[Coral-List] UN SDG #1 Poverty and SDG #4 Quality Education

[Ehsan KAYAL]

Dear colleagues,

I would like to add to Nohora's argument for a change in the paradigm of
sustainability and conservation, which is based on the Westerner concept of
"development" as a linear and unidirectional trajectory with a unique
pattern and end-goal. As an evolutionary biologist, I see such bias in our
way we approach many (if not most) scientific questions, starting with the
evolution of what we call "complexity". Similarly, we call "developed"
countries places where most of the environment has been destroyed or
transformed, lifestyle streamlined and dependency upon technological
innovations has reached nearly irreversible hikes. Such a vicious cycle of
ever increasing dependency requires an ever-increasing input of resources
whose extraction extends all over the world and impact mostly those places
that are still relatively sustainable if it were not for the pressure to
"develop". And yet, we have people on this forum and also in the elite
blaming those "developing" countries for the consequences of those
destructions, and not our (imperialist) societies that are the drivers and
final consumers of these destruction.

As scientists, we have a duty to look at the problems we confront from as
broad a perspective as possible, and not narrow down our views to satisfy
societal and political pressures.

Cheers,

E
___________________________________
Ehsan Kayal, PhD
Station Biologique de Roscoff
FR 2424 CNRS UPMC
Place Georges Teissier
CS 90074
29688 Roscoff Cedex
tel: (+33)298295646
ehsan.kayal at sb-roscoff.fr
________________________________
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“We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we
created them.” Albert Einstein



On Sat, 29 Jun 2019 at 02:45, Nohora Galvis via Coral-List <
coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov> wrote:

> Dear colleagues,
>
> By reading the recent posts, I remember a practical class at Harvard
> U. (Kennedy School of Government 1997) when we went to analyze the
> presentations of some senators. The theme was about "rich and poor"
> countries. Our misison was to ask challenging questions.
> I asked why they were calling poor to the richer countries in
> biodiversity and natural resources?  I awarded an positive
> acknowledgement at the graduation ceremony for that...
>
> This makes us think about what really matters and what is the value
> the present generations are giving to life. Unsutainable developers
> are rich in monetary values and may pay to some scientists to support
> their activities that will make more poor the people that depend on
> the natural resources and the whole living planet.
>
> It is not a direct relationship between number of people with
> destructive behaviors. For example, two kids of a conservationist in a
> "developing country" may have less negative impact to the environment
> that the only kid of a "developed country" unsustainable developer who
> inherit an unsustainable developer enterprise that supports
> megaprojects that will destroy forests and coral reefs in "developing
> countries".
>
> Some of us have been wondering about all these issues since 2000 when
> I talked at the Bali ICRS about the need to evaluate coral reef
> conservation effectiveness referring to the objetives of the
> sustaianble development (measuring ecological, social and economic
> criteria).
>
> The  SDGs are a good framework to make a clear pathway to the feasible
> solutions. Learn more about UN SDGs for instance SDG #1 End poverty in
> all its forms everywhere and UN SDG #4 Ensure inclusive and equitable
> quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all
> !!
>
> --
> Cordial saludo,
>
> Nohora Galvis
>
> Directora Observatorio Pro Arrecifes
> Fundación ICRI Colombia
> Coordinadora Red Internacional de Observadores Voluntarios del Arrecife
>
> Facebook.com/ICRI.COLOMBIA
> Twitter @ArrecifesCoral e @ICRIcolombia
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