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Table of Contents
Green Glossary Alphabetical Index A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Alienation - There are various meanings related to separation, apart from, bracketed off, distant. Used in the context of nature, alienation means that individuals are out of touch with nature for various reasons. Among these reasons are the nature of language and its symbolic forms of abstraction, prediction, and recall. Emotional forms of alienation include an absence of awe and reverence for nature's beauty, complexity, and power. This usage arises in discussions of "nature's death" as a result of rationalizing human existence (scientific management of production or "Taylorism"), for example. In this sense, society's approach to nature now looks to the particular and analyzes nature's parts in absence of its totality, thereby missing the whole of nature. ("Missing the forest for the trees.") (return to Perpetual Motion Machine) Social alienation arises in the context of social hierarchical assignment of groups and individuals to various levels on the social stratum. Technology, especially in its modern and postmodern form (ecologically inappropriate), also gives rise to the use of alienation. Example: The automobile "alienates" 1. by isolating individuals and 2. by causing an alienating design and destruction ("progress," "development") of urban and rural space in its production and use. Humanity now becomes "estranged" to nature while ideological explanations justify alienating technological conditions. In part, the town and country conflict is partially lost in this regard, but "alienating" relationships persist in a new form. One dictionary of Sociology lists seven definitions for this term. Some 20th century British and European philosophers discard the term as a "superstition." Greens rely on it for explanatory and descriptive purposes. For example, those with a Deep Ecology or EcoFeminist interest might use it in terms of humanity's relationship to nature; those with a Social Ecology interest might use it in its technological context and certainly in a social context. Animal Rights - Some Greens argue against extending "rights" to animals on the basis that with rights come duties. However, it is difficult to see any Green disagreeing with the following statement from the Green Parties (ASGP) plank on animal rights: as Greens, we must add that the mark of a humane and civilized society truly lies in how we treat the least protected among us. To extend rights to other sentient, living beings is our responsibility and a mark of our place among all of creation. We find cruelty to animals to be repugnant and criminal. We call for an intelligent, compassionate approach to the treatment of animals. (see Ernie shares the Ten Commandments of Dog Ownership)(Our token animail rights link: C A R NA G E CANTERBURY ANIMAL RESPECT NETWORK for A GREEN ENVIRONMENT)(return to animal rights) Bio-centriism -
A controversial term among Greens. It represents a biologically or ecologically-centered
world view, perception, understanding of environmental ethics as well
as humanity's place in nature. Homo-centrism as articulated by Enlightenment
philosophers such as Descarte, St. Semone, Kant, as well as shallow-environmentalism
give a contrary perspective of humanity's place in nature, humanism.
Spinoza's philosophy
would be consulted for an European articulation of bio-centrism. Biodiversity - The totality of genes, species, and ecosystems in a region or the world. Carrying Capacity - The maximum number of people, or individuals of a particular species, that a given part of the environment can maintain indefinitely. Humans learned to stretch carrying capacity through the agriculture revolution. Industrialism through the power of coal and later oil and nuclear energy continued stretching carrying capacity well beyond a bio-region's ecological capacity to sustain human life and other life-forms. Greens anticipate an ecological snap-back and look to previous and current famines as well as habitat destruction for examples.(return to Oil) Cascadia - A region of the Northwestern United States and Western Canada (broadly described as Oregon, Washington, British Columbia and Alaska from the Cascade mountain range west to the coast) noted by Greens and others for its bioregional and confederation possibilities in a regional secession. Economic globalization's changes to the area give this idea a more compelling basis as habitat and cultures change and disappear. "Self reliance" and "local control" represent familiar issues related to the Cascadia bioregion's confederation movement. Cement Heads - Edward Abby's phrase and meant to describe the "growth maniacs" intent on paving and cementing over Earth while calling this habitat destruction "progress." Consensus - In a Green context, this term means to come to agreement as a group. Individuals in disagreement may choose to "stand aside" for the sake of reaching a "group consensus." Differences are recognized as an honest attempt to grow emotionally and intellectually. Those with an introverted style of relating are encouraged to take an equal part in decision making. Those with an extroverted style of relating are encouraged to help those with an introverted style of relating, and all are encouraged to allow "space" for similarities and differences. Disagreements are seen as opportunities to explore creative thinking. Consensus works most effectively in small groups. (See Agreements of the Open Space) (return to hierarchy) Conspicuous consumption - a concept developed by the sociologist Theodore Veblem. In one sense, consumption for the sake of demonstrating an ability to consume with little or no regard to use value; also a form of social status seeking. Some Greens use the term to help explain and describe consumerism as an ideology in which children are indoctrinated by mass media (see A Propaganda Model) and parents intent on conspicuous consumption. Corporate State - US President Eisenhower warned against allowing the inter-weiving interactions of corporate, military, and government officials. He called the result a "military industrial complex" that would develop by its own agenda and justification for existence. His perception was accurate, Greens believe, although