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extra links discussed in the  breakout room 

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extra links discussed in the  breakout room 

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Solarhouses:
I watched an interesting documentary a while back.

Breakpoint: A Counter-History Of Progress

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Breakpoint-Counter-History-Progress-Jaques-Bonnaff%C3%A9/dp/B0896V3SNM/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?dchild=1&keywords=Breakpoint%3A+A+Counter-History+Of+Progress&qid=1611238802&sr=8-1-fkmr0

During the second world war the American usage of oil had to be reduced, therefore solar houses were developed. ("[...] the home building industry languished under a general embargo on private use of scarce raw materials.")At the MIT, in 1948, Maria Telkes developed the Solar House which had a self-sustaining energy usage of 75%.

Sadly the States and the world missed the opportunity to develop the use of solar energy further and went back to coal electricity.

Maria Telkes (Solar Houses)

http://architectuul.com/architecture/dover-sun-house

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M%C3%A1ria_Telkes

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Levittown,_New_York

Two other interesting links are:

Into Eternity (documentary)

“It follows the construction of the Onkalo waste repository at the Olkiluoto Nuclear Power Plant on the island of Olkiluoto, Finland.”

Interesting in terms of long-term thinking.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qoyKe-HxmFk&ab_channel=Dogwoof

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrGP87XeJjY&ab_channel=PedroG%C3%B3mez

and

-Mapping the World (Geopolitics)

Plastic Planet

https://www.arte.tv/en/videos/091146-011-A/plastic-planet/

https://www.boell.de/sites/default/files/2020-01/Plastic%20Atlas%202019%202nd%20Edition.pdf?dimension1=ds_plastikatlas

https://www.arte.tv/en/videos/RC-014036/mapping-the-world/

Anna, 675638

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The vulnerability of international competition within the oil market seems to have spurred US intervention in other states, which had a detrimental effect on democratisation. For example, the alleged US involvement in the 1949 Syrian coup d’etat led to the disposal of a democratically elected government for military rule in order to maintain favourable conditions for an oil pipeline to the med. This was something I found particularly interesting and I wonder how these 20th century interventions have effected the region today.

Chris Devas 686325

Response to Chris:
Read this (below) this morning; not related to US interventions in Syria and elsewhere, yet it does provide another example of State-induced dispossession/displacement in the name of creating favourable conditions for extraction for oil corporations:

‘The government’s announcement in 2005 that the ABCO corporation had begun drilling for oil in Darfur prompted some humanitarian workers to conclude that the government’s brutal scorched-earth policies were intended to drive people off the land to open it to drilling by transnational oil companies.’

Singer, M. 2009. Introduction to syndemics: a critical approach to public and community health. P. 176.

This is in relation to the genocide committed by central Sudanese government against the people of the Darfur region. I have to mention that Singer does not provide an in-text source for this and I did not scour the entire bibliography to find one, therefore, I do not know how accurate this is.

Jacob Heath (685615)

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Public discourse/debate about extracting uranium in Greenland presents mining as beneficial for economic growth, job creation, and "saving the community". The rhetoric is constructed by politicians, mining sector, the media and even local people, and has become the 'dominant storyline to legitimise mining' (p.40). Sustainability is about people and not the environment in this discourse. My question is how can awareness of the other side of the debate be generated in local people when dominant discourses 'profoundly shapes people's views' (p.35)?
Brigid 685345

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Bjorst outlines two different discourses about the mining of Uranium in Greenland: the dominant discourse presenting mining as a ‘saviour’, and the discourse emphasising its negative environmental impacts. Both storylines use the concept of sustainability: the former to draw attention to the long term benefits of mining in terms of employment and economic development, the latter to emphasise the lack of environmental sustainability. I think this is a great illustration of the ways in which various different understandings of sustainability can both coexist and contradict one another. This can also be seen in the SDG’s, where for instance goal 8 on economic growth is often seen to contradict goal 13 on climate action.
Edda (667994)

Response to Edda by Laura Torres:

Very interesting! I wonder if this contradiction is really inevitable, or it comes from a bad understanding of what economic growth/wealth means. Even more, if this contradiction just proves that we have not understood what environment can give us (how long did it took us to fully explore renewable energies?). If we were to pursue economic growth under ‘climate responsible terms’, would all definitions of sustainability converge?

Response to Edda by Rebecca
When reading this article, I too thought about the tension between the SDG’s where a successful outcome can sometimes contradict one another, how can we sustain the environment and the lives of the poor. In this paper specifically, I was interested in how a range of contrasting attitudes were revealed to uncover the driving force and purpose behind them. For me, this article made me question what is actually meant by sustainability? It shows how different actors with different interpretations can invoke the term to serve very different goals.

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The work of Nash, Li and Taussig explores the ontological complexities and multiplicities of mine workers. They describe that knowledge is entangled with belief, ontology and ritual, for example, as Fabiana Li says the mountain is "not just an economic resource, but the embodiment of life itself." A point of comparison could be made with "Western Ontology" which was defined by high levels of extraction, a focus on the ends not the means and the lack of reciprocity in the relationship between humans and nature. I think whilst this defines much capitalist, scientific to some extent and certainly colonialist practices, defining it as 'Western' risks conflating the diverse, defiant and divergent ontologies of "the West".

For example and in relation to Britain, the Romantic Literary movement is defined by its reverence towards the natural world and its criticism of industrialisations destructive practices (John Clare in Northamptonshire, Robert Burns in Scotland and William and Dorothy Wordsworth in the Lake District), paganism, 'mother nature, and 'the green man' symbolise natures perennial capacity for rebirth, EP Thompson's moral economy analysed how capitalism's extractive mentality was resisted by agrarian tradition in the 18th century, and in the 20th and 21st century writers such as WH Auden, Ted Hughes, Benjamin Zephaniah, Max Porter, Nan Shepard, and the now poet Laurette, Simon Armitage, grapple with humanities relationship with nature and its capacity for destruction, but also regeneration (3 of the above grew up in mining communities).

I'm sure there are plenty of other examples, from a diverse group of voices and communities who don't accept and resist the highly extractive practices of this form of capitalism and its destruction of nature (which I would love to learn about). My point being, a distinction should perhaps be made between the actions of the powerful actors and the ontologies of the people who their actions affect, even in the west.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUSK2CxsLMk here is a little clip narrated by Benjamin Zephaniah about the use of British landscape.

Elliot P

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Really interesting and important point to make. Literature not just as means of revering the natural world, but a form of resistance against its destruction.

Your point about conflating different forms of Western ontology made me think of Translations by Brian Friel. He presents British colonialists as a malign force in Ireland - extracting from both the land itself and the culture - but also how the Irish language and, more specifically, Irish place names, can be a form of resistance.

Side note - I’m currently reading The Living Sea of Waking Dreams, a novel about climate change in Australia which takes its title from a John Clare poem. Would recommend to all.

