1 |
Before any truth, there is a judgment that is not objective |
2 |
truths are fabrications of power |
3 |
power (2) |
4 |
imposes ‘truth’ as a means of control |
5 |
Fake news demonize today’s youth |
6 |
The market has emerged as the source of truths |
7 |
The view from statistics |
8 |
Do we (you) get involved in the repet**ive collection of some irrelevant data? |
9 |
Statistics |
10 |
shape cultures |
11 |
have become crucial |
12 |
development tools |
13 |
often used unknowingly by development experts to further entrench the Northern development discourse |
14 |
statistics are political technologies that |
15 |
translate into truth |
16 |
technocracy has conveniently forgotten human and nature’s rights |
17 |
technocrats (mis)lead us |
18 |
ignoring |
19 |
HR (2) |
20 |
A sub-view from Big Data |
21 |
Big data are becoming an instrument of psycho-political control |
22 |
the corporation |
23 |
its ma***ive acc***ulation of data |
24 |
Social movements need to |
25 |
act! (2) |
26 |
Algorithmic Injustice |
27 |
Algorithmic decision-making |
28 |
being deployed in |
29 |
social domains |
30 |
working behind the scenes |
31 |
what responsibilities and obligations do we bear |
32 |
? (22) |
33 |
Algorithms can purportedly avoid biased decision making |
34 |
the use of AI systems often replicates historical and contemporary conditions of injustice |
35 |
Algorithmic systems are simply not neutral |
36 |
need watchdog groups |
37 |
to monitor |
38 |
machine learning |
39 |
Algorithms |
40 |
creating a pernicious and worrisome feedback loop in which social injustice is not only replicated but, in fact, further entrenched. |
41 |
these systems continue to perpetuate those very conditions under the guise of neutrality. |
42 |
society as a whole |
43 |
to ask the deeper ex-ante questions, e.g., should we even use weak AI in the social domain at all? |
44 |
algorithmic decision making will continue to entrench social injustice |
45 |
The view from the social media |
46 |
internet |
47 |
the loudest voices prevail |
48 |
not giving enough (or any) time to think about humankind, HR and nature |
49 |
subst**uted debate with insult and fake news |
50 |
‘persuasion-and-manip****tion-media. |
51 |
we loose so much time dealing with the branches to evade what is really important |
52 |
social media are too often but an echo chamber of half truths |
53 |
We cannot be caught off guard in the battle for a ‘market share’ of the public mind |
54 |
give HR a better chance in the super highway |
55 |
The view from journalism |
56 |
Reporting has given way to opinion |
57 |
opinion becomes certainty |
58 |
freedom of expression |
59 |
The ‘great dis-informers’ of the public opinion |
60 |
devoted to defend the status-quo |
61 |
Journalism |
62 |
has become cheap currency |
63 |
It s thus urgent to change this state of affairs |
64 |
our collective views easily become ‘invented memory’ |
65 |
the judicial system |
66 |
fails the HR of those rendered poor |
67 |
(HR) activists; the challenge is to link them |
68 |
the HR movement opposes the neoliberal approaches in place and |
69 |
shares the same strategic enemy |
70 |
Collective action is indispensible |
71 |
for keeping HR |
72 |
at the very forefront |
73 |
a tall order |
74 |
activists (3) |
75 |
determine whether |
76 |
HR are having an actual impact |
77 |
the content ought not only to be aspirational, but mobilizing |
78 |
The HR community |
79 |
provides the perfect platform |
80 |
If HR activists believe that such networking is utopian |
81 |
they should |
82 |
say so |
83 |
The discussion on HR activism’s contents must depart from |
84 |
acknowledging that |
85 |
the powerless cannot do much |
86 |
In many cases the powerful actually exploit the powerless, particularly because claim holders are not broadly |
87 |
mobilized |
88 |
There is not much value in a coalition of organizations and militants who meet merely to discuss among themselves though… |
89 |
They treat us as ‘opiniologists’ |
90 |
A couple caveats here: |
91 |
Too often, the aim is clear, but |
92 |
The last thing a HR activist should loose |
93 |
A word of caution for activists: |
94 |
And then, there are the scholars in the human rights movement |
95 |
When scholars***p and activism compete |
96 |
Scholars***p will have limited influence if it is restricted to cla***rooms and professional journals |
97 |
and/or conferences |
98 |
need |
99 |
action-oriented keynote speakers |
100 |
The world is run by the people who show up! |
101 |
‘do or perish’ |
102 |
Go to the people! |
103 |
Bottom line here then is: |
104 |
