Consumption Critique - UTD 2014

8/9/2019 Consumption Critique - UTD 2014

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Comet Debate Institute 2014-2015 Consumption KUTD Maddy

Consumption K

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1NC (1/5)

9cean consumption ,appenin no.;e!asco 14 (n7res ;e!saco< ro=essor o= ro=essiona! ractice in nternationa!>e+e!opment at Co!um#ia ni+ersit'?s Sc,oo! o= nternationa! an7 u#!ic 0airs< @,eLa!ess SeaA< Bu!' 11< 214< ,e >ai!' Star< http://wwwthedai!ysta"net/the-!aw!ess-sea-#2$%2)!rm

T&' ru!e o= !a is a!most entire!' a#sent< it, +irtua!!' no o+ernance o"po!i(in) I!!e)a!* un"epo"ted* and unreu!ate7 economic acti+ities are common.,e poer=u! seie non-renea#!e resources at t,e e*pense o= t,epoer!ess &n+ironmenta! 7era7ation is on t,e rise That may sound !i+e ades("iption o, a ,ai!ed state* a despe"ate!y poo" (ount"y beset by (ii! wa"* o" a.(tiona! dystopia ut it is none o, the aboe ,e +ast reion 45 o, the ea"thstota! su",a(e3 it, ne*t to no o+ernance or ru!e o= !a is t,e ,i, seasDnear!' to-t,ir7s o= t,e !o#a! ocean t,at !ies outsi7e o= an' countr'?s uris7iction &ow is this possib!e ,te" a!!* the"e is the !e)a!!y bindin) 16%2 United7ations Conention on the 8aw o, the 9ea U7C893* whi(h has been "ati.ed by 1;;

states and the 'u"opean Union o(ation* o" sta"ation o, some one mi!!ion seabi"ds and a"ound100*000 ma"ine mamma!s sea!s* wha!es* and do!phins3 ee"y yea"* not to mentionthe ha?a"d posed to shippin) by sea @un+ A!asti( po!!ution -- in(!udin) pe!!ets andmi("o p!asti(s that ente" ,ood (hains and (an endan)e" human hea!th -- is a )"owin)p"ob!em 8i+ewise< risin temperatures are re7ucin t,e ocean?s o*'en-carr'in capacit'. ,e increasin uptake o= car#on 7io*i7e is causinocean aci7iEcation an7 unprece7ente7 c,anes in c,emica! an7 p,'sica!con7itions< ,ic, in turn are a0ectin marine oranisms an7 ecos'stems.

,e +er' !i=e o= t,e !o#a! ocean is un7er t,reat.

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http://www.thedailystar.net/the-lawless-sea-32782http://www.thedailystar.net/the-lawless-sea-32782


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1NC (3/5)

Consumption causes resource 7ep!etion< !o#a! armin<#io7i+ersit' !oss< an7 e*tinction sustaina#i!it' is ke'.

ra,ic " (Cat,erine< &n+ironment reporter at t,e Ne Scientist


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eHcienc' ((o"din) to o !(amo* at the Unie"sity o, Kasse! in e"many* who !edthe )"oup whi(h !oo+ed at ,utu"e dee!opment ,o" the "epo"t* open bo"de"s and ,"eet"ade (ou!d a!so be impo"tant In mode!s o, the ,utu"e whe"e t"ade between(ount"ies is made simp!e"* te(hno!o)ies that imp"oe the sustainab!e use o,"esou"(es a"e adopted mo"e Fui(+!y GIuc, o= t,e ?natura!? capita! upon ,ic,so muc, o= t,e ,uman e!!#ein an7 economic acti+it' 7epen7s - ater*

!and* the ai" and atmosphe"e* biodie"sity an7 marine resources - continuet,eir seemin!' ine*ora#!e 7ec!ine*G wa"ns (him 9teine"* U7'A ee(utiedi"e(to" G,e cost o= inaction an7 t,e price ,umanit' i!! e+entua!!' pa' is!ike!' to 7ar= t,e cost o= si=t an7 7ecisi+e action noG

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1NC (4/5)

,e a!ternati+e is to reect t,e a0.

n i7eo!oica! s,i=t in t,e a' e approac, consumption is ke'to so!+e. Gour s,ort-term en+ironmenta! =ocus treats t,es'mptoms< not t,e cause o= consumption.rincen 3 (,omas< associate pro=essor at t,e ni+ersit' o= Iic,ian Sc,oo! o=Natura! esources an7 &n+ironment< @rincip!es =or Sustaina#i!it': romCooperation an7 &Hcienc' to SuHcienc'A< 8!o#a! &n+ironmenta! o!itics< ;o!ume3< Num#er 1< e#ruar' 23< pp 35-36) !rmna!yti( and po!ic' approac,es to en+ironmenta! pro#!ems can #e rou,!'roupe7 into to cateories. 7,erents to en+ironmenta! impro+ementtake current resource use practices as i+en an7 !ook =or marina!impro+ements ,e time =rame is imme7iate or s,ort term and t,e sca!e o=acti+it' =o!!os po!itica! #oun7aries J,e en+ironmentA is seen as #ein

