The War Against Ourselves Nature, Power and Justice

"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 21st 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 (South Africa) "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." --Dr. Kai Horsthemke, Wits School of Education, University of the Witwatersrand (South Africa) For many people "nature" means wilderness and wild animals. It is experienced indirectly through magazines and television programs or through visiting the highly managed environments of national parks. Nature, however, is not external, separate from the world of people--we live in nature and interact with it daily. In this book, Jacklyn Cock describes how these intricate and complex interconnections, seen and unseen, are often ignored. Each of the ten chapters examines an aspect of our relationship with nature. The War Against Ourselves compels us to reexamine our relationship with nature, to change our practices and dissolve present binary divisions such as people vs. animals, economic growth vs. environmental protection, "nature" vs. "culture." It demonstrates the need for an inclusive politics which brings together peace, social, and environmental justice activists who believe that another world is both possible and necessary. Jacklyn Cock is professor emeritus in the Department of Sociology, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg (South Africa) where she has lectured for twenty-five years. She is also an Honorary Research Professor in the Sociology of Work unit (SWOP). She has been involved in the environmental movement since the 1970s.