One important clarification:
TF:
> It is certainly not right to construct a conflict between social justice
> and ecological concerns!
SK:
I don't think it is a construction; rather it is reality - the result of
very rapid growth both in human numbers and in the impacts of rapid
technological change on the planet.
------------------------------------------------------------------
I strongly support a narrowing of the gap between haves & have nots as long
as part of the actions include self-empowerment of women for reproductive
decisions, contraceptive devices & instructions in safe sex, *and*
instruction/training of those currently dependent upon relief to be as
self-sufficient as possible.
The "conflict" in "reality" is that much so-called humanitarian effort
serves to increase dependency, increase numbers dependent, increase
fertility, and guarantee the need for *more aid* tomorrow. As the aid is
finite & variable based upon physical systems and economic cycles, the
perverse result is *more suffering* tomorrow both quantitatively and
qualitatively than would occur if these destructive attempts at aid were
not taken.
There need not be this "conflict", but religious & foreign culture based
charities tend to replace original (sustainable) cultures/economies with
cash crops or factory labor, thus dependent lives. The medicine sent was
addictive poison.
Steve
