von
Betsan PATRICIA MARTIN, Neuseeland
(Dieses Papier wurde auf der 2007 Asian Forum für Solidarische Ökonomie in Manila, Philippinen vorgelegt)
Ich bringe Gruß aus der Charta für Responsibility Committee in Neuseeland und auch in diesem herzliche Grüße aus dem Volk des Landes, Maori und im Pazifischen Ozean Gemeinschaften, mit denen wir arbeiten, wie ein interkulturelles Team.
Wir erkennen an, die vor uns gegangen sind, diejenigen zu informieren unser Denken und Handeln auf die Verantwortung des Menschen, und diejenigen, die Führung und Anleitung für die Governance, dass die Abhängigkeit der Menschen mit der Erde unterstützt geben.
Philosophie für Aotearoa NZ-Charta für Verantwortung
Relational Ethik
Die wichtigsten philosophischen Ausrichtung unseres Ausschusses ist es, mit relationalen Ethik Arbeit, durch Praktiken der Partnerschaft, shared-Entscheidungen, und die Arbeit mit einem Erde-zentrierten Ansatz in unseren Projekten. Einer unserer Gruppe, Charles Royal, die eine Maori Philosoph bezieht sich auf eine "gewebt Universum" (2003) auf die inter-Bezogenheit aller Dinge zu beschreiben.
Die relationalen Welt Auffassung, dass wir die Arbeit mit indigenen Wissens kommt aus Quellen, als auch die westlichen Philosophen der Ethik. Indigene Denkens, wie Charles Royal Konzept von einem gewebten Universum und den Pazifik-ozeanischen Traditionen zum Ausdruck in den beiden geschält Waka von den Traditionen des Regierens, die Rücksicht auf Schonung der Ressourcen über die Generationen hinweg gekommen.
Abendländischen Denkens, die Führer unseres Denkens gehören Emmanuel Levinas und Luce Irigaray, dessen Werk stammt aus Kritik an der patriarchalischen westlichen Individualismus und wieder relationalen und spirituelle Werte wie Reaktionsfähigkeit als Nachbarn, und die Fähigkeit, über Unterschiede des Geschlechts, der Kultur, des Alters, der Weltanschauung beziehen dass ermittelt wird, mit Werten von Frauen abgestimmt.
In diesem relationalen Ansatz gefunden werden kann ein Wechsel von Menschen im Mittelpunkt der Ethik, die Abhängigkeit des Lebens mit Erde, Luft, Feuer und Wasser. Die Herausforderung dieser Arbeit die westlichen Frauen, für die Freiheit und Gleichheit sind Wirklichkeit geworden, das diese Art der Ethik der Arbeit, wenn wir uns in vielerlei Hinsicht durch die Dominanz der Wettbewerbsfähigkeit, wirtschaftliche Werte gezwungen.
Partnerschaft
Noch eine Metapher für ein relationales Konzept, von unserem Standort im Pazifik ist die Zwei-geschält Waka - ein Schiff für die große Reise über den Pazifik, die bisher unternommen wurden. Man kann viel aus diesem Bild abgeleitet werden, aber die wichtigsten Aspekte, die uns begeistern werden die beiden Rümpfe und die Verbindung Plattform.
Das Modell scheint die Partnerschaft zwischen "zwei beschränkt", aber es kann viele Formen der gemeinsamen Bemühungen, eine Interpretation, die wir hören, ist, dass Frauen an der Front sind, die Geburt in die Zukunft, und die Menschen auf der Rückseite Schutz Erfahrung für traditionelle Weisheit stellen .
Die Rümpfe können als entsprechende Maori und Pakeha, die beiden wichtigsten Gruppen von Menschen in Neuseeland, die in einen Vertrag trat im Jahre 1840 gesehen werden. Der Vertrag wurde eine Vereinbarung zur gemeinsamen Regieren, aber dieser wurde nie vom Parlament vertreten ist, da die meisten britischen Einwanderer aus dem Jahre 1860 vereinbart worden ist.
