Re: Emphasis on Economic Growth regardless
of the impact on the environment
I believe that some people have even argued that it
all goes back to the strong Christian
influence on Western civilization i.e. the view presented
in Genesis that nature was created for the benefit of
"Man" and that we should have mastery over nature.
This contrasts with other philosophies which
argue that human beings should live in harmony
with nature.
P.S. As for the fascination of people in the
Third World with Western consumer goods and
a consumerist lifestyle, one has to remember that
the Third World is either still mired in poverty or just
emerging from poverty. When one is poor or dirt poor, the
image of affluent Western society presented by Hollywood,
American TV programs etc. is truly fascinating indeed.
(Remember the fascination of the New Guineans with the
material goods brought in by Allied soldiers during
World War Two and the subsequent appearance
of the Cargo Cults??)
If you speak to the average Malaysian, he or she would think
that more and more shopping malls, more and more
housing projects, more and more condos, more and more
highways are desirable and even signs of "progress".
Nevertheless, as we get better educated and more exposed
to the latest debates over economic growth and
the environment, a Green awareness is growing among certain
segments of Malaysian society.
(Having studied and lived in the U.S. for a long time, I
enjoy going to nature parks in Malaysia. But to my parents,
it is just undeveloped jungle! My little niece complains
about the heat, how boring the park is, that she should
have stayed home and watched TV etc!)
Paraphrasing Keynes, the scribblings of intellectuals yesterday
become the conventional wisdom of ordinary people today.
"Modernisation Theory" was promoted in academia in the
West in the 1950s and 1960s and these ideas have filtered
down and become
the conventional wisdom in the Third World today.
Perhaps with the passage of time, ordinary people in the Third World
will become more "Green" in their consciousness. And
also come to view the malling of Third World cities and
urban sprawl as being a blight on the land rather than as
signs of "progress" (In Singapore - comparable to the West
in its GNP per capita and with a well educated population -
Green consciousness is quite strong
among the younger generation).
Date: Tue, 06 Jan 1998 08:07:10 -0700 (MST)
From: PAT.LAUDERDALE@ASU.Edu
Subject: Re: Media as Hegemonic Tool
To: "DR. PHUA KAI LIT" <phuakl@sit.edu.my>
Isn't the point that it was socialist rule by the East European nations,
BUT in the world capitalist structure aka "rule."? At least, it seems to
be one of the central points that we can ascertain by following Gunder
Frank, i.e., understanding national rule constrained by the world system.
On Tue, 6 Jan 1998, DR. PHUA KAI LIT wrote:
> Is it just capitalism or is it the ideology that
> continuous economic growth is a good thing?
>
> >From all accounts, the environmental problem is
> much worse in the East European nations
> after years of Communist rule and
> reckless disregard for the environment.
>
>
>
> Date: Tue, 6 Jan 1998 01:52:36 -0500 (EST)
> Reply-to: aaustin@utkux.utcc.utk.edu
> From: Andrew Wayne Austin <aaustin@utkux.utcc.utk.edu>
> To: WORLD SYSTEMS NETWORK <wsn@csf.colorado.edu>
> Subject: Re: Media as Hegemonic Tool
> X-To: chris chase-dunn <chriscd@jhu.edu>
>
> Chris,
>
> On Mon, 5 Jan 1998, chris chase-dunn wrote:
>
> > If the Chinese try to eat as much meat and eggs and drive as many cars
> > as the Americans do the biosphere will fry.
>
> Great point. And if Americans keep eating meat and eggs and driving car
> like they do the biosphere will fry. The parameters of the "mainstream"
> debate, however, runs from the we-can-have-growth-and-sound-ecology-too
> contingent to the screw-the-ecology-let's-have-lots-o-growth contingent.
> The faux-left is one of out biggest enemies here; they secure a position
> to the right of them for the accumulators. We should be argue that the
> main policy initiative for preserving ecosystems is the destruction of
> capitalism.
>
> Andy
>
>
>