Will 676615

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As much as I liked how the article documented the journey of privatizing YPF - a state controlled oil enterprise in Argentina, I thought the finding that neoliberal corporations can also be built on affect, kinship and familial thoughts is rooted in a rather Western way of thinking - where a (sometimes false) dichotomy is created between the economic and the social (or productive / reproductive), the expectation being that a neo-liberal way of working is divorced from affective / familial patterns of organization. From my experience of living and working in India, there are several such neoliberal enterprises (family run as they are called) that demonstrate both paternalistic and profit making behaviors - and are highly successful enterprises. It is therefore not a surprise to note that kinship emerged stronger than everything else in the YPF scenario - stronger than oil, profits, and state machinery! I wonder how adapting a non-Western frame of thinking might have shaped Shever's analysis.
-Anuradha-

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Reimagining worker well being and safety

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Reimagining worker well being and safety

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Rolston’s article is an incisive account of mining grounds in Western America. In particular, the depth of knowledge that she brings and the simplicity with which she can translate it to the layperson really appealed to me and got me thinking – how can development anthropologists re-imagine discourses on worker safety and well-bring in the context of what we know about the entanglements of bodies, machines, and  environments in a mine, which in itself is embedded in a specific socioeconomic and management apparatus?
-Anuradha-

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Watts article for me describes the evolution of imperialism from direct force and resource extraction to the formation of subaltern governance that allows for the assertion of western hegemony in the form of economic power. The short sighted nature of oil extraction is soley based on ensuring that the power tied up in resources is appropriated. Reading this article I was struck by the quote from polish journalist Kapuscinski about oil creating the illusion of life for free. This statement sums up oil extraction for me, the cost of oil based society is only delayed.

Ali Butler

Response to Ali
I agree,  the illusion and short sighted nature of oil extraction is that it seems to offer freedom, but never delivers.

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This is a fascinating read on how fossil fuels, especially oil, have been extracted and leveraged by dominant countries as a resource to accumulate wealth and political power to suppress local and state democracies. What also struck me was how the oil-based energy system and corresponding financially driven measurement of the economy led to the creation of the concept of limitless economic growth as a signifier of a nation’s wealth. And how the energy-intensive lifestyle for example promoted in the US is a product of oil companies’ manipulation to maximise profits. It will be interesting to see how these neo-liberal forces play out in a post-fossil fuel era, and how old/new forms of democratic movements will evolve in the clean energy transition.
- Sheu Jeen

Response to Sheu Jeen
To add to your questions, I also wonder if such post-fossil fuel era will be actually driven by these (accountable) neo-liberal forces or by pauperized non-dominant countries.
- Sarah 686607

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bodies assume designs and designs assume bodies

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bodies assume designs and designs assume bodies

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I really enjoyed the part that tackled the relationship that grows between miners and machinery and how that in turn is a reflection of how they wish to be identified. I believe this relationship is one that should be brought more to light, in specially in terms of the bodily harm it causes; when external factors only aggravate their situation, they are factors that are not in the hand of the miners but rather of those much higher in the hierarchal system.
This whole article really brings to light the role of miners in todays world and how it should be seen as even more valuable than centuries ago.
-Riwa

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bodies assume designs and designs assume bodies

# data[].attributes.subject
bodies assume designs and designs assume bodies

# data[].attributes.body
I really enjoyed the part that tackled the relationship that grows between miners and machinery and how that in turn is a reflection of how they wish to be identified. I believe this relationship is one that should be brought more to light, in specially in terms of the bodily harm it causes; when external factors only aggravate their situation, they are factors that are not in the hand of the miners but rather of those much higher in the higheracha

# data[].attributes.headline
bodies assume designs and designs assume bodies

# data[].attributes.subject
bodies assume designs and designs assume bodies

# data[].attributes.body
I really enjoyed the part that tackled the relationship that grows between miners and machinery and how that in turn is a reflection of how they wish to be identified. I believe this relationship is one that should be brought more to light, in specially in terms of the bodily harm it causes; when external factors only aggravate their situation, they are factors that are not in the hand of the miners but rather of those much higher in the higherac

# data[].attributes.headline
bodies assume designs and designs assume bodies

# data[].attributes.subject
bodies assume designs and designs assume bodies

# data[].attributes.body
I really enjoyed the part that tackled the relationship that grows between miners and machinery and how that in turn is a reflection of how they wish to be identified. I believe this relationship is one that should be brought more to light, in specially in terms of the bodily harm it causes; when external factors only aggravate their situation, they are factors that are not in the hand of the miners but rather of those much higher in the higherac

# data[].attributes.headline
bodies assume designs and designs assume bodies

# data[].attributes.subject
bodies assume designs and designs assume bodies

# data[].attributes.body
I really enjoyed the part that tackled the relationship that grows between miners and machinery and how that in turn is a reflection of how they wish to be identified. I believe this relationship is one that should be brought more to light, in specially in terms of the bodily harm it causes; when external factors only aggravate their situation, they are factors that are not in the hand of the miners but rather of those much higher in the highera

# data[].attributes.headline
bodies assume designs and designs assume bodies

# data[].attributes.subject
bodies assume designs and designs assume bodies

# data[].attributes.body
I really enjoyed the part that tackled the relationship that grows between miners and machinery and how that in turn is a reflection of how they wish to be identified. I believe this relationship is one that should be brought more to light, in specially in terms of the bodily harm it causes; when external factors only aggravate their situation, they are factors that are not in the hand of the miners but rather of those much higher in the higher

# data[].attributes.headline
bodies assume designs and designs assume bodies

# data[].attributes.subject
bodies assume designs and designs assume bodies

# data[].attributes.body
I really enjoyed the part that tackled the relationship that grows between miners and machinery and how that in turn is a reflection of how they wish to be identified. I believe this relationship is one that should be brought more to light, in specially in terms of the bodily harm it causes; when external factors only aggravate their situation, they are factors that are not in the hand of the miners but rather of those much higher in the highe

# data[].attributes.headline
bodies assume designs and designs assume bodies

# data[].attributes.subject
bodies assume designs and designs assume bodies

# data[].attributes.body
I really enjoyed the part that tackled the relationship that grows between miners and machinery and how that in turn is a reflection of how they wish to be identified. I believe this relationship is one that should be brought more to light, in specially in terms of the bodily harm it causes; when external factors only aggravate their situation, they are factors that are not in the hand of the miners but rather of those much higher in the highe

# data[].attributes.headline
bodies assume designs and designs assume bodies

# data[].attributes.subject
bodies assume designs and designs assume bodies

# data[].attributes.body
I really enjoyed the part that tackled the relationship that grows between miners and machinery and how that in turn is a reflection of how they wish to be identified. I believe this relationship is one that should be brought more to light, in specially in terms of the bodily harm it causes; when external factors only aggravate their situation, they are factors that are not in the hand of the miners but rather of those much higher in the high

# data[].attributes.headline
bodies assume designs and designs assume bodies

# data[].attributes.subject
bodies assume designs and designs assume bodies

# data[].attributes.body
I really enjoyed the part that tackled the relationship that grows between miners and machinery and how that in turn is a reflection of how they wish to be identified. I believe this relationship is one that should be brought more to light, in specially in terms of the bodily harm it causes; when external factors only aggravate their situation, they are factors that are not in the hand of the miners but rather of those much higher in the hig

# data[].attributes.headline
bodies assume designs and designs assume bodies

# data[].attributes.subject
bodies assume designs and designs assume bodies

# data[].attributes.body
I really enjoyed the part that tackled the relationship that grows between miners and machinery and how that in turn is a reflection of how they wish to be identified. I believe this relationship is one that should be brought more to light, in specially in terms of the bodily harm it causes; when external factors only aggravate their situation, they are factors that are not in the hand of the miners but rather of those much higher in the hi