@out t,ere


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sustaina#i!it' nd* then* the best p"es("iptions these ana!ysts* who !a")e!y a"enot students o, human behaio"* (ome up with a"e bette" in,o"mation* )"eate"e=(ien(ies* mo"e pub!i( pa"ti(ipation and* ,o" spe(i.( measu"es* new taes andsubsidiesa!! (!assi( ma")ina! tin+e"in) I, the so(ia! s(ien(es a"e )oin) to ma+e a(ont"ibution that is (ommensu"ate with the see"ity o, biophysi(a! t"ends* it mustdo bette" than ana!y?e eni"onmenta! imp"oement measu"es 9o(ia! scientists

must 7e+e!op ana!'tic too!s =or t,e ana!'st (#iop,'sica! an7 socia! a!ike)an7 an e0ecti+e +oca#u!ar' =or t,e po!ic' maker an7 acti+ist t,at a!!ow*indeed encourae< an escape =rom e!!-orn prescriptions t,at resu!t inmarina! c,ane at best mon) those too!s a"e no"ms and p"in(ip!es (onsonantwith ("iti(a! eni"onmenta! th"eats

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1NC (5/5)o promote a!ternati+e normati+e oa!se)* human se(u"ity th"ou)h ane(onomy that "espe(ts natu"a! !imits* an econom' t,at is sensiti+e to

o+erconsumption t,e =ocus must c,ane =rom

pro7ucin oo7s )oods a"e )ood so mo"e )oods must be bette"3 toconsumption * not ust purc,asin< so ca!!e7 @7eman7


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Link: State-centric o!itics

State-#ase7 po!itics an7 skepticism o= t,e a!t inores asustaina#!e re!ations,ip it, t,e en+ironment an7 props up

consumption. BaFues 6 Qeter< ssistant ro=essor o= o!itica! Science at t,e ni+ersit'o= Centra! !ori7a ,ere ,e teac,es sustaina#i!it' an7 !o#a!en+ironmenta! po!itics< @,e euar7in o= Io7ernit'A: &n+ironmenta!Skepticism as a Stru!e o= Citiens,ipA 8!o#a! &n+ironmenta! o!itics< 6.1<26< IuseR

Knoin t,at skepticism is part o= a po!itica! mo+ement* and in o"de" to bette"unde"stand what this moement means* e are =orce7 to ask t,e Fuestion P=or ,atpurposeP ,' 7ismiss #io7i+ersit' !oss or !o#a! armin t Erst it ma'appear to #e a case o= simp!e s,ort term proEteerin< or t,e 7esire =orpiecemea! !eis!ation &owee"< muc, mo"e is at stake #ecause t,reats to

sustaina#i!it' t,reaten t,e p!ausi#i!it'* as Ai"a)es puts it* o= t,e 7ominantPconste!!ation o= (ommon +a!ues< #e!ie=s< an7 s,are7 is7om a#out t,ep,'sica! an7 socia! en+ironments


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coniti+e an7 cu!tura! re+o!ution t,at ou!7 c,ane t,e a' materia!poer is concentrate7 an7 accumu!ate7.

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Link: Neo!i#era!ism (1/2)

,e a0Js ce!e#ration o= @market !oicA an7 @economic7e+e!opmentA re+erses sustaina#i!it'-=ocus an7 e*pan7s

capita!-#ase7 imperia!ism.Ia,mu7 J11 (a''a7< ro=essor o= La an7 >irector< Center =or 8!o#a! Bustice<Seatt!e ni+ersit' Sc,oo! o= La< @Surp!us umanit'P an7 t,e Iarins o= Lea!it':S!ums< S!um7os< an7 ccumu!ation #' >ispossessionA< C,apman La e+ie< 14C,ap. L. e+. 2 21-211)

,e neo!i#era! proect aims to un=o!7 a ne socia! or7er across t,e !o#eto "ee"se the setba(+s that the e(onomi( powe" and po!iti(a! he)emony o, the wea!th-ownin) (!asses had su>e"edon a((ount o, Keynesian we!,a"e in the


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#' 7ereu!ate7 Enancia! capita! pro7uce7 anot,er #out o= P QcRreati+e

Q7Restruction P145 ,ere t,e marina!ie7 an7 un7erpri+i!ee7 #ear t,e

#runt >estruction o= tra7itiona! rura! economies< restructurin o= t,earicu!tura! sector< an7 7eeper penetration o= market =orces into rura!societies< acce!erate7 miration o= uproote7 rura! =armers to ur#an areas

14; s interests o= !o#a! Enance capita! took prece7ence o+er sur+i+a!nee7s o= t,e poor< t,e impact on t,e +u!nera#!e as Fuick * and the Gmain sin)!e(ause o, in("eases in poe"ty and ineFua!ity du"in) the 16%0s and 1660s was the "et"eat o, the stateG4$ United7ations &uman Dee!opment Qepo"t ,ound that GOaPn unp"e(edented numbe" o, (ount"ies saw dee!opment s!ide

ba(+wa"ds in the 1660s In ,o"ty-si (ount"ies peop!e a"e poo"e" today than in 1660 n tent'-E+ecountries

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Link: Neo!i#era!ism (2/2)more peop!e o ,unr' to7a' t,an a 7eca7e ao.G14% ,i!e P #ur7ens o=

sur+i+a! P increase7 =or a!! poor< Pt,ose o= omen are e+en reater.P14%

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Link: &conom'

&conomic !oic on!' props up t,e capita!ist s'stem t,atperpetuates consumption< causin s'stemic +io!ence an7 ar.

