I can understand and empathize with those who have written on the subject of
female genital mutilation. On the one hand, it is a barbaric practice, and
clearly violates the rights of its victims (albeit at the hands of their
parents). On the other hand, it seems to be "cultural imperialism" to think
that one has the right to criticize a particular culture (in this case African)
from outside that culture.
This seeming dilemma stems from the fallacy of cultural (ethical) relativism,
the notion that whatever a particular culture does is right for that group. The
ethical problem vanishes when we reject cultural relativism in favor of a
philosophy based on absolute principles. In this case, the applicable
principle is that it is wrong to physically abuse someone against her will. I
call this an absolute principle in the sense that cultural mores do not affect
it, (although it is not absolute in the sense that it cannot be overridden by
other moral principles in a given case).
There is nothing wrong with criticizing someone else's culture. After all, we
are critical enough of our own. In fact, we see nothing wrong with criticizing
other cultures so long as they are located in the geographical U.S. Those who
are members of the culture practicing genital mutilation are not merely
violating modern day American sensibilities. They are violating the rights of
these young women to self-determination, which is an objective human right.
They, no less than we, should welcome any criticism that explains calmly and
constructively how a certain cultural practice could stand some change for the
better, change that would make them happier in the long run.
>From [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sat Nov 26 23:21:49 MST 1994
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Organization: Infomaniac's Dial-A-File BBS
Date: Sat, 26 Nov 94 13:58:35
Subject: RADIO SERIES
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
water mailTEXTMACA[.��C���F����I am writing in request for input on a radio
series that I have been working on for over a year now.
Waters is a radio series that addresses the need for media attention to be
given to women�s perspectives on the environmental movement. This series of
eight half hour shows will consist of interviews, poetry, and songs from women
discussing issues of women in/and/on the environment. The series will then be
distributed to community-oriented radio stations in Canada in early 1995.
The collective is working on the following topics...
-Redefining environmentalism for women
-Women and Consumerism
-First Nations Women
-Women and Health
-Bioregionalism
-Young Women and the Environment
As well we have asked members of the Iranian Women�s community and women from
women of colour radio programming to submit a show to the series.
It would be of great assistance if anyone had some input on the following
questions or relay any information on comment that they feel would be helpful
to the project.
1. What is your definition of bio-regionalism and who have and are women
contributing to it�s implementation?
2. In what area�s have you heard of that women�s health is effected by their
environment?
3. Do you see a difference in the way women define environmentalism compared
to male definitions? If yes, how?
4. What parallels, if any, do you see between consumerism and women, and
consumerism and the environment?
I have my own personal ideas on each of these questions and am looking for
varied views on these issues. As well I am trying to find some confirmation
that what I have been interpreting from the environmental movement is not
unfounded.
If you would like further information on the series please ask. I could write
for ever about it so I cut myself off.
Thank you
Pat Currie
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
water
mailTEXTMACATEXTMACA��C��fdrp�a�asrvr�|�|flpy�b�bhdsk�e�efact�a�xfaex�a�{fapf�a�zfapn�a�yfast�a�sfaam�a�rfasy���
b
>From [EMAIL PROTECTED] Mon Nov 28 03:16:41 MST 1994
Mon, 28 Nov 94 10:19:48 GMT
Date: Mon, 28 Nov 94 10:19:48 GMT
From: Ian Barnes <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Organization: World Conservation Monitoring Centre
Wcmc-Address: 219 Huntingdon Road, Cambridge, UK.
Wcmc-Telephone: +44 (0)223 277314
Wcmc-Fax: +44 (0)223 277136
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: Logging in the Solomons
I would like to post this message on behalf of Tarcisius Kabutaulaka
from the Solomon Islands who needs practical help or at least moral support
over their fight to stop the destructive logging in his country. WCMC
is not a campaigning organisation. However, we wish that he may be placed
in touch with anyone who can offer assistance. We are putting him in
touch with Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth UK. Postings have been
made to [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], and
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Please note that I have had difficulty in responding to his email.
Ian Barnes, Information Services
World Conservation Monitoring Centre
Tel: ++44 223 277314, email: [EMAIL PROTECTED],
www: http://www.wcmc.org.uk
> From [EMAIL PROTECTED] Fri Nov 18 01:50:25 1994
> Organization: World Conservation Monitoring Centre
> Wcmc-Address: 219 Huntingdon Road, Cambridge, UK.
> Wcmc-Telephone: +44 (0)223 277314
> Wcmc-Fax: +44 (0)223 277136
> Date: Fri, 18 Nov 1994 13:52:10 +1200
> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Subject: LOGGING SOLOMON ISLANDS
> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> X-Vms-To: IN%"[EMAIL PROTECTED]"
> Mime-Version: 1.0
> Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7BIT
> Content-Length: 780
>
> Greetings from the Pacific islands,
> I came across your address in the internet system and thought I'd
> drop you a line to find out what you do regarding logging. I am a Solomon
> Islander currently working with the University of the South Pacific in the
> Fiji Islands. We have a severe logging problem in Solomon Islands where our
> rain forest is being logged at a rate which it will disappear in five to
> ten years time. A number of us have been working to campaign against
> logging but so far we have fought a losing battle against the mostly Asian
> logging companies and the government. I am wondering if there is anyway we
> can get help from you. Is there anyway we can get help from you?
> My e-mail address: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Hope to hear from you.
>
> Tarcisius Kabutaulaka
>
>
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