Green Movement should split from corporate sponsored NGOs
Green Movement should split from corporate sponsored NGOs
With the inundation of the corporate greenwash upon us, NGOs may be replaced by more independent, decentralised groupings, seen as more ethical by the community- Non corporate and government organisations. (NCGOs?)
However, to stop the abuse of power that has seen many once respected environmental NGOs become corporate sellouts, there is a need for these new groupings to also be NHOs- non hierarchical organisations
The great greenwash sell out is here. It appears that greenwashing is one of the biggest concerns now facing the environmental movement. It threatens to compromise, and eventually destroy the very movement that is trying to protect the planet from destruction.
Due to this threat, greenwashing is up there with logging, nuclear proliferation and species extinction as a concern to many anti capitalist greenies. The co-option of certain environmental groups to big business funding also threatens the viability of groups that choose to take an independent path.
The image of green white collar greenies compromising the environment will begin to permeate into the general public’s view. World Wildlife Fund and Rio Tinto will sit comfortably together in one’s mind while the green group takes cash from the current destroyer of Kakudu.
How can we stop this co-option of our planet? Green anti capitalists recognise that ecology and capitalism are at odds with each other. Green anarchists recognise that both the state and capitalism are at odds with ecology. Green capitalists endorse the very system that is destroying the planet at an alarming rate. They endorse reformist green market responses and ignore the need for class analysis and social equity.
Green capitalists tell anti capitalist greens to get in the real world. They say we can’t change the system but we (well actually they) can provide results in the real world by making capitalism more benevolent and green. Anti capitalist greens tell capitalist greens to get in the real world and recognise that they are endorsing the system massacring the forests, ruining the oceans, creating rapid climate change and colossal amounts of radioactive and toxic wastes. Their corporate reforms really equal sweet fuck all, yet lend respectability to the most greenwashing corporations of all, as our planet runs out of time.
Endorsing a company such as BP as the most green oil company beggars belief. Have BP given up any oilfields in the name of environmental conservation? (Well ACF?) Endorsing a corporation that gives an inch to take a mile is hardly a win for the environment, but is another nail in the coffin of the environment movement’s reputation. Yet some legitimacy is given to these corporations, allowing them to co-opt their fierce critics with appearances of ‘dialogue’ or ‘engagement’ while generating invaluable public relations for the corporation.
If NGOs are being co-opted and threaten the reputation of the NGO concept, how can we ensure groups keep true independence from corporate and state interests? How can we prevent non corporate and governmental organisations from replicating the hierarchies of their opponents that has led some NGOs to sit with their opponents?
The concept of non corporate and governmental organisations would signal a much needed split in the environment movement. This split will benefit the real environmental movement (i.e. the movement fighting the planet’s biggest enemy-capitalism) and leave the green corporate sell outs exposed and in the hands of big business. The environment movement should look long and hard at the prospect of being diluted permanently by corporate sponsored green groups.
This idea may seem radical at this point, to some in the environment movement who recognise the vulnerability of fragmentation. Many green NGOS work together to pull resources for a particular campaign, which increases the ties between the independent and not so independent groups.
Financial ability to operate is a serious issue for environmental groups, but surely corporate money that pays off a corporation’s bad environmental interests is a conflict of interest for any NGO committed to environmental sustainability.
Some NGOs recognise the importance of supporting Indigenous people’s own advocacy against colonial, state and corporate interests. NGOs work with local communities, unions, religious groups and concerned individuals from various political persuasions. Many environmentalists working with corporate friendly NGOs are dedicated individuals. This is a critique of the structure of those NGOs that have led the green movement to corporate involvement.
While NGOs can be seen as being far from the public service bureaucracy, a ‘green’ bureaucratic hierarchy creates attachment to the interests of the green group’s viability, reducing emphasis on actually saving the environment. A raffle for the organisation, rather than a raffle for the forest.
Many on the inside and outside of environmental organisations may fear speaking up about negative aspects in them. It is trendy to critique socialist tactics, but not always green group’s tactics. The just and sustainable planet that NGOs strive for can hardly become reality without an honest look in the mirror by NGOs and the entire green movement. The causes of environmental destruction must be recognised, beginning with POWER HIERARCHIES amongst humans.
As the greenwash issue receives greater contemplation, more will come to the conclusion that there needs to be a split between independent and corporate sponsored NGOs.
It is not radical versus conservative or green office bearer versus feral (although these stereotypes can resemble reality) that is the reason for the split- it is the protection of our planet versus those co-opted by the capitalist force destroying it. Independent NGOs refusing to split due to relationships and entangled campaigns with co-opted NGOs could quickly come to resemble trade unionists sticking up for the corporate loving ALP.