8irou* 6 &en"y* JDi"ty Demo("a(y and 9tate Te""o"ism: The Ao!iti(s o, the 7ew utho"ita"ianism in the United 9tatesRCompa"atie 9tudies o, 9outh sia* ,"i(a and the Midd!e 'ast 2;2 200;3 1;#-1$$3 9&

s t,e state o= emerenc'* in io")io )ambens apt!y (hosen wo"ds* #ecomes t,e ru!erat,er t,an t,e e*ception< a num#er o= poer=u! anti7emocraticten7encies t,reaten t,e prospects =or #ot, merican an7 !o#a!7emocrac '10 The ."st is a market =un7amenta!ism that not on!' tri+ia!ies7emocratic +a!ues an7 pu#!ic concerns #ut a!so ens,rines a ra#i7in7i+i7ua!ism* an a!!-emb"a(in) Fuest ,o" p"o.ts* an7 a socia! >arinism in ,ic,mis=ortune is seen as a eaknessthe (u""ent sum tota! bein) the &obbesian "u!e o, a Gwa" o, a!!a)ainst a!!G that "ep!a(es any esti)e o, sha"ed "esponsibi!ities o" (ompassion ,o" othe"s The +a!ues o= t,emarket an7 t,e rut,!ess orkins o= Enance capita! #ecome t,e temp!ate

=or oraniin t,e rest o= societ'. &+er'#o7' is now a customer or c!ient


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an7 conseFuent!' o0ers =e 7isp!a's o= compassion< ai7< or re!ie= =ormi!!ions o= poor an7 a#an7one7 c,i!7ren in t,e or!7 ,o 7o not ,a+ea7eFuate s,e!ter< ,o are se+ere!' ,unr'< ,o ,a+e no access to ,ea!t,care or sa=e ater< an7 ,o succum# nee7!ess!' to t,e ra+aes o= >San7 ot,er 7iseases14 Lo" instan(e* as im 8obe points out* GU9 ,o"ei)n aid in 200# "an+ed dead !astamon) a!! wea!thy nations In ,a(t* its enti"e dee!opment aid spendin) in 200# (ame to on!y ten pe"(ent o, what it

spent on the I"aF wa" that yea" U9 dee!opment assistan(e (omes to !ess than one-,o"tieth o, its annua! de,ensebud)etG15 Ca"o! e!!amy* the ee(utie di"e(to" o, U7IC'L* out!ines the (onseFuen(es o, the b"o+en p"omises to(hi!d"en by adan(ed (apita!ist (ount"ies su(h as the United 9tates

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http://ezproxy.library.nyu.edu:2115/journals/comparative_studies_of_south_asia_africa_and_the_middle_east/v026/26.2giroux.html#FOOT14%23FOOT14http://ezproxy.library.nyu.edu:2115/journals/comparative_studies_of_south_asia_africa_and_the_middle_east/v026/26.2giroux.html#FOOT14%23FOOT14http://ezproxy.library.nyu.edu:2115/journals/comparative_studies_of_south_asia_africa_and_the_middle_east/v026/26.2giroux.html#FOOT15%23FOOT15http://ezproxy.library.nyu.edu:2115/journals/comparative_studies_of_south_asia_africa_and_the_middle_east/v026/26.2giroux.html#FOOT14%23FOOT14http://ezproxy.library.nyu.edu:2115/journals/comparative_studies_of_south_asia_africa_and_the_middle_east/v026/26.2giroux.html#FOOT15%23FOOT15


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s,ou!7 count as important. ut these a"e no o"dina"y histo"i(a! "is+s. ,e state o= t,eor!7 7e#ate centers on ,at core ci+ic +a!ues s,ou!7 oranie risk insociet' rear7in ,uman 7e+e!opment an7 proress.


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mpact: &*tinction (2/2)non-,uman nature< on!' to co!!apse o" .nd themse!es at the me"(y o, a Da"+ )e that is de.ned by mise"yand su>e"in)10$ a"ed Diamond w"ites* 9ur or!7 is interconnecte7 an7 inter7epen7ent*!i+e 'aste" Is!ands 11 (!ans o7a'< e =ace t,e samepro#!ems!oss o, ,o"ests* .she"ies* biodie"sity* ,"esh wate"* and topsoi!t,at 7rae7 7onpast societies ut ,o" the ."st time in wo"!d histo"y* we a"e p"odu(in) o" t"anspo"tin) toi( mate"ia!s*

)"eenhouse )ases* and a!ien spe(ies #ll these en+ironmenta! pro#!ems are time #om#s .

,e or!7 is no on an unsustaina#!e course< an7 t,ese pro#!ems i!! #ereso!+e7 one a' or anot,er< p!easant!' or unp!easant!'< it,in t,e ne*t5 'ears.10% Set* 8ombo") sh"u)s o> the matte" o, a((ountabi!ity to ea(t!y these +inds o, (han)es as Gb!ameG and says ou" t"ue p"io"itiesshou!d be mo"e a!on) the !ines o, a !ow-,at diet instead o, G,o(usin) on pesti(ides* oy)en dep!etion* )!oba! wa"min)* ,o"ests* wind powe"* biodie"sity* et(

issues whi(h a"e mo"e (!ea"!y someone e!ses ,au!tG106 O'nd Aa)e 6;P To some, the song of skepticism sounds like a seet song*!aden with the se(u"ity and powe" o, mode"nity Diamond points out with optimism I sha"e* when 'aste" Is!and (o!!apsed* it did not hae the bene.t o,

