The North American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation: A Jacob's Ladder Out of Fortress North American into a North American Community
Date
2015-09-02
Authors
Dobell, Rod
Longo, Justin
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Abstract
Introduction:
These are dark days for the North American Community Agenda. A prevailing angst has descended upon the concept of a diverse and cooperative North American Community, a reaction largely attributable to the tragic events of September 11th. As with many dialogues since that fateful day, the optimistic and somewhat utopian notions that led the last decade of North American community-building have given way to a dominant security and economic agenda: of a “Fortress North America” outlook defined in terms of common security arrangements (e.g., defence, customs and immigration); integrated economies (e.g., free trade, harmonisation, a common currency); expanded access to resources (e.g., continental energy policy, inter-basin and trans-border water transfers); and a decreasing tolerance of social (e.g., health care principles) and cultural (e.g., popular media) distinctions. In the climate incited by a declared war on terrorism, concerns over the expanding NAFTA-rights of corporations, the declining sovereignty of governments, local communities and individuals, and the subordination of concerns for natural and social capital to the interests of owners of financial capital have been displaced and erased from the agenda.
Description
Partial Preliminary Draft
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For Discussion Only
Keywords
environment, sustainability, North American Sustainability Charter, NAFTA, community, borderlands, Centre for Global Studies