Free Republic
Browse · Search
Bloggers & Personal
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Sustainable development = Sustained poverty
CFP ^ | March 21, 2005 | Paul Driessen

Posted on 03/21/2005 8:00:40 AM PST by MikeEdwards

Keeping developing countries cute, indigenous, electricity-poor — and impoverished

Critics are "lying about environmentalists" and "willfully representing facts" about them and their views, concerns and agendas. So says a recent commentary by the Earth Island Institute and Environmental News Network.

A principle object of their wrath was a recent article by this author, shredding lofty claims about wind turbines, much as these towering "Cuisinarts of the air" eviscerate birds and bats. They particularly objected to this statement:

The Earth Island Institute longs for the day when Africa’s poor made clothing for their neighbors "on foot-pedal-powered sewing machines" and says, "once they get electricity, they spend too much time watching television and listening to the radio."

"Earth Island longs for no such thing," the ENN column protested, "and Driessen is misrepresenting "a former Earth Island staff member who spoke supporting sustainable development in Africa."

One can readily understand their pique at being roundly criticized for their eco-imperialistic, anti-development ideologies. However, the facts speak for themselves. Former EII editor Gar Smith’s comments were duly reported in a 2002 CNSNews.com story in which Smith opined:

"I don't think a lot of electricity is a good thing…. I have seen villages in Africa that had vibrant culture and great communities that were disrupted and destroyed by the introduction of electricity." [Once they got electricity,] African villagers spent too much time watching television and listening to the radio, allowing their traditional ways to fade away, according to Smith. . . . .

(Excerpt) Read more at canadafreepress.com ...


TOPICS:
KEYWORDS: actionnetwork; development; earthisland; electricity; environment; environmental; environmentalists; institute; newsnetwork; radical; rainforest; sustainable; thirdworld

1 posted on 03/21/2005 8:00:45 AM PST by MikeEdwards
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: MikeEdwards
"traditional/indigenous ways" = rural poverty

It's very easy for affluent Westerns to long for poor Third Worlders to retain their "traditional ways" and only have development that is "sustainable" - i.e., for them to remain poor. This keeps them as like pets or zoo animals, for Westerners to observe and enjoy when they have the inclination.

2 posted on 03/21/2005 8:30:34 AM PST by Dr. Frank fan
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Bloggers & Personal
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson