(Swans - June 29, 2009 ) Neoliberal environmentalists see two ways to save the planet. The first involves purchasing tracts of land to remove it from the marketplace (temporarily anyway), and the second requires the attachment of a monetary value to environmental goods and services to ensure that they are profitably and efficiently utilized. Both non-solutions locate the answer to environmental destruction in the most unlikely place; that is, in hands of an ideology that is committed to sustained growth on a planet with finite resources. This should not be the case; capitalism is not a sustainable world order, it must be replaced with a system that rejects the individuality of the marketplace and embraces communities and collective humanity. Consequently, seriously approaching the issue of environmental protection requires a consideration of solutions that lie outside the capitalist box and offer ideologically-inspired alternatives that can address the root causes of unwarranted environmental destruction. This line of pragmatic thinking has been evolving within socialist and anarchist circles for decades. (1) The capitalist system, however, has, naturally, worked to privilege the solutions provided by elite environmental movements, and the resulting marginalisation of alternative voices has meant that most members of the public remain unaware that such alternatives exist. This has caused concerned citizens to mistakenly equate corporate environmentalists as solution-providers rather than earnest greenwashers. This article demonstrates this domination of neoliberal ideology within the environmental movement by examining the background of just one group whose founder has attempted to set it apart from and above other elite conservation outfits. This group is called the World Land Trust.

http://www.swans.com/library/art15/barker23.html

[div class="excerpt"]...Indeed, Burton describes himself as a "pessimist, and a palaeo-Malthusian," and in response to my recent criticism of his elite conservation ethics he published his neoliberal ideological position on his blog:

"Biology tells us that the human species has always lived at the limits of technology, has always over-exploited its environment and has been subject to regular population crashes. I can see no evidence, that as a species this can or will change. Living in balance with nature is a dream that will always remain unfulfilled, and has not occurred since before the Stone Age. That doesn't mean that we should give up trying to lead more environmentally-friendly lives, but I believe we have to be realistic about what changes can be achieved."

By "realistic" Burton maintains that the main way to save the environment is to limit population growth and to buy land (to safeguard it from "human nature," but not from capitalism).[/quote]

I had to read that twice to believe he said it.

And this guy is in charge.

WTF, if we're gonna limit population start with him...

The older I get the more it burns me up that these people are utterly discrediting ecological consideration by making it a preserve of the elite. There are millions of proletariat birdwatchers yet if one attends a wildlife art exhibition there is nothing to be purchased within the grasp of regular folks. And the attitude, the tweed! I wandered around the place smiling about my turd in the punchbowl presence but screaming to get out on the inside.

This outfit sounds a lot like the Nature Conservancy, elitists to the core. One cannot deny that they've accumulated and often relegated to the state some very nice habitat, but the stamp book approach is futile even in the middle term and does nothing but provide 'destinations' for those that can afford it, and a few of us who really can't.

Sounds like typical Obama negotiation. I don't know how the guy made it through law school. Start all your negotiations in the middle so you have nowhere to go but right?

You are describing my feelings about being around the traditional music "scene" and the organic and sustainable farming movement - both hijacked and turned into preserves of the elite, though the Kid keeps beating me up about that when I talk about it.

My old thing applies here about the Democratic party hanging out a sign "we are friends to the workers and the poor" and then complaining angrily about the riff-raff tracking mud on their elegant imported carpet should they show up.

What is the purpose and effect of the environmental organizations? To stamp out environmentalism so that it does not spread to the riff-raff and threaten the status quo.

What is the purpose and effect of the sustainable farming and organic organizations? To stamp out farming and interest in farming so that it does not spread to the riff-raff and threaten the power and wealth and status of the few.

What is the purpose and effect of the traditional music "scene"? To stamp out traditional music so that it does not spread to the riff-raff and threaten the power and wealth and status of the few.

What is the purpose and effect of the Democratic party? To stamp out the political Left so that it does not spread to the riff-raff and threaten the power and wealth and status of the few.

What is the purpose and effect of the Progressive movement? To stamp out progressive politics so that it does not spread to the riff-raff and threaten the power and wealth and status of the few.

It is the same people, a small but dominant minority of the population, supporting all of these - with a fervor approaching religious fanaticism - and it cannot be a coincidence that it is largely well-off and educated people controlling these, and in each case the movements are elitist and strongly and clearly anti-democratic.

It can be beneath their notice forever until some factor, usually scarcity, suddenly recommends it to them. Scavengers, getting the very last drop.

Scarcity, yes. That is what drives it, and the sharp operators then descend. I saw it happen with instruments. In the 60's you could pick up all sorts of old instruments for a couple of dollars. Then they were discovered as a possible investment, and the prices went sky high. The investors talk about how they appreciate the old instruments, and how they are "saving" them, but they had no interest whatsoever until they became rare and had perceived value. In similar fashion, the suburban refugees from the corporate world who are getting back to the land and becoming "farmers" are putting tremendous pressure on real farmers. They may be buying organic and hybrids, but they are driving land costs up, and creating a demand for suburban conveniences.

I'll paint you a watercolor of any critter you want, gratis!! (really!) One thing about art is that it too has been co-opted by the elite, if its not expensive its not worth having is the belief...this is actually perpetuated by the bourgeois attitude
of many who actually buy out of their need because they think, somehow, it makes them elite...

Its also a sign of how little the arts are taught in schools, people often can't judge good art except by the price tag...

Hey, and if you ever go to a show and like something, approach the artist, a lot of times they will sell stuff cheaper, when its out of the commission grabbing gallery's hands...and frequently they have tons of work at home...and would be glad to make something for their labor...they don't always set the price. Of course there are lots of booge artist wanna be elitists....

so much of it has to do with a sense of ME!! If "I" have these things then I have value, its almost sympathy evoking if it weren't for the fact that they are stepping on their peers (not knowing they are peers), in order to be perceived as elite.

for example like start with a centrist "public option" to the private healthcare industry, instead of having a leftist public health care plan, that maybe in negotiations, provides a codicil for a private option...