This is a multi-disciplinary applied ethics thesis in the field of applied environmental business ethics. As such, whilst it is primarily anchored in philosophical literature; theory and literature from the fields of environment, education, management, social science, and psychology, all play a significant part. As this is an applied ethics thesis, as opposed to a traditional philosophy thesis, it not only addresses the issue concerned, but also theoretically demonstrates how the proposed alternative approaches might be applied. Methodologically, the underpinning assumption for the thesis stems from the social constructionist belief that external influences can result in internal personal change. The overall thesis has been designed and structured taking a systems approach. As in nature itself, there is an overall aim or system, within which there are many interconnecting sub-systems or theories that can stand alone, but are also directly linked to each other so that my desired outcome can be achieved. In addition, the McCarthy/Kolb 4 Mat System of learning style preference has been embedded into the structure. Due to the multi-disciplinary and applied nature of the thesis, together with the aim and content of the study, a number of specific writing techniques have been employed. These techniques are intended to model some of the recommended strategies, and include inclusive language where possible, and a minimum amount of assumed knowledge, with narratives and stories sprinkled throughout each chapter, where relevant. Finally, a number of established theories have been used to support my proposal for a Heart-Centred Virtue Ethics. The foundation theory is virtue-based ethics, with a primary focus on the work of David Hume, and to a lesser extent Aristotle. This foundation theory is, in turn, supported by a number of dimensions of environmental philosophy including ecofeminism, ethics of care, and the transformational aspect of deep ecology. The relatively new management field of emotional intelligence also plays a major role. The context in which the thesis is set is sustainability from an organisational perspective, and the motivations for caring for nature, which are generally based on externally imposed, content-driven rules, from an anthropocentric perspective. However, I argue that the ideal motivation for caring for nature is based internally, on environmental virtue. Thus, people are taking care of the environment because in their heart they want to, not begrudgingly because externally imposed rules say that they have to. I suggest that movement through various levels of motivation to virtue might occur with an increase in ecological consciousness. In support of these claims, the main elements of environmental philosophy are discussed, and the relevant theories of virtue are presented, including environmental virtue. It is then argued that virtue per se is not enough – that for one to be environmentally virtuous, one needs to have some kind of relationship with nature. To that end, the tenets of ecofeminism, and ethics of care, both based on the notion of relationship, are introduced. However, the dilemma is then presented; “How do you persuade the predominantly male business community of the benefits of the so-called soft skills of virtue, ecofeminism, and ethics of care?” An answer comes in the form of the new management field of emotional intelligence that is gaining acceptance amongst leading-edge organisations worldwide. Having introduced the concept of emotional intelligence, I then demonstrate that the main characteristics and aims of emotional intelligence are virtually identical to those of ethics of care and virtue, and ecofeminism. Therefore, initially the aims of these philosophies can be achieved within the business community, under the guise of emotional intelligence. With all the relevant theories firmly in place, I then return to the notion of raising ecological consciousness, and argue that one way that ecological consciousness might be raised is with a process-oriented, action strategy, that I call Heart-Centred Virtue Ethics. I then theoretically explore the application of heart-centred virtue ethics which is primarily based on emotional intelligence implementation strategies, combined with some intellectual intelligence procedures, and a third ingredient, meta-intelligence.

[Truncated introduction] This thesis will introduce Petra Karin Kelly, former Green politician and campaigner for social justice and environmental issues to an English-speaking audience as an important figure in the development of ideas relating to ecofeminism, nonviolence, and Green politics and utopias. Kelly, born in 1947 in Germany, spent the latter half of her childhood in the United States, and attended university there before returning to Europe. While working with the European Community in Brussels, Kelly became involved in grassroots politics in Germany and was one of the co-founders of the German green party, Die Grunen, (literally: the Greens) in 1979. She was to become a formidable politician through her passion for grassroots politics, nonviolence and feminism and her excellent leadership skills. Later ostracised by the party, due in part to her inability and unwillingness to conform to party rules, Kelly worked independently, giving speeches and promoting peace and the importance of human rights. However, at the age of 44, she was murdered by her partner, Gert Bastian, who then shot himself. It should be noted that texts so far written on Petra Kelly have been essentially biographies, which, while encompassing much of her academic and political life, focus heavily upon her personal life, in particular her relationships with married men, and her long term relationship with former NATO General Gert Bastian ... Therefore, the aim of the dissertation is not to ignore the importance of personal matters, rather to ensure a professional approach towards them. For this reason, the focus of this sociopolitical and sociohistorical thesis is upon the elements of ecofeminism, nonviolence and utopia as they relate to Petra Kelly’s politics, both within her role with Die Grunen and in her political life outside of German parliament.