+nowin) that othe" so(ieties had (o!!apsed by unde"minin) e(o!o)i(a! !i,e suppo"t systems &owee"* takin responsi#i!it' =or!o#a! en+ironmenta! interit' ou!7 #e a positi+e step toar7spara7imatic an7 r/e+o!utionar' c,anes< one o= ,ic, ou!7 #e anincorporation o= o#!iations to ,uman societies commensurate it,

mem#ers,ip an7 impact it,in a !arer internationa! an7 eco!oica!communit'.11 ,is 7irect!' c,a!!enes t,e a' poer an7 ea!t, areconcentrate7 in t,e current or!7 s'stem, and eni"onmenta! s+epti(s hae o")ani?ed as the "ea")ua"d ,o"this system and its )!oba!i?in)but be!ea)ue"edpa"adi)m. To be su"e* the ,a(t that (onse"aties hae ,e!t the need to "a!!y a"ound the D9A indi(atesthat the e(o!o)i(a! position is )ainin) st"en)th 9+epti(s howee" wish to postpone this (han)e Thei" p!a(ations sound )ood to the e!ite who a"e pa"t o,the dominant wo"!d o"de" L"om Diamonds !essons* this s+epti(a! son) is !i+e !u!!in) the boi!in) ,"o) to s!eep* i)no"in) that someone put the ,"o) in the potto be)in with* and then te!!in) the ,"o) that thin)s a"e* Gin ,a(t*G )ettin) bette" a!! the time

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mpact: &n+ironment (1/3)

Capita!ism is Fuick!' approac,in an Ueco!oica! rmae77onJ a !o#a! en+ironmenta! crisis mani=estin in uncontro!!a#!e

c!imate c,ane< ocean aci7iEcation< ater s,ortaes< a!!cu!minatin in p!anetar' e*tinctionoster V C!ark 12ohn e!!amy Loste"* p"o,esso" o, so(io!o)y at Unie"sity o, "e)on* and "ett C!a"+* assistant p"o,esso" o, so(io!o)yat the Unie"sity o, Utah* JThe A!aneta"y 'me")en(y*R Month!y Qeiew* De(embe" 2012* o! ;4* issue $3 9&

Capita!ism today is cau,t in a seemin)!y e n7!ess crisis< it, economicstanation an7 up,ea+a! circ!in t,e !o#e1 ut ,i!e t,e or!7 ,as #eenE*ate7 on t,e economic pro#!em< !o#a! en+ironmenta! con7itions ,a+e

#een rapi7!' orsenin< con=rontin ,umanit' it, its u!timate crisis: one

o= !on-term sur+i+a!. ,e common source o= #ot, o= t,ese crises resi7es

in t,e process o= capita! accumu!ation. 8i+ewise the (ommon so!ution is to be sou)ht in aJ"eo!utiona"y "e(onstitution o, so(iety at !a")e*R )oin) beyond the "e)ime o, (apita!2 t is sti!! possi#!e=or ,umanit' to a+ert what e(onomist Qobe"t &ei!b"one" on(e (a!!ed Jeco!oica!rmae77on.A# The means ,o" the ("eation o, a @ust and sustainab!e wo"!d (u""ent!y eist* and a"e to be,ound !yin) hidden in the )"owin) )ap between what (ou!d be a(hieed with the "esou"(es a!"eady aai!ab!e to us*and what the p"eai!in) so(ia! o"de" a!!ows us to a((omp!ish It is this !atent potentia! ,o" a Fuite di>e"ent humanmetabo!ism with natu"e that o>e"s the maste"-+ey to a wo"+ab!e e(o!o)i(a! eit st"ate)y The pp"oa(hin)

'(o!o)i(a! A"e(ipi(e Science to7a' te!!s us t,at e ,a+e a eneration at most in,ic, to carr' out a ra7ica! trans=ormation in our economic re!ations< an7our re!ations it, t,e eart,< i= e ant to a+oi7 a maor tippin point or@point o= no return


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the !imits o, ou" abi!ity to (ont"o! the (!imate- (han)e p"o(ess* and we wi!! then be !e,t with the tas+ o, adaptin) toapo(a!ypti( e(o!o)i(a! (onditions !"eady "(ti( sea i(e epe"ien(ed a "e(o"d me!t in the summe" o, 2012 withsome s(ientists p"edi(tin) an i(e-,"ee "(ti( in the summe" as ea"!y as 201;X2020 In the wo"ds o, ames &ansen*the wo"!dVs !eadin) (!imato!o)ist* we a"e ,a(in) a Jp!aneta"y eme")en(yRsin(e i, we app"oa(h 2WC Jwe wi!! haesta"ted a p"o(ess that is out o, humanityVs (ont"o!R10 ien a!! o, this* a(tua!!y aimin) ,o" the one t"i!!ion met"i(ton ma"+ in (umu!atie (a"bon emissions* o" a 2WC in("ease in )!oba! tempe"atu"e* wou!d be (ou"tin) !on)-te"mdisaste" 9ome p"ominent (!imate ana!ysts hae p"oposed a ta")et o, stayin) be!ow $50 bi!!ion (umu!atie met"i(tons o, (a"bonestimated to p"oide a $5 pe"(ent (han(e o, stayin) be!ow the (!imate-(han)e tippin) point t