To prevent powerplays and domination undermining a group of people committed to a greener outcome, non hierarchial organisation is needed. A green group healthy on the inside with a united, non hierarchial front will not be co-opted by corporate spin doctors. In fact the corporate hijackers will be less likely to even attempt co-option. As with the police, there will be great bafflement with a group espousing a lack of leaders or official spokespersons.
It is time to stop the turf war in the environmental movement. It is time for those who are co-opted by corporate funding to be turfed out of the green movement. Corporate funding is blood money for the Earth. Green organisations need to remain free of blood money from the military-industrial-nuclear-chemical-pharmaceutical-deforestation-slave labour-genocidal-corporate complex. Choose your side and don’t dilute the playing field. (which is the planet Earth’s survival)
A green group with a hierarchial structure can cause ego and personal ambition to cloud the group, and reduces the recallability of office bearers by the grassroots membership. A green group with a more economic outlook (i.e.capitalist) will employ people with a greater emphasis on economics and a smaller emphasis on the systematic threat to the environment.
As well as non-hierarchial decision making, a group needs to prevent an information hierarchy from being created. An information hierarchy forms when a group features a handful of individuals with great knowledge and experience on the issue the group is fighting for. Their experience leads them to dominate decision making and discussion to a point where the less knowledgeable or experienced become disempowered.
The great asset the more experienced person brings to the group can actually negate the group’s effectiveness. While it is very logical for the less experienced to listen to the more experienced, it does not mean they are excluded from decision making. A person new to a cause or idea are not to be made voiceless. An information hierarchy relies on the ability of the few, rather than pooling the ability of the diverse many. The wise experienced campaigner disseminates their information and (as information = power) power to the rest of the group.
The valuing of people’s involvement in a campaign will keep those people involved. The last thing a person new to a group wants to see is a display of negative group power dynamics or feel useless to the cause. The ecological principle of interconnectedness is the outlook that is needed in the green struggle. The environmental problems are all of our problems, so we should all chip in, and feel free to chip in. Non hierarchical decision making will give everyone involved a chance to work to their ability.
This is the best chance for a green domino effect that crushes the corporate empire. We need way more direct action people! Run to the hills. Let the land you want protected guide you. Let the people of the land teach you. Have the spirit to fight back against the eco-logical apocalypse.
Those responsible, corporations and states, must stop the environmental destruction, not create meaningless, pr driven engagement with green traitors. They must clean up their toxic wastes, give back all they have stolen from the Earth and its inhabitants, and then they must dissolve.
These corporations are killing our Mother Earth. Why are some greenies getting engaged to their Mother’s murderers?
With the inundation of the corporate greenwash upon us, NGOs may be replaced by more independent, decentralised groupings, seen as more ethical by the community- Non corporate and government organisations. (NCGOs?)
However, to stop the abuse of power that has seen many once respected environmental NGOs become corporate sellouts, there is a need for these new groupings to also be NHOs- non hierarchical organisations
The great greenwash sell out is here. It appears that greenwashing is one of the biggest concerns now facing the environmental movement. It threatens to compromise, and eventually destroy the very movement that is trying to protect the planet from destruction.
Due to this threat, greenwashing is up there with logging, nuclear proliferation and species extinction as a concern to many anti capitalist greenies. The co-option of certain environmental groups to big business funding also threatens the viability of groups that choose to take an independent path.
The image of green white collar greenies compromising the environment will begin to permeate into the general public’s view. World Wildlife Fund and Rio Tinto will sit comfortably together in one’s mind while the green group takes cash from the current destroyer of Kakudu.
How can we stop this co-option of our planet? Green anti capitalists recognise that ecology and capitalism are at odds with each other. Green anarchists recognise that both the state and capitalism are at odds with ecology. Green capitalists endorse the very system that is destroying the planet at an alarming rate. They endorse reformist green market responses and ignore the need for class analysis and social equity.
Green capitalists tell anti capitalist greens to get in the real world. They say we can’t change the system but we (well actually they) can provide results in the real world by making capitalism more benevolent and green. Anti capitalist greens tell capitalist greens to get in the real world and recognise that they are endorsing the system massacring the forests, ruining the oceans, creating rapid climate change and colossal amounts of radioactive and toxic wastes. Their corporate reforms really equal sweet fuck all, yet lend respectability to the most greenwashing corporations of all, as our planet runs out of time.
Endorsing a company such as BP as the most green oil company beggars belief. Have BP given up any oilfields in the name of environmental conservation? (Well ACF?) Endorsing a corporation that gives an inch to take a mile is hardly a win for the environment, but is another nail in the coffin of the environment movement’s reputation. Yet some legitimacy is given to these corporations, allowing them to co-opt their fierce critics with appearances of ‘dialogue’ or ‘engagement’ while generating invaluable public relations for the corporation.
If NGOs are being co-opted and threaten the reputation of the NGO concept, how can we ensure groups keep true independence from corporate and state interests? How can we prevent non corporate and governmental organisations from replicating the hierarchies of their opponents that has led some NGOs to sit with their opponents?