# data[].attributes.headline
bodies assume designs and designs assume bodies

# data[].attributes.subject
bodies assume designs and designs assume bodies

# data[].attributes.body
I really enjoyed the part that tackled the relationship that grows between miners and machinery and how that in turn is a reflection of how they wish to be identified. I believe this relationship is one that should be brought more to light, in specially in terms of the bodily harm it causes; when external factors only aggravate their situation, they are factors that are not in the hand of the miners but rather of those much higher in the h

# data[].attributes.headline
bodies assume designs and designs assume bodies

# data[].attributes.subject
bodies assume designs and designs assume bodies

# data[].attributes.body
I really enjoyed the part that tackled the relationship that grows between miners and machinery and how that in turn is a reflection of how they wish to be identified. I believe this relationship is one that should be brought more to light, in specially in terms of the bodily harm it causes; when external factors only aggravate their situation, they are factors that are not in the hand of the miners but rather of those much higher in the

# data[].attributes.headline
bodies assume designs and designs assume bodies

# data[].attributes.subject
bodies assume designs and designs assume bodies

# data[].attributes.body
I really enjoyed the part that tackled the relationship that grows between miners and machinery and how that in turn is a reflection of how they wish to be identified. I believe this relationship is one that should be brought more to light, in specially in terms of the bodily harm it causes; when external factors only aggravate their situation, they are factors that are not in the hand of the miners but rather of those much higher in t

# data[].attributes.headline
bodies assume designs and designs assume bodies

# data[].attributes.subject
bodies assume designs and designs assume bodies

# data[].attributes.body
I really enjoyed the part that tackled the relationship that grows between miners and machinery and how that in turn is a reflection of how they wish to be identified. I believe this relationship is one that should be brought more to light, in specially in terms of the bodily harm it causes; when external factors only aggravate their situation, they are factors that are not in the hand of the miners but rather of those much higher in

# data[].attributes.headline
bodies assume designs and designs assume bodies

# data[].attributes.subject
bodies assume designs and designs assume bodies

# data[].attributes.body
I really enjoyed the part that tackled the relationship that grows between miners and machinery and how that in turn is a reflection of how they wish to be identified. I believe this relationship is one that should be brought more to light, in specially in terms of the bodily harm it causes; when external factors only aggravate their situation, they are factors that are not in the hand of the miners but rather of those much higher i

# data[].attributes.headline
bodies assume designs and designs assume bodies

# data[].attributes.subject
bodies assume designs and designs assume bodies

# data[].attributes.body
I really enjoyed the part that tackled the relationship that grows between miners and machinery and how that in turn is a reflection of how they wish to be identified. I believe this relationship is one that should be brought more to light, in specially in terms of the bodily harm it causes; when external factors only aggravate their situation, they are factors that are not in the hand of the miners but rather of those much higher

# data[].attributes.headline
bodies assume designs and designs assume bodies

# data[].attributes.subject
bodies assume designs and designs assume bodies

# data[].attributes.body
I really enjoyed the part that tackled the relationship that grows between miners and machinery and how that in turn is a reflection of how they wish to be identified. I believe this relationship is one that should be brought more to light, in specially in terms of the bodily harm it causes; when external factors only aggravate their situation, they are factors that are not in the hand of the miners but rather of those much highe

# data[].attributes.headline
bodies assume designs and designs assume bodies

# data[].attributes.subject
bodies assume designs and designs assume bodies

# data[].attributes.body
I really enjoyed the part that tackled the relationship that grows between miners and machinery and how that in turn is a reflection of how they wish to be identified. I believe this relationship is one that should be brought more to light, in specially in terms of the bodily harm it causes; when external factors only aggravate their situation, they are factors that are not in the hand of the miners but rather of those much hig

# data[].attributes.headline
bodies assume designs and designs assume bodies

# data[].attributes.subject
bodies assume designs and designs assume bodies

# data[].attributes.body
I really enjoyed the part that tackled the relationship that grows between miners and machinery and how that in turn is a reflection of how they wish to be identified. I believe this relationship is one that should be brought more to light, in specially in terms of the bodily harm it causes; when external factors only aggravate their situation, they are factors that are not in the hand of the miners but rather of those much hi

# data[].attributes.headline
bodies assume designs and designs assume bodies

# data[].attributes.subject
bodies assume designs and designs assume bodies

# data[].attributes.body
I really enjoyed the part that tackled the relationship that grows between miners and machinery and how that in turn is a reflection of how they wish to be identified. I believe this relationship is one that should be brought more to light, in specially in terms of the bodily harm it causes; when external factors only aggravate their situation, they are factors that are not in the hand of the miners but rather of those much hi

# data[].attributes.headline
bodies assume designs and designs assume bodies

# data[].attributes.subject
bodies assume designs and designs assume bodies

# data[].attributes.body
I really enjoyed the part that tackled the relationship that grows between miners and machinery and how that in turn is a reflection of how they wish to be identified. I believe this relationship is one that should be brought more to light, in specially in terms of the bodily harm it causes; when external factors only aggravate their situation, they are factors that are not in the hand of the miners but rather of those much hi

# data[].attributes.headline
bodies assume designs and designs assume bodies

# data[].attributes.subject
bodies assume designs and designs assume bodies

# data[].attributes.body
I really enjoyed the part that tackled the relationship that grows between miners and machinery and how that in turn is a reflection of how they wish to be identified. I believe this relationship is one that should be brought more to light, in specially in terms of the bodily harm it causes; when external factors only aggravate their situation, they are factors that are not in the hand of the miners but rather of those much

# data[].attributes.headline
bodies assume designs and designs assume bodies

# data[].attributes.subject
bodies assume designs and designs assume bodies

# data[].attributes.body
I really enjoyed the part that tackled the relationship that grows between miners and machinery and how that in turn is a reflection of how they wish to be identified. I believe this relationship is one that should be brought more to light, in specially in terms of the bodily harm it causes; when external factors only aggravate their situation, they are factors that are not in the hand of the miners but rather of those much

# data[].attributes.headline
bodies assume designs and designs assume bodies

# data[].attributes.subject
bodies assume designs and designs assume bodies

# data[].attributes.body
I really enjoyed the part that tackled the relationship that grows between miners and machinery and how that in turn is a reflection of how they wish to be identified. I believe this relationship is one that should be brought more to light, in specially in terms of the bodily harm it causes; when external factors only aggravate their situation, they are factors that are not in the hand of the miners but rather of those much

# data[].attributes.headline
bodies assume designs and designs assume bodies

# data[].attributes.subject
bodies assume designs and designs assume bodies

# data[].attributes.body
I really enjoyed the part that tackled the relationship that grows between miners and machinery and how that in turn is a reflection of how they wish to be identified. I believe this relationship is one that should be brought more to light, in specially in terms of the bodily harm it causes; when external factors only aggravate their situation, they are factors that are not in the hand of the miners but rather of those much

# data[].attributes.headline
bodies assume designs and designs assume bodies

# data[].attributes.subject
bodies assume designs and designs assume bodies

# data[].attributes.body
I really enjoyed the part that tackled the relationship that grows between miners and machinery and how that in turn is a reflection of how they wish to be identified. I believe this relationship is one that should be brought more to light, in specially in terms of the bodily harm it causes; when external factors only aggravate their situation, they are factors that are not in the hand of the miners but rather of those much