(u""ent "ates o, (a"bon emissions it is (a!(u!ated that we wi!! "ea(h the $50 bi!!ion met"i( tons ma"+ in 202%* o"siteen yea"s


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mpact: &n+ironment (2/3)e(onomy and hen(e was unthin+ab!e12 Man' t,ou,t t,at t,e 8reat inancia! Crisisou!7 resu!t in a s,arp curtai!ment o= car#on emissions< he!pin) to !imit )!oba!wa"min) Car#on emissions 7ippe7 #' 1.4 percent in 20%< #ut t,is b"ie, de(!ineas more t,an o0set #' a recor7 56 pe"(ent rot, o= (a"bon emissions in 21<e+en as t,e or!7 econom' as a who!e continue7 to stanate This "apid in("ease hasbeen att"ibuted p"ima"i!y to the in("easin) ,ossi!-,ue! intensity o, the wo"!d e(onomy* and to the (ontinuedepansion o, eme")in) e(onomies* notab!y China1# In an inHuentia! a"ti(!e pub!ished in 7atu"e C!imate Chan)e*

Jsymmet"i( '>e(ts o, '(onomi( De(!ine on C2 'missions*R Qi(ha"d Gork use7 7ata =or o+er 15countries #eteen 1%6 an7 2$ to 7emonstrate that (a"bon dioide emissions7o not 7ec!ine in t,e same proportion in an economic 7onturn as t,e'increase in an economic upturn Thus ,o" ea(h 1 pe"(ent in the )"owth o, DA pe" (apita* (a"bonemissions )"ew by 0$## pe"(ent* whe"eas ,o" ea(h 1 pe"(ent d"op in DA* (a"bon emissions ,e!! by on!y 04#0pe"(ent These asymmet"i( e>e(ts (an be att"ibuted to bui!t-in in,"ast"u(tu"a! (onditions,a(to"ies* t"anspo"tationnetwo"+s* and homesmeanin) that these st"u(tu"es do not disappea" du"in) "e(essions and (ontinue to inHuen(e

,ossi!-,ue! (onsumption t =o!!os o= necessit' t,at a #oom-an7-#ust economic

s'stem cannot re7uce car#on emissions t,at can on!' #e ac,ie+e7 #' an

econom' t,at re7uces suc, emissions on a stea7' #asis a!on it,c,anes in t,e in=rastructure o= pro7uction an7 societ' in enera!.14 Indeed*the"e is "eason to be!iee that t,ere is a stron pu!! on capita!ism in its (u""ent monopo!y-.nan(ephase to seek out more =ossi!-=ue! intensi+e =orms o= pro7uction the mo"e deep!y it,a!!s into the sta)nation t"ap* resu!tin in repeate7 attempts to restart t,e rot,enine #'e(t* i+in it more as ((o"din) to the 8ow Ca"bon Inde* the (a"bon intensity o,wo"!d p"odu(tion ,e!! by 0% pe"(ent in 2006* and by 0$ pe"(ent in 2010 &owee"* in 2011 the (a"bon intensity o,

wo"!d p"odu(tion "ose by 0; pe"(ent J,e economic reco+er'* whe"e it has o((u""ed* ,as #een7irt'R15 The notion that a sta)nant-p"one (apita!ist )"owth e(onomy what &e"man Da!y (a!!s a J,ai!ed )"owthe(onomyR3 wou!d be een mo"e intensie!y dest"u(tie o, the eni"onment was a thesis adan(ed as ea"!y as 16$;

by the pionee"in) Ma"ist eni"onmenta! so(io!o)ist Cha"!es & nde"son s nde"son put it* Jas t,e t,reato= stanation mounts< so 7oes t,e nee7 =or t,rou,put in or7er tomaintain to!era#!e rot, rates.R1; The hope o, many that pea+ ("ude oi! p"odu(tion and theend o, (heap oi! wou!d se"e to !imit (a"bon emissions has a!so p"oen ,a!se It is (!ea" that in the a)e o, enhan(edwo"!dwide (oa! p"odu(tion* ,"a(+in)* and ta" sands oi! the"e is no sho"ta)e o, (a"bon with whi(h to heat up the

p!anet To7a'Js knon stocks o= oi!< coa!< an7 as reser+es are at !east E+etimes t,e p!anetJs remainin car#on #u7et< amountin to 2.$ iatons incar#on potentia!< an7 t,e sins are t,at t,e capita!ist s'stem inten7s to#urn it a!!.1$ s i!! M(Kibben obse"ed in "e!ation to these ,ossi!-,ue! "ese"es: JSes* this (oa! and oi! is sti!!te(hni(a!!y in the soi! ut itVs a!"eady e(onomi(a!!y aboe)"oundR1% Corporations an7o+ernments count t,ese car#on resources as Enancia! assets< ,ic,means t,e' are inten7e7 =or e*p!oitation. 7ot too !on) a)o eni"onmenta!ists we"e wo""iedabout the wo"!d "unnin) out o, ,ossi! ,ue!s espe(ia!!y ("ude oi!3 now this has been ine"ted by (!imate-(han)e

