The Vol 1 No 1 2017 Ecological A peer-reviewed journal Citizen www.ecologicalcitizen.net Advancing ecological knowledge | Championing Earth-centred action | Inspiring ecocentric citizenship IN THIS ISSUE Why ecocentrism? The ethical and the practical imperative Page 35 Wild democracy A grass-roots vision to transcend capitalism Page 45 Published in association No article access fees with the Ecocentric Alliance No publication charges www.ecocentricalliance.org No financial affiliations About the Journal www.ecologicalcitizen.net Published in association with The the Ecocentric Alliance An ecocentric, peer-reviewed, www.ecocentricalliance.org Ecological free-to-access journal EC Citizen ISSN applied for Aims Copyright 1 Advancing ecological knowledge The copyright of the content belongs to 2 Championing Earth-centred action the authors, artists and photographers, 3 Inspiring ecocentric citizenship unless otherwise stated. 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There are no charges for and Merriweather Sans, both of which are publication and no fees to access any of the typefaces with an Open Font Licence that content. have been designed by Eben Sorkin. “The attempt to build ethical concern for the Ecosphere from the inside out, by add-ons starting with our selves and the human race, may soothe consciences for a little while, but it will be the kiss of death for wild nature.” Stan Rowe 2 The Ecological Citizen Vol 1 No 1 2017 www.ecologicalcitizen.net Contents The Ecological Citizen | Vol 1 No 1 2017 Editorial The Ecological Citizen: An impulse of life, for life 5 Patrick Curry Opinions Why a new ecological forum? 11 John Davis Life’s defeat is imminent: We must become effective 13 Ian Whyte Reasons for a reduction of humans’ impact on the ecosphere 17 Cover photo Joe Gray Bear Wallow Canyon, Sedona, The Harmony with Nature initiative: Why it matters and what it might achieve 22 Arizona, USA, at sunset Michelle Maloney Brian Gold A positive future for beavers in Scotland 27 Alan Watson Featherstone Rethinking the United Nations’ concept of sustainability 29 Rachel Waters Long articles Why ecocentrism is the key pathway to sustainability 35 Haydn Washington, Bron Taylor, Helen Kopnina, Paul Cryer and John J Piccolo Wild democracy: A biodiversity of resistance and renewal 45 Samuel Alexander and Peter Burdon Enacting the wisdom of Chief Seattle today in Latin America 55 Coyote Alberto Ruz Buenfil The affliction of human supremacy 61 Eileen Crist Noting some effects of fabricating ‘nature’ as ‘natural capital’ 65 Sian Sullivan The twilight of anthropocentrism 75 John Michael Greer Meeting reports Environmental humanities: A report on a seminar in Spain 87 Margarita Carretero-González Environmental humanities: A report on a symposium in the UK 90 Patrick Curry Rights of nature: A report on a conference in Switzerland 95 Featured artists Marie-Lise Schläppy and Joe Gray Towards a new paradigm for nature in the EU: A report on a meeting in Belgium 97 This issue also features Mumta Ito artworks by Angie Shanahan, Geoff Diego Book and culture reviews Litherland, Heather Half-Earth: Our Planet’s Fight for Life, by EO Wilson 101 Freitas, Holly Stevenson, Ian Whyte Jelena Micic, Juan Cisneros, Kate Knight, Korallia Poetry section Stergides, Leigh Gillam, Works by Marina Tsvetaeva, Robinson Jeffers, Emily Dickinson, DH Lawrence, Mer Maggie Roberts, Elizabeth Carothers Herron, Hannibal Rhoades, Fred Schueler and Helen Moore 107 Nicola Woodham, Priyanka Selected by Victor Postnikov Jena and Rebecca R Burrill. The Ecological Citizen Vol 1 No 1 2017 3 Editorial Board www.ecologicalcitizen.net The Melinda Alfano Maria Carolina Negrini Graduate in Water Resources Lawyer Ecological New York, NY, USA São Paolo, Brazil Oussou Lio Appolinaire Alessandro Pelizzon EC Citizen Practitioner of Earth Jurisprudence Researcher in Earth-Centred Law Avrankou, Benin Lismore, NSW, Australia Editor-in-Chief María Valeria Berros John J Piccolo Patrick Curry Researcher in Rights of Nature Associate Professor in