# data[].attributes.headline
bodies assume designs and designs assume bodies

# data[].attributes.subject
bodies assume designs and designs assume bodies

# data[].attributes.body
I really enjoyed the part that tackled the relationship that grows between miners and machinery and how that in turn is a reflection of how they wish to be identified. I believe this relationship is one that should be brought more to light, in specially in terms of the bodily harm it causes; when external factors only aggravate their situation, they are factors that are not in the hand of the miners but rather of those much

# data[].attributes.headline
bodies assume designs and designs assume bodies

# data[].attributes.subject
bodies assume designs and designs assume bodies

# data[].attributes.body
I really enjoyed the part that tackled the relationship that grows between miners and machinery and how that in turn is a reflection of how they wish to be identified. I believe this relationship is one that should be brought more to light, in specially in terms of the bodily harm it causes; when external factors only aggravate their situation, they are factors that are not in the hand of the miners but rather of those much

# data[].attributes.headline
bodies assume designs and designs assume bodies

# data[].attributes.subject
bodies assume designs and designs assume bodies

# data[].attributes.body
I really enjoyed the part that tackled the relationship that grows between miners and machinery and how that in turn is a reflection of how they wish to be identified. I believe this relationship is one that should be brought more to light, in specially in terms of the bodily harm it causes; when external factors only aggravate their situation, they are factors that are not in the hand of the miners but rather of those much

# data[].attributes.headline
bodies assume designs and designs assume bodies

# data[].attributes.subject
bodies assume designs and designs assume bodies

# data[].attributes.body
I really enjoyed the part that tackled the relationship that grows between miners and machinery and how that in turn is a reflection of how they wish to be identified. I believe this relationship is one that should be brought more to light, in specially in terms of the bodily harm it causes; when external factors only aggravate their situation, they are factors that are not in the hand of the miners but rather of those much

# data[].attributes.headline
bodies assume designs and designs assume bodies

# data[].attributes.subject
bodies assume designs and designs assume bodies

# data[].attributes.body
I really enjoyed the part that tackled the relationship that grows between miners and machinery and how that in turn is a reflection of how they wish to be identified. I believe this relationship is one that should be brought more to light, in specially in terms of the bodily harm it causes; when external factors only aggravate their situation, they are factors that are not in the hand of the miners but rather of those much

# data[].attributes.headline
bodies assume designs and designs assume bodies

# data[].attributes.subject
bodies assume designs and designs assume bodies

# data[].attributes.body
I really enjoyed the part that tackled the relationship that grows between miners and machinery and how that in turn is a reflection of how they wish to be identified. I believe this relationship is one that should be brought more to light, in specially in terms of the bodily harm it causes; when external factors only aggravate their situation, they are factors that are not in the hand of the miners but rather of those much

# data[].attributes.headline
bodies assume designs and designs assume bodies

# data[].attributes.subject
bodies assume designs and designs assume bodies

# data[].attributes.body
I really enjoyed the part that tackled the relationship that grows between miners and machinery and how that in turn is a reflection of how they wish to be identified. I believe this relationship is one that should be brought more to light, in specially in terms of the bodily harm it causes; when external factors only aggravate their situation, they are factors that are not in the hand of the miners but rather of those much

# data[].attributes.headline
bodies assume designs and designs assume bodies

# data[].attributes.subject
bodies assume designs and designs assume bodies

# data[].attributes.body
I really enjoyed the part that tackled the relationship that grows between miners and machinery and how that in turn is a reflection of how they wish to be identified. I believe this relationship is one that should be brought more to light, in specially in terms of the bodily harm it causes; when external factors only aggravate their situation, they are factors that are not in the hand of the miners but rather of those much

# data[].attributes.headline
bodies assume designs and designs assume bodies

# data[].attributes.subject
bodies assume designs and designs assume bodies

# data[].attributes.body
I really enjoyed the part that tackled the relationship that grows between miners and machinery and how that in turn is a reflection of how they wish to be identified. I believe this relationship is one that should be brought more to light, in specially in terms of the bodily harm it causes; when external factors only aggravate their situation, they are factors that are not in the hand of the miners but rather of those mu

# data[].attributes.headline
bodies assume designs and designs assume bodies

# data[].attributes.subject
bodies assume designs and designs assume bodies

# data[].attributes.body
I really enjoyed the part that tackled the relationship that grows between miners and machinery and how that in turn is a reflection of how they wish to be identified. I believe this relationship is one that should be brought more to light, in specially in terms of the bodily harm it causes; when external factors only aggravate their situation, they are factors that are not in the hand of the miners but rather of those m

# data[].attributes.headline
bodies assume designs and designs assume bodies

# data[].attributes.subject
bodies assume designs and designs assume bodies

# data[].attributes.body
I really enjoyed the part that tackled the relationship that grows between miners and machinery and how that in turn is a reflection of how they wish to be identified. I believe this relationship is one that should be brought more to light, in specially in terms of the bodily harm it causes; when external factors only aggravate their situation, they are factors that are not in the hand of the miners but rather of those

# data[].attributes.headline
bodies assume designs and designs assume bodies

# data[].attributes.subject
bodies assume designs and designs assume bodies

# data[].attributes.body
I really enjoyed the part that tackled the relationship that grows between miners and machinery and how that in turn is a reflection of how they wish to be identified. I believe this relationship is one that should be brought more to light, in specially in terms of the bodily harm it causes; when external factors only aggravate their situation, they are factors that are not in the hand of the miners but rather of those

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This article was very helpful in bringing both storylines of environmental and economic considerations in regards to mining. One promises doom while the other promises boom, and they all use different and often conflicting storylines to propagate their agenda. I found this similar to how Gustafson presents how it is easier to see how environmental activists in the global north can view things differently from local members in the south.
Sarah Kazira

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‘The shift away from labor to NGOs, communities, and corporations is partially traceable to broader historical transformations in the industry. First … Second, the move to “socially thin” extractive operations (Ferguson, 2006) throughout the industry impedes anthropologists’ ability to conduct research with workers and their families.’ (p. 583).

This particular part caught my attention. In part because I liked the term socially thin to describe the transformation in production/labour helped by ‘…gargantuan equipment the size of suburban U.S. homes…’ allowing for a less-human workforce. I have seen Australia’s equivalent mining equipment in real life when I visited years ago – gargantuan is the perfect word to describe the equipment. They are unbelievably monstrous. I feel like you can imagine it when reading or from looking at photos but seeing them in real life is a completely different matter.

Anyway, returning to the passage quoted and what particularly captured my attention about the socially thin term. I wondered what will anthropologists study, in terms of the mining industry, when (or if, though it is a very likely if) a human labour force is no longer needed in mining extraction. Through this, I am referring to the trajectory that most forms of labour are taking, that is, autonomous forms of technology, due to the science-technology union that is so beneficial to capital. I have no doubts that there will still be things for anthropologists to study, should this happen in mining (and elsewhere); but what will happen to the concept(s) of human labour and focus on human workers?

Jacob Heath 685615

Response by Elliot:

I really enjoyed this article, especially it's emphasis on the embodied experience of mining, even when it is undertaken in these gargantuan machines. I wonder if you have seen the film 'Moon', it tackles a similar concept about a 'near-future' where resource extraction is absent of a human labour force - the total alienation of the workforce. However, I would hesitate to conclude that the human would be absent, nor that there would little for the anthropologist to study. I am sceptical of how quick this process would occur and even if it does, where there is changes to the environment and change to climate, there is an influence on humans and communities.