Die Verbindung Plattform ist ein wesentlicher Bestandteil der Struktur, in denen die Vertreter der Rümpfe, Wissen und Meinungen auszutauschen und für die Entscheidung-Making zu erfüllen. Man könnte sagen, die Richtung für das Schiff aus dem Raum in der Mitte gesetzt.
Partnerschaft ist Ausdruck unseres relationalen Ansatz, der im Mittelpunkt der Verantwortung - Verantwortung ist die Reaktionsfähigkeit und Einstimmung mit denen wir uns zu eng, als auch weiter entfernt, und mit der lebendigen Welt.
Die Verantwortung für die Gesundheit der Ökosysteme Wasser: eine NZ-Pazifik regionale Initiative.
NZ Team
Früher in diesem Jahr eine kleine Gruppe von uns trafen sich für einen besonderen 3-Tage-Sitzung, die Verantwortung zu diskutieren und das Projekt haben wir über das Regieren für die Gesundheit der Ökosysteme Wasser eingeleitet. Wir haben mit Wasser zu arbeiten, weil unsere Pacific Identität als Flüssigkeit Kontinent, wo das Meer, macht Te Moana Nui ein Kiwa, uns Nachbarn.
Bezugspunkte für die Verantwortung für Wasser
Wasser ist der Schwerpunkt von großem Interesse für die Governance in Neuseeland mit Spannungen zwischen den Interessen des Marktes im Wasser zur Ware und zur Schaffung Eigentum und Eigentumsrechte und indigene Stämme mit den üblichen Traditionen der Vormundschaft und Fürsorge für die Wasser-Straddle, doch machen Ansprüche auf ihre Interessen in Wasser über Eigentumsrechte Konventionen.
Access to water and water quality are the focus of local conflicts across the globe as water becomes locked up in private property regimes. The rising sea levels in Climate Change is already impacting on the Pacific with the prospect of environmental refugees raising particular responsibilities as neighbours for the larger countries of NZ and Australia.
Another reference point for water comes from understanding water as the foundation of all of life. As stated by Callum Coats, a water researcher and advocate with whom we are working stated:
“ Good water – good life, Bad water – bad life, No water – no life .”
The natural state of water is to be in continuous motion and transformation, absorbing essential elements as it flows through the atmosphere and earth to take on the qualities needed to support life. The continuance of life is not just a matter of water supply, rather it is the quality of water that determines the level of functioning of human life and other species that consume water. Coats has identified the mutual importance of the health of water and of life. The question before us is not one of humanity versus the rest of creation, but one of a humanity inextricably embedded in a mutually supportive environment in which the myriads of lesser organisms have an equally vital role to play. Ultimately their needs and their continuing health are as important as ours, and we neglect them at our peril (Coats 2001:2)
Unfortunately I can only bring you a sip of knowledge of the amazing attributes of water which we are partaking in through a series of seminars with Callum Coats, who opens up the world of vortical energy systems as part of the complex properties of water.
In this time of a Climate for Change we are taking notice of global environmental deterioration and our intimate connection with this loss. Part of the remedy for the general increasing disconnection with the natural world is to restore our ability to relate to living, breathing energy systems, to hear the intelligence of earth and rivers and oceans.
In a small and humble way we seek to respond forms of governance and management that is attuned to the life supporting capacity of earth's ecosystems.
Integrated governance
In the NZ and Pacific context, indigenous systems based on the interdependence of people with earth, provide some guidance for engaging with environmental responsibility through whole of systems governance and safeguarding long term environmental and human interests.
We have identified 'integrated governance' as a term our Charter for Responsibility working group is using for the initiative on 'Responsibility for the Health of Water ecosystems. We are inaugurating the project with a meeting in Samoa in January, with participants anticipating being involved in case studies of integrated governance of various water ecosystems projects in NZ, Australia and Pacific Islands.
Principles which we are working with for integrated governance are linked with the sharing of knowledge across disciplinary boundaries and with the interwoven dimensions of social, economic and environmental dimensions for 'strong sustainability'. These, along with decision-making for the Long term correspond with principles of the Charter for Human Responsibility.