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Text in Afrikaans / This research deals with the artist's contribution towards the current process of ecological purification through which mankind's attention are brought to the destructive maintenance of the planet. The alchemical artist uses purification as a means to make social comments on the lifestyle of the contemporary person, through the aestheticism of objects. The different manifestations of ceo-feministic thought within environmental activism are explored to make the reader aware of the diversity of ceo-feministic thought. Eco-feminism in general, tries to promote the importance of the earth as a life supporting system by respecting her needs, cycles, energies and eco-systems. As a result of this process, the public are invited to take part in recycle-art through which a change in attitude towards purification and the survival of the planet, are being accomplished / Art History, Visual Arts and Musicology / M.A. (Visual Arts)

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A social-constructionist ecofeminist perspective argues that patriarchal society separates the human (or culture) from nature, which causes a false assumption that humanity possesses the right, as a superior species, to dominate nature. This perspective integrates the domination of nature with social conflicts, including but not limited to racial discrimination, gender oppression, and class hierarchies. Understanding how these various forms of oppression interrelate forms the main goal of an ecofeminist perspective. Since the nature-culture, female-male, and whitenonwhite conflicts resonate and interlock throughout South Africa's history, socialconstructionist ecofeminism is an indispensable perspective for analysing South African literature. This thesis takes a social-constructionist ecofeminist approach and applies it to four women authors that write about South African society between the years 1860-1900. This thesis includes the following authors and their works: Olive Schreiner (1855-1920) and two of her novels, The Story of an African Farm (1883) and From Man to Man (published posthumously in 1927); Pauline Smith (1882-1959) and her novel The Beadle (1926); Dalene Matthee (1938- ) and three of her novels, Circles in a Forest (1984), Fiela's Child (1986), and The Mulberry Forest (1987); and Marguerite Poland (1950- ) and one of her novels, Shades (1993). This thesis investigates two women from the time period (Schreiner and Smith) and two women from a late twentieth century perspective (Matthee and Poland) and compares how they depict the natural environment, how they construct gender, and how they interpret class and race power struggles. This thesis concludes that the social-constructionist perspective offers unique insights into these four authors. Schreiner's novels reveal her concerns about gender and racial conflicts in South Africa and her understanding of the nature-culture dichotomy as sustained by Social Darwinism. Smith offers insights into the complex power structures in a rural Afrikaans society that keep women and nonwhite races silent. Matthee writes nature as an active participant in her novels; the social and ecological conflicts emphasise the transformation of the Knysna area. Poland explores the racial tensions, gender conflicts, and environmental concerns that preceded the South African War. Schreiner, Smith, Matthee, and Poland make up a small cross-section of South African literature, but they provide a basis for further discussing the ecofeminist perspective within a South African context. / KMBT_363 / Adobe Acrobat 9.54 Paper Capture Plug-in

(English) By the time the liberals triumphantly proclaimed the end of history, some environmentalists started to mobilize the public against western modernity by proclaiming the end of nature. For many people, the environmentalist agenda meant a new ideology that could exceed the classical ones; many, on the other hand, understood environmentalism as radically anti-ideological. In this thesis, I'll focus on the relationship between nature and society that lies in the core of both, environmental thought and modern emancipatory projects. I'll try to expose the inherent contradictions that the environmental discourse inherited from liberalism and Marxism.

