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infrastructure A political way

A democratic society, whatever its size, is always formed by a plurality of individuals whose full participation in power the extent that each has, as well as others, the real possibility to influence what happens. What is by no means in place in our democratic societies, which are rather what I call elective and liberal oligarchy, with walks well protected in their positions of power. (P. 179)

Frame: The current stakes of democracy. 1986.

a society adrift. Interviews and debates (1974-1997). C. Castoriadis. 2005

says

C. Castoriadis A society adrift, that political action is essential to try to change the social environment and as such considers the place of politics is society itself. The author emphasizes the need for political activity to meet the demands of citizenship and that this activity is generated by the largest group of stakeholders. Specifically, the author says:

should be stripped of received ideas, in particularly the idea that political action is the only party that involves municipal counselors, deputies, etc. (...) The place of politics is society (p. 172 and 173)

appropriate words at a time like the present where politics has great difficulty solving the problems of people whose agenda is being influenced (to use a mild word) economic actors outside the parliament, where in theory the policy is made .

The divorce between what the policy provides and what people need is not a question of the last three years crisis, is a phenomenon that is rooted in the fact that existing political structures do not facilitate citizen participation. If the citizen is away from the political sphere can hardly be involved. In the absence of real participation proposals emanating from the political agenda will be far from what the public wants. One issue that affects the quality of democracy today.

A pertinent question is whether the citizens want to participate. It is true that there is a sector of the population that remains outside. Perhaps because he is aware that given the configuration of our democracies real participation is a chimera. However, whether from the political sector would facilitate such participation by creating the necessary mechanisms to the extent that this collective citizen who stays out some perceived improvements in their lifestyle as a result of such participation, will surely get involved completely.

In this situation we are today. There are a number of issues, whose solution is urgent and affect the daily lives of people or institutions or political parties today is knowing where to face and solve. The reason, the current political actors are immersed in a giant network of patronage where industry opaque interests of an oligarchy properly installed in their positions of power. In addition, at the individual level, are disabled and participatory processes that allow social discussion contrasting ideas and build a collective consciousness to deepen the quality of democracy.

Many of these issues to solve are directly linked to the causes of the current crisis in economic terms, the excesses of finance, high levels of speculation in the financial system and deregulation of globalization in Socially, unemployment, poverty, inequalities between social strata in the environmental arena climate change, depletion of energy resources pressure on the land. Give a political response to all this is a total emergency.

All these problems are the result of the current economic and social model. As stated José Vidal Beneyto is entirely reasonable to ask whether a plural democracy is compatible with capitalism.

However, there is another sector that is organized, has a number of proposals, and is urging many arguments and participate, to be taken into account. In particular sector is aware that he is entitled to participate and also struggle to transform the status quo. That sector of the population is the group that feeds the current movements social. In this regard Castoriadis says:

why people undertake these activities? Because they understood that neither state institutions nor the parties respond to their aspirations and needs, which are unable to respond to them. (Page 169)

could argue that the movement that succeeded in preventing the onset of the WTO summit in Seattle in 1999, had no proposals and / or program of action. More than a decade after that point hinge, social movements have been organized, getting on and to create a set of proposals. This has resulted in strengthened of what is called civil society through the emergence of a whole network of organizations critical to have increased the degree of social biodiversity, the basis of a true democracy.

inclusive vocation of social movements, their network organization structure where disparate social groups are able from different geographical locations and virtual (decentralization), set up a cross-resistance action complained of various problems and heterogeneous (gender inequality, the environmental unsustainability and urban pollution, poverty, collapse of urban mobility, lack of attention to the elderly ...) but which are interrelated to be the result of a single system of economic organization - social, are defining elements that have been made in recent years to shore.

