|
|
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
|
|
2001 Schumacher Lecture - Tackling the Corporate Takeover |
|
A simple audio recording of the 2001 Schumacher Lecture by investigative journalist George Monbiot, at the Centre for Human Ecology, in which he outlines what he describes as the systematic corporate takeover of Britain. The unedited recording, made using a single camera at the rear of the audience, begins with an introduction by Richard St. George, Director of the Schumacher Society, in which he explains the link between the Society and the Centre for Human Ecology. George Monbiot, an author and Guardian journalist, starts his talk by talking about the domination of universities by big business, giving as an example Edinburgh University closing the original Centre for Human Ecology after it had upset some large corporate interests. He says that this effect is sweeping through the university sector, with corporate money from oil, pharmaceutical, biotech and defence companies steering the research agenda. For example, he says, research into organic food production in Britain gets only £1.7 million per year while research into genetically engineered food production gets £52 million. He asks why the big corporations have become so powerful and suggests that it is because we have neglected our duties as citizens. He insists that consumer power can only make a small difference, and says we must challenge our rulers, quoting anti-slavery campaigner Frederick Douglas in 1857: “Power concedes nothing without a demand”. Finally, in the last ten minutes of a 55-minute lecture, George Monbiot lists some of the demands that we should make of our government and planning systems. These include the devolution of decision making to the lowest possible levels and limiting the scale of big businesses. However, he accepts that none of these will work if they are done only at the British level and argues that we need harmonised worldwide minimum standards for corporations and need to democratise international decision-making. He cites the World Bank, IMF and World Trade Organisation as examples of institutions in need of democratic reform. The lecture is followed by some 30 minutes of questions and answers. Unfortunately many of the questions are not adequately picked up by the speakers’ microphones. Audience questions prompt discussion of the controversial Skye Bridge project, promises of jobs at major development projects, the devolution of planning powers to smaller communities and the difficulty of gaining media coverage of non-violent protests. This audio recording lasts 1 hour, 26 minutes and 34 seconds.
|
| |
|
|
| |
| Creators: |
Speaker - Monbiot, George
| |
Subject: |
Activism & Protest, Environment
|
| Contributors: |
The Centre for Human Ecology - Copyright Holder
| |
Date created:
|
01 / 01 / 2001
|
|
Language:
|
English
|
Country:
Region:
City:
|
United Kingdom
| |
Rights:
|
Community Media Association has non exclusive rights for the use of the work in The Showcase, but the overall copyright rests with the Centre for Human Ecology. Copyright the Centre for Human Ecology.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
| |
|
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
If your browser can’t display the graphical link above to the translator, you may translate this page by going to the Babelfish website and pasting the address for this page into the box marked “Translate a web page”. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
