Economy – Radical Ecological Democracy

Is Italy’s new vision for environmental protection a real commitment to carbon neutrality?

April 3, 2022April 7, 2022 Alternatives, Climate Change, Economy, Energy, Environment, New Politics, Power Dynamic

As the need to address climate change and other environmental crises becomes increasingly critical, many countries have found it necessary to amend their national constitutions to strengthen existing provisions for environmental protection, and even introduce new ones. This past February, the Chamber of Deputies of the Italian Parliament passed legislation to amend two crucial Articles in the Constitution to align the country with the rest of Western Europe’s progressive vision on climate intervention. Fausto Corvino and Mitja Stefancic discuss the promise and challenges inherent in this significant move, particularly as the energy fallout from the on-going Russia-Ukraine conflict causes complex and worrying problems for Italy.

Action Agenda Analysis Ideas Stories

Ingredients for a decolonial politics – cooking up a future to delight in

March 3, 2022March 3, 2022 Capitalism, Community, Democracy, Economy, New Politics, Power Dynamic, Social Change

Creating “alternatives” to the political and economic structures that bolster the existing neoliberal order is as much a function of resisting their impact on society as it is to understand and challenge our own co-option into the colonial mindset that perpetuates that oppression. In this article, Eva Schonvled and Justin Kenrick present an inspiring framework for activists, academics, civil society campaigners and radical reformers to create “alternatives to our internalized and cultural habits of domination.”

Agenda Analysis Ideas Stories

The Fourth Industrial Revolution, the Great Reset and the global resistance to come

July 4, 2021April 13, 2022 Capitalism, Ecology, Economy, New Economy, New Politics, Power Dynamic, Revolutionary Struggle, Revolutionary Technology

Four decades of neoliberalism have seen a relentless push by the world’s mega corporations to capture global governance and the global commons. With the rise of the ‘Fourth Industrial Revolution,’ and the global crises unleashed by the Covid-19 pandemic and the lockdowns, they may have found their biggest opportunity. But resistance, too, is in the air. Sajai Jose analyzes the tussle for our future evolving and taking shape in the world.

Action Analysis Ideas Stories

Regenerating the Commons in Galiza, Spain

April 21, 2020April 13, 2022 Climate Change, Community, Ecology, Economy, Power Dynamic

Continuing with our solidarity series with the “Yes to Life, No to Mining” network against the scourge of extractivism, this time we take a trip to Galiza in northern Spain. In this remarkably vivid and inspiring account, Joám Evans Pim, a community leader from Frojám Community Conserved Area and activist in Galician anti-mining network ContraMINAcción, explains how small communities like his are confronting destructive mining by regenerating traditional territories and reviving community governance.

Action Agenda Analysis Ideas Stories

Resist. Restore. Revive: The frontline communities sowing the seeds of post-extractivism

November 11, 2019April 13, 2022 Climate Change, Community, Conservation, Ecology, Economy, New Politics, Resistance, Sustainability

The metal and mineral mining industry, worldwide is responsible for over 20% of global carbon emissions. It has also destroyed critical ecological areas and has a frightful record of systematic human rights violations. Yes to Life, No to Mining Network (YLNM) is a network of and for communities who choose to resist mining while at the same time protecting and advancing life-sustaining knowledges, practices, economies and governance systems. Recently, YLNM undertook an exploration of a few of these community initiatives to create a series of interactive case studies, which share the stories of resistance to mining, restoration of damaged ecosystems and protection and development of alternatives to extractivism. REDWeb is collaborating with YLNM to bring five of these “emblematic case studies” to its readers over the course of the next five months. In an introductory article, Hannibal Rhoades from YLNM gives us an idea of the areas and issues this series will cover, and how it explores the evolving idea of the “search for alternatives”.

Action Analysis News Stories

A historical victory in Ecuador

October 19, 2019April 13, 2022 Activism, Alternatives, Economy, Environment

A popular uprising in Ecuador recently forced the government to withdraw a decree being imposed on the country by the International Monetary Fund. Miriam Lang explains the environmental, political and economic context in which the popular movement emerged and gained ground to pose a challenge to neoliberal orthodoxy in Ecuador.

Agenda Analysis Conversations Stories

REDWeb Conversations Series – Ending the Growth Addiction

February 11, 2019April 13, 2022 Climate Change, Community, Ecology, Economy, Growth

The economic policy of endless growth on a finite planet can only lead to environmental stresses for millions of people. It’s imperative that we explore new possibilities, which are ecologically sensible and economically egalitarian. Pallav Das discusses the emerging idea of “Post Growth” with Alnoor Ladha and Jason Hickel, two activist academics exploring the cutting edge of ecological economics and politics.

Analysis Ideas Policies Stories

Looking Beyond Entrepreneurial Illusions to End Africa’s Food Crisis

January 15, 2019April 13, 2022 Africa, Agriculture, Ecology, Economy

The African rural hinterland is under the assault of a garbled idea of “development”. A market oriented entrepreneurial model of agriculture, however, has failed to tackle the deep roots of poverty in these areas. Terry Leahy, an Australian sociologist, has been studying the steady evolution of an alternative framework for rural agriculture in southern and eastern Africa, which focuses on increasing food security through subsistence production. His recent book, “Food Security for Rural Africa: Feeding the Farmers First” challenges the models promoted by academics in the field of development studies and argues against the strategies adopted by most donor organizations and government bodies. In this article Leahy introduces us to the simple but effective idea of ensuring household food security through household production.

Analysis Ideas Stories

REDWeb Anniversary Series -Marx and Political Ecology

December 21, 2018April 13, 2022 Climate Change, Community, Ecology, Economy, Environment, Politics

The steadily evolving field of Political Ecology is helping us figure out the impact of social, political and economic factors on our environment. Omar Dahbour delves into Marxian theory to explain how people’s equity in the ownership and management of natural resources, and of sustainability in the maintenance and health of the ecosystems could become the essential core of contemporary Political Ecology, and in the process help address the climate and environmental challenges facing the world. This article is part of the Radical Ecological Democracy website’s efforts towards offering a critical analysis of Karl Marx’s ideas in the context of the emerging alternative thinking and practice on environmental justice and socio-economic equality, as we continue to observe his 200th birth anniversary year.