(on(e"ns s #a7 as t,e c!imate crisis is< howee"< it is important to un7erstan7t,at it is on!' a part o= t,e !arer !o#a! eco!oica! crisissin(e c!imate

c,ane is me"e!y one amon a num#er o= 7anerous ri=ts in p!anetar'#oun7aries arisin =rom ,uman trans=ormations o= t,e eart,. 9ceanaci7iEcation< 7estruction o= t,e oone !a'er< species e*tinction< t,e7isruption o= t,e nitroen an7 p,osp,orus c'c!es< roin =res, aters,ortaes< !an7-co+er c,ane< an7 c,emica! po!!ution a!! represent !o#a!eco!oica! trans=ormations/crises. !"eady e ,a+e crosse7 t,e p!anetar'#oun7aries desi)nated by s(ientists based on depa"tu"e ,"om &o!o(ene (onditions3 not on!y in "e!ation to(!imate (han)e* but a!so with "espe(t to spe(ies etin(tion and the nit"o)en (y(!e Species e*tinction isoccurrin at a#out a t,ousan7 times t,e @#ackroun7 rate


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as the Jsith etin(tionR "e,e""in) ba(+ to the .e p"eious pe"iods o, mass etin(tions in ea"th histo"ythe most

"e(ent o, whi(h* ;5 mi!!ion yea"s a)o* "esu!ted in the etin(tion o, the dinosau"s3 Nitroen po!!utionno constitutes a maor cause o= 7ea7 ones in oceans. the" dee!opin) p!aneta"y"i,ts* su(h as ocean aci7iEcation +nown as the Jei! twinR o, (!imate (han)e sin(e it is a!so (aused by(a"bon emissions3* and c,ronic !oss o= =res,ater supp!ies* whi(h is d"iin) the )!oba!p"iati?ation o, wate"* are o= roin concern. !! o= t,is raises #asic Fuestions o=

sur+i+a!: t,e u!timate crisis con=rontin ,umanit'.16 The U!timate C"isis ,esca!e an7 spee7 o= t,e emerin eco!oica! c,a!!ene* mani,ested not on!y in (!imate(han)e but a!so in nume"ous othe" p!aneta"y "i,ts* (onstitutes irre=uta#!e e+i7ence t,at t,eroot cause o= t,e en+ironmenta! pro#!em !ies in our socioeconomic s'stem<an7 particu!ar!' in t,e 7'namic o= capita! accumu!ation.X La(ed with su(h int"a(tab!ep"ob!ems* t,e response o= t,e 7ominant interests ,as a!a's #een

2#


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&t,ics Ke'

n et,ica! sustaina#i!it' is necessar' to so!+e e*tinction.ker7 3 QBo,n< ro=essor aricu!ture< ni+ersit' o= Iissouri< @ Ne Bu#i!ee o=ricu!tura! Sustaina#i!it'A resente7 at ura! Li=e >a' 23<,ttp://e#.missouri.e7u/iker7/papers/Bu#i!ee.,tmR$ustainable farming u!timate!y is a matter of ethics or morality. $ustainability re%uires that e leave

opportunities for those of future generations ,o" a Fua!ity o, !i,e eFua! to o" bette" than the Fua!ity o, ou" !iestoday The"e a"e no e(onomi( in(enties ,o" sustainabi!ity Those o, ,utu"e )ene"ations a"e unab!e to "ewa"d us

e(onomi(a!!y ,o" the "esou"(es we (hoose to !eae ,o" them "athe" than (onsume ,o" ou" own )"ati.(ation There

are no social incentives for sustainability. &e ill not be alive during those future generations, and may have

no descendents in those generations* to benefit from the positive social relationships that may arise from our

investments today in a civil and 'ust society for the future. U!timate!y* ou" concerns for sustainability arise

from ou" sense o, mo"a! and ethical responsibility for steardship of the earth for the benefit of all of life for

all times. True steardship* a(tin) out o, (on(e"n ,o" othe"s "athe" than se!,* arises from the realiation that e

are a part of something that transcends (us) and t"ans(ends JnowR 9tewa"dship "eHe(ts a be!ie, that we a"e but

a pa"t o, a hi)he" o"de" o, thin)s* within whi(h ou" !ies ta+e on pu"pose and meanin) *ur sense of ethics and

morality reflect our belief in this higher order, hich e cannot change but ith hich e must conform.


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2: erm (1/2)

,e perm is co-opte7Dcauses e*tinctionDt,e a!t a!one is ke'to re+o!utionar' aenc'

arr J13 d"ian Aa""* d"ian phi!osophe" and (u!tu"a! ("iti( spe(ia!ist on De!eu?e* YThe sets* handin) out (ont"a(epties to poo" women in

dee!opin) (ount"ies* d"in+in) tap wate" in p!a(e o, bott!ed wate"* (han)in) pe"sona! eatin) habits* insta!!in) )"een

"oo,s on (ity ha!!* and ep"essin) mo"a! out"a)e at "itish Aet"o!eum A3 ,o" the oi! spi!! in the u!, o, Mei(o*

a!thou)h we!! meanin)* a"e me"e!y symptomati( o, the use!essness o, ,"ee-ma"+et Gso!utionsG to eni"onmenta!

