From hippy to hip: dissent in a globalising world !!

Ralph Miliband Lecture Series – LSE!

Kumi Naidoo !

Antonio Gramsci (1981-1937)!!

“I’m a pessimist because of intelligence, but an optimist

because of will.” !

Source:  Wikipedia  

A perfect storm: convergence of multiple crises!

…with  deep  social,  environmental  and  economic  injus6ce  

Source:  Greenpeace  

Key global challenges!•  Democratic deficit!•  Global governance!•  Social exclusion!•  Role of civil society!•  War on terror (curtailment of international civic mobility)!

The world is at a boiling point!

Source:  Capital  Ins6tute  

Biodiversity loss!

Source:  Greenpeace,  Logging  ac6vity  in  Waropen  district,  Papua  province.  

Threats include: habitat destruction, invasive species, overexploitation, climate change, human overpopulation!

Climate change!

Source:  earthobservatory.nasa.gov  

September  2012                  September  1984        

Nitrogen cycle!

Cognitive dissonance!!!

Definition: A condition of conflict or anxiety resulting from inconsistency between one's beliefs and one's actions.!

Source:  Encyclopedia  Britannica  

Louis Althusser!•  ISA’s versus RSA’s!

Civil disobedience!

Are we witnessing a turning point in the history of civil disobedience?!

Civil disobedience!….the active, professed refusal to obey certain laws, demands, and commands of a government.!

SavetheArctic.org !•  The environmental

problem!•  The campaign!

2012   June  

Struggle for a global sanctuary!

Involvement of celebrities!

Engaging unusual suspects!

Taking over Shell HQ in the Hague!Speaking from within the headquarters of oil major Shell on Friday, the words of Greenpeace Netherlands executive director Sylvia Borren were clear: “My first move as the new CEO of Shell is simple and effective: no drilling for oil in the pristine Arctic.” !

(www.tcktcktck.org)!

2012   July  

2012   July  

Gazprom action in the Russian Arctic!

2012   August  

Private companies and reputation concerns!!!“Oil on Greenland would be a disaster. A leak would do too much damage to the image of the company.” !Christophe de Margerie, chief executive of oil giant Total !

2012   September  

Dutch court ruling/SLAPP Suits!!“A company like Shell, that is taking actions or plans to take actions that are controversial in society and which many people will object to, can and should expect that actions will be taken to try to change its mind.”!!

2012   September  

2012   October  

!What next?!

•  Financial sector focus!•  Building broad-based alliances!•  Intersectionality!•  Intensifying civil disobedience!•  New international solidarity !