This report addresses the environmental discourse of the current comprehensive plan of Stockholm, The Walkable City, and in what ways it can be developed following an ecofeminist framework. With a foundation in a critical perspective on current processes of urbanization, ecofeminist theory, and an interest in the potential in utopian thought, this thesis attempts to assist the comprehensive plan in finding alternative ways of approaching the urban development of the city, in search for social and environmental justice through increased citizen participation. Ecofeminists argue that economic growth is conditioned by and enforces colonial and patriarchal relations between humans, and between humans and nature. The current global process of urbanization is an integral part in sustaining the economic growth, making cities an important area to address in search of other relations. Sustainable development has been put forth as a way to relieve the negative social and environmental effects of the economic system, and has informed much urban policy-making. Urban policy, such as comprehensive plans, shape the path of urban development. The main strategy of the current comprehensive plan of Stockholm is ”sustainable growth”. This thesis analyses the components that make out the strategy of sustainable growth in order to understand why it is problematic. Further, it engages in participatory scenario generation using an ecofeminist framework, to find new ideas and paths for a sustainable urban development in Stockholm. The conclusions that are found comprise the positive notion that there are great chances to develop the notion and strategies for sustainability through workshops with stakeholders. While the overall course of development of the scenarios may be too far from our current reality to be easily implemented, there are several suggestions with great potential even in our current context. Furthermore, the results point out important directions in which to develop the plan in a longer perspective, that concern a fundamental restructuring of the political economy along more socially and environmentally sound lines that elevate the interconnectedness of humans and nature. This is a restructuring that makes economic growth according to the current model impossible, but that aims for equality between humans and far-reaching environmental protection. It is also pointed out that the deployment of a multitude of conflicting scenarios in planning would benefit both the urban development and democratic participation. / Denna studie hanterar miljödiskurser i den gällande översiktsplanen för Stockholm, Promenadstaden, och hur de kan utvecklas utefter ett ekofeministiskt ramverk. Med en grund i ett kritiskt perspektiv på samtida urbaniseringsprocesser, ekofeministisk teori, och ett intresse i den potential som vilar i utopiskt tänkande, avser detta arbete vara översiktsplanen behjälplig i att hitta alternativa vägar att närma sig stadens utveckling, på jakt efter social och miljörättvisa genom ökat medborgardeltagande. Ekofeminister menar att ekonomisk tillväst villkoras av och förstärker koloniala och patriarkala relationer mellan människor, och mellan människor och naturen. Den nuvarande globala urbaniseringsprocessen är en grundläggande del i att upprätthålla ekonomisk tillväxt, vilket gör städer till ett viktigt område att hantera ifall nya relationer ska etableras. Hållbar utveckling har framhävts som ett sätt att minska det ekonomiska systemets negativa sociala och miljöeffekter, och har därför haft stort inflytande över policys för stadsutveckling. Policys, som översiktsplaner, formar hur våra städer utvecklas. Den huvudsakliga strategin i Stockholms gällande översiktsplan är ”hållbar tillväxt”. Denna studie analyserar de delar som formar strategin hållbar tillväxt för att förstå varför den är problematisk. Vidare ägnas arbetet åt generering av framtidsscenarier med deltagare utifrån ett ekofeministiskt ramverk, för att finna nya idéer och spår för hållbar stadsutveckling i Stockholm. Slutsatserna omfattar den positiva uppfattningen att det finns goda chanser att utveckla formuleringen av och strategierna för att nå hållbarhet genom workshops med deltagare. Även om den övergripande utvecklingsinriktningen i scenarierna ligger alltför långt ifrån vår nuvarande verklighet för att med lätthet implementeras finns det fortfarande många konkreta förslag med god potential redan idag. Vidare pekar resultaten ut viktiga riktningar för planens utveckling i ett längre perspektiv, vilka har att göra med en grundläggande omstrukturering av den politiska ekonomin i enlighet med en mer socialt och miljömässigt förnuftig riktning, där mänsklighetens och naturens ofrånkomliga sammanlänkning upphöjs. Det är en omstrukturering som gör ekonomisk tillväxt enligt nuvarande modell omöjlig, men som eftersträvar jämlikhet mellan människor och ett långtgående miljöskydd. Det påpekas vidare i rapporten att nyttjandet av motstridiga scenarier i planering skulle bidra både till stadsutveckling och demokratiskt deltagande, där de konflikter planering präglas av blottläggs.

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The ecological crisis and gender inequality are two serious problems in society today and a study conjoining them can contribute to a deeper understanding surrounding the issues. This paper argues that there is a relation between these problems with the support of ecofeminist theory. This relation can be analysed in literature and in the following study the colombian novel La Vorágine (1924), by José Eustasio Rivera, works as the base of interpretation since its main theme is the Amazonian jungle and its relation to humans. The objective of this study is to firstly, interpret and analyse the descriptions of nature and how it relates to the feminine sphere, secondly analyse the correlation between them in the question of domination and finally, look at how the masculine play a role in this relation. This writing concludes after the hermeneutic analysis, that feminine associations can be detected in the descriptions of nature and a correlation between the domination of women and the exploitation of the jungle in the story is visible, since both phenomena’s occupy a similar position within the patriarchal society. It also concludes that the masculine plays an important part, the white man acts as the exploiter of the female and nature. But they are at the same time not a homogenous group, and have different roles depending on class. The feminine characters are likewise not a homogenous group. / La crisis ambiental y la desigualdad entre los géneros son dos problemas graves en la sociedad actual y un estudio conjunto de ambos puede contribuir a una comprensión más profunda de estas cuestiones. La tesina que sigue se basa en el marco teórico del ecofeminismo y su idea de que existe una relación entre estos dos problemas. Esta relación puede ser analizada en la literatura, y en este estudio se parte de la novela de José Eustasio Rivera, La Vorágine (1924), ya que su tema principal es la selva amazónica y su relación con el ser humano. El objetivo de esta tesina es, en primer lugar, analizar e interpretar las descripciones de la naturaleza y cómo esta se relaciona con la esfera femenina. En segundo lugar, analizar la correlación entre ambas en lo que se refiere a la dominación. Finalmente, ver cómo aparece el papel de lo masculino en esta relación. Después de un análisis llevado a cabo con el método hermenéutico, se concluye que se detectan asociaciones con lo femenino en las descripciones de la selva y una correlación entre la dominación de la mujer y la explotación de la selva en la historia de la obra, ya que parece que se encuentran en situaciones similares en la sociedad patriarcal. Se concluye también que lo masculino tiene un papel importante. Por un lado, el hombre blanco actúa como explotador de lo femenino y de los recursos naturales, pero por otro lado, el masculino no es un grupo homogéneo y su papel cambia según la clase social, algo que también ocurre con los personajes femeninos.