Citizens of the Aamjiwnaang First Nation fight for justice with their bodies at the frontlines of environmental catastrophe. This dissertation employs a biopolitical and interpretive analysis to examine these struggles in the polluted heart of Canada’s ‘Chemical Valley’. Drawing from a discursive analysis of situated concerns on the ground and a textual analysis of Canada’s biopolitical ‘policy ensemble’ for Indigenous citizenship, this dissertation examines how citizens and public officials respond to environmental and reproductive injustices in Aamjiwnaang. Based upon in-depth interviews with residents and policy-makers, I first document citizens of the Aamjiwnaang First Nation’s activities and practices on the ground as they cope with and navigate their health concerns and habitat. Second, I examine struggles over knowledge and the contestation over scientific expertise as the community seeks reproductive justice. Third, I contextualize citizen struggles over knowledge by discussing the power relations embedded within the ‘policy ensemble’ for Indigenous citizenship and Canadian jurisdiction for on-reserve environmental health. From an interpretive lens, inspired by Foucault’s concepts of biopower and governmentality, the dissertation develops a framework of “ecological citizenship”, which confronts biopolitics with a theoretical discussion of place to expand upon existing Canadian citizenship and environmental studies literature. I argue that reproductive justice in Aamjiwnaang cannot be separated from environmental justice, and that the concept of place is central to ongoing struggles. As such, I discuss “ecological citizenship’s double-edge”, to contend that citizens are at once bound up within disciplinary biopolitical power relations and also articulate a radical form of place-based belonging.

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Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-25T20:19:56Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Dirceu Beninca.pdf: 4921640 bytes, checksum: b769dd57f76fb4f3646436fdbc372b51 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010-03-03 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / We live in a period of unprecedented environmental crisis. It results from a developmental option based on overexploitation of natural resources, the concentration of wealth and social exclusion. In this context, the demands for energy are becoming larger. Among the sources of energy, hydroelectricity occupies the largest share, which requires the gradual construction of dams. In all of its effects, we can count on severe impacts of social, ecological and symbolic order. In Brazil, there are few of medium and large rivers that have not been used on at least one point for the installation of hydroelectric facilities. According to the Movement of People Affected by Dams (MAB), the number of those who were expelled from their properties and living places because of those projects goes beyond one (1) million of Brazilians, of which about 70% of them have not their rights guaranteed. Thus, ultimately increasing the quota for the landless, jobless and without perspectives, increasing hunger, violence and misery. From the standpoint of symbolic and cultural aspects, it also exacerbates the consequences that occur as a result of these developments. This study takes a look at this scenario, trying to understand the logic behind the current energy model, so closely tied to capitalism, which is moved by profit at any cost. After examining the main impacts and conflicts generated by building dams - presented as a synonym for progress and development - it draws attention to the emergency of the submerged, that is, the regional organizations that led to the creation of the MAB (1991), with is now of national reach . The analysis of the subject is made against a background of two basic concepts, namely: sustainable development and ecological citizenship. The concepts and theoretical viewpoints, the multiple forms of resistance and complaints, the rights of those affected by dams, the achievements and proposals of the movement, its trajectory gives the structure of the other part of the approach. The objectives of the MAB and the fight are not restricted to seeking compensatory and remedial measures, but it turns to the construction of an energetic project, and ultimately to the establishment of a sustainable society, fair, solidary, democratic and respectful of the environment. For this dissertation, Water and Energy for Life, I used as a methodological resource, a participant observation, interviews with semi-structured scripts and the analysis of primary sources (documents, productions and the website of the movement). I have also made use of an extensive study of bibliography relative to the subject in consideration. I have started from the premise that the movement is an ideal place to build a political identity of those affected and to strengthen their citizenship, a situation which has proved largely true / Vivemos um período de crise ambiental sem