By Vandana Shiva
An obsession with growth has eclipsed
our concern for sustainability, justice and human dignity. But people
are not disposable – the value of life lies outside economic development
'Water extracted beyond nature’s capacity to renew and recharge creates a water famine'. (Photograph: Joe McNally/Getty)
Limitless growth is the fantasy of economists, businesses and politicians. It is seen as a measure of progress. As a result, gross domestic product (GDP), which is supposed to measure the wealth of nations, has emerged as both the most powerful number and dominant concept in our times. However, economic growth hides the poverty it creates through the destruction of nature, which in turn leads to communities lacking the capacity to provide for themselves.
Limitless growth is the fantasy of economists, businesses and politicians. It is seen as a measure of progress. As a result, gross domestic product (GDP), which is supposed to measure the wealth of nations, has emerged as both the most powerful number and dominant concept in our times. However, economic growth hides the poverty it creates through the destruction of nature, which in turn leads to communities lacking the capacity to provide for themselves.
The concept of growth was put forward as a
measure to mobilise resources during the second world war. GDP is based
on creating an artificial and fictitious boundary, assuming that if you
produce what you consume, you do not produce. In effect , “growth”
measures the conversion of nature into cash, and commons into
commodities.
Thus nature’s amazing cycles of renewal
of water and nutrients are defined into nonproduction. The peasants of
the world,who provide 72% of the food, do not produce; women who farm or
do most of the housework do not fit this paradigm of growth either. A
living forest does not contribute to growth, but when trees are cut down
and sold as timber, we have growth. Healthy societies and communities
do not contribute to growth, but disease creates growth through, for
example, the sale of patented medicine.
Water available as a commons shared
freely and protected by all provides for all. However, it does not
create growth. But when Coca-Cola sets up a plant, mines the water and
fills plastic bottles with it, the economy grows. But this growth is
based on creating poverty – both for nature and local communities. Water
extracted beyond nature’s capacity to renew and recharge creates a
water famine. Women are forced to walk longer distances looking for
drinking water. In the village of Plachimada in Kerala, when the walk
for water became 10 kms, local tribal woman Mayilamma said enough is
enough. We cannot walk further; the Coca-Cola plant must shut down. The
movement that the women started eventually led to the closure of the
plant.
In the same vein, evolution has gifted us
the seed. Farmers have selected, bred, and diversified it – it is the
basis of food production. A seed that renews itself and multiplies
produces seeds for the next season, as well as food. However,
farmer-bred and farmer-saved seeds are not seen as contributing to
growth. It creates and renews life, but it doesn't lead to profits.
Growth begins when seeds are modified, patented and genetically locked,
leading to farmers being forced to buy more every season.
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