A diversity, equity and inclusion that steers an extractive economy will become neither diverse, equitable nor inclusive. Functional re-racination, aka, re-indigenizing is at the heart of stopping extinction and a holistic inclusivity. Ornamental re-indigenizing amounts to espousing a veneer of indigeneity, and cooptation, but dig deeper into any millenium strong intact indigenous culture and you’ll see a functional reciprocity with nature that yields a tremendously resilient biodiversity and its cascade of benefits, clean air, water, food etc.
A de-racinated people lean on the catastrophic paternalism of extractive infrastructures that bulldoze species into a bottomless pit of goodbye forever. Mega-dams, mega-farms, mega-ports, mega-malls, mega-bombs, mega everything, megalomaniacal paternalism; daddy knows best meets the pathos of nationalism.
Re-villaging, wherein our basic needs are met within the village: farmer, doctor, teacher etc. This is the way out. I would stretch this and say even an internet community of essential service providers can displace mega-national infrastructures, assuming of course the server farms and cube-sats are locally owned,and the rare earth mines that make them are fair trade certified.
People, we have work to do, and a long road ahead. Let’s just make sure we stay on the good road. Cosmopolitan trade and culture thereby becomes the frosting on the cake of providence, not the golden handcuffs of a paternal nationalism.
