Thesis (M.A.)--University of Oregon, 2005. / Typescript. Includes vita and abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 121-129). Also available for download via the World Wide Web; free to University of Oregon users.

This thesis critiques mainstream environmentalism and pushes for Grassroots Struggle and Hope during an Era of Escalating Catastrophe.

In Hong Kong, 'green living' (luksik saangwut) is promoted as a way of living that is kind to the Earth and good to the people. It is a grassroots movement that encourages people to take personal responsibility for the environment and the society at large. While most studies of Asia's environmental movements focus on green groups' lobbying tactics and mobilisation strategies, this thesis pays serious attention to individuals' experience of living a green life. Although Hong Kong's green culture is highly influenced by the global appeal to sustainability and environmental protection, its specificities are shaped by the city's social and political climate in a unique historical conjuncture. By focusing on individual experience and their practices of green living in the everyday, I argue that green living in Hong Kong is best understood as 'technologies of the self' wherein new environmental, social, and political subjectivities are formed among the ordinary people. The perceived reciprocity between the act of healing nature and the healing power of nature is an essential element in the formation of green subjectivity in Hong Kong. Not only does green living help people heal and transform themselves, it has also given rise to an embodied politics (santai likhang) that enables people to reimagine a social and political 'otherwise'. Such embodied politics has come to represent a politics of hope that empowers people to confront with the politics of fear that has been looming over Hong Kong since the former British colony was returned to China in 1997. In light of this background, I argue that what the Hong Kong people want to sustain is not just the natural environment, but also the social norms and the ways of living that are thought to distinguish themselves from their counterparts in mainland China.

abstract: This dissertation analyzes the way in which leaders of certain Taiwanese Buddhist organizations associated with a strand of Buddhist modernism called "humanistic Buddhism" use discourse and rhetoric to make environmentalism meaningful to their members. It begins with an assessment of the field of religion and ecology, situating it in the context of secular environmental ethics. It identifies rhetoric and discourse as important but under acknowledged elements in literature on environmental ethics, both religious and secular, and relates this lack of attention to rhetoric to the presence of a problematic gap between environmental ethics theory and environmentalist practice. This dissertation develops a methodology of rhetorical analysis that seeks to assess how rhetoric contributes to alleviating this gap in religious environmentalism. In particular, this dissertation analyzes the development of environmentalism as a major element of humanistic Buddhist groups in Taiwan and seeks to show that a rhetorical analysis helps demonstrate how these organizations have sought to make environmentalism a meaningful subject of contemporary Buddhist religiosity. This dissertation will present an extended analysis of the concept of "spiritual environmentalism," a term developed and promoted by the late Ven. Shengyan (1930-2009), founder of the Taiwanese Buddhist organization Dharma Drum Mountain. Furthermore, this dissertation suggests that the rhetorical methodology proposed herein offers offers a direction for scholars to more effectively engage with religion and ecology in ways that address both descriptive/analytic approaches and constructive engagements with various forms of religious environmentalism. / Dissertation/Thesis / Ph.D. Religious Studies 2012

The fossil fuel divestment movement is a directed-network campaign that strategically uses economic and ethical arguments to challenge the social license of the fossil fuel industry. Fossil fuel divestment campaigns have become an induction point for the youth climate movement in North America (Grady-Benson & Sarathy, 2015; Rowe et. al., 2016). The analytical and operational approaches to social change employed by the fossil fuel divestment movement are having a ripple effect on the political orientation of a new generation of activists and environmental leaders. This thesis explores concepts and practices of climate justice in the fossil fuel divestment movement on Canadian university campuses, as a flashpoint in the shifting terrain of environmentalism. The research uses qualitative methods to analyze three case study campaigns, as well as supplemental interviews from additional campaign members and national coordinating organizations like 350.org and the Canadian Youth Climate Coalition. This project contributes to a growing body of literature concerned with applied political theory (Rowe et. al., 2016; Schifeling & Hoffman, 2017) and the social impacts of fossil fuel divestment (Bratman et al, 2016; Grady-Benson & Sarathy, 2015; Mangat et al., 2018), providing new insight into the potential of divestment organizing to disrupt dominant narratives of mainstream environmentalism. Fossil fuel divestment organizers are articulating climate justice analysis that calls for transformative system change, including critiques of neoliberal capitalism that are predominantly grounded in climate justice approaches. / Graduate