By definition, one cannot empower someone else! Claim holders have to do it by themselves |
105 |
Power cannot be given |
106 |
Empowerment is at once a personal and a group process |
107 |
claim holders cannot depend on someone doing something for them |
108 |
A lot of opening of minds will be needed |
109 |
people to dig deeper into their emotions to hold onto their views. |
110 |
little |
111 |
can be achieved by bombarding |
112 |
with |
113 |
‘facts’ |
114 |
old and new wisdom mix admirably |
115 |
To tell someone they are wrong, first tell them they are right”: |
116 |
we must take note from what side s/he views the matter |
117 |
admit that truth to them, but also reveal to them the side on which their perception is false |
118 |
no one likes to be mistaken |
119 |
I am a ‘possibilist’ |
120 |
got to pull together |
121 |
Choose people in your life who are gutsier than you |
122 |
There are three cla***es of people |
123 |
a) (6) |
124 |
b) (6) |
125 |
c) (6) |
126 |
More foot soldiers, not only a few generals |
127 |
Do not underestimate: |
128 |
Most people |
129 |
Experience shows |
130 |
Finally |
131 |
One national public interest CSO ought to act as an umbrella HR organization |
132 |
giving other CSOs novel ideas |
133 |
brings members to a common ground |
134 |
In the cla*** from which most of us come from, overriding emphasis is placed on preserving the status-quo |
135 |
particular interests of a certain social cla*** |
136 |
impose them as if they were the interests of society as a whole |
137 |
domination intentions |
138 |
laws |
139 |
nothing but the expression of |
140 |
the dominant group |
141 |
Changing the const**ution is |
142 |
a political issue |
143 |
Political economy is |
144 |
we cannot thus look at political actors |
145 |
without looking at their |
146 |
cla*** |
147 |
Their ident**y is always embedded in a |
148 |
political framework |
149 |
corruption |
150 |
“If you pay peanuts you get monkeys; if you pay truffles you get pigs”. |
151 |
A great majority of people |
152 |
have long stored-up deep feelings of |
153 |
oppression |
154 |
stem from defeats |
155 |
suffered |
156 |
in a cla*** hierarchy |
157 |
Our current day drama centers around the fact that while domination is exerted in an articulated way, the forces of resistance are fragmented |
158 |
And how many anti-racist movements and organizations were not, at some point, s***ist and pro-capitalist? |
159 |
As long as |
160 |
fragmented resistance is maintained, it will not be possible to leave the capitalist |
161 |
h**** |
162 |
a***ess if those critiques have contributed or not to even further deepen the fragmentation |
163 |
find the angle |
164 |
that does not give the forces of the Right |
165 |
more |
166 |
weapons to increase their |
167 |
attack |
168 |
there is a dialectical relations***p |
169 |
we have to build on |
170 |
Perceived anarchy |
171 |
not about chaos |
172 |
The problem with political jokes is they get elected |
173 |
Does voting make any sense? |
174 |
While people vote |
175 |
it is not just the economy that influences them: “It is inequality, stupid”, it is the violation of HR |
176 |
that will be what will hopefully mobilize young people to vote |
177 |
I am left with a few questions here |
178 |
slow re-politization |
179 |
claim holders breaking the silence |
180 |
economic and intellectual liberation of claim holder |
181 |
politically conscious scholars |
182 |
Does anything of substance change |
183 |
The human rights struggle is about turning human suffering into history rather than destiny |
184 |
Our approach must be political |
185 |
governments |
186 |
embarra*** them! |
187 |
Will it be |
188 |
the street |
189 |
where we will find the essential truths? Who defines the stage where the game against neoliberalism with its HR violations will be played? |
190 |
It will most probably neither be |
191 |
philosophers nor us |
192 |
who will define the stage |
193 |
The stage will be set by a ma*** movement |
194 |
that will |
195 |
struggle in the squares and the streets |
196 |
Injustice and violence always comes from above |
197 |
times when national sovereignty |
198 |
hiding grave suffering and HR violations |
199 |
We are thus called to fight same-wars-in-different-fronts |
200 |
urgent |
201 |
World elites have already joined forces |
202 |
In the struggle for limited resources, who has more chances? The more organized |
203 |
Bottom line: |
204 |
defined political and economic objectives. …Do you have such? |
205 |
“Tell me what you presume to be and I will tell you what you are not” |
206 |
