Revolutionary Love and Alter-globalisation: Towards a New Development Ethic

Neoliberal globalisation has increased inequalities, injustices, and violations of freedoms on an unprecedented scale, whilst creating a fertile environment for the rise of far-right xenophobic nationalism and authoritarianism. In parallel, the emergence of the alter-globalisation movement has responded with a growing popular resistance to neoliberal policy and practice. The experience of social movements over the last century confirms the pressing need for a framework of unity within this current movement wave which avoids the dominations and hierarchies of previous structures, maintains its constituent diversity and yet allows for the construction of a cohesive collective identity. This article positions love as a key concept in political theory/philosophy and for performing a central role in the revolutionary transformation of contemporary global capitalism, exploring how new love-based political subjectivities, practices, and group formations might emerge via a more than human material-psychosocio-affective commons, with opportunities for a reimagining of the frame within which an alter-globalisation might occur.

The Ethics of Economic Development and Human Displacement

Development projects have frequently brought clashes between claims for improvement for powerful groups and the rights of marginal groups in project-affected areas, leading to ruinous resettlement of the latter. Economic cost–benefit analysis based on the potential compensation principle endorses sacrifice of weaker groups’ interests for the sake of groups that are already better off. The chapter examines two lines of response: the ethic of responsibilities from Penz et al., based on studying dam projects and existing international agreements, and human rights–based approaches elaborated for mining projects. A global language of human rights, including principles of recognition, accountability, and participation, helps to mobilize and link local and international civil society groups and claim seats for weaker local groups in project negotiations, which can thereby foster mutual learning and accommodation. Attention to these principles plus other elements of a human development ethic should become routine in economists’ training and practice.

Forest Research Priorities in Canada, 1990: An Overview for the Canadian Council of Forest Ministers Prepared by the Forestry Research Advisory Council of Canada In Cooperation with the Forestry Research Advisory Committees in The Provinces & Territories Ottawa, July, 1990

In 1987 the Forestry Research Advisory Council of Canada (FRACC) proposed an annual Canada-wide survey of research priorities and emerging issues to be presented to the Canadian Council of Forest Ministers (CCFM). This was accepted as a way to improve research dialogue, coordination and application. The provincial and territorial forestry research advisory committees contributed to the first overview presented to CCFM in October 1989 and published in the December 1989 Forestry Chronicle. This second report is based on material provided by the provincial and territorial advisory groups in early 1990.Forestry research is often long term but priorities do evolve. Twenty three research topics are new in this report. Several were identified as emerging concerns last year. Many of the new items fall under a new heading "FOREST POLICY AND ECONOMICS" or under "ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS" and highlight the need for socioeconomic studies, predictive models, resource and land use decision methods and concern about climate change. This evolving emphasis reflects the increasing attention forest managers in industry and government are giving to public attitudes on resource and environmental matters. These attitudes are being more forcefully articulated as the sustainable development ethic gains wider acceptance. At the same time, the more traditional concerns of forest managers about protecting, harvesting and regenerating the forest are still prominent in research priorities.Policy and economics matters needing research attention are:• Predictive supply/demand models for timber & non timber values;• Broad socio-economic studies on the implications of new policies;• Economics of private woodlands;• Methods for land use decisions;• Novel tenure and timber sales arrangements.Integrated forest resource management requires research on:• Managing for all values, wildlife, recreation, timber etc.;• Ecosystem functioning;• Decision criteria and information systems.Environmental research priorities include:• The effects of forest management and harvesting on the forest ecosystem;• The forest effects of atmospheric pollution and climate change;• The fate of pesticides applied to the forest;• The reforestation of contaminated sites;• The implications of pesticide residues on planting stock.Forest pest priorities for research are:• Alternatives to chemical control methods;• Improved risk assessment and management methods;• Work on specific pests such as the spruce budworm;• Pests of nurseries and young stands;• Damage appraisal methods;• Spray technology and drift prevention.The many forest fires of 1989 give priority to research on:• Wildfire prediction, detection and control;• Improving and applying integrated fire management systems;• Fire ecology.In silviculture, forest regeneration and tending are high priority with research particularly needed on:• Improving planting stock quality;• Control of competing vegetation;• Tree improvement;• Seed and seed orchard management;• Regenerating hybrid poplars and aspens;• Cost reduction and increased effectiveness;• Improved growth and yield information and site data;• The culture of high quality hardwoods in eastern Canada.Forest products research needs include:• Underutilized hardwoods;• The quality of wood harvested from second growth forests;• Improving the manufacture of pulp, paper and solid wood products;• Devising new higher value products.The major emerging issues likely to affect future priorities centre around:• The increasing public involvement in resource management;• The growing prominence of the sustainable development ethic;• Canada's weak commitment to research and development;• Recycling and its impact on both forest management and products;• The growing commitment to integrated forest resource management.There is also concern that popular environmental matters may skew research priorities away from less glamorous but important topics.The importance of Forest Resource Development Agreements in furthering forestry research is universally recognized as is the importance of their continuation.Research advisory structures are in place in most jurisdictions although in one or two locations progress has not been rapid. Present research programs are considered scientifically and technically sound for the most part. Lack of funding continues to be a matter of serious concern.

THE HIGH COST OF CARING

Protests and mandatory government requirements are manifestations of current public environmental awareness. The fulfilment of each requirement takes time, effort and money and the total cost of these must be added to the consumer price of the final product, thus increasing general trends to inflation.Conservation and environmental awareness are seen to be short term processes under the benign influence of affluent democratic governments. Emergent or developing nations rarely can afford the luxury of conservation, being more concerned with upgrading the standard and quality of life of their populace.The growth and development ethic which triggers our way of life is inherent in all living things, either individually, collectively, or racially, and so cannot be interpreted by current value judgements as being good or bad.Future needs and challenges are seen to be the central involvement of environmental awareness in community planning and life style. Such planning will, of necessity, accept the intrinsic right to life of all other life forms.