Elliot

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I really liked the way Bjorst explored and contrasted narratives in order to uncover attitudes surrounding uranium mining. I found the quote from Damien Krebs on page 38 especially thought provoking. "So the benefits we have will mean a tremendous thing for the local community, we think, and that is the sustainability we offer. The up-scaling of the town of Narsaq; in general to make the people of Narsaq feel good about themselves and having a meaningful job is a thing that we could do". The different ways people can convey notions of sustainability are so complex and multifaceted and I think I too often focus on the environmental notion of sustainability alone. I'm still unsure after reading Bjorst's article if multiple notions of sustainability can ever truly coexist or whether they always have tensions inherent. Georgia Watson 686396

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The article presented the relationship between hydrocarbons and politics in a way that I had not really considered before. How much did colonial interests as well as corporate interests influence local politics in their favour? How deep was the involvement/ interference of the CIA in Middle Eastern politics to suit the US's own economic goals? The author convincingly links the rise of mass politics, unionisation, welfare democracy with coal as well as how contemporary democratic politics developed and its limits are linked to oil. With talks of a post-Covid "green recovery" I wonder how politics will evolve from now on as countries try to shift away from non-renewables to "greener", more "sustainable" forms of energy?

Claire Bate-Roullin

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Thanks Elliot, that YouTube link was definitely worth watching!

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Further conversation on colonialism and fossil fuels

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Further conversation on colonialism and fossil fuels

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This article speaks of the relationship between fossil fuels and democracies and talks of the implications it has brought to workers throughout the Middle East, Europe and the US and its contribution to climate change. What is absent from this article is the conversation of colonialism and slavery and how it is tied into the advancement of industrialisation alongside fossil fuels and the future long lasting implications this had on colonised nations. I think the author could have further developed his ideas in the ‘buried sunshine’ section to explore these issues. Zoe

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I think this article's discussion of extractivism reveals complex dilemmas: natural resources seem to oscillate between nationalisation and capitalisation, but nationalised resources are still caught up in the operation of global capital without contributing to the welfare of domestic populations; the left and the right argue fiercely over issues such as social progress, national economic independence, social justice and pluralist politics, but does an overly political discussion polarise the spectrum and limit our imagination of alternative paths? And there is also classic questions in Marxist theory like whether overcome capitalism presupposes the well development of capitalism. These questions may exist in different forms in many ‘late-comer' countries.
-Zhenyuan Fang

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Leveraging Environmental Degradation for Economic Growth

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Leveraging Environmental Degradation for Economic Growth

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This article picks up on a trend for leveraging environmental degradation associated with the extraction and consumption of fossil fuels for economic gain. Watts writes that 'the costs of air pollution, environmental disaster, climate change and other negative consequences of using fossil fuels were not deducted from the measurement of GNP' (p 418) and are perceived as an 'addition rather than an impediment to growth' (p 418). This made me think about the extent to which it might still be the case that we leverage environmental degradation for economic gain, and prompted me to return to the Mark Carney lecture that we listened to last week. In his last lecture, Carney raises the point that sustainability- itself a response to previous environmental degradation- has great potential to generate jobs, finance innovation etc. I wonder to what extent parallels can be drawn between these two cases and to what extent the latter can be viewed as an example of the continuation of this trend towards leveraging degradation for economic gain?

Claudia

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I completely agree with you that this reading effectively introduces the complex nature of dialogue on this issue. In addition to themes of tension you mentioned (i.e. left/right, capitalist/socialist), I also noticed that there was a Global North/South binary (with environmental activism effectively framed as a privilege, if not a  'childish' frivolity); and also a urban/rural one.  All things considered, I think you're totally justified to be concerned that polarised rhetoric/dynamics are a real barrier to progress in this area. This is definitely something to be aware of, especially since finite resources and climate change make issues around extraction very time-sensitive.
- Sara (684725)

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*This film is 20 mins long*
1) Gender: No women appear in this video, and the only mention of one is "your wife's best rosewood dresser" - how different, if at all, would an equivalent film be today?
2) Non-humans: Rivers/river basins are linguistically anthropomorphised, yet also know framed as a challenge to conquer/"sick" being needing human help - what do you feel is the effect of this combination?
3) Audio: Folk music elements (including humming) are used, but so is a song with the lyrics 'I'm bound for the promised land' - how influential do you feel this is building/supporting emotion/narrative?
4) Audience: The director, John Barnes (1920–2000), made films like this to be shown in classrooms as conversation starters - how does this change/deepen your understanding of the film?
- Sara (684725)

Response by Priyanka

I completely concur, understand and appreciate Sara's critique of the film and how well it highlights stereotypes and biases in society being the discourse influencing the narration of 'how we have destroyed the land and now that we have recognised the need to sustain there is no land left'. However, while the impact of this message seems dampened by the distracted focus of folk music. I for one thought it made the video hard to forget  'I'm bound for the promised land' being the line that one continues to hum even after the film is over. If designed for classrooms as pointed by Sara- this would from a consumer psych perspective leave kids with a desire for a beautiful green land. A dream instilled in the future change makers. Could be an influential communication. Maybe!

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The key theme that came out in the video is that humans have continued to shape and change land and nature to meet our needs; And have now reached the point where there is no land left. As the video suggests "there was always more land to the West until there wasn't" and now the land is just a wish of a 'promised land'. This is a pattern even seen in the case of Mumbai. Originally an archipalego of seven islands home to Kohli fisherman; since the British Colonisation which came with techniques of reclamation, the land of these islands has been moulded for centuries to meet human needs. Today in the urban-financial centre of one of the fastest growing economies in the world, it is hard to find remnants of the original islands. For the last 3 months I have been working with the group that is trying to achieve UNESCO world heritage status for Aarey forest in Mumbai. The only remaining urban forests in the world, home to species of trees and tribal-settlers from the original islands (an endangered species). Aarey forests are the lungs of the city, yet in the name of modernisation and development the government has been bent on cutting and destroying the forest to build zoo's, man-made gardens and metro-sheds. Owing to the current lock-down, urban Mumbaikers are looking for the green, but if they want the metro there will be no green left! If the government gets its way, we too soon will be singing 'bound for the promised green'.The entire theme of this video can be summed up in the picture below. Where looking for shade-destroyed by humans a man hinges an umbrella onto a dead-trees trunk 'bound for the promised shade'.

-Priyanka K. 683580

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Both Bjorst and Gustafson complicate the understanding of the dynamics between extraction and anti-extraction, showing how several elements are included in both, compared to the usual western view of extraction=capitalism vs. anti-extraction=environmentalism. For instance, youth in Bolivia appropriates the anti-extraction discourse in defence of indigenous, while for the Bolivian politics extraction has to do with independence from foreign countries influences.
- Sarah 686607

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My thoughts were like yours about how the film would be remade today and who the actors within the film would be and what their stance and views would be and how if both films were shown in classrooms today what debates/ conversations would they spark and how would they contrast to the 1950s?
Zoe

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Gufstason's work was interesting in its demonstration of, once again, the divide between the ‘global North’ and the ‘global South’, this time with respect to resource extraction. For the ‘global North’ extraction is a means of economic growth fuelling capitalist intentions and anti-extractivism is understood through an environmentalist lens. In the ‘global South’, and in this paper Bolivia specifically, “such righteous anti-extractivism is not so easily translated” (p.62). In this discourse of anti- extractivism climate change is secondary to welfare and improvements of indigenous people’s daily lives, as a method used discuss their rights. This paper made me think differently, alongside reading the work of Mitchell (2009), if a country can ever move towards democracy, with all that entails, when still a resource for global natural resource extraction and what the effect will be on this, as focus shifts to ‘greener’ renewable forms of energy?
-Rebecca Luff

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What really struck me whilst reading this article was the quote by the journalist Kapuscinski stating how "oil creates this illusion of a completely changed life (...), life for free" (51). This quote to me really describes the oil extraction and petro-capitalism. This writing shows how the oil industry is a myth, a lie. This reflects the 'imagined communities', these communities are projections of individual imaginations. What you can conclude from this Watts reading, is that in Nigeria oil is the foundation of the nation-building procedures, which could entail that the nation-building are based on these illusions, myths.

