My thesis examines the bioregional movement in North America; its vision, values, strategies and tools for community building and networking towards a more sustainable society. The interrelated problems of the over-consumption of natural resources, the dominant cultural construct of people as consumers, and the decline of human community provide the context for my research in radical planning. The goal of my inquiry into bioregionalism (which places cultural change at the center of its paradigm for societal transformation) is to reveal lessons for a "post-Marxist" theory of civil society. This latter theory proposes a dual strategy of horizontal communicative action among associations in civil society combined with strategic vertical campaigns to democratize both state and corporations. However, it offers no ecological or cultural critique of consumption. My thesis addresses this gap. A civil society theory that incorporated lessons about consumption and cultural transformation from bioregionalism might, in turn, have lessons about integrating horizontal and vertical strategies for bioregionalism which has not sufficiently theorized its political economic strategy. I use two concepts, "social capital" and "eco-social capital", to analyze bioregional experiences. Eco-social capital refers to social capital informed by an ethic of human kinship with the natural world. Using these concepts, I first show how ecological kinship corresponds with the conservative and respectful use of resources in aboriginal societies. My study of bioregional praxis shows that story telling, earth ceremonies, ecological restoration, etc. bond bioregional actors to each other and to the "community-of-all-beings" in particular places. Social and eco-social capital provides them with spiritual resources for dedicating lives to long-term societal transformation while eschewing commodity consumption. Bioregionalists' experiences and strategy support a diverse and democratic civil society which respects and cares for the natural world. An eco-centric civil society theory would strategize long-term generational transformation in both cultural and political economic terms. Bioregional horizontal community and networking would be complemented by strategic vertical campaigns to curb the power of both state and corporations over civil society, thus strengthening democracy and a sustainable strategy for greatly reduced consumption. / Applied Science, Faculty of / Community and Regional Planning (SCARP), School of / Graduate

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Denna studie syftar till att undersöka bioregionalism i relation till urbanisering och globalisering för att identifiera utmaningar som begreppet och rörelsen möter relaterat till dessa trender. Tidigare studier på forskningsfältet är begränsat och utspritt, vilket skapar ett behov av att samla och vidareutveckla det fragmenterade material som finns på området. Studien har genomförts genom en metodtriangulering av kvalitativa metoder i form av litteraturstudie och enkätstudie. Den första metoden syftar till att redogöra för ett vetenskapligt och akademiskt perspektiv medan den andra metoden redogör för ett gräsrotsperspektiv. De två metoderna integrerades sedan i en gemensam diskussion för att ge en mer representativ och heltäckande bild av vilka utmaningar bioregionalismen möter relaterat till trenderna. Resultatet visar att de största utmaningarna för bioregionalismen är att lyckas åstadkomma en kulturell förändring och att få det bioregionala paradigmet erkänt. De största svårigheterna ligger i den pågående dialektiken mellan urban/rural respektive lokal/global. Avslutningsvis konstateras att bioregionalismen i sin ursprungliga form inte är tillräcklig för att förstoras upp på en urban och global skala. För att omfamna dessa trender skulle bioregionalismen förslagsvis behöva utveckla de bioregionala idealen och synkroniseras med andra närliggande koncept. / This thesis aims to investigate bioregionalism in relation to urbanization and globalization to identify challenges that are facing the concept and the social movement related to these trends. Previous studies in this research field is limited and scattered, creating a need to collect and further develop the fragmented material in the area. The study was conducted through a triangulation of qualitative methods in terms of literature study and survey study. The first method aims to describe a scientific and academic perspective, while the second method describes a grassroots perspective. The two methods were then integrated in a joint discussion to provide a further representative and comprehensive picture of the challenges facing bioregionalism regarding the trends. The results show that the greatest challenges for bioregionalism are to succeed in achieving a cultural change and of getting the bioregional paradigm recognized. The greatest difficulty lies with the ongoing dialectic interplay between urban/rural and local/global. Finally the study concludes that bioregionalism in its original form is not sufficient enough to be scaled up to an urban and global level. To embrace urbanization and globalization, bioregionalism would tentatively need to develop its bioregional ideals and be synchronized with other adjacent concepts.

This paper addresses the harmful effects of concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) within animal farming systems, including poor animal welfare, environmental damage, and environmental injustice. I argue that bioregionalism and socialist ecofeminism can help inform a holistic approach to mitigating these harms and evoke ethical and sustainable animal farming systems. Bioregionalism emphasizes local resource use, community engagement, and ecological knowledge within a specific region, while socialist ecofeminism critiques oppressive systems and seeks to uplift the viewpoints of all beings, including animals, nature, and humans of various identities. Through a scaffolded hypothetical case study informed by the CAFOs-practicing hog farms in the coastal plain of North Carolina, I examine the potential benefits and limitations of a solely bioregional animal farming system followed by the potential benefits and limitations of a solely socialist ecofeminist animal farming system. I then combine the two theories to explore how they complement one another. I conclude that an ecologically informed structure advocated by bioregionalism functioning together with the moral values of socialist ecofeminism creates the possibility for ethical and sustainable animal farming systems.

