acrossthepond’s Recent Comments

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  The world, the US (and a note on Vandana Shiva)

  Jeremy makes a fascinating attempt to take on swathe of issues concerning US environmentalism. Here are a couple of notes from Brussels.

  On both sides of the Atlantic, the environmental movement is broad and diverse, ranging from well-funded, corporate-suit organisations to anarchical local groups. We should celebrate and encourage our diversity - otherwise, we fall into the trap laid by our opponents, that we are the "anti-" camp (anti-progress, anti-development, anti-poor, anti-freedom, anti-etc.).

  Jeremy's call to be more serious about thinking globally is certainly welcome. At the same time, we shouldn't lose sight of acting locally. This is especially true in the United States, which is for better or worse, the center of the world these days. The the "American" lifestyle is the role model for so many people in countries seeking to develop and consume.

  Finally, a note on Dr. Shiva. While a reflection on how other Indian environmentalists see her is certainly useful, I certainly think her work against "biopiracy" - specifically first world patenting of traditional plants and medicines - is important. For example, she worked with European campaigners to overturn an EU patent for a product from the Indian tree Neem (Grist covered the original case but didn't catch the second, appeal victory). Of course, the US company still holds its US patent.

  This case reminds us that the environmental "movement" (if that's still a good word for all of us) still needs people who fight the efforts to patent traditional products, drain and pave wetlands, and countless other thoughtless actions.On Environmentalism should look in the mirror to find the source of its troubles. posted 4 years, 4 months ago 23 Responses

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  An aside about saving Venice

  Jane Holz Kay mentions that "Venice introduced adjustable barriers to prevent tidal flooding."

  This is not the case. Two years ago, Italy's Prime Minister Berlusconi laid the first "brick" of a huge construction project that is far from completed and that is fiercely contested by environmentalists and local citizens. Simply put, Venice needs to be protected, and the government/construction industry project is the wrong way to do it.

  As a general rule, coastal defence should start by studying and enhancing how ecosystem processes work - not by asking construction companies to take over the problem.On U.S. leaders, residents turn backs on impending coastal chaos posted 4 years, 4 months ago 1 Response

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  WWF muffled in DC?

  Writing from cloudy Brussels, I find particularly strange the comment made by a WWF/US rep - "WWF has not been tracing CAFTA either in Central America or in our U.S. office. As a result, we don't have a position on CAFTA ..."

  Over here, WWF International's European Policy Office has a vigorous and influential line on trade and the environment. Maybe the WWF trade folks in Brussels should jump an Airbus to DC and get their better-paid American "cousins" to start tracing and thinking about CAFTA and more on the trade agenda.On Are corporations hog-tying conservation groups in CAFTA fight? posted 4 years, 4 months ago 4 Responses