Tessa

Response to Tessa: Yes, that quote really struck me too. A reflection of the things that we give power to and the value we place - money is technically a piece of paper! Clare W 677349

Response to Tessa and W 677349:

I do think Watt's article illustrates perfectly well how anthropology can serve our understanding of conflict; within power there is meaning: Oil is a resource, and a resource of power and wealth. Things, such as oil, simply aren't just things, when seen in the context of geopolitics and local history. Same goes for money - I don't think it's the numbers or the papers we are interested in; its the meaning, reputation and "sense of more" that comes with it which is enticing.

634707

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The globalisation of Foucault's governmentality 

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The globalisation of Foucault's governmentality 

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eWatts brings attention to the international or global biopolitics of oil and 'petro-capitalism'. His analysis of the modern oil industry through the lens of Foucauldian biopolitics shows us that our world system is still very much marked by an imperialism of richer sovereign states over poorer ones, which is then carried on at the level of populations themselves.

“Oil creates the illusion of a completely changed life, life without work, life for free” This quote therefore highlights the lie or illusion that is the American dream.

- Tanita 685926

Response to Tanita, by Bo Yang:

To some extents, this illusion has changed many things, some real things can not be denied, such as improved living condition, and degraded environment condition. So it is more worthy to explore the structural inequality, who drive it with more profits, who obtain less benefits and suffer much more.

Response to Tanita and Bo Yang:

As you have both pointed out, there is clearly an ideological and also a material dimension to the oil industry. I think it's important to consider both the ideological/discursive and the material dimensions and, crucially, how they relate to each other. How does the oil industry present itself and how does this presentation relate to its material practices? What are the material consequences of the discourse of oil? - Maria 687047

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Bjorst talks about how ‘story-lines’ are made and how they shape discourse; this analytical approach falls into the ‘politics of truth’.  The paper states the intention to draw a difference between these theories and Foucault’s ‘discourse’ as in the latter, the individualities essentially disappear. This is interesting, particularly because one of the statements quoted in this paper is around the mining / extractive sector being economic activities that carry the highest risk of corruption, as well as the ethicality of bearing at the same time a position that calls for the moratorium of nuclear power (as a Country) and proposing to call it off,  and at the same time,  starting an uranium extractive business - and this in the interest of reducing greenhouse emissions. So it is about how discourse takes shape with respect to future - apart from all other reasons for having a mine, a lot of people wanted ‘change’, ‘to vitalise’ town, ‘bring it back on track’.  On track to what? was not really a question that was addressed.   The paper them makes an interesting description of contestation with discourse - so how the politics of ‘truth’ is formed. / Emanuela 

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Bjorst talks about how ‘story-lines’ are made and how they shape discourse; this analytical approach falls into the ‘politics of truth’.  The paper states the intention to draw a difference between these theories and Foucault’s ‘discourse’ as in the latter, the individualities essentially disappear. This is interesting, particularly because one of the statements quoted in this paper is around the mining / extractive sector being economic activities that carry the highest risk of corruption, as well as the ethicality of bearing at the same time a position that calls for the moratorium of nuclear power (as a Country) and proposing to call it off,  and at the same time,  starting an uranium extractive business - and this in the interest of reducing greenhouse emissions. So it is about how discourse takes shape with respect to future - apart from all other reasons for having a mine, a lot of people wanted ‘change’, ‘to vitalise’ town, ‘bring it back on track’.  On track to what? was not really a question that was addressed.   The paper them makes an interesting description of contestation with discourse - so how the politics of ‘truth’ is formed. / Emanuela 

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Mitchell applies an exploration of the life and flow of energy from fossil fuels using metaphors and visualisations that help us to see the interconnectedness of earths resources, people and power. The idea of ‘following the oil’ uses the fuel as a medium for understanding its influence on how life on earth today has come to be. Its power also lies in how it is used as a tool for negotiating between citizens and state, as Gustafson says: “Gas in Bolivia is not primarily understood through the lens of climate change but as a medium for negotiating rights, well-being, and exchange between citizens and the state.” Clare W 677349

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An indepth and thought provoking article contrasting the differences in coal and oil production and the networks extending from their sites of production. The coal miners had agency through their independent working conditions resulting in power over the supply and working conditions through strikes with direct impact rail and industrial production in their nations. Oil is far more flexible, global and volatile with remote colonial companies controlling not only its supply by the governments and labour forces in the country of production. Will the next generation of energy be as global and if so, what will the political and economic implications?
Susie Brand

Response to Susie:
I think this is a really interesting question and I wonder whether we can apply the case of Chinese investment in renewable/green infrastructure across Africa as evidence of the global future of energy? In terms of the political implications of this, I found this article on the influence of One Belt One Road very insightful. https://africacenter.org/spotlight/implications-for-africa-china-one-belt-one-road-strategy/

Claudia

Response to Susie:
I was also struck by the point you make around the physicality of oil, and its differences to coal. It seems it necessitates a wholly different embodied relationship and sociality around its production. I would be interested to see if/how this changes with other extractives/modes of extraction e.g. natural gas, tar sands, fracking, and indeed with renewables.

Eloise

Response from Karen:
I also found this distinction between the processes of production for coal vs. oil - and the subsequent impact on working conditions, power and ultimately democracy, quite eye opening. I also would be interested in understanding similar analysis for other energy sources as we make choices about a post-fossil fuel world.

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An interesting political strategy of extraction (a hallmark of capitalism) being used to free oneself from imperialist and global capitalist threats. Begs the question, can you aid a socialist revolution whilst engaging in the most damaging economic policy of all? Also, interesting that this paper leads so strongly with the North/South binary – unsure whether this is the author’s belief, or for the sake of framing Bolivian political arguments.

