Recognized activist talks environment

The Gamecock , Monday, April 05, 2010
Correspondent : Kristyn Winch
International environmental activist, scientist and author Vandana Shiva lectured about food security and climate change Friday afternoon in the Belk Auditorium of the School of Business.

Shiva has been recognized by Time magazine as an environmental hero and was named “one of the five most powerful communicators from Asia” by Asia Week.

The lecture, “Soil Not Oil: Food Security in Times of Climate Change,” was based on Shiva’s 2008 book of the same name and was focused on food insecurity, peak oil and climate change.

“I have always been passionate about soil,” Shiva said as she started her lecture. “When we are aware of soil, we are aware of Earth and all she gives us. We can build living economies where the first purpose is to meet our needs.”

Shiva said soil is a good metaphor for democracy because things that grow in soil grow from the bottom up.

She said people have to use force to get oil because it is not a natural substance. Shiva touched on the subject of global warming, but she said she prefers to use terminology like “climate chaos” or “climate havoc” when discussing the topic.

Shiva also told a story about farmers in India who have no food to eat. She said farmers go hungry because they’re forced to sell everything back to make money.

The word “seed” in Hindi literally means “that which gives life that will rise again and again and again” Shiva said.

“Plants are like children and need to be treated as such,” Shiva said. “We need a celebration of caring.”

Shiva has written and contributed to nearly 20 books about environmental and feminist issues, including “Earth Democracy” and “Water Wars.” A native of India, she earned her doctorate in physics from the University of Western Ontario in Canada.

She established Navdanya, a movement for biodiversity, conservation and farmers’ rights in India. Shiva founded the Research Foundation for Science, Technology and Ecology and is vice president of the global movement Slow Food International.

Shiva said it takes just one person to make others start working for change.

“Once people start to do the right action, they become more democratically strong,” Shiva said.

 
SOURCE : http://www.dailygamecock.com/news/recognized-activist-talks-environment-1.1304846
 


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