1. DEGROWTH:
New Strategies for
Strengthening Tradition

2. The Fathers of the Scientific Revolution
Galileo Galilei Francis Bacon Descartes Isaac Newton
Theirs was a mechanical, reductionist vision of the
world and the universe. Their vision is the basis for
the concept and method of modern science and the
western model of development.

3. Francis Bacon:
Nature has to be “hounded in her
wanderings”, “bound into service”, and
made a “slave”. She was to be “put in
constraint”, and the aim of the scientist was
to “torture nature’s secrets from her”.

4. Figure 3: Building sustainability: Social and environmental responsibility
Social responsibility Environmental responsibility
Participation Communal Territory as
Cultural
and Work shelter
Cohesion
Democracy
Communality Zoning
S
Restoration
Technological innovation M
for sustainability
Exploitation
R
Conservation
R
Autonomy
Support Political- D. of communal Surplus Food
networks cultural productive Generation Sovereignty
training forces

5. NEW COMMUNITARIAN
RURALITY
(Actors creating new persona)
Strategic approach:
Sustainable Regional
Resource Management
(People rewriting theory)

6. Heterodox Ecological
Economics
Moving Forward
• Mainstream science: critical pol. econ. of
productive structures and growth
• Heterodox paradigm : commitment w/
viable alternatives for well-being
• Post-normal science: conservation,
production and protection
• EE: creating new social-productive models

7. Alternative social models
A homogenous Diverse
model worlds
• Modernization: • Rural resurgence
• Urban-industrial; • Dynamic agriculture
• Interdependence; • Productive diversity
• market segmentation
• Integrated societies • production integrated with
• Advanced technologies ecosystem use/protection
• Backwardness • Self-sufficiency
Science for Capital Science for well-being
7

8. Struggles for local
development
Strategic principles:
• Autonomy
• Self-Sufficiency
• Productive diversification
• Ecosystem management

9. QUALITY OF LIFE
• Construction–ecological, social,
economic criteria
• Renewable energy sources
• Local materials and natural resources
• Purchasing policies: local sources, SMEs
• Encourage productive networks
(linkages) and broad participation
• Codify local epistemologies
(post-normal science)

10. SOCIAL RESPONSES
• Formulating local strategies
• Building models of coexistence to
combat proletarianization
• No noble savage; modern autonomy
• Redefining global threats to
“los de abajo”
• Population question: ≠ Malthusianism
A matter of gender equality/freedom

11. A SOLIDARITY ECONOMY
• Strengthen COLLECTIVE collaboration
• Use local KNOWLEDGE about production and
ecosystems
• Create synergies among producers:
PRODUCTIVE LINKAGES
• Identify QUALITY products and ecologically
SUSTAINABLE systems
• Implement regional circuits for BARTER
markets

12. WATER:
Conflict, Marginality, Sickness
Abuses (Tribunal LA del Agua):
• Inadequate services:
Quantity and quality
• Deficient infrastructure:
Partial coverage; bad maintenance
• Forgotten ecosystems:
Recharge
• Industrial impunity:
Mining; agroindustry; industrial/urban discharges 12

13. WATER:
Life, Collaboration, Sustenance
Possibilities for social organization :
• Universal service:
Principle of solidarity
• Quality of life :
Education to change consumption pattern
• Technological change:
Quality; availability; conservation
13

14. The New Culture of Water
(Mexicanized)
Fundamental principles:
1) Social Economy: (free)
• Water as a human right
• Water for environmental needs
• Water for social solidarity
2) Capitalist Economy: (auction)
• Water for economic and social development
(punish and end illegal uses of water)
14

15. The scandalous/careful
socio-political construction of
NATURAL DISASTERS
15

16. Ecotourism: Scale and control

18. Water Forever
http://www.quali.com.mx

19. INNOVATING TRADITION
Point of departure:
“Discover” vernacular
knowledge: avocados
reduce cholesterol in
mammals
Response:
Develop a diet for hogs to
rescue a traditional
system of backyard
animal husbandry for
fattening pigs

20. STRENGTHEN TRADITION
Challenge: “Identify” social
significance to community
and problems of producers
without choices
Response: Develop a diet to
strengthen local economy w/
Omega-3 eggs
Result: Individual activity
community responsibility
20

21. I
R
D R
I
R G
I A
T
P I
O
N
State of the Art Technology

22. Productive Forestry
With wood from pruning

23. Fair Trade
(http://www.artinoaxaca.addr.com)

24. Waste Water Treatment Plants

25. Water: Use / Treatment
Local adaptations of state of
the art technologies
▲
High-valued products
► Opportunities
for local
management and work
25

26. MULBERRY
• Highly adaptable
• Multiple uses:
– Food for silk worms
– Forage for livestock
sheep, cattle, goats as
well as rabbits, hogs,
poultry
– Landscape values
– Pharmaceutical uses

27. Silk Worm (Bombyx mori)

28. The Silk Worm Cycle
A 60 day cycle is aborted in the cocoon phase to obtain silk thread.

29. OBJETIVES
Initiate sustainable management of
mulberry and silk worms
• 1. Establish nurseries and mulberry
plantations in community forests
• 2. Establish and adapt rooms for raising
silk worms in local households
• 3. Produce silk work cocoons and
transform them into silk thread
• 4. Market silk thread and develop its
incorporation into artisan production.

30. OTHER WORLDS
ARE POSSIBLE
SAY NO TO “TINA”
“There is no Alternative”
(Margaret Thatcher – World Bank)

31. DEGROWTH:
New Strategies for
Public Water Management
Strengthening Tradition
Lessons for
Democratization
barkin@correo.xoc.uam.mx
David Barkin
Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana – Xochimilco
Sources:
Wealth, Poverty and Sustainable
Development
D. Barkin
7 Noviembre 2007 Water Management in Mexico
Urban CISDA: Analizando el agua 31