HR workers envision what can be… How much slow progress can we all tolerate? |
207 |
Postscript/Marginalia (6) |
208 |
Marx has died. But Marx resuscitates annually |
209 |
– (2) |
210 |
he was a committed democrat |
211 |
no thinker should be treated as a fixed repository of ‘the truth’. Instead, Marx’s writings are an important resource to fall back-on. |
212 |
For him, the excess power of the executive branch was dangerous |
213 |
bureaucrats |
214 |
‘a cast’, ‘an army of parasites’ and ‘a cla*** of boot leakers’ |
215 |
It is thus imperative to him to replace the machinery of the state controlled by the dominant cla***es |
216 |
a radical political transformation. |
217 |
-The use of religion by the right wing |
218 |
hate against gender equality, against LGTBs, against abortion, against immigrants. |
219 |
Never forget: Much of external funding (deceptively called ‘foreign aid’) is spent on goods and expertise imported from the North |
220 |
External funders are good at |
221 |
‘paying for things’ |
222 |
development a***istance(?) has been a combination of money and ideas |
223 |
imposed on the South |
224 |
offering simplistic and politically neutral solutions |
225 |
wither human rights |
226 |
External funding cannot transform anti-democratic structures of power. |
227 |
gives the elites a greater stake |
228 |
contributes to increased powerlessness of the rendered poor |
229 |
In short: |
230 |
its objectives are strategic rather than humanitarian. Local elites |
231 |
strengthen their hold on power |
232 |
food aid |
233 |
treats the symptoms of poverty, not its causes |
234 |
Ponder |
235 |
Has the time come for recipient countries to impose reverse conditionalities? |
236 |
we must keep our eyes constantly open |
237 |
this funding |
238 |
purporting to ‘aid’ |
239 |
Procrastination |
240 |
is the lifeblood of the status-quo |
241 |
this also calls for fighting for a more democratic governance at the international level |
242 |
Global governance is a broad concept relating to (regulating?) the functioning of international inst**utions generally |
243 |
Global governance |
244 |
depends on it being accepted by a majority |
245 |
But it is a political myth |
246 |
the representativeness of global governance a myth |
247 |
The myth continues with a***uming there is such a thing as all global civil society backing global governance. |
248 |
useful |
249 |
for wide public consumption |
250 |
the lack of a global antagonist |
251 |
the |
252 |
idea that CSOs are the transmission belt from-the-local-to-the-global |
253 |
is really larger than life |
254 |
it lends a fake legitimacy |
255 |
collective deaf-to-gra***roots-claim-holders-demands |
256 |
Selected CSOs have become willing partic****nts and have thus perpetuated the myth. |
257 |
only some CSOs are included in a meeting and others are left out for opaque reasons |
258 |
CSO partic****tion too often depoliticizes global governance. |
259 |
likely to be coopted and tamed |
260 |
–wither HR. |
261 |
This all challenges how we think about the so-called ‘CSO-community’ |
262 |
Global governance fora have thus reinforced exclusionary practices fostering power hierarchies within civil society |
263 |
CSOs |
264 |
reproduce the North-South divide |
265 |
not routinely serving as oppositional or corrective forces |
266 |
the mythical narrative remains unchallenged. |
267 |
–wither HR |
268 |
Response to an article written by the internationally known scientist John Scales Avery for the Transcend Media Service |
269 |
Government and corporate policies |
270 |
determining |
271 |
human rights (HR) policy |
272 |
impact of this relations***p |
273 |
craving for profit |
274 |
characterizes development policy making |
275 |
technologies: they are not neutral |
276 |
private foreign investment |
277 |
served the needs of a rich elite |
278 |
Socially and HR appropriate technology does exist! It: |
279 |
a) will |
280 |
d) |
281 |
e) |
282 |
common good |
283 |
is |
284 |
reached when the private interest |
285 |
is subordinated to the public interest |
286 |
unrestrained pursuit of profit of the 1% |
287 |
violence of big corporations and individuals against the 99%. |
288 |
There is no common good |
289 |
when TNCs capture politicians |
290 |
this ‘politico-enterprise corruption’ has also now crossed over to men in uniform |
291 |
economic development |
292 |
meant applying directed-social-transformation-measures |
293 |
If only we can demonetize the goals of development |
294 |
social gain can indeed justify economic costs |
295 |
Linking current development indicators to gains in GDP |
296 |