Writer and Scholar Santa Fe, Argentina Environmental and Life Sciences London, UK David Blackwell Karlstad, Sweden Educator and Nature-lover Deborah Rose Associate Editors Halifax, NS, Canada Adjunct Professor in Joe Gray Susana Borràs Pentinat Environmental Humanities Naturalist and Researcher Lecturer in Public International Law Sydney, NSW, Australia St Albans, UK Tarragona, Spain Coyote Alberto Ruz Buenfil Ian Whyte Tom Butler Environmental and Social Activist Field Naturalist Writer and Activist Huehuecoyotl Ecovillage, Mexico Ottawa, ON, Canada Huntington, VT, USA Dyane Sherwood Nigel Cooper Jungian Psychoanalyst Chaplain and Biologist Oberlin, OH, USA Art Editor Cambridge, UK Vandana Shiva Stephanie Moran Paul Cryer Scholar and Environmental Activist Artist and Librarian Conservationist Delhi, India London, UK Hillcrest, South Africa Steve Szeghi Cormac Cullinan Professor of Economics Art Advisor Environmental Attorney and Author Wilmington, OH, USA Salomón Bazbaz Lapidus Cape Town, South Africa Bron Taylor Director – Cumbre Tajín Festival John Davis Professor of Religion, Nature Papantla de Olarte, Mexico Wildways Trekker and Environmental Ethics Westport, NY, USA Gainesville, FL, USA Poetry Editor Alan Watson Featherstone Andrew Walton Victor Postnikov Founder and Visionary – Trees for Life Bioregionalist Poet, Essayist and Translator Findhorn, UK Birmingham, UK Kiev, Ukraine Mumta Ito Haydn Washington Lawyer, Zoologist and Environmental Scientist and Activist Sub-editor Founder – Nature’s Rights Sydney, NSW, Australia Adam Dickerson Forres, UK Rachel Waters Senior Lecturer in International Studies Marjolein Kok Academic and Advocacy Journalist and International Development Environmental Activist and Researcher Brooklyn, NY, USA Canberra, ACT, Australia Utrecht, the Netherlands Fiona Wilton Helen Kopnina Programme Coordinator Consulting Editors Environmental Anthropologist – Gaia Foundation Eileen Crist Leiden, the Netherlands Colombia/Uruguay Writer and Teacher Joseph Lambert Doug Woodard Blacksburg, VA, USA Researcher in Earth Jurisprudence Environmentalist Sandy Irvine London, UK St Catharines, ON, Canada Political Activist Sandra Lubarsky George Wuerthner Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK Scholar in Sustainability Photographer, Author Ted Mosquin Flagstaff, AZ, USA and Activist Naturalist Michelle Maloney Bend, OR, USA Lanark, ON, Canada Lawyer and National Mersha Yilma Convenor of AELA Practitioner of Earth Jurisprudence Editorial Advisors Brisbane, QLD, Australia Addis Ababa, Ethiopia David Abram Alexandra Marcelino Suzanne York Cultural Ecologist and Geophilosopher Jurist in Environmental Law Director – Transition Earth Upper Rio Grande Valley, NM, USA Lisbon, Portugal San Francisco, CA, USA 4 The Ecological Citizen Vol 1 No 1 2017 www.ecologicalcitizen.net EDITORIAL The Ecological Citizen: An impulse of life, for life elcome to the first issue of reverence. (See Haydn Washington and Patrick Curry The Ecological Citizen! I would colleagues’ article in this issue and the W like briefly to outline our first associated Statement of Commitment to About the author principles and the facts to which they are a Ecocentrism, which we are proud to host on Patrick is a writer and response, in addition to some other essential the Journal’s website.) The most important scholar based in London, markers. You may also want to consult our thing, therefore, is the nature and quality UK. His works include Mission Statement (https://is.gd/umjXSP) of our relationships with the Earth and Ecological Ethics: An Introduction (Polity Press, and read John Davis’s generous endorsement our fellow-Earthlings. This means that far 2011). He is Editor-in-Chief in this issue. from being an optional add-on, questions of of The Ecological Citizen. The fundamental fact was summed up in ecocentric ethics are present from the start the WWF’s Living Planet Report 2016: by (Curry, 2011). Citation 2020, human activity will have destroyed We believe – or perceive – that nothing Curry P (2017) The