What We Mean when We Say… Sustainability and Protection of the Environment
Author(s) Iva Marković Publisher Institute for Philosophy and Social Theory, University of Belgrade Institute for Democratic Engagement Southeast Europe, Belgrade Published 2021 ISBN 978-86-80484-71-6 Pages 16 Edition Square
We are in a complex (socio)ecological crisis that is also a turning point – the particular demands of the growing ecological movement are coming up against a wall of systemic problems that need to be articulated through political ecology rather than ecological politics. This publication reexamines how we understand natural resources and our place in ecosystems, and suggests how to direct the struggle for their conservation without reproducing capitalist relations. The guidelines are based on the concepts of environmental justice, equal access, and the public nature of natural resources. Several concrete measures are proposed, such as the suspension of fossil fuel exploitation, water supply on a non-profit basis, and regional waste management. The paper touches on the discussion of why it is necessary to stop the process of privatization of natural goods, how to respond to alienation with participation, and how the fight against poverty is related to climate change. In the end, pressures on the environment as the last wave of the transition from socialism to capitalism affect perhaps the widest range of social strata, which leaves hope that the mobilization potential for radicalization of thought and intensification of action is stronger than ever.