FERREIRA, Isabelle Azevedo. Resistência e projeto: o ambientalismo na construção da identidade do movimento dos trabalhadores rurais sem terra. 2014. 141f. – Dissertação (Mestrado) – Universidade Federal do Ceará, Programa de Pós-graduação em Comunicação Social, Fortaleza (CE), 2014. / Submitted by Márcia Araújo (marcia_m_bezerra@yahoo.com.br) on 2015-12-22T11:51:24Z No. of bitstreams: 1 2014_dis_iaferreira.pdf: 1084662 bytes, checksum: c21f8edd51d012f3d3abe06ed46ea3b9 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Márcia Araújo(marcia_m_bezerra@yahoo.com.br) on 2015-12-22T12:25:34Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 2014_dis_iaferreira.pdf: 1084662 bytes, checksum: c21f8edd51d012f3d3abe06ed46ea3b9 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2015-12-22T12:25:34Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 2014_dis_iaferreira.pdf: 1084662 bytes, checksum: c21f8edd51d012f3d3abe06ed46ea3b9 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014 / Esta pesquisa faz uma reflexão sobre a constituição de um ambientalismo no Movimento dos Trabalhadores Rurais Sem Terra, considerando a incorporação do meio ambiente no projeto político do movimento e a existência de uma série de mudanças nas formas de articulação e mobilização dos movimentos sociais nas últimas décadas, que tem possibilitado novos aspectos para a cidadania e a constituição de novas identidades políticas e de valores para os movimentos (SHERER-WARREN, 2012). Desta forma, o objetivo principal é investigar a construção da identidade (BOGO, 2010; HALL, 2006; CASTELLS, 1999) do projeto político ambiental no Movimento dos Trabalhadores Rurais Sem Terra através da Campanha Permanente Contra o Agrotóxico e Pela Vida. Queremos ainda, de maneira específica, identificar e analisar os elementos que constituem o ambientalismo no MST (LEIS, 2004; VIGNATTI,2005; COSTA NETO, CANROBERT E CANAVESI, 2002; BORGES, 2007; NEGRI, 2005;MENDONÇA,2010), analisar a mobilização ambiental do MST no espaço público (HABERMAS, 1984; GOMES,2008), investigar como a Campanha Permanente contra o agrotóxico e pela vida dá visibilidade a agenda ambiental (MAIA, 2008; THOMPSON, 2008). Para investigar a construção destes processos, esta pesquisa será desenvolvida em três fases: pesquisa bibliográfica, análise documental (SILVA et al, 2009) e análise de conteúdo (FONSECA, 2011; Bardin, 1998). Desta forma, o trabalho está centrado na análise da comunicação desenvolvida pelo MST e da Campanha Permanente Contra o Agrotóxico e pela Vida, porque entendemos que esta campanha é a fase mais recente deste ambientalismo, na qual diversos movimentos rurais uniram-se a outras organizações para combater o uso indiscriminado de agrotóxico no campo, o agronegócio e apresentar uma alternativa ambiental ao campo. Entendemos que essa construção e atuação em rede de movimentos sociais é uma das características deste ambientalismo. Os resultados do projeto constatam que o ambientalismo no MST se desenvolve a partir de três pontos importantes: as Redes de Movimentos Sociais, a visibilidade e a cidadania comunicativa.

As climate change continues to permeate the current political discourse and its effects becomes increasingly visible, the way countries respond to the situation is crucial for determining the extent of future environmental degradation. The Paris Agreement is an attempt to mitigate and adapt to the situation, however the western values tied to it have been criticised. The effectiveness of democracy in environmental protection has been questioned, especially its ties to capitalism and individualism. This thesis uses the theory of authoritarian environmentalism to investigate this debate and see whether the claims have any legitimacy in the context of the Paris Agreement and the promises made in relation to it.     This thesis is a structured focused comparison which compares the policies and projects in three democratic and three autocratic African countries in close geographical proximity and similar environmental situations, to investigate if and in what way the type of government affects the promises made, and whether they are kept, to the Paris Agreement and its signatories. The indicators used for the thesis include policies and internationally funded projects, due to their accessibility, however it is worth noting that they only give a crude approximation of the activities and ambition in the countries, with several others having important roles.    The quality of the six countries’ Intended Nationally Determined Contributions is investigated and followed up with an evaluation of some of the projects active to examine if the countries are implementing their promised efforts, already in these early, yet important, stages of the Agreement. In addition, the theory is applied to the countries’ efforts and some conclusions are reached, including the overall good quality of the countries’ environmental work and confirming that authoritarian countries can produce quality policies, while still having lacking areas, similar to their democratic counterparts, pointing to the complexity of the topic.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-05-07T14:49:24Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 arquivototal.pdf: 1833685 bytes, checksum: fa466a45ec15cae9ce14b9c3244a34cf (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-02-20 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / João Pessoa is one of the few Brazilian capitals where there still remain significant preserved areas of Atlantic Coastal Rainforest, and the local environmental movement has won important causes that contributed to this difference, however today it can count on a few activists. Meanwhile, the crisis of representative democracy, and the demand for a political project with greater participation of society, has increased across the country. In João Pessoa, even though the municipality initiated instances of participation, the government is in a hybrid process of transformation between the traditional and authoritarian government with hierarchical relationships and vertical dominance of technocracy; and the innovative model of government with decentralized horizontal relationships, and constant dialogue with society. In this context, the present study aimed to investigate the relationship of environmental NGOs with the local government in the formulation of public policies on the environment. Through a quantitative and qualitative study, the research sought to examine, from the government's official discourse on NGOs, and their self perception, how this relationship and dialogue relates to building a participatory democracy. / João Pessoa é uma das capitais brasileiras que ainda conserva relevantes áreas de Mata Atlântica, e o movimento ambientalista local conquistou causas importantes que contribuíram para este diferencial, embora hoje ele conte com poucos ativistas. Ademais, a crise da democracia representativa, e a demanda por um projeto político com maior participação da sociedade, alarde em todo país. Em João Pessoa, mesmo com a instauração de instâncias de participação, o governo encontra-se num híbrido processo de transformação entre o modelo tradicional e autoritário de gestão, com relações hierárquicas verticais e o predomínio da tecnocracia; e o modelo inovador de gestão, com relações horizontais descentralizadas, e um diálogo constante com a sociedade. Neste contexto, a presente pesquisa objetivou investigar a relação das ONGs ambientalistas com o poder público local, na formulação de políticas públicas de meio ambiente. Por meio de uma pesquisa quanti-qualitativa, o trabalho buscou analisar, a partir do discurso oficial do governo sobre as ONGs, e da autopercepção delas, como ocorre essa relação e diálogo numa democracia participativa em construção.