East of Lake Winnipeg is what conservationists call the ‘east shore wilderness’ / ‘heart of the boreal.’ The largest contiguous tract of unindustrialized boreal forest on Earth, this area has been the focus of 15 years of discussion and planning in Manitoba. The area is also designated Waabanong Nakaygum, a homeland to the Anishinaabek of this bush-meets-lake region. Waabanong has seen limited access during the industrial period of personal mechanized mobility due to a lack of constructed all-weather roads. However, an older pattern of travel and mobility does exist across the land, for centuries constituting traditional Anishinaabek patterns of land use and trade. As all-weather roads are being constructed along Lake Winnipeg, oral interviews will examine the question: will the older trails remain in the collective culture of the people or shall the north-south cultural and economic flows replace the east-west bush history traced by the rivers that wind through?

Text in Afrikaans / In hierdie navorsingsverslag word die omgewingsgerigte poësie van Johann Lodewyk Marais ondersoek. Marais se verskuns word onder meer as “groen”, “omgewingsgerig”, “ekopoëties”, “bioregionaal” en “biogeografies” beskryf en kritici is dit eens dat sy oeuvre ‘n sterk bewaringsingesteldheid vertoon. Marais se eiesoortige bydrae tot die bewaringsdiskoers (deur sowel sy verse as kritiese uitsprake) word hier geëvalueer aan die hand van sekere sleutelkonsepte uit die museum- en bewaringswetenskap wat telkens as metafore in sy poësie figureer: taksonomie, taksidermie en diorama. Saamgelees met Halloran se idee van die teks as argivale ruimte of museum, word hierdie konsepte (naamlik taksonomie, taksidermie en diorama) voorgehou as ‘n leesstrategie waarmee die bewaringsgesinde poësie van Marais gedekodeer kan word. / This research report focuses on the environmental poetry of Johann Lodewyk Marais. His poetry has been described as “green”, “environmental”, “ecopoetical”, “bioregional” and “biogeographical” and critics agree that the oeuvre displays a strong element of conservation and even preservation. Marais’s unique contribution towards this discourse of conservation is assessed by utilising certain key concepts from museology, which frequently manifests in his poetry as metaphors: taxonomy, taxidermy and diorama. Halloran’s notion of the text as archival space or museum, read in tandem with these concepts of taxonomy, taxidermy and diorama, is then presented as a reading strategy for decoding Marais’s poetry. / Afrikaans & Theory of Literature / M.A. (Afrikaans)

Thesis (MPhil)--University of Stellenbosch, 2003. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: South Africa is a land of stunning beauty and scenic wonder, with contrasts ranging from arid semi-desert areas to lush green forests; from flat plains to towering mountains. Socially and economically it is likewise a country of extreme contrasts (MacDonald 2002: 13). The South African Constitution, as adopted on 8 May 1996, grants every citizen basic, inalienable human rights. Under certain circumstances, however, some of these rights can come to stand in direct opposition to one another leaving us with a dilemma to choose between two compelling actions. In this context, the right to a secure, ecologically sustainable environment and the right to food and water is in conflict. The greatest challenge to face South Africa is to eradicate poverty and develop its people while ensuring that the natural environment is not destroyed in the process. There must be development for this generation, but not at the price of destroying the natural environment for the next generation. We have ample examples from the apartheid era of damage done both to people and to the environment through the "homeland policy". Millions of people were forced to eke out an existence on land that could not carry the number of people consigned to these remote areas. Erosion, deforestation and poverty are the heritage. There are increasing demands for development, but these demands are infinite while the resources of the world are finite. The question now arises whether the right to a safe environment or the right to sufficient food and water, both enshrined in the Constitution should be given preference. I aim to show that Holmes Rolston III's article "Feeding People versus Saving Nature?" and the points made in Hardin's "Tragedy of the Commons" fail to satisfy public norms and therefore fall short to help us in solving this dilemma. l propose the bioregional management approach that focuses upon the political means to promote restoration and maintenance of the natural systems that ultimately support the people and nature in each area. I believe that this strategy could succeed in solving the impasse that the South African society has reached in solving this very complex dilemma. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Suid-Afrika is 'n land van ongelooflike skoonheid met kontraste wat wissel van droe semi-woestyne tot geil groen woude; van gelyk vlaktes tot hoe berge. Sosiaal en ekonomies is dit tegelyk 'n land van ekstreme kontraste (MacDonald 2002: 13). Die Suid-Afrikaanse Konstitusie, soos aanvaar op 8 Mei 1996, verseker elke burger van basiese, onvervreembare regte. Onder sekere omstandighede, egter, kan sommige van hierdie regte met mekaar in direkte konflik wees, en die dilemma bring mee dat ons tussen twee belangrike maar konflikterende optredes moet kies. In hierdie konteks is die reg op 'n veilige, ekologies volhoubare omgewing, en die reg tot voedsel en water, in konflik met mekaar. Die grootste uitdaging waardeur Suid-Afrika in die gesig gestaar word, is die gelyktydige uitwissing van armoede en die ontwikkeling van sy mense, terwyl verseker word dat die natuurlike omgewing nie in die proses vernietig word nie. Daar moet ontwikkeling wees vir die huidige generasie, maar nie teen die prys van die vernietiging van die natuurlike omgewing vir die volgende generasie nie. Ons het talle voorbeelde uit die apartheid-era van die skade wat aangerig is aan mense en hul omgewing deur die tuisland-beleid. Miljoene mense is geforseer om 'n bestaan te maak in gebiede wat nie die groot getalle wat na hierdie verafgelee areas gedwing is, kon akkomodeer nie. Die nalatenskap hiervan is erosie, ontbossing en armoede. Daar is toenemende eise vir ontwikkeling, maar hierdie eise is oneindig terwyl die bronne van die wereld eindig is. Die vraag wat nou ontstaan, is of daar voorkeur gegee moet word aan die reg tot 'n veilige omgewing of die reg op voldoende voedsel en water, soos wat beide hiervan beklemtoon word in die Konstitusie. Ek poog om aan te toon dat Holmes Rolston III se artikel "Feeding People versus Saving Nature?" en die punte gemaak in Hardin se "Tragedy of the Commons" nie daarin slaag om openbare norme te bevredig nie en dus nie daarin slaag om die dilemma te oorkom nie. Ek stel voor dat die dilemma benader moet word vanuit 'n bio-regionale perspektief waarin daar gefokus word op die politieke middele om die restorasie en voortbestaan van natuurlike sisteme te bevorder waardeur die mense en natuur in elke area uiteindelik ondersteun word. Ek glo dat hierdie strategie daarin sal slaag om die impasse op te hef waarin die Suid-Afrikaanse samelewing verval het in hul poging om hierdie komplekse probleem op te los.