Principles for integrated governance include:
- Partnership and collaboration
- Working with cultural difference and support for indigenous aspirations regarding land and governance
- Decision-making involving whole systems approaches
- An interdisciplinary approach, involving science, social science, philosophy, economics, with sharing of knowledge.
- Holding the Long view to ensure resources to support future generations
- Earth related with an ecosystem focus
- Keeping a place for the environment 'to speak' at the governance table
Recently I was discussing a proposal for a housing development, of a style that can be seen all over NZ for subdividing land into small lifestyle properties or for intense inner city apartment construction. In this case it was a rural area which I had been involved in opposing through provisions of the RMA – in my role as a board member. When I spoke about this to a Maori elder from the area, he said ' there's no problem with development, all that matters is that the quality of water in the stream is protected.
NZ and Pacific as parties to International Conventions:
NZ and many Pacific Island states have become parties to numerous environmental conventions, as well as to UN Covenants for the elimination of racism, and other covenants to safeguard Human Rights. 4
While noting these environmental covenants, and before identifying them, it seems timely to refer a moment to the recently passed UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Key Articles
Simple principles of partnership include provision for indigenous people to chose their own representatives at forums (and not have these selected ). They also include compensation for the taking of land and other forms of loss.
Articles include:
- Indigene Völker haben das Recht auf Selbstbestimmung, und über ihren politischen Status zu bestimmen.
- The right to distinct political, legal, economic, social and cultural institutions, while retaining the right to participate in the life of the State.
- Right to establish educational systems and provide education in their own languages
- The Right to practice and teach spiritual traditions, to protect privacy of cultural sites and control ceremonial objects, and rights to repatriation of human remains.
- Shall not be forcibly removed from their lands or territories.
- the Right to development and to determine priorities for their lands, territories or other resources
- the Right to determine the responsibilities of individuals to their communities
There has been an outcry because of NZ opposed the Declaration , despite years of advocacy and lobbying from Maori for the NZ government to support this indigenous initiative. The Declaration was passed by 143 votes to 4 (with some abstentions) with opposition from New Zealand, Canada, US and Australia. The Declaration was supported by the Philippines, Chile, Brazil, France, Greece, India, Zimbabwe, Netherlands.
A key area identified by one speaker at a local meeting was that opposition by the four states was to protect Free Trade, with the argument that Indigenous Nations Treaty rights might constitute an obstacle to the free trade regime because international free trade agreements rest on non-disputable national sovereignty – so states ensure there is no diminishment of territorial sovereignty.
These proclaimed rights have symbolic force which will be realized with duties, or responsibilities to implement them. You will see the difference between our state refusal to support these rights and the Charter for Responsibility Across Oceania project to work with, and support these kinds of principles.
Environmental Conventions
The Pacific Islands and NZ are two of the 25 'hot-spots' in the world, marked as being in environmental crisis. The need for locally-based ecological initiatives integrated with regional and global information was identified in our Responsibility team discussions with scientists at the Pacific Regional Environmental Programme (SPREP).
In our project we will therefore bring knowledge of global ecosystems to inform local and regional programmes for protecting biodversity. Protection of fish and birds needs to account for migratory habits - birds migrate from Alaska to Samoa, Godwits migrate from Siberia to New Zealand and then return to reproduce. Similarly, long finned eels live in NZ rivers for 80 years then migrate to Tongan waters to spawn and continue ther lifecycle in this habitat for a further 20 years. Fish migrations mean that local environmental and ecological initiatives have to be matched with corresponding responsibilities in far regions.
