[WSF-Discuss] Some criticisms of the Belem Ecosocialist Declaration

[David Stodolsky]

On 29 Mar 2009, at 5:35 PM, Ana Margarida Esteves wrote:

> 2) The role of certain socialization processes that lead people to
> consume and accumulate debt so as to keep up with certain patterns of
> "social acceptability", "beauty", "desirability", "success" and
> "Comfort";

At least in the USA, many people had no choice, but to accumulate  
debt. Constant or dropping wages and rising prices were the main source.


>
>
> 3) The role of other socialization processes the lead people to see
> themselves as separated from other human beings and species, therefore
> thinking that "there is no problem if I continue using a highly
> polluting car. Someone else will take the responsibility of reducing
> C2O emissions." or "Other people don't care, so why should I? I don't
> want to be seen as a holier-than-thou politically correct freak".
>
> What we need I a rethinking of the foundations of our culture.

The Judeo-Christian culture, which grants Man dominion over the Earth  
certainly plays a role. Similarly, the extreme side of the  
Environmentalist Movement is just the flip side of this, where Man is  
a destructive force. Both separate Man from Nature.

Recently, Consumerism has played an increasingly important role in  
identity formation, because the religious system has been undermined  
by advances in science. However, Consumerism doesn't really do the  
job, so it tends to be compulsive, as more and more purchases are  
needed to maintain the effect. See, for background:

ernestbecker.org


My own analysis (site is being moved, do not Join):

http://essentialrealities.secureid.org/


Current attempt at implementation (in Denmark):

http://futurefellowship.com/



dss

David Stodolsky
david.stodolsky at socialinformatics.org  Skype: davidstodolsky