(han)e Indeed* su(h widesp"ead dist"a(tion !eads to denia! sets* a ,ew so!a" pane!s he"e and the"e*

and so on-a"e me"e theat"i(s In this boo+* I arue t,at un7erpinnin t,e massi+e

en+ironmenta! c,anes ,appenin aroun7 t,e or!7


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&ima!ayas* ndes* Qo(+ies* and !ps a"e "e(edin) ,e socia! impact o= en+ironmenta!

c,ane is no acute< with the Inte"nationa! ")ani?ation ,o" Mi)"ation p"edi(tin) the"e wi!! beapp"oimate!y two hund"ed mi!!ion eni"onmenta! "e,u)ees by 2050* with estimates epe(tin) as many as up to one

bi!!ion5


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2: erm (2/2)mo"e the ea"ths (!imate heats up* the mo"e (a"bon dioide C023 p!ants and soi!s wi!! "e!ease this ,eedba(+ !oop

wi!! ,u"the" in("ease (!imate heatin)


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26


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2: ransition ars

ransition ars are !imite7 an7 peace=u! an7 canJt reso!+ecapita!Js interna! antaonisms.

IYsZros 2$ (st+Zn< ro= &meritus in ,i!osop,' an7o!itica! ,eor' [ o= Susse* ,e C,a!!ene an7 ur7en o=istorica! ime< 31-311)

The se(ond b!o(+ed aenue is een mo"e impo"tant It (on(e"ns the "emoa! o, the possibi!ity o, so!in) thesystemVs a))"aatin) p"ob!ems th"ou)h an a!!-out wa"* as it was twi(e attempted in the wo"!d wa"s o, the twentieth

(entu"y I w"ote at the time o, the onset o, (apita!Vs st"u(tu"a! ("isis* towa"d the end o, the Nietnam wa" that: Zt,es'stem ,as #een 7ecapitate7 t,rou, t,e remo+a! o= its u!timate sanction:an a!!-out ar on its rea! or potentia! a7+ersaries\&*portin +io!ence is no!oner possi#!e on t,e reFuire7 massi+e sca!e. ttempts at 7oin so on a!imite7 sca!eD!ike the ;ietnam


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0 nsers

#1


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ermutation So!+enc' (1/2)

ermutation so!+es =ocusin 7e#ates in concrete action is t,e#est a' to create ne socia! re!ations ,e permutation

causes a re=orm o= neo!i#era! po!itics t,at #est so!+es t,e K eruson 11 (ro=essor o= nt,ropo!o' at Stan=or7 U,e ses o=Neo!i#era!ismJ< ntipo7e< ;o!. 41< No. S1< pp 1661$4)= e are seekin


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Insu"an(e "ationa!ity at the end o, the nineteenth (entu"y had no essentia! o(ation to p"oide se(u"ity andso!ida"ity to the wo"+in) (!ass it was tu"ned to that pu"pose in some substantia! measu"e3 be(ause it was

aai!ab!e* in the "i)ht p!a(e at the "i)ht time* to be app"op"iated ,o" that use SpeciEc a's o= so!+inor posin o+ernmenta! pro#!ems* spe(i.( institutiona! and inte!!e(tua! me(hanisms* can #ecom#ine7 in an a!most inEnite +ariet' o= a's< to accomp!is, 7i0erentsocia! en7s


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ermutation So!+enc' (2/2)not hidden within so(ia!ism and its tets It (annot be dedu(ed ,"om them It must be inentedR utin+ention in t,e 7omain o= o+ernmenta! tec,niFue is rare!' somet,inorke7 up out o= ,o!e c!ot,. Iore o=ten< it in+o!+es a kin7 o= #rico!ae 8e

\i- 9t"auss 16;;3* a piecin toet,er o= somet,in ne out o= sca+ene7 partsoriina!!' inten7e7 =or some ot,er purpose. s we pu"sue su(h a p"o(ess o, imp"oisato"yinention* we mi)ht be)in by ma+in) an inento"y o, the pa"ts aai!ab!e ,o" su(h tin+e"in)* +eepin) a!! the whi!e anopen mind about how di>e"ent me(hanisms mi)ht be put to wo"+* and what +inds o, pu"poses they mi)ht se"e

= e can o #e'on7 seein in @neo!i#era!ismA an e+i! essence or an

automatic unit'< an7 instea7 !earn to see a Ee!7 o= speciEc o+ernmenta!

tec,niFues< e ma' #e surprise7 to En7 t,at some o= t,em can #e

repurpose7 < an7 put to ork in t,e ser+ice o= po!itica! proects +er'

7i0erent =rom t,ose usua!!' associate7 it, t,at or7. I, so* we may .nd that the(abinet o, )oe"nmenta! a"ts aai!ab!e to us is a bit !ess ba"e than ."st appea"ed* and that some "athe" use,u! !itt!eme(hanisms may be nea"e" to hand than we thou)ht

#4


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!t ai!s: topianism

rame t,e a!ternati+e it,in conseFuentia!ism neo!i#era!ismis most et,ica! #ecause a!! practical a!ternati+es are utopian or

cause +io!ence.ic,ar7s % ay Qi(ha"ds* AhD with hono"s in Ahi!osophy and Theo!o)y ,"om A"in(eton* JMoney*"eed* and od:


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!t ai!s: ransition ars

ransition =rom neo!i# causes massi+e +io!ence counter-re+o!utionar' inter+entions

n7erson J$4 (err'< pro=essor o= socio!o' CL< @n t,etracks o= ,istorica! materia!ism


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!t ai!s: eection a7

Lack o= speciEc action means t,e a!t i!! =ai!. Bones 11 (9en< Iasters at 9*=or7< name7 one o= t,e >ai!' e!erap,?s ?op 1Iost nTuentia! eop!e on t,e Le=t? =or 211< aut,or o= PC,a+s: ,e >emoniation o= t,eorkin C!assP< ,e n7epen7ent< K< P9en Bones: rotest it,out po!itics i!! c,anenot,inP< 211< .in7epen7ent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/oen-ones-protest-it,out-po!itics-i!!-c,ane-not,in-23"3612.,tm!)

