ralph miliband lecture 18.10.2012 final
TRANSCRIPT
From hippy to hip: dissent in a globalising world !!
Ralph Miliband Lecture Series – LSE!
Kumi Naidoo !
Antonio Gramsci (1981-1937)!!
“I’m a pessimist because of intelligence, but an optimist
because of will.” !
Source: Wikipedia
A perfect storm: convergence of multiple crises!
…with deep social, environmental and economic injus6ce
Source: Greenpeace
Key global challenges!• Democratic deficit!• Global governance!• Social exclusion!• Role of civil society!• War on terror (curtailment of international civic mobility)!
The world is at a boiling point!
Source: Capital Ins6tute
Biodiversity loss!
Source: Greenpeace, Logging ac6vity in Waropen district, Papua province.
Threats include: habitat destruction, invasive species, overexploitation, climate change, human overpopulation!
Climate change!
Source: earthobservatory.nasa.gov
September 2012 September 1984
Nitrogen cycle!
Cognitive dissonance!!!
Definition: A condition of conflict or anxiety resulting from inconsistency between one's beliefs and one's actions.!
Source: Encyclopedia Britannica
Louis Althusser!• ISA’s versus RSA’s!
Civil disobedience!
Are we witnessing a turning point in the history of civil disobedience?!
Civil disobedience!….the active, professed refusal to obey certain laws, demands, and commands of a government.!
SavetheArctic.org !• The environmental
problem!• The campaign!
2012 June
Struggle for a global sanctuary!
Involvement of celebrities!
Engaging unusual suspects!
Taking over Shell HQ in the Hague!Speaking from within the headquarters of oil major Shell on Friday, the words of Greenpeace Netherlands executive director Sylvia Borren were clear: “My first move as the new CEO of Shell is simple and effective: no drilling for oil in the pristine Arctic.” !
(www.tcktcktck.org)!
2012 July
2012 July
Gazprom action in the Russian Arctic!
2012 August
Private companies and reputation concerns!!!“Oil on Greenland would be a disaster. A leak would do too much damage to the image of the company.” !Christophe de Margerie, chief executive of oil giant Total !
2012 September
Dutch court ruling/SLAPP Suits!!“A company like Shell, that is taking actions or plans to take actions that are controversial in society and which many people will object to, can and should expect that actions will be taken to try to change its mind.”!!
2012 September
2012 October
!What next?!
• Financial sector focus!• Building broad-based alliances!• Intersectionality!• Intensifying civil disobedience!• New international solidarity !