The concept of non corporate and governmental organisations would signal a much needed split in the environment movement. This split will benefit the real environmental movement (i.e. the movement fighting the planet’s biggest enemy-capitalism) and leave the green corporate sell outs exposed and in the hands of big business. The environment movement should look long and hard at the prospect of being diluted permanently by corporate sponsored green groups.
This idea may seem radical at this point, to some in the environment movement who recognise the vulnerability of fragmentation. Many green NGOS work together to pull resources for a particular campaign, which increases the ties between the independent and not so independent groups.
Financial ability to operate is a serious issue for environmental groups, but surely corporate money that pays off a corporation’s bad environmental interests is a conflict of interest for any NGO committed to environmental sustainability.
Some NGOs recognise the importance of supporting Indigenous people’s own advocacy against colonial, state and corporate interests. NGOs work with local communities, unions, religious groups and concerned individuals from various political persuasions. Many environmentalists working with corporate friendly NGOs are dedicated individuals. This is a critique of the structure of those NGOs that have led the green movement to corporate involvement.
While NGOs can be seen as being far from the public service bureaucracy, a ‘green’ bureaucratic hierarchy creates attachment to the interests of the green group’s viability, reducing emphasis on actually saving the environment. A raffle for the organisation, rather than a raffle for the forest.
Many on the inside and outside of environmental organisations may fear speaking up about negative aspects in them. It is trendy to critique socialist tactics, but not always green group’s tactics. The just and sustainable planet that NGOs strive for can hardly become reality without an honest look in the mirror by NGOs and the entire green movement. The causes of environmental destruction must be recognised, beginning with POWER HIERARCHIES amongst humans.
As the greenwash issue receives greater contemplation, more will come to the conclusion that there needs to be a split between independent and corporate sponsored NGOs.
It is not radical versus conservative or green office bearer versus feral (although these stereotypes can resemble reality) that is the reason for the split- it is the protection of our planet versus those co-opted by the capitalist force destroying it. Independent NGOs refusing to split due to relationships and entangled campaigns with co-opted NGOs could quickly come to resemble trade unionists sticking up for the corporate loving ALP.
To prevent powerplays and domination undermining a group of people committed to a greener outcome, non hierarchial organisation is needed. A green group healthy on the inside with a united, non hierarchial front will not be co-opted by corporate spin doctors. In fact the corporate hijackers will be less likely to even attempt co-option. As with the police, there will be great bafflement with a group espousing a lack of leaders or official spokespersons.
It is time to stop the turf war in the environmental movement. It is time for those who are co-opted by corporate funding to be turfed out of the green movement. Corporate funding is blood money for the Earth. Green organisations need to remain free of blood money from the military-industrial-nuclear-chemical-pharmaceutical-deforestation-slave labour-genocidal-corporate complex. Choose your side and don’t dilute the playing field. (which is the planet Earth’s survival)
A green group with a hierarchial structure can cause ego and personal ambition to cloud the group, and reduces the recallability of office bearers by the grassroots membership. A green group with a more economic outlook (i.e.capitalist) will employ people with a greater emphasis on economics and a smaller emphasis on the systematic threat to the environment.
As well as non-hierarchial decision making, a group needs to prevent an information hierarchy from being created. An information hierarchy forms when a group features a handful of individuals with great knowledge and experience on the issue the group is fighting for. Their experience leads them to dominate decision making and discussion to a point where the less knowledgeable or experienced become disempowered.
The great asset the more experienced person brings to the group can actually negate the group’s effectiveness. While it is very logical for the less experienced to listen to the more experienced, it does not mean they are excluded from decision making. A person new to a cause or idea are not to be made voiceless. An information hierarchy relies on the ability of the few, rather than pooling the ability of the diverse many. The wise experienced campaigner disseminates their information and (as information = power) power to the rest of the group.
The valuing of people’s involvement in a campaign will keep those people involved. The last thing a person new to a group wants to see is a display of negative group power dynamics or feel useless to the cause. The ecological principle of interconnectedness is the outlook that is needed in the green struggle. The environmental problems are all of our problems, so we should all chip in, and feel free to chip in. Non hierarchical decision making will give everyone involved a chance to work to their ability.
This is the best chance for a green domino effect that crushes the corporate empire. We need way more direct action people! Run to the hills. Let the land you want protected guide you. Let the people of the land teach you. Have the spirit to fight back against the eco-logical apocalypse.
Those responsible, corporations and states, must stop the environmental destruction, not create meaningless, pr driven engagement with green traitors. They must clean up their toxic wastes, give back all they have stolen from the Earth and its inhabitants, and then they must dissolve.
These corporations are killing our Mother Earth. Why are some greenies getting engaged to their Mother’s murderers?
posted by Wallaby Poors @ 4:02 AM
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