Eloise

Responding to Eloise
This article to me gave a different frame of reference to the Mitchell article which focused on the global to highlight the national. I completely agree that the framing of the revolution via gas extraction seemed like at best, a misguided political strategy and at worst,  a cynical political promise. It also highlighted that ultimately, it is the multinational companies who hold the power and stand to gain the most. While mobilising and engaging the youth and indigenous people seems like a positive idea, how realistic is it against such strong opposition?
Susie Brand

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Mitchel exposes the the connection between government rule-making and corporate profit generation.  The corporate model of controlling all sides of the transactions that companies participate in. How companies do so under the premise of buying and selling in ‘free’ markets. These ‘markets’ are the end of an economic process, not the beginning. These corporations use state and state-granted power— military, monopoly, legal, structural, and historical, to obtain resources on the cheap, eliminate competitors and control markets. Oil companies write energy and foreign policy, and also play a central role in causing climate change, and in funding climate change denial research. Dualism: The ‘liberal’ values espoused in the corporate codes of companies tend to have no bearing on how business itself is conducted.  - Tanita 685926

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Rolston teases out the relationship between work and body using the environment of the mines.  She summarises two distinct, perhaps non-related, ways that anthropology operated in the mineral resources’ world. The first  is looking at the material and social aspect of miners’ lives - relationships with global forces, institutions, work, and the community, summarised in the ‘study of the capitalistic logic’ and how this extends to natural resources.  In my opinion, this also includes a related shift (occurring alongside a similar shift in the study of development from dynamics of development to meaning of development and institutions), by which anthropology has moved from the study of the relationships between productive sites and community to the study of the internal logic of the ‘institution’, i.e. the life within the production site (i.e. the mine, the oil pit).   I would put the study of resource infrastructure in this bucket.  The approach to resources as materiality though is something different - and it is about how resources specifically ‘produce human subjectivity’, so resources’ ‘ontological multiplicity’.   Richardson and Weszkalnys argue that resources can be understood using the ‘becoming’ in the sense of Deleuze.   Their main argument is that things are themselves relational effects - and this is a departure from ‘material culture’.  what should be considered is the ‘specificity of resources as relational assemblages’.I always wondered what it feels to work in the bowels of earth, being nearer to the liquid centre of the earth and in a way, being closer to the magmatic unknown that lies at the core of the formation of the universe - or at least this is in my imagination what happens underground when one is caught in the belly - what sort of things one does see and hear when mine walls collapse, how does one go about relating with unknown and risk, negotiating a position towards the bigger all too powerful entity.  From this viewpoint, offering to the mine sounds the obvious thing to do. / Emanuela

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Rolston teases out the relationship between work and body using the environment of the mines.  She summarises two distinct, perhaps non-related, ways that anthropology operated in the mineral resources’ world. The first  is looking at the material and social aspect of miners’ lives - relationships with global forces, institutions, work, and the community, summarised in the ‘study of the capitalistic logic’ and how this extends to natural resources.  In my opinion, this also includes a related shift (occurring alongside a similar shift in the study of development from dynamics of development to meaning of development and institutions), by which anthropology has moved from the study of the relationships between productive sites and community to the study of the internal logic of the ‘institution’, i.e. the life within the production site (i.e. the mine, the oil pit).   I would put the study of resource infrastructure in this bucket.  The approach to resources as materiality though is something different - and it is about how resources specifically ‘produce human subjectivity’, so resources’ ‘ontological multiplicity’.   Richardson and Weszkalnys argue that resources can be understood using the ‘becoming’ in the sense of Deleuze.   Their main argument is that things are themselves relational effects - and this is a departure from ‘material culture’.  what should be considered is the ‘specificity of resources as relational assemblages’.I always wondered what it feels to work in the bowels of earth, being nearer to the liquid centre of the earth and in a way, being closer to the magmatic unknown that lies at the core of the formation of the universe - or at least this is in my imagination what happens underground when one is caught in the belly - what sort of things one does see and hear when mine walls collapse, how does one go about relating with unknown and risk, negotiating a position towards the bigger all too powerful entity.  From this viewpoint, offering to the mine sounds the obvious thing to do. / Emanuela

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I really like the idea of ‘pretro-capitalism’ and how it is behind the creation of states or ‘governable spaces’, meaning “specific configurations of territory, identity and rule” (53). I found very interesting how, at the end, Watts explores the links between oil development and nationalism to argue that the first works against the second: referencing Benedict Anderson, Watts claims that the tensions and divisions that emerge from oil extraction prevents people from being able to imagine themselves as part of a community, which is what ultimately defines nationalism (74). Therefore, when Watts talks about nation-building processes, he means ‘capitalist-nations’: the nations that are formed are not based on unity or common history, just economic/power interests.

Yet, I think that this text also shows that oil has a lot to do with Anderson’s idea of nations. Watts quotes different authors that talk about oil in elusive terms:

“oil creates the illusion (…) of a completely changed life, life without work, life for free… In this sense oil is a fairy tale and like every fairy tale a bit of a lie” (51)

“oil, more than any other commodity, illustrates both in the importance and the mystification of natural resources in the modern world” (53)

Oil as a myth, as a tale, as a lie, kind of moves in the same imperfect vocabulary that nations do in ‘imagined communities’: they are not immutable entities, they are projections of individual imaginations. Since oil is at the core of nation-building processes, doesn’t this the prove that (capitalist) nation-states rest on illusions?

If anybody else has read ‘Imagines communities’, what do you think? - Laura Torres

Response to Laura:

Your comment on oil and its relevance to Anderson's Imagined Communities led me to consider Watts argument on fragmentation in a different light. Whilst it is true that the dispute over oil in the Niger Delta has led to increased conflict between the different ethnic groups in the region, it has also led to increased political activism and visibility for different indigenous groups. The division sowed by oil has created stronger bonds and possibly identities within ethnic communities, created in opposition to other groups.

Claire Bate-Roullin

Response to Laura: Indeed, anderson's imagined communities is a good analogy to invoke. On a separate note, Charles Tilly compared state making to war making calling it an organized crime, and in this case, oil makes a good lubricant (pun intended!) in the organization efforts!

-Anuradha-

Response to Laura:
I also found the link between nation-building and petro-capitalism very interesting. I think Watts was able to complicate the relationship between two: on one hand, like you said, it complicates nation-building. When oil flows into weak institutions, it produces 'corrupt development', and acts to "fragment, pulverize, disintegrate and discredit the state" (61). At the same time, however, he notes that oil is also a centralizing force, a fetishized commodity that plays a role in the national imagination. I hence think he portrays oil as a highly ambivalent force.
- Edda (667994)

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I was astonished to learn about  the impact coal mining had on labour organising in the 18th and 19th century; Mitchell creatively politicised the "world of labour" by highlighting aspects of autonomy  and networks in coal mining.

634707

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Dehumanizing miners and the role of public nostalgia

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Dehumanizing miners and the role of public nostalgia

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I was most taken with the idea of tools being an extension of workers’ bodies, and how that’s reflected in the language miners use - calling trucks by the name of the person operating it, for example. I wonder whether this serves to help miners ‘be recognised as individuals rather than thing-like’ (585), or in fact further de-humanizes them?

One area I would have liked Roltson to explore more is how popular understandings of what mining entails compares with reality. She hints at a very nostalgic view of mining in the States - which you also get in the UK, I think - without elaborating much on how this informs the experience of miners today.

Will 676615

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This was an interesting analysis of the contradictory power of natural resources - at once the promise and possibility of being a stablising force and a source of incredible wealth, set against the reality of the 'evil twin' of authoritarianism and petro-capitalism. The role of fiscal centralisation in enabling repression and control was one I'd never really considered before. Karen

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I liked the idea of understanding social, economic, and political transitionary periods through the nexus of one resource: coal and/or oil. I would be very interested to further consider how the two might relate to each other. In other words, how did the political order established during the coal age facilitate and engage with the oil age? For example, did the fact that the US could present itself as a bastion for democratic mass politics enable it to disguise its largely undemocratic practices with regards to oil? What might the implications be, therefore, of the ‘limits of contemporary democracy’ in a post fossil fuel age? - Maria 687047

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As the source's examples of "extractivist" endeavors of foreign interests over developing countries which happen to have natural resources, non-renewable resources provide incentive for people to truly become their worst. The scramble for the ever decreasing materials will eventually manifest conflicts among agents of the global economy, as stronger ones will use their influence to snatch it away from the weaker ones being without sufficient equipment.
On the contrary, renewable resources, albeit still slightly skewed towards the ones with long coastlines, sunny platforms and strong rivers, provide a way more equal competition. They do not initiate incentive for aggressive moves due to the fact that in some form, most countries will be able to construct facilities for extracting energy from renewables (as they are more or less homogenously distributed) and stealing them is not really a profitable option.