precedentes. Ela resulta de uma opção desenvolvimentista baseada na exploração desmedida dos bens naturais, na concentração da riqueza e na exclusão social. Nesse contexto, as demandas por energia se tornam cada vez maiores. Entre as fontes energéticas, a hidroeletricidade ocupa a maior fatia, o que exige a construção progressiva de barragens. No conjunto dos seus efeitos, constam graves impactos de ordem social, ecológica e simbólica. No Brasil, são poucos os rios de médio e grande porte que ainda não foram barrados no mínimo em um ponto para a instalação de hidrelétricas. De acordo com o Movimento dos Atingidos por Barragens (MAB), a cifra dos que foram expulsos de suas propriedades e locais de vida por tais projetos já transcende um (1) milhão de brasileiros, sendo que cerca de 70% deles não têm seus direitos garantidos. Dessa maneira, acabam por aumentar o contingente dos sem terra, sem trabalho e sem perspectivas, ampliando a fome, a violência e a miséria. Do ponto de vista simbólico e cultural, também são agudas as conseqüências que se verificam em virtude desses empreendimentos. A presente pesquisa lança um olhar sobre este cenário, tentando entender a lógica subjacente ao modelo energético vigente, vinculado de modo estreito ao capitalismo, o qual se move pelo lucro a qualquer custo. Após averiguar os principais impactos e conflitos gerados com a construção de hidrelétricas apresentadas como sinônimo de progresso e desenvolvimento atenta-se para a emergência dos submersos, ou seja, das organizações regionais que desembocaram na criação do MAB (1991), com atuação nacional. A análise do tema é feita tendo como pano de fundo dois conceitos básicos, quais sejam: desenvolvimento sustentável e cidadania ecológica. As concepções e posicionamentos teóricos, as múltiplas formas de resistências e denúncias, a defesa dos direitos dos atingidos por barragens, as conquistas e proposições concretas do Movimento ao longo de sua trajetória dão a estrutura da outra parte da abordagem. Os objetivos e a luta do MAB não se restringem à busca de medidas paliativas e compensatórias, mas se volta para a construção de um projeto energético distinto e, em última instância, para a instauração de uma sociedade sustentável, justa, solidária, democrática e protetora do meio ambiente. Para a elaboração da tese Água e Energia para a Vida, utilizei como recurso metodológico a observação participante, a entrevista com roteiros semi-estruturados e a análise de fontes primárias (documentos, produções e site do Movimento). Também desenvolvi estudo de amplo acervo bibliográfico em conexão com o tema em foco. Parti do pressuposto de que o Movimento é um espaço privilegiado para construir a identidade política dos atingidos e fortalecer a sua cidadania, hipótese que se mostrou amplamente verdadeira

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-26T14:52:39Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Dirceu Beninca.pdf: 4921640 bytes, checksum: b769dd57f76fb4f3646436fdbc372b51 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010-03-03 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / We live in a period of unprecedented environmental crisis. It results from a developmental option based on overexploitation of natural resources, the concentration of wealth and social exclusion. In this context, the demands for energy are becoming larger. Among the sources of energy, hydroelectricity occupies the largest share, which requires the gradual construction of dams. In all of its effects, we can count on severe impacts of social, ecological and symbolic order. In Brazil, there are few of medium and large rivers that have not been used on at least one point for the installation of hydroelectric facilities. According to the Movement of People Affected by Dams (MAB), the number of those who were expelled from their properties and living places because of those projects goes beyond one (1) million of Brazilians, of which about 70% of them have not their rights guaranteed. Thus, ultimately increasing the quota for the landless, jobless and without perspectives, increasing hunger, violence and misery. From the standpoint of symbolic and cultural aspects, it also exacerbates the consequences that occur as a result of these developments. This study takes a look at this scenario, trying to understand the logic behind the current energy model, so closely tied to capitalism, which is moved by profit at any cost. After examining the main impacts and conflicts generated by building dams - presented as a synonym for progress and development - it draws attention to the emergency of the submerged, that is, the regional organizations that led to the creation of the MAB (1991), with is now of national reach . The analysis of the subject is made against a background of two basic concepts, namely: sustainable development and ecological citizenship. The concepts and theoretical viewpoints, the multiple forms of resistance and complaints, the rights of those affected by dams, the achievements and proposals of the movement, its trajectory