the issues are more complex than he imagined. Historically, the corporation met strict guidelines of operation under community charters that could be withdrawn for infractions of the charters' mandates. The "tyranny of the bottom line," capital's tendency to accumulate, and political influence at local and national levels now give the corporate sector state-like powers of intervention world-wide. Corporation wealth and influence often far exceeds that of surrounding communities and host nations. As a consequence, the corporate-state manipulates major political parties and media World-wide to create and re-create the conditions for its existence. Accordingly, corporations have no loyalties to flags or nations, only shareholders. For the corporate state, people and nature are commodities to exploit for their highest return. Other elements making up the corporate-state include centralized planning on a monopoly scale world-wide, and shared social and cultural institutions in the education of corporate leaders (see C. Wright Mill's The Ruling Elite). For Greens, the corporate quest to continually increase profits regardless of consequences for humanity and nature poses a deadly threat to future generations of humans and non-humans. Criminal Justice - In the US, a term with different meanings for Greens than for the dominant society. The system of legal injunctions from a Green perspective discriminates on social, economic, and hierarchical matters. See Prisoner #696. Critical Thinking - Greens are by the nature of their Green politics "critical thinkers." In the Green context, critical thinking begins with one's own assumptions and practices. Then, everything under the sun is open to criticism. Critical thinking does not mean to cast negative thoughts, slurs, outrages, insults, or otherwise detract form the course of unveiling accurate information. Deep Ecology - A bio-centrially oriented articulation of humanity's biological or ecological embededness in nature as a species biologically equal to others. The issue of "equalness" applies to the obvious biological similarities between humanity's needs and that of other species - - habitat, food, water, shelter. Equality in terms of moral imperatives is another issue entirerly, leading to a life-boat ethics outcome: Given the choice of saving one and only one of two species-populations in the wild, which of the two does one save? George Sessons and Arne Ness object to this dilemma, but comment that the species nearest humanity would probably be the preferential choice. Deep Ecology holds that humanity's loss of valuing other species for their intrinsic (inherent) value leads to an eventual destruction of biodiversity as well as humanity's sense for oneness with nature, alienation. (see Deep Ecology Principles) Demopublican (also Republicrat)- A term used by third-party members to refer to the two dominate political parties in the US. Although they are two parties by law, they have essentially the same agendas, which represent corporate interests above others. Hence, they are also referred to as "one party with two heads," or the "corporate right to life party" and the "corporate choice party." Earth First! - "On the front lines," a radical environmental movement with ideas parallel to Deep Ecology and at times representing these ideas as nature acting in self-defense. Often portrayed as a form of "infantile" social regression for its unorthodox ideas and direct action approach to "saving Mother Earth and her children," Earth First! activists have proven their commitment to habitat and species-populations' survival at great risk, including assassination and death. Not an organized movement in traditional terms, its anarchist structure adheres in theory and practice to nonviolence, mutual aid, and a reverence for life. Ecology - Study of the relationships of living organisms with each other and with their physical and biological environment; study of the structure and function of nature. compare Human ecology. (return to What Greens Think)(return to Table of Contents) Ecological Debt - Ecological Debt refers to the cumulative responsibility of industrialised countries for the gradual destruction of the planet caused by their production & consumption patternsı. Natural wealth extracted by the North at the expense of Southern people has contaminated their natural heritage and sources of sustenance. Ecological Debt also includes the cost of the human energy of the people of the Southern countries. (from FoE Austrailia) Ecology, Human - The study of the relations between the human community and its environment. Human ecology crosses traditional academic boundaries and seeks to integrate scientific, behavioral, sociological, political, economic, and ethical factors. (Miller, Living in the Environment, page 104) (return to What Greens Think) Education - We call for the teaching of non-violent conflict resolution at all levels of education; Greens view learning as a lifelong and life-affirming process to which all people should have access. We cannot state more forcefully our belief that in learning, and openness to learning, we find the foundation of our Platform. From Platform 2000 of the Association of Green Parties Platform 2000. Freedom: Measured by an individual's participation in power, as used by Ralph Nader when quoting Cisero. The idea of the "wild" or wildnerness comes to mind in another context of "freedom." It is thought that with expanses of wilderness, viable bioregions in which species-populations may survive for the long-term (10,000 years, plus), one has the option, choice, to escape civilization. Of course, human consciousness cannot be abandoned (short of injury or surgery), but the intent to withdraw does in some sense afford an option to be "free" from others or the State. Without the choice of wilderness, there can be no "freedom" in this sense of the term. Thoreau's efforts at Waldon Pond come to mine, but in a shallow-environmental sense of "freedom" used here in the context of wilderness. Gender Balance - A phrase used to denote equal relations between females and males. In Green Politics, it is particularly important that females share equally with males in decision making as well as political activities outside of Green groups. RETURN TO GREEN GLOSSARY PAGE 2 Return to Green Glossary Page 3 |