o7a'< as protesters in near!' a t,ousan7 cities across t,e or!7 =o!!o t,e

e*amp!e set #' the 9ccup' Wall Street protests,it?s ort, pon7erin ,at ,appene7 to

t,e anti-!o#a!isation mo+ement. Its acti+ists 7i7 not !ack passion or

7etermination. ut t,e' 7i7 !ack a co,erent a!ternati+e to t,e neo-!i#era!

proect. it, no c!ear po!itica! 7irection< t,e mo+ement as easi!' sept

aa' #' the inoism an7 turmoi! t,at =o!!oe7 %/11


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Cap 8oo7: ar (1/2)

Capita!ism pre+ents ar an7 ,as ,istorica!!' cause7 t,e !arestre7uctions in po+ert' an7 ineFua!it' an' ot,er arument

inores empirics an7 ro#ust economic mo7e!see7e $ (&ric,< pro=essor at t,e nstitute =or o!itica! Sciencean7 Socio!o'< @8!o#a!iation an7 neFua!it'A Comparati+eSocio!o' "< p. 415-433)8!o#a!iation re=ers to an in("easin) inte"nationa! diision o, !abo" and more tra7e #eteeneconomies* to ("oss-bo"de" inestment and rapi7 trans=ers o= tec,no!o' #eteennations< to !o#a! capita! Tos an7


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9!au)hte" 200$3 ut critics o= !o#a!iation ten7 to =oret a #asic trut, a#out=ree tra7e "iswo!d 200$:#3: @= wo"+e"s* (apita!* and resources can s,i=t it,in t,e7omestic econom'< o#s e!iminated by impo"t (ompetition i!! Fuick!' #e rep!ace7 #' o#s create7 e!se,ereR4 ne shou!d not b!ame the (onseFuen(es o, institutiona! s(!e"osis* o" o, anunwi!!in)ness to ad@ust* on )!oba!i?ation !oba!i?ation has !ed to a si)ni.(ant "edu(tion in mass poe"ty !thou)hthe Chinese dist"ibution o, in(ome has be(ome mu(h !ess eFua! sin(e the "e,o"m p"o(ess be)an in the !ate 16$0s*

t,e stron rot, per=ormance o= C,ina ,as pu!!e7 ,un7re7s o= mi!!ionsout o= a#ect po+ert'. In India )"owth has been !ess spe(ta(u!a" than in China su(h that the dist"ibutiono, in(ome has (han)ed !ess* and yet a)ain hund"eds o, mi!!ions hae been pu!!ed out o, ab@e(t poe"ty !thou)h8atin me"i(a and ,"i(a hae bene.tted mu(h !ess ,"om )!oba!i?ation than sia has* these (ontinents a!so (annotmat(h the demo)"aphi( wei)ht o, sia The"e,o"e* thei" (ompa"atie !a(+ o, su((ess (annot neut"a!i?e sianp"o)"ess in )!oba! pe"spe(tie Mo"eoe"* one has to +eep in mind that winnin) in the p"o(ess o, )!oba!i?ationp"esupposes pa"ti(ipatin) in it* not abstainin) ,"om it ne may i!!ust"ate )!oba! (han)e with data

#6


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Cap 8oo7: &n+ironment

eectin capita!ism causes massi+e eco!oica! 7isasters turns t,e K.

utters U" (oer .< ,.>.< resi7ent Ne#raska Counci! on &conomic &7ucation< ssistantro=essor o= &conomics ni+ersit' o= Ne#raska at Linco!n< @eac,in t,e eneEts o= Capita!ismA<,ttp://.,i!!s7a!e.e7u/imaes/usermaes/a=o!som/ae]62$1/utters.p7= )

ropert' ri,ts create t,e incenti+e nee7e7 to conser+e scarce resources.,' is t,e air outsi7e po!!ute7 an7 t,e air in 'our car c!ean The answe" isp"ope"ty "i)hts Sou donVt own the ai" outside you" (a" so you )!ad!y po!!ute it whe"eas the ai" inside you" (a"* oe"

whi(h you hae a p"ope"ty "i)ht* is @ea!ous!y maintained with ai"_(onditionin)* .!te"s and ai" ,"eshene"s ocan e so!+e t,e po!!ution pro#!em Simp!e< esta#!is, a propert' ri,t an7reFuire t,at a!! e*,aust =umes #e +ente7 insi7e t,e +e,ic!e t,at createst,em. Su77en!' t,e incenti+e to use #etter =ue!s< 7ri+e a more eHcient+e,ic!e an7 re7uce emissions ou!7 resu!t in #oomin inno+ation inpo!!ution a#atement a!! in response to a propert' ri,t C!ea"!y this eamp!e pushesinto the absu"d* but it i!!ust"ate the point none_the_!ess Lo" a mo"e p"a(ti(a! (ompa"ison (onside" why p"iatebath"ooms a"e (!ean* and pub!i( ones a"e not ette" yet* why a"e Maine 8obste"s p!enti,u! and o"an)e "ou)hya"enVt X A"ope"ty "i)hts

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Consumption Critique - UTD 2014