War Against Ourselves. Jacklyn Cock
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Man’s attitude toward nature is today critically important simply because we have now acquired a fateful power to alter and destroy nature. But man is part of nature and his war against nature is inevitably a war against himself.
Rachel Carson, CBS broadcast, 3 April 1963
The future of the environment, and the destructive impact of unregulated market-led growth on it, has become the defining socio-political issue of the twenty-first century. This book, by taking a holistic approach to the subject, will attract readers who are interested in the section on the origin, growth and social composition of bird-watching through to those who see capitalism on a suicidal course in its drive to exploit nature for profit.
Eddie Webster, Director of the Sociology of Work Unit, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg
This is a refreshing, important and timely work: refreshing because of the personal perspective of the author; important because it goes beyond the personal to make a significant statement about current states of affairs in South Africa; timely because its message goes beyond (South) Africa – it is an urgent plea for universal environmental sanity.
Kai Horsthemke, Wits School of Education, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg
OTHER BOOKS BY JACKLYN COCK
Colonels and Cadres: War and Gender in South Africa. Cape Town: Oxford University Press, 1991; London: Open Letters, 1992; Cleveland: Pilgrim Press, 1993.
From Defence to Development: Redirecting Military Resources in South Africa. Cape Town: David Philip, 1998; Ottawa: IDRC, 1998. Co-edited with Penny McKenzie.
Going Green: People, Politics and the Environment in South Africa. Cape Town: Oxford University Press, 1991. Co-edited with Eddie Koch.
Maids and Madams: A Study in the Politics of Exploitation. Johannesburg: Ravan Press, 1980; London: The Women’s Press, 1989.
Rainbow Nations and Melting Pots: Conversations about Difference and Disadvantage in the United States and South Africa. Illinois: University of Illinois Press, 2002. Co-authored with Alison Bernstein.
Translated as I Colori della Differenza: Intrecci di culture e nazioni tra Stati Uniti e Sudafrica. Bologna: Bononia University Press, 2006. Co-authored with Alison Bernstein.
War and Society: The Militarisation of South Africa. Cape Town: David Philip, 1989; New York: St Martin’s Press, 1989. Co-edited with Laurie Nathan.
THE WAR AGAINST
OURSELVES
NATURE, POWER AND JUSTICE
JACKLYN COCK
Wits University Press
1 Jan Smuts Avenue
Johannesburg
South Africa
© Text, Jacklyn Cock 2007
© Cover artwork, ‘Besondere plante vir elke seisoen’, Safari, 2003, Lien Botha
First published 2007.
ISBN 978-1-86814-457-0 (Paperback)
ISBN 978-1-77614-372-6 (Web PDF)
ISBN 978-1-77614-373-3 (EPUB)
ISBN 978-1-77614-374-0 (Mobi)
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the express permission, in writing, of both the copyright holder and the publishers.
Cover, layout and design by Hybridesign
CONTENTS
Chapter 2: Understanding Nature
Chapter 9: Organising for Nature
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Many thanks to all the people who shared their ideas and experiences with me while I was researching this book. It would not have been completed without the support of numerous friends, but I would especially like to acknowledge Judith and Trish (with whom I’ve shared much including many happy times in ‘wild nature’); Kathy (who loves the Kowie River as much as I do) and Leslie; Alison (for showing me so much of the world and especially Rachel Carson’s home in Maine); David (a wonderful travel and teaching partner); Victor (tireless environmental activist) and Eddie (my model of a public sociologist and committed teacher).
My thanks also go to Estelle Jobson and Veronica Klipp at Wits University Press. In preparing this book for publication, I was fortunate to have the services of Alex Potter as editor, Fiona Lawson as proofreader, Margie Ramsay as indexer, and Karen Lilje of Hybridesign as cover and book designer. Lien Botha has kindly allowed us to use her artwork, ‘Besondere plante vir elke seisoen’ on the cover.
The publishers and I wish to thank all those institutions whose publications and archives have been cited and those individuals who have been interviewed. Acknowledgement has been cited accordingly at each instance.
ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS
| ANC | African National Congress |
| APF | Anti-Privatisation Forum |
| BLSA | Birdlife South Africa |
| CEO |
chief |