Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
groups, though not necessary those like Greenpeace or Friends of the Earth, are for
Klein in denial of these all too evident realities. It is by building coalitions with the
more radicalized and politically aware indigenous people and other communities and
not with the corporations that the true win-win solutions may emerge. Those active
in the Idle No More movement of First Nation peoples in Canada argue and vigorously
campaign for the oil, coal and other fossil fuels to be left in the ground. They are
offering the accommodative green groups an alternative narrative that goes well
beyond the political realism of Third Generation Environmentalism.
Governance, democracy and eco-welfare
Governance is not an easy concept to grasp and has been interpreted and defined
in various ways. For the United Nations, governance refers to:
the exercise of political, economic and administrative authority in the management
of a country's affairs at all levels. Governance comprises the complex mechanisms,
processes and institutions through which citizens and groups articulate their
interests, mediate their differences, and exercise their legal rights and obligations.
(UNDP, 1997: 5)
Governance occurs within corporate, local, regional, national, international and
global contexts. 'Good governance' is an umbrella term denoting lasting and positive
changes in accordance with the six key principles of openness, participation,
accountability, effectiveness, coherence and civic peace, which may involve civil
society actions as well as major public sector reforms (Batterbury, 2006). From the
perspective of human development as outlined in the Human Development Report
for 2002,
Deepening Democracy in a Fragmented World
, good governance means
democratic governance (Fukuda-Parr, 2002: 51) - that is to say:
•
People's human rights and fundamental freedoms are respected, allowing them
to live with dignity.
•
People have a say in decisions that affect their lives.
•
People can hold decision-makers accountable.
•
Inclusive and fair rules, institutions and practices govern social interactions.
•
Women are equal partners with men in private and public spheres of life and
decision-making.
•
People are free from discrimination based on race, ethnicity, class, gender or
any other attribute.
•
The needs of future generations are reflected in current policies.
•
Economic and social policies are responsive to people's needs and aspirations.
•
Economic and social policies aim at eradicating poverty and expanding the
choices that all people have in their lives.
Together with security of tenure, UN-Habitat (2000) and a number of observers
(Beall
et al
., 2000; Benjamin, 2000; Devas, 2004; Baud and Dhanalakshmi, 2007)
see good governance as an 'enabling tool' in reducing urban poverty, improving
service provision, combating crime and violence, fostering civic participation and
enhancing economic performance.