Some of the conventions which NZ and Pacific states are party to include:
- UN Convention on Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) 1982, covers territorial sea, EEZ and continental shelf. Refers to sustainable fisheries and marine protection
- UN Convention of Biological Diversity
- UN Fish Stocks Agreement – management of migratory species beyond EEZ
- Convention on Conservation of Migratory species – NZ involvement in managing biodiversity beyond territorial limits
- Protection of Antarctica – Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade
The UN convention of the Law of the Sea provides a legal framework for management of oceans. As a signatory New Zealand gained rights and responsibilities for over 4 million sq. kilometers (430 million hectares) of sea, the area of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
The UN Convention on Biological Diversity (1993) arose from the 1992 convention on biological diversity held in Rio de Janiero. The UN convention, which has been ratified by NZ, provides for the setting of national priorities, which are then translated into regional plans and local management regimes. A series of conventions include codes for responsible fishing, provisions for management of migratory fish, and mechanisms for NZ involvement in managing biodiversity beyond territorial limits. New Zealand is part of the UN Convention on Environment of the South Pacific Region, as well as being party to treaties on Antarctica,
In the visions and objectives of the UN Conventions, and the ways in which they have been translated into policy in New Zealand, there are general principles which can be identified as:
- The conservation of biological diversity;
- The sustainable use of resources;
- An ecosystems approach to research, governance and management;
- Fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of utilisating genetic resources.
- Marine Protected Areas as a tool for managing the marine environment
- Community-based natural resource management and conservation initiatives
- Management to ensure freshwater quality and supply
- Sustainable coastal fisheries
- Waste management and pollution prevention
- Learning for best practice in integrated governance and management of coastal watersheds
Current water, oceans, and fishing policies are oriented towards species and resource use, whereas these principles move us towards taking account of the inter-relationships between species, of habitat protection and of the effects of waste disposal in water and oceans. At present NZ has not proceeded with a comprehensive Oceans Policy as originally promoted, which is attributed to the government's betrayal of Maori customary interests in the Foreshore and Seabed. Legislation in 2003 foreclosed on customary rights, with an assertion of Crown sovereignty which is parallel to the assertion of territorial sovereignty for trading purposes that we saw with the Declaration of Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
We are working with another approach to globalization, different from that of corporatized economic growth: which is shared responsibility for the complex inter-connected eco-system of the biosphere, from which emerges the need for protocols that support local, and indigenous approaches to ecological responsibility with international protocols for safeguarding all forms of life.
Concluding notes
Linking social and environmental responsibility
Our projects on water encompass building a NZ network on responsibility for water, Te Wai Puna Ariki, and a regional project Across Oceania Te Au o Te Moana. Working with science and social science has led us to bring together social and environmental concerns, and this will be one area we bring to a symposium / assembly in Samoa in January 2008.
One of the big questions of sustainability is how to relate care for the environmental with responsibility to alleviate poverty. Development is seen as the pathway to achieve the freedoms that come with sufficient income to bring access to education, to enhance health and bring the human benefits of enhancing human capacity for social participation and access to technology and knowledge.
Knowledge about climate change and environmental responsibility comes out of science and is access to information. People who are poor in terms of education and access to information are less likely to be informed of the environmental crisis and even less likely to be able to be involved in movements for responsibility or to influence decisions. This may not be necessarily true of indigenous peoples who may be income poor, but who are resourced with traditional knowledge and unextinguishable responsibilities to the land. Nevertheless, it can be claimed that people's whose basic needs are not being met cannot give priority to protection of earth, water and air (Sinner, Baines et al, 2004).
To this end we hold up Amartya Sen's thesis (Sen 1999) that freedom requires relief from poverty and deprivation and is the basis for the opportunity to realize and express human potential and engage in responsible citizenship.
Callum Coats has asserted that a long-term view is now imperative, taking appropriate steps to respond to an earth in crisis and safeguard the long-term future of life. For this a far more profound knowledge of Nature is necessary, so that whatever is implemented by way of remedial measures, will be in harmonious accordance with Nature's laws.
References:
Coats, C. (2001) 'Water the Unifier of Life' Presentation Paper at the Alliance Workshop 'Interbeing' ,Bangalore, South India – 19 th – 23 rd June 2001
Royal, C. (ed) (2003) The Woven Universe. Selected Writings of Rev. Maori Marsden. The Estate of the Rev. Maori Marsden.
Sen, A. (1999) Development as Freedom . New York: Anchor Books
Sinner, J.; Baines, J.; Crengel, H.; Salmon, G.; Fenemor, A.; Tipa, G. (2004) 'Sustainable Development: A summary of Key Concepts'. Ecologic Research Report No. 2.