Text in Afrikaans / In hierdie navorsingsverslag word die omgewingsgerigte poësie van Johann Lodewyk Marais ondersoek. Marais se verskuns word onder meer as “groen”, “omgewingsgerig”, “ekopoëties”, “bioregionaal” en “biogeografies” beskryf en kritici is dit eens dat sy oeuvre ‘n sterk bewaringsingesteldheid vertoon. Marais se eiesoortige bydrae tot die bewaringsdiskoers (deur sowel sy verse as kritiese uitsprake) word hier geëvalueer aan die hand van sekere sleutelkonsepte uit die museum- en bewaringswetenskap wat telkens as metafore in sy poësie figureer: taksonomie, taksidermie en diorama. Saamgelees met Halloran se idee van die teks as argivale ruimte of museum, word hierdie konsepte (naamlik taksonomie, taksidermie en diorama) voorgehou as ‘n leesstrategie waarmee die bewaringsgesinde poësie van Marais gedekodeer kan word. / This research report focuses on the environmental poetry of Johann Lodewyk Marais. His poetry has been described as “green”, “environmental”, “ecopoetical”, “bioregional” and “biogeographical” and critics agree that the oeuvre displays a strong element of conservation and even preservation. Marais’s unique contribution towards this discourse of conservation is assessed by utilising certain key concepts from museology, which frequently manifests in his poetry as metaphors: taxonomy, taxidermy and diorama. Halloran’s notion of the text as archival space or museum, read in tandem with these concepts of taxonomy, taxidermy and diorama, is then presented as a reading strategy for decoding Marais’s poetry. / Afrikaans and Theory of Literature / M.A. (Afrikaans)

Ce mémoire propose une défense de la pertinence de l’éco-anarchisme. Cette défense se fera à travers une analyse critique des arguments adressés à l’éco-anarchisme, ainsi que ses deux branches principales : le biorégionalisme et l’écologie sociale. Pour mener à bien ce projet, il sera nécessaire d’offrir un portrait détaillé des théories dont j’analyserai également les critiques. Ce mémoire commence par une présentation de l’éco-anarchisme, du biorégionalisme et de l’écologie sociale. Puis, il passe en revue les différentes critiques qui ont été émises sur ces théories. Cette analyse critique sert de base à la présentation d’un ensemble de recommandations, qui auront comme objectifs de pallier les failles mises en lumière par certaines critiques. Ces recommandations tourneront autour de trois objectifs principaux : soulever l’importance de confédérer les communautés ; soulever l’importance de créer des ponts entre l’éco-anarchisme et l’éco-féminisme et l’éthique du Care ; abandonner la branche du biorégionalisme. / This master thesis offers a defense of the relevance of eco-anarchism. This defense will be done through a critical analysis of the arguments made against eco-anarchism, as well as its two main strands: bioregionalism and social ecology. To carry out this project, it will be necessary to offer a detailed portrait of the theories from which we will analyse the critics. Therefore, the beginning of this thesis will be a presentation of eco-anarchism, bioregionalism and social ecology. Then, it will be necessary to establish a review of the various criticisms that have been made of these theories. Ultimately, this critical analysis will serve as the basis for the presentation of a myriad of recommendations, which will have the objective of remedying the flaws highlighted by certain criticisms. These recommendations will revolve around three main ones: highlight the importance of confederating communities; highlight the importance of building bridges between eco-anarchism and eco-feminism and the ethics of care; abandon the strand of bioregionalism.