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Earthlife Africa is a Green organisation with a vision of the future which we offer to people as a goal. This vision informs our work and provides us with an agenda as a proactive group. To better understand the nature of this document it may be useful to place a Green organisation such as ELA within the context of the broader environmental movement, which may be defined as a continuum of philosophies roughly divided into three perspectives: The first is that of orthodox conservationism, which sees conservation as simply the act of identifying that which needs protection, and affording it that protection, generally by separating it from whatever is seen as being the threat. This is the classical game reserve type of approach, but can occur on any scale. The tools of conservation have all the trappings of a masculine, militarist society: fences, guns, uniforms and hard scientific facts and numbers. Social or political analysis is entirely absent - conservationists may and often do argue that their actions are apolitical or above politics. A recognition that conservationism is socially naive may lead to an environmentalist position which attempts to accommodate what are perceived to be the needs of people and the needs of nature. In attempting to be realistic environmentalists do not challenge the status quo of an economic and social system. Instead the environmentalist places faith in "proper management" as the solution to the global ecological crisis. The tools of environmentalism include impact assessments and cost-benefit analyses. The third phase in the continuum is the truly "Green" position. Greens do not ignore the concerns voiced by conservationists and environmentalists. Many of their concerns are our concerns, however, Greens recognise that ecological stress is a logical and inevitable consequence of the economic and social status quo. Greens believe that we are a part of nature and not above nature. We must therefore transform society socially and economically to develop new patterns of action which see us working from within our place in the natural system, rather than competing against it. The Green approach is varied. Internationally, and especially in the south, there is an emerging sense of unity among Green non-governmental organisations and community based organisations. Communication and networking between them increases daily. They find common roots in the suspicion of ruling cliques and the activities of Trans National Corporations. Local situations of social or ecological stress are frequently the result of decisions taken in the boardrooms of highly industrialised countries. As Africans we cannot ignore the historical impact of colonialism, and the impact of neo-colonialism and racism. Greens find common goals in their pursuit of justice, access to information and a society which fosters personal empowerment. We believe that if people have access to information and control over their lives, they will make ecologically appropriate choices. Greens regard the desire of individuals or groups to have power over the lives of others as unacceptable. For this reason a larger proportion of women are active in the Green movement than in conservation or environmental groups. This document attempts to encapsulate the concerns, the motivations and the beliefs of members of Earthlife Africa. It is not a static document, but is updated on a regular basis, following each annual Congress of Earthlife Africa. This document identifies ELA members while it still provides for the diversity of opinion which is one of the strengths of the organisation. PLEASE NOTE THAT OUR POLICIES ARE CURRENTLY UNDER REVIEW AND WILL BE UPDATED AND RATIFIED AT CONGRESS 2004. Please contact [url=mailto:[email protected]] Bryan {/url] for more info. ?? |
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