gives the structure of the other part of the approach. The objectives of the MAB and the fight are not restricted to seeking compensatory and remedial measures, but it turns to the construction of an energetic project, and ultimately to the establishment of a sustainable society, fair, solidary, democratic and respectful of the environment. For this dissertation, Water and Energy for Life, I used as a methodological resource, a participant observation, interviews with semi-structured scripts and the analysis of primary sources (documents, productions and the website of the movement). I have also made use of an extensive study of bibliography relative to the subject in consideration. I have started from the premise that the movement is an ideal place to build a political identity of those affected and to strengthen their citizenship, a situation which has proved largely true / Vivemos um período de crise ambiental sem precedentes. Ela resulta de uma opção desenvolvimentista baseada na exploração desmedida dos bens naturais, na concentração da riqueza e na exclusão social. Nesse contexto, as demandas por energia se tornam cada vez maiores. Entre as fontes energéticas, a hidroeletricidade ocupa a maior fatia, o que exige a construção progressiva de barragens. No conjunto dos seus efeitos, constam graves impactos de ordem social, ecológica e simbólica. No Brasil, são poucos os rios de médio e grande porte que ainda não foram barrados no mínimo em um ponto para a instalação de hidrelétricas. De acordo com o Movimento dos Atingidos por Barragens (MAB), a cifra dos que foram expulsos de suas propriedades e locais de vida por tais projetos já transcende um (1) milhão de brasileiros, sendo que cerca de 70% deles não têm seus direitos garantidos. Dessa maneira, acabam por aumentar o contingente dos sem terra, sem trabalho e sem perspectivas, ampliando a fome, a violência e a miséria. Do ponto de vista simbólico e cultural, também são agudas as conseqüências que se verificam em virtude desses empreendimentos. A presente pesquisa lança um olhar sobre este cenário, tentando entender a lógica subjacente ao modelo energético vigente, vinculado de modo estreito ao capitalismo, o qual se move pelo lucro a qualquer custo. Após averiguar os principais impactos e conflitos gerados com a construção de hidrelétricas apresentadas como sinônimo de progresso e desenvolvimento atenta-se para a emergência dos submersos, ou seja, das organizações regionais que desembocaram na criação do MAB (1991), com atuação nacional. A análise do tema é feita tendo como pano de fundo dois conceitos básicos, quais sejam: desenvolvimento sustentável e cidadania ecológica. As concepções e posicionamentos teóricos, as múltiplas formas de resistências e denúncias, a defesa dos direitos dos atingidos por barragens, as conquistas e proposições concretas do Movimento ao longo de sua trajetória dão a estrutura da outra parte da abordagem. Os objetivos e a luta do MAB não se restringem à busca de medidas paliativas e compensatórias, mas se volta para a construção de um projeto energético distinto e, em última instância, para a instauração de uma sociedade sustentável, justa, solidária, democrática e protetora do meio ambiente. Para a elaboração da tese Água e Energia para a Vida, utilizei como recurso metodológico a observação participante, a entrevista com roteiros semi-estruturados e a análise de fontes primárias (documentos, produções e site do Movimento). Também desenvolvi estudo de amplo acervo bibliográfico em conexão com o tema em foco. Parti do pressuposto de que o Movimento é um espaço privilegiado para construir a identidade política dos atingidos e fortalecer a sua cidadania, hipótese que se mostrou amplamente verdadeira

In this thesis, Lisa Figge analyzes the political space of ecological citizenship by theorizing her art practice. Beginning with an Arendtian lens, Figge creates projects in the vein of New Genre Public Art, to trace the qualitatively-distinct activities of the public sphere, in which ecological citizens appear. The art practices of Mierle Laderman Ukeles, Colette Urban, Pat Aylesworth, Helen and Newton Harrison help move this critique along. Then, taking Judith Butler’s thinking on the bond between speech and action, or speech acts, Figge situates her art practice and thesis writing as an account of herself as an ecological citizen. Figge is interested in finding ways to multiply opportunities, for her and others, to perform concerned engagement with the world. In order to begin this process Figge acts out and analyses her three art interventions: Madame E and her suit of environmentally conscious a(r)mour, Ecological Citizen in Training, and 86 Hands on Wolfe Island. In giving an account of herself, she shows how our aptitude for sorting things should not be used to override our capacity to make a meaningful life. The art exhibition Dust to Dust, 2010 is the twin of this accounting, which was held at Queen’s University’s Union Gallery. / Thesis (Master, Environmental Studies) -- Queen's University, 2010-09-06 18:48:33.277