d.parthasarathy wrote:
> On a more serious note, sometime or the other sustag movement has to
> seriously engage with the power of advertising. ...This does not mean however
> that we should go in for the same techniques.
Too many resources are being captured (and wasted) in useless activities carried
out by uncommitted (and often cynical) individuals supported by institutions
without adequate leadership or direction, whose policies are likewise often
insensitive to more fundamental issues.
However, my purpose here is to point out the need for getting adequate funding for
worthy activities. Perhaps more than advertising, a better organized global
information infrastructure is needed. Before saying any more I'm going to do a
little more research on it - but I'd welcome any constructive comments relevant to
that concept.
> My own view on the above story is that the ducks are wiser.
Comparing ducks and chickens: Ducks are much more independent - chickens are
generally domesticated. Chickens eat feces and will kill their own kind with
frequency.
Ducks are much cleaner and better organized, socially. They are more noble.
Ducks will easily survive scorpion bites, while chickens succumb rapidly.
> By and large they have been left alone.
Unfortunately, ducks are hunted (although this is sometimes limited to a "hunting
season", with "hunting licenses").
> Advertsising have made us consume things that we do not want, and ...that
> actually hide a whole lot of hidden effects for the environment, society, family
> and the indivdual.
>
> At a recent workshop, on issues of pedagogy and curriculum for an
> environmental sociology course, one of the debates was regarding
> sensitizing students, especially technology students to environmental
> issues. Teachers find that very often they have to contend with
> "knowledge" that students acquire from the media and advertizing.
> My question is how does the sustainable agriculture movement prevent
> itself from remaining a duck in the pond while retaining the freedom and
> and developing the capability to let itself grow?
By organizing in such a way that provides for an increased interchange and flow of
both needed information and funding. This requires providing public access to
those that share similar development criteria. Perhaps that brings us back to
advertising, or just sanet and beyond.
Ducks fly a lot farther than chickens. Problem is, they don't own any of their own
ponds. So for now, they either keep moving or stick to established reserves
(friendly to ducks).
At the point where things are well enough defined, founded, organized, and
demonstrated; the mass media, public, govt. and edu. community will pick it up.
But somebody(s) got to do the ground work and provide the focus. The rest is
magnification; the snowball growing faster and faster as it gains weight rolling
downhill.
> Thanks for listening
>
> D.Parthasarathy
> Department of Humanities and Social Sciences
> Indian Institute of Technology, Powai
> Mumbai, 400076, India
> Phone: 091 022 576 7372
> email: dp@hss.iitb.ernet.in
>
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--
Douglas M. Hinds, Director General
Centro para el Desarrollo Comunitario y Rural A.C. (CeDeCoR)
(Center for Community and Rural Development) - (non profit)
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