Deterministic development vs sustainable development |
297 |
The role of international organizations in development will remain modest |
298 |
reflects the priorities and goals of the countries rendered rich |
299 |
development (2) |
300 |
legitimizes or delegitimizes (mostly) knowledge |
301 |
proposed by claim holders. |
302 |
Do not be fooled: |
303 |
It is non-technical conflicts that have impeded long-term disparity reduction. |
304 |
take home message |
305 |
The |
306 |
United Nations was built on a concept of sustainable development that is exactly the opposite of globalization |
307 |
UN |
308 |
concept |
309 |
everybody taking part in it was going to be more |
310 |
in |
311 |
globalization |
312 |
everybody would have more |
313 |
Just ponder: |
314 |
alternative of social protection |
315 |
a ‘new social contract’ is what is now being called |
316 |
Beware: (2) |
317 |
Bottom line (4) |
318 |
Any policy has three components |
319 |
Human rights have, at best, been over-studied and under-acted upon. |
320 |
We have too often tended to mistake endless negotiations on HR for action |
321 |
false premise …false promises |
322 |
development failure is measured in continued marginalization, misery and death |
323 |
the changes to push |
324 |
will only come from an organized pop****r movement |
325 |
global in scope |
326 |
dispel a myth: |
327 |
Eleven Sins Against Humanity (and against HR) |
328 |
As used today, the Food Systems concept is a non-political attempt to make issues technical |
329 |
The UN |
330 |
propagating a disappointingly narrow interpretation of what nutrition actions |
331 |
are supposed to be |
332 |
exclude claim holders |
333 |
persistent attempt by governments to secure cheap food for the pop****tion. Cheap food is required to keep salaries low |
334 |
neglect of the hidden costs of producing |
335 |
deterioration of the environment |
336 |
social costs born by farmers and fisherfolks |
337 |
difficult to think out-of-the-box |
338 |
those who succeed |
339 |
considered |
340 |
important elements |
341 |
quietly eliminated from the discussion |
342 |
regulations that are adapted to industrial ma*** production |
343 |
resistance against any change |
344 |
‘Big Data’ operators will become the new bosses of our food system. |
345 |
requires us to (re)act |
346 |
profound changes |
347 |
resistance is to be expected from powerful groups |
348 |
revolution of |
349 |
behaviors is what is required |
350 |
extremely challenging |
351 |
At the end of the food system are the consumers of the wrong processed foods |
352 |
we are under the spell of The Nutrition Triple Profit Cycle |
353 |
We cannot have the food sector killing us. |
354 |
big companies |
355 |
produce junk food |
356 |
that leads to NCDs |
357 |
they |
358 |
say: “It is not our responsibility” |
359 |
actions that will be needed |
360 |
production processes |
361 |
supply chains |
362 |
Are the companies good corporate citizen? |
363 |
The role of science and technology is, in fact, peripheral to solving the problems of malnutrition in the world |
364 |
2013 Lancet series of papers on nutrition made it clear we must adhere to the ‘technical coherence’ |
365 |
at the cost of |
366 |
excluding research |
367 |
that does not fit |
368 |
dominant paradigm |
369 |
science builds on a***umptions about what are legitimate domains of study |
370 |
current practices |
371 |
propagate a narrow, private sector-influenced interpretation of what nutrition means. |
372 |
inherent biases |
373 |
struggle with |
374 |
human rights (HR) issues |
375 |
removes the context |
376 |
of non-technical social or political actions |
377 |
Take nutrition education: |
378 |
Malnutrition has thus been removed from the realm of the ethical and political |
379 |
consciously framing nutrition in terms of the-dominant-development-discourses-of-the-day |
380 |
limits the things that-we-are-able-to-do |
381 |
Rendering an issue technical eventually leads to designated experts being the only people accredited to talk about it with authority |
382 |
basic and structural causes |
383 |
being relegated to the back burner |
384 |
The UNICEF conceptual framework |
385 |
widened the nutritionists’ horizon |
386 |
the ‘rendering technical’ of complex |
387 |
processes |
388 |
nutrition scientists as an interest group too often take a technical stance |
389 |
rather than focusing research on ways to reorganize the power relations |
390 |
purely technocratic cures |
391 |
minimal inconvenience to the haves of the world |
392 |
‘policy inertia’ |
393 |
