We’ve lived so long under the spell of hierarchy—from god-kings to feudal lords to party bosses—that only recently have we awakened to see not only that “regular” citizens have the capacity for self-governance, but that without their engagement our huge global crises cannot be addressed. The changes needed for human society simply to survive, let alone thrive, are so profound that the only way we will move toward them is if we ourselves, regular citizens, feel meaningful ownership of solutions through direct engagement. Our problems are too big, interrelated, and pervasive to yield to directives from on high.
—Frances Moore Lappé, excerpt from Time for Progressives to Grow Up

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Degrowth Seminar, Copenhagen Klimaforum09

Speech by Miguel Valencia. Klimaforum09 is an alternative global forum being held in Copenhagen.  The writer often uses euphemisms such as “modernization”, “globalization”, and writes that our social disasters have been caused by “techno-scientists” and “economists”.  You see, you must be able to decode messages written by both pro and anti-capitalists.  Although he uses euphemisms and talks around the core problem because it can often be hazardous to one’s health or career if you don’t, he definitely understands what the core problem is.  I found his descriptions to be accurate and his insights profound.