Democratic Forest Trusts (PDF)in Watson, Alan; Dean, Liese; Sproull, Janet, comps. 2006. Science and stewardship to protect and sustain wilderness values: Eighth World Wilderness Congress Symposium; 2005 September 30-October 6; Anchorage, AK.Democratic trusts with leadership elected by citizen-members promise to solve many of the problems afflicting both traditional government and corporate ownership of forestlands. This article explores these issues in some depth.Complexity and the Dream of Human Control of Eco-Systems (PDF)in Watson, Alan; Dean, Liese; Sproull, Janet, comps. 2006. Science and stewardship to protect and sustain wilderness values: Eighth World Wilderness Congress Symposium; 2005 September 30-October 6; Anchorage, AK.The title captures it. I then explore the kinds of institutions compatible with both nature and the modern world that are implied from this analysis.Rethinking the Obvious: Modernity and Living Respectfully With Nature (PDF)The Trumpeter: Journal of Ecosophy, Winter, 1997.Modernity is usually considered a wrong turn in terms of respect for and sustaining the environment. I argue the reality is more complex, for modernity has freed us from personal dependence on agriculture, ended the economic value of children, radically reduced the likelihood of large scale wat, and shifted much production to intellectual rather than material capital. This partially decouples society from nature, which gives us important opportunities as well as problems.Towards an Ecocentric Political Economy (PDF)The Trumpeter, Fall, 1996.This paper begins my effort at showing how liberal modernity can be harmonized with an ecocentric perspective on our relationship with the natural world. It is a corrective to much “free market environmental” literature that sacrifices Nature to money as well as to anti-liberal attacks by well-meaning but economically naïve environmentalists.Unexpected Harmonies: Self-Organization in Liberal Modernity and Ecology (PDF)The Trumpeter, Journal of Ecosophy, 10:1, Winter 1993This is my initial paper exploring how what I term ‘evolutionary liberal’ thought can be an important means by which society and nature can be brought into greater harmony. The other Trumpeter papers build on it.Deep Ecology and Liberalism: The Greener Implications of Evolutionary Liberalism (PDF)Review of Politics, Fall, 1996.Liberal thought and deep ecology are usually regarded as mutually exclusive. But the “evolutionary” tradition offers a way to integrate the two through commonalties in the work of David Hume, Michael Polanyi, Arne Naess, and Aldo Leopold, providing a stronger foundation for liberalism while strengthening the case for an ecocentric ethic.(Related subjects: Ecology)Saving Western Towns: A Jeffersonian Green Proposal (PDF)in Writers on the Range, Karl Hess and John Baden, eds., University Press of Colorado, 1998.Developmental pressures in the rural and small town West involve three groups: long term residents, new arrivals, and environmentalists. Today their interests often conflict. This conflict is in part the outcome of institutions which prevent harmonizing competing interests. The concept of developmental trusts, both for rural regions and for small communities offers a means whereby these interests can be harmonized for the benefit of all concerned.(Related subjects: Politics)Social Ecology, Deep Ecology, and Liberalism (PDF)Critical Review, 6: 2-3, 1992.Murray Bookchin is considered a leading radical environmental theorist. However, his analysis is incapable of leading humankind towards a more respectful and sustainable relationship with the natural world. Criticisms of Bookchin from both the deep ecology and evolutionary liberal perspective complement one another, pointing the way towards a better understanding of how modernity relates to the environment.The paper as a whole offers an early discussion of issues that are more clearly addressed in later papers, particularly Deep Ecology and Liberalism (1996) and the three Trumpeter articles in 1997, 1996, and 1993. However, there are other ideas in the article which have not been developed more thoroughly elsewhere.
Eagle-eyed Valerie Voigt has again sent me an important link. It is to a UN publication on contemporary persecution of witches. It is called
Witchcraft Allegations, Refugee Protection and Human Rights: A Review
of the Evidence, produced by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugee
Paraphrasing briefly from its abstract:
This paper examines the link between witchcraft accusations and
displacement through forced exile
or fleeing from the threat of harm. The paper provides documented examples of persecution aimed at alleged
witches in various countries before turning to
particular risk groups: women, the elderly and children. Additionally,
albinos in East Africa face persecution not because of alleged
witchcraft activity, but because they are being killed for their body
parts, which are thought to bring good luck.
In the
majority of stories surveyed, individuals confessed unwillingly and persecution is
typically based on beliefs that are imputed upon the accused. Sometimes governments help prevent persecution, sometimes they foster it. The paper also makes recommendations for organizations working with affected populations.
posted April 24, 2009 at 4:42 pm
In Africa, the Pope’s broadsides against “witchcraft” and native spirituality are almost certainly doing more harm than good.
posted April 24, 2009 at 11:02 pm
But realistically, anything not RC is wrong, so he’s saying what he believes. The Pope may cuddle a little with other Christians but his central belief that only ” his way and that of his Church” are the only way.
As to helping Witches in Africa, no, he didn’t help a thing. In fact, may have made it worse as his pronouncement on it as not being a religion and that it’s simple superstition, will only encourage justification of the killing, imo.
posted April 25, 2009 at 1:47 am
A bit of a preview of what people in the U.S. can expect if Sarah Palin ever gets into a position of real power (I’m looking at you, Thomas Muthee).
posted April 25, 2009 at 3:56 pm
OMG How absolutely horrifing.I have heard of alot of just rediculous things that human beings do to one another but this is a first for me. It just sickens me to hear that yet again here is an absolutely obsence actto do to your fellow human. I pray with all my heart that these monsters well be caught for these horrindous acts and are made to stop. I would really like to wish death on these monsters and that they suffer far more than what they have done to their victims. Just God almighty please make these monsters stop what they are doing to these poor peoples. AMEN
posted September 23, 2009 at 4:12 pm
hi everyone! im looking for some info on witchcraft for a paper im writing. i got some good books written by raven grimassi, and i stumbled upon a site, http://www.lovespells911.com that were helpful, but lookin for more info. thanks! EJ