Why is it that I read all the major ecofeminist writers such as Karen Warren,
Val Plumwood, Carol Adams (feel free to contend this list) and I feel like I've
really found a home for my thought~feelings, then read some messages here
and feel alienated? It can get real childish saying who is or who is not an
ecofeminist-but there would be no point in having ecofeminism if it didn't
stand for anything. Stephen's critique of moral purity is spot on - I think it is
a Christian relic. So Stephen why do you then proceed to give us a list of the
ways we can purify our lives??? WE DON'T HAVE TO use nature as a mirror to
guide human behaviour - this discourse of 'Nature as order' which some of you
are using to legitimise meat-eating is identical to the essentialism deployed in
sexism and racism. And Stephen, we are simultaneously part of nature AND distinct (not
superior!!).
Ecofeminism, I think, is the worst nightmare of the political right.
It refuses the resourcing of nature, it contends the 'currently reigning' definition
of humanity, and is obviously feminist, antiracist, anti-individualistic (sorry
Betty) and anti-capitalist. I would personally add that it does not judge by
appearance.
You could also say that it was concerned with the
promotion of an earth-based spirituality, rather than religion......
One could imagine a future when eating meat was not so tied up in the destruction
of the environment and worker-exploitation etc, but this still would not, personally,
be enough for me. Inflicting pain is violent and sadistic, I feel.
A new thread would be nice.....
Richard
P.S. Sue Grubb, you keep me sane!!, thanks.