in tackling any of the three components of the so-called Global Syndemic |
394 |
inadequate political leaders***p and governance |
395 |
as well as the lack of unequivocal demand for policy action by claim holders, combined with strong opposition to those policies by powerful commercial interests. |
396 |
the ones that would lose most |
397 |
transnational corporations |
398 |
It is not enough to react to hunger; we need to prevent it ( |
399 |
The generation of those who are born today does not wait |
400 |
Hunger is a stranger to most of you and me |
401 |
inefficient use of resources |
402 |
Hunger entails four emotions: |
403 |
People rendered poor have known hunger since the dawn of history |
404 |
man |
405 |
condemned to starve by the indifference of others |
406 |
Low purchasing power is actually the key word, not hunger; hunger is the consequence |
407 |
pragmatic question |
408 |
what the critical ma*** of income the household needs is |
409 |
more direct questions |
410 |
and b) |
411 |
Choose the right strategic allies: the people! |
412 |
dangers |
413 |
underestimating your (strategic) enemies |
414 |
unemployment is the biggest cause of hunger for many |
415 |
subsistence farmers |
416 |
do not need incentives to grow more food; they need the power to do so |
417 |
Nutrition professionals: The good, the bad and the ugly |
418 |
Public health nutrition |
419 |
affected by |
420 |
health and agriculture |
421 |
nutrition |
422 |
in itself, is not threatening to |
423 |
political aspirations |
424 |
because it is considered a small technical field |
425 |
public health nutritionists, are used as pawns of the status-quo |
426 |
believe and dream that what they actually do is making a sustainable difference |
427 |
To ponder: |
428 |
coping strategies |
429 |
lock people rendered poor into a low-level-food-security-trap |
430 |
need for a radical reappraisal |
431 |
Stunting may not represent a failure in coping, but the cost of coping! |
432 |
Nutrition is a difficult product to sell to politicians, because its results are long term |
433 |
Food is the world’s most highly charged political issue |
434 |
most basic symbol of |
435 |
disparity |
436 |
also the touchiest political issue in many countries |
437 |
converting pa***ive food consumers into active food citizens! |
438 |
Dignity does not come from being fed; it comes from providing for oneself. |
439 |
The most important |
440 |
right to food actions are |
441 |
local –not originating in Geneva and/or in New York. |
442 |
We are |
443 |
left with difficult questions |
444 |
and d) |
445 |
Ponder: |
446 |
The ruling cla***es are not interested in getting rid of malnutrition. |
447 |
Does ‘strategically ambiguous’ often mean contradictory? |
448 |
) ( |
449 |
Technical approaches |
450 |
frame a response totally side-lining needed ethical and political actions in the direction of |
451 |
the direction of the right to food and adequate nutrition. |
452 |
Values affect approaches to addressing malnutrition… |
453 |
it will determine |
454 |
how final solutions are decided. |
455 |
You can guess the risk here: |
456 |
should nutritionists stay in positions of nutrition governance if they do not solve malnutrition’s problems…? |
457 |
The international |
458 |
nutrition community is not monolithic, |
459 |
has been split |
460 |
the international nutrition community has been characterized as fragmented |
461 |
implications for progressing a coherent agenda |
462 |
pract**ioners |
463 |
cherry-pick options |
464 |
according to their political interests |
465 |
One cannot carry out work in the name of ethical principles without a critique of politics |
466 |
Ethics is unavoidable |
467 |
a human conventional attempt to regulate social practices |
468 |
there is no hope of success without |
469 |
a political strategy |
470 |
The ethical discourse is thus inseparable from an ideology |
471 |
The moral discourse cannot function on its own. It needs politics |
472 |
as its practical ground of reference without which it would condemn itself to futility. |
473 |
Competing moralities are rooted in competing political struggles |
474 |
what is meant by the |
475 |
lack-of-political-will |
476 |
i |
477 |
t is not a lack of political will |
478 |
a political will must be pulled from (and not pushed by) those in power. |
479 |
Five possible types of commitments (reflecting a political will) that we can make in human rights work |
480 |
Rhetorical commitment: |
481 |
Inst**utional commitment: |
482 |
Operational commitment: |
483 |
Embedded commitment: |
484 |
System-wide commitment: |
485 |