This thesis focuses on the role of the Czech philosophy in the 20th century and the way it affected the formation of an environmental approach. It unveils the mutual connections betweens the natural sciences and philosophy and highlights the importance of a close link between various ideas about man and the world. An analysis of the content of selected books by Erazim Kohák and Josef Šmajs emphasizes the existential threat arising from a critical relationship between man and the world at large. Finally, it reminds of the change in the scale of human values as well as the need for man to redefine his position in the world today.

CoordenaÃÃo de AperfeÃoamento de Pessoal de NÃvel Superior / Esta pesquisa faz uma reflexÃo sobre a constituiÃÃo de um ambientalismo no Movimento dos Trabalhadores Rurais Sem Terra, considerando a incorporaÃÃo do meio ambiente no projeto polÃtico do movimento e a existÃncia de uma sÃrie de mudanÃas nas formas de articulaÃÃo e mobilizaÃÃo dos movimentos sociais nas Ãltimas dÃcadas, que tem possibilitado novos aspectos para a cidadania e a constituiÃÃo de novas identidades polÃticas e de valores para os movimentos (SHERER-WARREN, 2012). Desta forma, o objetivo principal à investigar a construÃÃo da identidade (BOGO, 2010; HALL, 2006; CASTELLS, 1999) do projeto polÃtico ambiental no Movimento dos Trabalhadores Rurais Sem Terra atravÃs da Campanha Permanente Contra o AgrotÃxico e Pela Vida. Queremos ainda, de maneira especÃfica, identificar e analisar os elementos que constituem o ambientalismo no MST (LEIS, 2004; VIGNATTI,2005; COSTA NETO, CANROBERT E CANAVESI, 2002; BORGES, 2007; NEGRI, 2005;MENDONÃA,2010), analisar a mobilizaÃÃo ambiental do MST no espaÃo pÃblico (HABERMAS, 1984; GOMES,2008), investigar como a Campanha Permanente contra o agrotÃxico e pela vida dà visibilidade a agenda ambiental (MAIA, 2008; THOMPSON, 2008). Para investigar a construÃÃo destes processos, esta pesquisa serà desenvolvida em trÃs fases: pesquisa bibliogrÃfica, anÃlise documental (SILVA et al, 2009) e anÃlise de conteÃdo (FONSECA, 2011; Bardin, 1998). Desta forma, o trabalho està centrado na anÃlise da comunicaÃÃo desenvolvida pelo MST e da Campanha Permanente Contra o AgrotÃxico e pela Vida, porque entendemos que esta campanha à a fase mais recente deste ambientalismo, na qual diversos movimentos rurais uniram-se a outras organizaÃÃes para combater o uso indiscriminado de agrotÃxico no campo, o agronegÃcio e apresentar uma alternativa ambiental ao campo. Entendemos que essa construÃÃo e atuaÃÃo em rede de movimentos sociais à uma das caracterÃsticas deste ambientalismo. Os resultados do projeto constatam que o ambientalismo no MST se desenvolve a partir de trÃs pontos importantes: as Redes de Movimentos Sociais, a visibilidade e a cidadania comunicativa.