Andrew

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Is a shift towards renewable energies sufficient? 

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Is a shift towards renewable energies sufficient? 

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Mitchell reveals the obfuscated relationship between hydrocarbons, politics and welfare democracy, and corporate profits. By doing so, he makes explicit the central role coal and oil have played in forming today’s social, economic, and political climate, that is, neoliberalism. He argues that hydrocarbons are ultimately what created the industrial revolution and inaugurated the concept of ‘the economy’ to mean the sum total of monetary transactions. This was a major move as it created the idea of ‘infinite growth’ in a climate of decreasing population growth and threats of overproduction and resource exhaustion.
As we move into an era of post fossil fuels, my question is whether simply changing our source of energy is sufficient to address the major reason why we are switching energy sources in the first place, i.e. climate change. Through hydrocarbons, the idea of infinite growth was born and was believed to be possible. We now know this to be false. In order to deal with the climate crisis, will it suffice to use renewable energy sources to achieve infinite growth, or must we reconsider the idea of infinite growth all together? I believe that a shift to alternative energy sources should  include alternative conceptions of the economy and politics, and in a best case scenario, also an epistemic shift in what we value.

Response to Claudia:

I think drawing on Mark Carney is appropriate and I also found the idea that negative environmental externalities are productive for increasing GDP a worrying one. I agree with you that Carney’s argument of moving towards sustainability as a means for economic gain can be seen as a continuation of the trend of leveraging degradation against economic gain. However, I do believe that it can be a step in the right direction as I do not see other pragmatic alternatives being proposed within western politics. I also found his discussion of Value verus values a ‘valuable’ one and I believe t related well to this. [v]alues (virtues, social, environmental, etc.) have been transfigured as Value (money/profit) in large through the processes that Mitchell outlined. If we want to really talk about sustainability, it is essential that we do not see sustainability as merely another means for Value, but as part of our recovered values.

Marten (686321)

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Bjorst clearly presents the dichotomy based on Greenland’s Uranium. On one side it is seen as saving the town and acting as a ‘economic silver bullet’ whereas on the flip side it is seen as ‘a destroyer of local communities and of global nature’. The contrasting ideas are presented through the use of conflicting storylines, highlighting the benefits and weaknesses of each paradigm.  However, each side of the debate is presented as being the most sustainable. The reading encapsulated the contested concept of sustainability. Each avenue is ascribed long term solutions to the issue at hand but brings irreversible consequences (environmental damage). Clearly the definition of ‘Sustainability’ changes depending on who and the context it is being used in.  This makes me ponder on the importance of language and how it creates a dominant storyline (discourse).  This approach causes certain elements to appear to be fixed and important, while other appear problematic or absent. Language has the power to make politics, change the power balance and facilitate a discursive paradigm shift.

Mah 644393

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The extraction of non-renewables such as oil mentioned in the case of Nigeria always carry their inevitable death sentence within them. We never exactly know when will we run out of it, even less, when do individual areas will deplete which provide life force to certain countries/cities. Nevertheless, multiple economies rely heavily on basking in the glory of ephemeral prosperity brought by these short-lived fortunes. Do they ever think about millions of citizens who will get left behind once the source dries out? Or the immense amount of debt they will rack up, once their GDP halves or even worse? I do not understand, how this short-term mindset is still rocking in the 21th century. We should have been taught already by our disastrous collapses of our financial systems, that fiercely chasing today's gold usually ends in a bubble, except that when our energy-producing bubble bursts, whole countries will go bankrupt.

Anderw

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Oil is not only resource anymore, but the ties between technology, discourse, power, property and fuel. The globalised modernisation has incorporated most population and parts of the world, which structurally retails someone 'vulnerable', but someone 'powerful'. Therefore, the oil democracy is important to help us of understanding how the benefits form oil are equally or unequally go to any stakeholders within this system. Why are them suffering or enjoying. How to pursue a more balanced mechanism.

Bo Yang

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Anna, 675638

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https://vimeo.com/156098465

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Le Chant du Styrène 1958 - Alain Resnais

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Le Chant du Styrène 1958 - Alain Resnais

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lG1hZyQUF6Y&t=314s

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https://www.e-flux.com/journal/47/60052/visions-of-eternity-plastic-and-the-ontology-of-oil/

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Chinese Gold Miners Have Finally Been Rescued After Two Weeks

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Chinese Gold Miners Have Finally Been Rescued After Two Weeks

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China mine accident: 11 workers rescued after two weeks underground | China | The Guardian

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Shell Oil Loses Case Over Pollution in Nigeria

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Shell Oil Loses Case Over Pollution in Nigeria

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Shell Loses Dutch Court Case Over Nigeria Oil Spills

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A Dutch court has ordered Royal Dutch Shell Plc’s Nigerian unit to compensate for oil spills in two villages over 13 years ago.

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Mitchell portrays the idea of carbon democracy and the consequences it brings about which can range from revenue deflection affecting economic conditions and the depletion of oxygen in the air due to intense climate changes. We see fossil fuels as the materialistic drive to form governing ties between states and money-making organisations. Even-though Mitchell states out the pros and cons of these fossil fuel production (oil and coal) and how it has brought about employment opportunities and boosted the financial state of many countries, it has led to violence and war due to the world’s collective contingence on oil. What I found really interesting was how democratic nations depended on the monarchic rule present in the Middle East, as this was an interesting political relationship in terms of differences in ideas, notions and culture. We see the dark and ugly side of obtaining fossil fuels in the the 1973 oil war.
Enakshi
(685915)

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Watts was a very uncomfortable read in a very pleasant way. The illusion of a completely changed life, in regards to oil, “life for free”, made me question the intentions behind humans incessant pursuit of pleasure/time liberation. The illusion of liberation is often used as consent for environmental degradation and damnation.                         In response to Jacob heath on Rolston, I also find it incredibly interesting to consider the progression and focus of human labour. In the 21st century we're seeing a massive transition away from human labour (and even rationale, in the case of AI) which will prove to be an interesting topic for anthropologists to explore. Especially with AI, I think anthropology will be important in forming various theories that will help us understand the importance of work and human accountability and responsibility. Convenience and efficiency are not the only things that matter.            Jakob Lewis                      

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Watts was a very uncomfortable read in a very pleasant way. The illusion of a completely changed life, in regards to oil, “life for free”, made me question the intentions behind humans incessant pursuit of pleasure/time liberation. The illusion of liberation is often used as consent for environmental degradation and damnation.                         In response to Jacob heath on Rolston, I also find it incredibly interesting to consider the progression and focus of human labour. In the 21st century we're seeing a massive transition away from human labour (and even rationale, in the case of AI) which will prove to be an interesting topic for anthropologists to explore. Especially with AI, I think anthropology will be important in forming various theories that will help us understand the importance of work and human accountability and responsibility. Convenience and efficiency are not the only things that matter.            Jakob Lewis                      