Political will and commitment do not come from the sky |
486 |
Both have to permeate from society. |
487 |
problem: |
488 |
political will is exerted top-down when what is needed is bottom-up |
489 |
(How) Do ‘liberals’ make this ethico-political commitment? |
490 |
Be mainstream or be quiet! …? |
491 |
Centrism can be equated with not doing anything that can provoke |
492 |
the dominant power |
493 |
This is not to be confused with pragmatism. |
494 |
Centrism denies an essential thing: Conflict. |
495 |
Centrism goes for consensus –but consensus around what? |
496 |
consensus around the interests of the more powerful. |
497 |
conflicts come back |
498 |
centrism infiltrates the political discourse of both the Center-Left and the Right |
499 |
political parties have stopped leading the people’s struggle |
500 |
against human rights (HR) violations |
501 |
they want to function within the space that the dominant cla*** allows them to occupy. |
502 |
these parties will continue collaborating with neoliberalism. |
503 |
as long as there is capitalism, there will be patriarchy |
504 |
the struggle awaits |
505 |
At this point, I am left with nothing but a bunch of questions |
506 |
Is there such a thing as (2) |
507 |
is everything OK |
508 |
Liberals |
509 |
do they really mean |
510 |
populist rhetoric |
511 |
rather contribute to demobilize |
512 |
Does the cult of ‘extreme centrism’ |
513 |
Has ‘extreme liberalism’ attempted |
514 |
Has that liberalism not died |
515 |
Historically |
516 |
philosophers of liberalism |
517 |
Marxism did it differently |
518 |
Fast forward |
519 |
New International Economic Order |
520 |
Political realists have tried |
521 |
How? |
522 |
Do you, therefore, think (2) |
523 |
(How) Do politicians make this ethico-political commitment? |
524 |
Ignorance of the ma***es about their HR is bliss for politicians |
525 |
Are any of your politicians aggressive |
526 |
Important: |
527 |
peasants are not a political force |
528 |
Peasants thus badly need |
529 |
to become a true pressure group |
530 |
Further ponder: |
531 |
Cities will continue to deteriorate if the countryside does not prosper. |
532 |
urban consumers |
533 |
are politically more important to politicians |
534 |
The rest of what I want to say here actually fits into my iron laws |
535 |
Politicians’ feeling of guilt |
536 |
He who controls the definition |
537 |
He who sows misery |
538 |
reaps anger. (Graffiti in a Paris wall) |
539 |
It is safer to be feared |
540 |
Many politicians are as unreliable |
541 |
Less political prisoners |
542 |
Do politicians pay pipers |
543 |
For certain politicians |
544 |
Men and nations do behave wisely |
545 |
Bureaucratized politicians |
546 |
Political leaders |
547 |
Beware of politicians who do not care |
548 |
A (pre)last word: Charismatic politics has displaced democracy-as-usual ( |
549 |
charisma is effective only in a receptive social climate |
550 |
is hardly benign |
551 |
Let us analyze: |
552 |
‘authoritarianism-in-democracy |
553 |
Philippines and India |
554 |
Does not Trump fit in here as well? |
555 |
do not lack in intellectual leaders***p |
556 |
Partic****tion and representation-with-a-binding-character |
557 |
are part of a human right encompa***ing the right to voice and influence |
558 |
Partic****tion has been called ‘the right of rights’ |
559 |
decisions |
560 |
by a majority |
561 |
already |
562 |
found in Roman law |
563 |
In the current development paradigm, partic****tion is being seen as a luxury rather than as a human right (HR) and thus as a legal obligation |
564 |
people being instrumentalized by coercion |
565 |
decide about how to handle this |
566 |
claim holders rightfully feel |
567 |
manip****ted |
568 |
restricted |
569 |
partic****tion |
570 |
falls prey to clientelism. |
571 |
we are living in a ‘(non)democratic partic****tion crisis’ |
572 |
the World Bank model purports to have ‘the’ model of partic****tion of ‘the poor’ |
573 |
‘the poor’ are expected to partic****te |
574 |
without challenging the basic a***umptions |
575 |
of neoliberalism |
576 |
this has more of a smell of ‘managed democracy’. |
577 |
repression |
578 |
follows |
579 |
How to get to such a managed democracy stays in the dark |
580 |
Societies can be compared with a stream. The sectors of major partic****tion flow through the center of the stream; towards the edges, partic****tion diminishes gradually until we reach those sectors that do not partic****te at all in society |
581 |
We often hear discouraging messages |
582 |
insatisfaction |
583 |
“it is our fault” |
584 |
those who detent |
585 |
