 |
| Nuppy (1992-2008): The Friend Who Taught Me Most |
This is the 200th post for Our Place in the World. As a journal of ecological socialism (ecosocialism), Our Place in the World has a particular vision based on merging Marxian theory of socialism, which aims to emancipate humankind from the evils of class society, in particular capitalism, with wisdom of Deep Ecology as summarized in its Eight Point Platform. From a philosophical materialist point of view, this synthesis is possible by placing our species in its evolutionary context. Evolutionary in double historical senses: the coming into existence of this universe and the emergence of life on Earth. Thus, Our Place in the World also relies on the knowledge gained from physics, evolutionary biology, and ecology. Moreover, it aims to learn as much from the modern humans so-called “pre-history” as it does from our “history.” For 190,000 years, modern humans lived in “primitive communist” groups much more in harmony with themselves and with nature than ever since; that is in the period our existence we strangely call “civilization,” marked by an almost pathological derive to "control" nature including by subjugation and exploitation of animals and plants. In the process, of course, we have also subjugated and exploited ourselves in many forms, that is, by gender, caste, class, race, etc. This and continued rebellion against it is the history of class societies since the dawn of the “Agriculture Revolution.”
There is no doubt that humanity in now in great danger and that our mode of social organization, called capitalism, a society organized for and run by a small minority who own social means of production for the sake of profit and accumulation of wealth, is risking life on Earth. The way out of this crisis of society and nature is fundamentally ethical and political. It requires a process of de-alienation that will bring about harmony in society and with nature of which we are an organic part. This vision and process of radical change is Ecological Socialism.
Since my last “A Word with the Readers”, there has been 96 posts (no. 103 to no. 199). Of these 7 posts are about various ideas of socialism or ecosocialism. There are, to be sure, various rich ideas about ecosocialism and I hope to present and engage them at some point. Twenty-three posts shed some light on challenges and achievements of the Cuban revolution. This is a large number. After over half a century, Cuban revolution is still a work in progress. However, Cubans do provide us with a glimpse of what can be done if the power of working people is mobilized, to undo the chains of capitalism. Twenty posts are about biology, ecology, science, and human nature. Thirteen posts deal with climate change and climate policy. An important task of Our Place in the World is to draw attention to human tyranny against other sentient beings and nature. Nineteen posts report on these. Five posts deal with and critique “green capitalism,” attempts to reform capitalism to make it ecologically friendly—an impossible task. Finally, there are ten posts about politics and economics, including 6 on the revolutionary Arab upsurge.
I should like to state a standard journalistic policy: all signed articles represent the views of their author(s). They are reprinted here because they relate to a subject of our interest. Only unsigned articles are the points of view of Our Place in the World.
I should like to state a standard journalistic policy: all signed articles represent the views of their author(s). They are reprinted here because they relate to a subject of our interest. Only unsigned articles are the points of view of Our Place in the World.
Our Place in the World has been in existence for less than two years. It has become a resource for a number of people and communities across the world. Please help us to improve it by commenting on the posts, by sending articles, and by sharing ideas and criticism by writing to opitw.editor@gmail.com.
The list of the last 96 posts with hyperlinks follows.
Thank you.
Kamran Nayeri
125. "Cuba Is Getting Ready for Climate Change; Its Neighbors Not So Much"
126. Cuba to Begin Charging for Some of Its International Medical Care
126. Cuba to Begin Charging for Some of Its International Medical Care
180. How the Innate Theory of Mind Gives Rise to the Divine Creator181. Climate Change and Food Crisis
199. Cuba: Problems Reported in Implementing Mass Layoff Plan FAIR USE NOTICE
This web log (blog) contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of political, social, economic, foreign policy, human rights, scientific, cultural, educational, health and legal issues. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more information go to: www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml . All the materials contained in these pages are properly attributed. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you have to contact the copyright owner.
No comments:
Post a Comment