A consolidation as best introduction is the great raft of proposals, many of them concrete, which have provided social movements in an attempt to change our way of living. In this respect the proposals set answer about the decline theory, ecological economics and the precautionary principle, the basic subsistence income and the proposed redistribution of income, the imposition of a levy against global financial transactions, actions to prevent climate change boosting renewables, and measures for sustainable mobility, proposals to improve access to decent housing, formulas that deepen participatory democracy, solidarity economy, social justice and debt cancellation and many others mature propositions put into question the current social and economic settings.

may need to find a political narrative that connects to a majority of the people for extending their cause. This requires making an educational effort aimed, where possible, has to reorient the discourse towards a positive outlook, leaving the anti, anti or non-characteristic times linked to a diffuse organization of movements. And above all requires a plan of action and a clear strategy and endorse the positive discourse is the expression of this political narrative that is offered to the public. It will be essential to resist the expected intervention of Spain by the EU and take positions in the upcoming regional elections in May 2011 and before the 2012 general.

This story of a political nature directed to a positive perspective, this plan of action could arise if the social movement makes the leap to the political sphere by a sociopolitical movement that is capable of promoting solutions to the triple current crisis from the very place where decisions are made, the parliament and the various political institutions. For as Castoriadis himself says:

No transformation of society without explicit political activity and elucidated. Political activity is necessarily collective. We need, therefore, a political community to fight and act to transform society for the establishment of an autonomous society. (P. 172)

abstention levels that throw the election dates, the lack of diversity in the proposals made by the major parties and especially the burgeoning demand for democratic participation a sector of the population, suggest that there is political space for a political force that is able to articulate the range of social movements. Already some political forces that have been created with this line of thought in the Canary Islands and the rest of Spain. Let's hope for a progressive strengthening would be a good example of democratic growth of our society.

Photo 1: The social balance. The Roto. In The Country. 28/11/1910
Photo 2: One of the logos of the World Social Forum. In XXI century Paradygmas

Home Käfig Zuhause

social movements against the rhetoric out of the crisis

Raisin In The Sun Dreams

A single human brain has more connections across the Internet

What you will see in the pictures below, the maze of colors, networks and connections, wiring is not a sophisticated computer, but a scan of a fragment of the cerebral cortex a mouse, with billions of synapses. As we mentioned when talking connectomics project, scientists are trying to map the brain wiring, but the task is even more complex than expected.

Stephen Smith, one of the authors of the study, summed it up this week in the journal Neuron: A synapse, by itself, is more like Microprocessor - with memory storage and processing of information - a simple on / off mechanism. In fact, a synapse may contain the order of 1,000 connections at the molecular level. A single human brain has more connections than all the computers and routers and Internet connections of the Earth.

All-star Catchers Glove Cm3000bt

"Democracy is a scam, is the perfect dictatorship. We choose between two dictators, one smiling and one that growls. Both have the same bosses. They have turned the election in an act of allegiance to the regime. And if after their propaganda campaigns multimedia not swallow, you get sent to the riot and go. I do not know when we will take this, really do not know "

artist Santiago Sierra, resigned from the National Arts. El País. 12.11.2010

In Essay on the lucidity , Saramago fabled about the consequences of a group of citizens decided to exercise individually their right to vote blank in response to the absence of a policy proposal with which they felt represented. A reaction of citizens who uncovered two issues: on one hand the disaffection of the citizens with their political and trust the other hand, despite all, in democracy as a form of political organization of a state. The act of voting in the story exemplified the belief of citizens in the act as a means of political participation in public life to reverse the course of things.

admit, as it can not be otherwise, that democracy is the system least bad political organization that have and given that the political class appears among the three major issues of concern to the public according to recent surveys of CIS, we do not understand how it is possible to continue with the ritual act, often solemn, to return the polls when elections are called. How is it possible to the current bleak outlook continue voting citizen? Why moral obligation? Why hope for change? Why loyalty stands for a game? Why in the background the city participates in the liturgy in which politics has become today? The dilemma is greater when we realize that the general public has been abandoned for some time their civic responsibilities. Individualism, consumerism and conservatism of the middle classes installed in comfort, have helped to clear the critical capacity of the city, numbed by the comforts of a lifestyle based on well-being and hedonism. At this juncture it is at least singular that the city continue going to the polls. Will it solve some alternation in power when we are facing a crisis whose dimension is not only economic but also social and environmental? From our point of view only be achieved by incubating the next downturn in the economic coming of the false crisis by socializing losses and undermining an environment and battered by itself.