want claim holders to be in such a state |
586 |
belonging to a bigger group is crucial |
587 |
anger can then actually be mobilized |
588 |
to demand |
589 |
The misery many claim holders live-under |
590 |
the result of an acc***ulation |
591 |
dragged from generation to generation |
592 |
individuals are handicapped |
593 |
part of underdevelopment |
594 |
High income groups |
595 |
use those rendered marginal to their own benefit |
596 |
society as a whole becomes explosive |
597 |
The marker of progress towards an equitable HR approach is when local and national groups no longer have to wait to be invited-in! |
598 |
Communities |
599 |
mobilizing |
600 |
is the precious a***et lost when partic****tion is applied mechanically and top-down |
601 |
the full consent of local female and male (and children) claim holders is key |
602 |
academics |
603 |
ought |
604 |
to do work |
605 |
complementary to that of organized social movements |
606 |
Partic****tory research |
607 |
its aim is to awaken the community |
608 |
It addresses |
609 |
the feeling of dissatisfaction |
610 |
what is sorely needed is legally-secured truly democratic decision-making processes. |
611 |
by excluding ordinary people in countries rendered poor from partic****tion in deciding the fate of their HR only reinforces and amplifies existing inequalities |
612 |
Why teach an old dog new tricks that are doomed to fail |
613 |
Rosa Luxemburg |
614 |
considered this the first obligation to get |
615 |
partic****tory ma*** action going |
616 |
claim holders can learn from Rosa Luxemburg |
617 |
Hope is the last thing one ought to lose |
618 |
Only those who are in the battle can win it |
619 |
has not delivered as per expectations |
620 |
failures have been |
621 |
justified explaining that ‘the model could not be applied entirely |
622 |
Development models/strategies promoted by the ruling cla*** are mere bandages on the wounds of social injustice |
623 |
development planners |
624 |
do not |
625 |
deal with the consequences |
626 |
Northern development planning |
627 |
has |
628 |
its base in the principle of utility |
629 |
treats people as human capital, ergo as a means only |
630 |
ask: |
631 |
what type of planning is needed if there is a commitment to |
632 |
human rights |
633 |
Two ‘bewares’ are called-for here: |
634 |
surveys |
635 |
have led to a lack of true guidance |
636 |
guidance mostly tinkers |
637 |
Partial successes only make us believe that technocratic solutions* can solve structural problems |
638 |
internationa |
639 |
conferences are not technical anymore |
640 |
The politics in them is shunned. |
641 |
multidisciplinary approaches are often nothing but a deliberate non-political subst**ute for structural changes |
642 |
discredited |
643 |
‘capitalist development with a human face’ |
644 |
In short, |
645 |
Northern-led development models have proven to be a mere quixotic enterprise |
646 |
Science as an impulse for development: Where does that leave human rights? |
647 |
development is bound up with Northern scientific knowledge |
648 |
affect all facets of development |
649 |
models ‘justified’ by science are more concerned about being scientifically correc |
650 |
than programmatically effective |
651 |
knowledge in this area is not to be necessarily based on the exact sciences |
652 |
evidence-based is |
653 |
tricky |
654 |
‘scientific evidence’ is not neutral |
655 |
research more a posteriori |
656 |
often report a post-mortem |
657 |
with dire consequences for HR |
658 |
do we have science on our side in HR work? |
659 |
we are asking scientists to become socially conscious and committed |
660 |
Models come with the use of the right development ‘buzzwords’ |
661 |
allow for multiple interpretations though |
662 |
‘human rights’ has been used deceivingly |
663 |
this ‘all-things-to-all-people’ property |
664 |
limits progress |
665 |
Two cla***ics in development work: Charity and nepotism |
666 |
charity, a humiliating ingredient |
667 |
pride |
668 |
Development inst**utions need a resident consciousness ombudsman versed in HR |
669 |
Ignoring HR |
670 |
resulting in non-viable development paths |
671 |
HR-based development solutions |
672 |
Who are we left to ‘sell’ them-to then? Elemental Watson!: Claim holders… |
673 |
Are we here to promote real changes |
674 |
Just ask yourself: Where are we going to end up if nothing is done? |
675 |
We |
676 |
take with us our values and culture and destroy the indigenous one. Standard solutions do not work for non-standard problems. |
677 |
The purpose of looking at the future is to disturb the present. |