Minutes of Day 1, September 3, 2014

Session: introduction and brainstorming

Minutes taken by Isabella Radhuber and Ines Thomssen

Stirring paper (Uli Brand, full paper here: https://degrowth.co-munity.net/conference2014/gap/resources-and-extraction/resources-extraction)

Main points:

-  Definition of Extractivism as a development model not only a model of economic accumulation (including social and political structure, education, etc.)

-  Hegemonic character of resource extraction – not a political struggle between elites as only benefactors and surpressed masses, but a model that is accepted by a broad part of society and linked to expectations of the people

- Avoiding antagonist perspectives (between state, capital VS indigenous, local people)

-  Global constellations make extractive model seem attractive:

• High oil prices
• Growth in China
• High global demand  for natural resources
  
  

-  National/ local constellations

• Different contexts, e.g. progressivism
• Rural/urban divides
  
  

-  Alternatives

• Need for a re-politization to put ideas back to debate : the concept of growth is “naturalized” (it seems natural to people – by re-politicizing, these concepts become contested - at the global level e.g. post-extractivism and degrowth)
• Alternatives should go beyond progressive production models
• What could be alternatives at the international level? - Introduce the complexity without being “stupefied” because we think that the actor constellation is not good (Adorno)

(Extending) results from Barcelona 2010 on the topic resources and extraction
(for more details see https://degrowth.co-munity.net/conference2014/gap/resources-and-extraction/results-barcelona-2010-topic-resources-and-extraction)

-          Proposal of a moratorium for resource extraction where biodiversity and ethnographic value is high

-          Internalization and transparency of mining real (and long term) costs (there is little critical info on mining)

-          Empowerment of local communities in voicing their needs/concerns on extractive activities affecting them

-          Demand more accountability from transnational corporations (by creating funds and/or stronger networks for pooling of research)

-          Need for one concept of social, political and ecological justice (instead of three separated ones) – proposal aimed at Degrowth conference 2014

-          Elimination of mega-extractive companies

-          Where is the Red Line? (Know what we REALLY do not want / infrastructure projects that need to be abandoned eg. Nuclear Power)

In this conference it has been stressed (Muraca): politics, economics AND values & beliefs (also for resource use and extraction)

Many questions arise on re-politization; the socio-ecological dimension; (interrelated) scales; rural/urban divides; if nationalizing companies is a way out; what kind of infrastructure we want; and many more

-   Coffee house / brainstorming in small groups: first proposals of action

•  when discussing proposals of action: define which scale(s) we are talking about

Results to be discussed on Day 2