It was disappointing to detect in the current political landscape, not just the incompetence to resolve a critical economic situation by the elected government but the complete lack of alternatives to an opposition that seems more fitted to receive the command of the country through the deepening of the crisis to earn with their own proposals. But what's really frustrating is to see how a leftist government finally abandoned leftist politics to embrace a right-wing economic policy priority based on spending cuts in front of boosting economic growth. If, as suggested by all surveys, PP regains power in the next general election, will deepen the neo-liberal measures to end the crisis. Measures are already being taken in European countries like France, England or Germany. This confirms that the right remains right and the left is looking more and more to the right. An overview that explores the lack of alternatives and the lack ideological diversity in the proposals for a democratic system installed on bipartisanship. When policy alternatives are invariable the essence of democracy is affected.

particular point is what happens in the Canaries. Rupture of the coalition pact. Canary Coalition absolute rule half a year in formal minority being the third political force in number of votes. A severed left its most critical sector by imposing managers. And a vibrant social movement whose demands have not been picked up by any political party.

We must accept that representative democracies today have degenerated into party politics where political parties are what make the agenda. Today the power lies not in the collective will of the people who can only aspire to influence the shift, the power is in political parties. The total lack of proportionality in the current electoral system, the reduction of citizen participation in public affairs that most affect a mere bureaucratic procedure, the taboo of the time to clarify the funding of political parties and excessive collusion between economic and political power as a result has been evident corruption are just some examples of the degradation of democracy.

The really critical of this system, the really revolutionary with a political system dominated by a plutocracy is abstinence, not to go to election day to uncover this sham of representative democracy in which we live. But one abstention understood as a reaction a public weary of a political class degraded. The public must recover block the mood of failure, critical capacity, ultimately disobedience as a way of turning a company before drifting. It would be interesting to know what the reaction of our political class to an election with an abstention rate of more than 50%. Urge

think as soon as possible to the principles which should guide the long term, the society of the future, what kind of institutional structures must represent these principles and what strategies can help break through the route to a new stage fairer economic, social and environmentally. A reflection to a greater or lesser extent already taking place within social movements. It seems that none of the major parties are concerned about any of these issues.

Photo 1: The Earth Blog Cytisus
Photo 2: In the blog Karbolarium

Sea Going Open Sailboat

Eulogy abstinence environmentalism Stigma

"So I say that today environmental movement has fewer features than before, as in most of the citizens' awareness and sustainability is, almost everyone is an environmentalist by conviction "

Berriel Sunday.

Minister for the Environment of the Canary Islands.

La Opinión. 10/24/1910. Very illustrative

three interviews published in the newspaper La Opinión in recent months to Antonio Plasencia, chairman of the Provincial Federation of Organizations of the Construction of Santa Cruz de Tenerife (Plasencia, 'I'm as green as any '. La Opinión. 07/26/2010) Berriel to Sunday, Minister for the Environment of the Canary Islands (Sunday Berriel:' I have planted lots of potatoes with a tractor. " La Opinión. 10/24/1910) and Antonio Machado, a biologist and director of the Environmental Monitoring of the Port of Granadilla ('Only God needed to give its approval to Puerto'-La Opinión. 03/11/2010)

Curiously, three managers, from different social classes in theory defend different interests, they claim to have a concept of environmentalism that matches in all three cases. In his interpretation of reality identified environmentalism with wisdom, common sense and the need in society should be groups that pose a counterweight others to generate developmental behaviors. A reflection on the very personal environmentalism and even wise if it were not together in a common interest and the same in all three cases, any idea or environmental conservation can not impede the construction of projects deemed strategic for the island as their vision. An apparent contradiction that challenges his notion of environmentalism. Should not call attention to this match in the definition of environmentalism and the synchrony in the interests of institutions (FEPECO, Canary Islands Government and Environmental Monitoring) having a source and a very different role in society?

a small scale, the three interviews are a valuable source of information for evidence of an offensive play that using the media as amplifiers, have developed some media groups, many operators and too many public institutions. Namely, all have sought and continue to search for the criminalization of the environmental movement or at least its stigma. Order, prevent certain infrastructure projects are hampered by threatening its construction. Behavior that calls into question the quality of our democracy and illuminates the existence of a number of common economic interests to a few who have reacted in a rush against those who dare question them. These signs could list them by the following mapping of stigmatization:

1 - The denial. Environmentalists are those of "not everything" and anti . with Machiavellian intent has attempted to identify the environmental movement with positions rejecting all proposed interventions by public and / or private. The reality, however, does not support this identification. In most cases, the environmental movement from a positive stance. Against intervention or government projects environmentalism faces a stance that could be defined under the maximum "yes, but otherwise" or at least "OK, let's discuss" . A position which by definition is installed away from the culture of denial. Rather it is an invitation to dialogue.

