture of consumerist 'individualism'. …
Last week's 'War on Waste' - throwaway coffee cups were the deserving target - was an exemplar of effective single-issue campaigning by Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall. But the answers to our waste problems go way beyond recycling. We must begin to plan a societal transition to a post-consumer culture of caring, sharing, and knowing when we have enough.
… plan a societal transition to a post-consumer culture of caring, sharing, and knowing when … the most obvious manifestations - of a waste culture, never the causes. And remarkably, the … unnamed however: a neoliberal economy and culture whose life-blood is rampant …
… and restoration” - and regenerative agriculture - “nature friendly food production - are vaguely and uncritically defined. Cultures Although their realisation is … counterposed to the Indigenous knowledges and cultures of land management that he …
Buy Nothing Day is an annual event to protest our consumerist culture. Consumers are encouraged across the world to stay out of malls and put their wallets back in their pockets for just one day. Started back in 1992 in Vancouver, Canada by Ted Dave, it was popularized by the Adbusters media foundation and it has spread to become an international day of action.
… Conrad Schmidt | 27th November 2008 Activism Culture Change Consumerism Buy Nothing Day … is an annual event to protest our consumerist culture. Consumers are encouraged across the … and our own participation in consumerist culture. What makes this year’s Buy Nothing …
The struggle for collective rights unites all Indigenous peoples from North America to Palestine, writes Sarah Marusek - as does their common narrative of resistance to colonialism, imperialism and capitalism.
… the collective aspects of Native American cultures, the US has become more effective at …
The true nature of western civilization is hard to grasp from within, says Professor John McMurtry, because we perceive it through media whose primary purpose is not to convey the truth, but conceal it. What is actually playing out is a global war of empire and capital against the Earth and her people, backed up by the omnipresent threat of overwhelming force.
… to conceal In general, the mass media across cultures are propaganda systems for those who … the ultimate global terrorism at work across cultures and borders. Consider the bizarre … same underlying pattern throughout. Names, cultures, even rulers make little difference. …
Green growth is a myth, writes André Reichel, because it ignores the social, political and personal dimensions of sustainability. Instead we must plan for economic 'de-growth' - and go for growth only in the areas that really matter, like culture, learning and joy.
… only in the areas that really matter, like culture, learning and joy. In discussions of … to maintain its GDP . Growth can go on - in culture, joy, learning, fulfilment ... So … as much scope as ever for all kinds of mental culture, and moral and social progress; as …
By seeking refuge in remote and awe-inspiring parts of the natural world, could we inadvertently be harming the very landscapes that we love?
… from Nature and wilderness is now overdue. Cultures across the world have maintained … in Tibetan), is sacred for many surrounding cultures. Yet many, particularly from the … the language we use demonstrates how certain cultures have evolved a transactional …
The 'brutal savage' meme has enjoyed a resurgence in popular culture and establishment narratives, writes Stephen Corry, despite abundant evidence that it's fundamentally wrong. But it suits today's dominant mindset of conquest, conflict and colonialism all too well, and serves to justify the ongoing genocide and expropriation of surviving Indigenous Peoples today.
… meme has enjoyed a resurgence in popular culture and establishment narratives, writes … by anthropologists, alive and well in popular culture First, it's important to dispatch a …
The uprooting and cutting down of over a million olive and fruit trees in occupied Palestine since 1967 is an attack on a symbol of life, and on Palestinian culture and survival, writes Dr. Cesar Chelala. A grave crime under international humantarian law, the arboricide is also contrary to Jewish religious teachings.
… on a symbol of life, and on Palestinian culture and survival, writes Dr. Cesar … tree is an essential aspect of Palestinian culture, heritage and identity, and has been …
An international conference in Bristol will explore how we can put wellbeing and sustainability before profit.
… and environmental degradation towards local cultures and economies that put wellbeing and … and the College for Real Farming and Food Culture in 2016. Liz Zeidler – chief executive …
Thousands of small farmers were forced from their lands and homes by paramilitaries in Colombia's Santa Maria mountains, writes Paula Álvarez. But now as a welcome peace allows their return from involuntary exile, they find a new enemy that has come to stay - huge plantations of oil palm that have obliterated the mixed, patchwork landscape of small fields, villages, and swathes of forest on steep-sided hills that they used to inhabit.
… hills that they used to inhabit. Palm oil monoculture is expanding in the Montes de María … been felled and which is now dominated by monocultures, such as teak or oil palm. The feline … central figure of the peculiar Montemarian culture. Legend has it that a sorcerer turned …
Identity politics and culture wars sit at the heart of climate denial.
… Identity politics and culture wars sit at the heart of climate … their lead from existing currents within the culture. These currents have gained strength … become acceptable and repeated throughout our culture. Instability Its damaging impact can …
Japan is living under the shadow of US militarism, write Taisuke Komatsu & Semanur Karaman - and most of all in Okinawa, the nation's southernmost archipelago. Against overwhelming local opposition but backed by Japan's government, the US is building a new military base that is seizing land and threatens the unique ecology of Oura Bay with its seagrass beds, dugongs and coral reefs.
… and the Philippines. As the vastly unique culture and religions which had existed since …
In trying to evaluate charitable interventions in 'value for money' terms, the movement for 'Effective Altruism' has lost its moral compass, Sam Earle & Rupert Read. The real changes the world needs are profound, systemic and political. There is no better example than the refugee crisis: the problem is not insufficient aid, but structural inequality, too many weapons, and too much war.
… actually is effective. Does the 'audit culture' itself deliver? Ironically, a key … transfer-payments to the disabled? The 'audit culture' nowadays often taken for granted is …
Seeing degrowth in the here and now gives hope to bring about a radically different future in which to live well and sustainably.
Degrowth is everywhere Adrien Plomteux | 8th February 2024 | Comment Degrowth Economics Degrowth London Editor’s Picks 8484763448_9627e6eebd_k.jpg Seeing degrowth in the here and now gives hope to …