2 - The radicalism. The environmental movement does not dialogue, it takes a radical stance in defending its interests and in the process resulting in prejudice to society. Closely related to the above, we have tried to locate the positions of environmentalism with positions monolithic, immovable. However, the very essence of environmentalism is the need to discuss as the highest expression of democracy. If one claims the debate is because there are several proposals that could be discussed in calm and reasoned manner and therefore it is not radicalism, synonymous with a lack of debate. There seems to be, however, radicalism in the public discourse has not budge adopt authoritarian attitudes in imposing certain projects. On numerous occasions the environmental movement has requested that discuss alternative proposals to the official. The response has been indifference and / or silence.

3 - An appropriation. "Ecologist me" or even more "I'm environmentalism" . In an attempt to neutralize the strength of the movement, there are certain behaviors led some actors to redefine the concept of environmentalism or what purports to be an environmentalist, directing this redefinition to suit your interests. In this process each actor tries to appropriate part of the concept. Specifically the part that is related to environmental forms but discarding the contents and background. It seeks to usurp the position of environmentalists in the Company providing formal proposals for a light green patina that contributes to trivialize the concept. This is what happens with railway projects presented by the City Council in Tenerife and Gran Canaria. They promote the green aspects that may have a means of public transport like the train, to justify the implementation of a project that together generate great condition the territory where it intends to implement.

4 - The lateness. Environmentalism time has passed. People have already assimilated sustainability. Environmentalism is not necessary . Surprising this kind of stigma at a time in which all environmental indicators seem to show that we are in a deep ecological crisis and global colossal dimension. Environmentalism is not only outdated but inevitably will be one of the doctrines that should govern the XXI century. Certainly the successes of this movement in the last three decades has put the question in the minds of the citizenry. Subtraction still the most important and more complicated, introducing environmentalism on the political agenda of the parties that dominate public life.

5 - A gag. In defending their positions and ideas, the bastions of environmentalism in the Canaries have not enjoyed the same visibility distribution platforms and media sponsors who have cut many developmental projects, be they public or private. In this regard it is instructive exercise to account for each other's articles appearing in the mainstream media. The almost total absence of critical voices the same with many projects and the lack of a stage where this group can express their options, shows little ideological diversity of the media and democratic culture absent. One complains that despite all, thanks to the Internet has failed to silence the movement that has had to make an extra effort in publicizing their cause.

6 - The criminalization . The climax of this whole smear campaign comes as equals to ecologists with social terrorist. This is what has happened for example in the UK or the U.S. According to an internal document of the Ministry of Justice British environmentalists are included in a list of dangerous groups to national security along with other terrorist groups like Al Qaeda (Are the environmentalists are terrorists? 20 minutes. 11/02/1910.) . Without going so far, the islands have been branded a social terrorist free and with impunity by some of these actors. A real fallacy that has helped make the movement in the negative. The actions of environmentalism have been developed in an absolutely peaceful. In the absence of violence is wrong use the term "terrorist" .

Long ago we sailed on board a ship driven, not by force of the wind, but by burning their own wood beams that underpin the structure of the vessel, after reaching no really know what career goal in a competitive frenzy. The stigmatization of the environmental movement does not help to solve this dilemma and question the democratic nature of our society.

Photo 1: Mountain Tindaya. Fuerteventura. Eduardo Chillida draft generated a powerful movement of protest against the casting of the mountain who designed the Basque artist.
Photo 2: Toston Lighthouse. El Cotillo. Fuerteventura. One area where the Platform Save El Cotillo reported a development project of enormous proportions and that the TSJC paralyzed thereafter.