This book explores the implications of knowing our place in the universe
and recognising our hybridity. It is a series of self-reflections and
essays drawing on many diverse ways of knowing. The book examines the
complex ethical challenges of closing the wide gap in living standards
between rich and poor people/communities. The notion of an ecological
citizen is presented with a focus on protecting current and future
generations. The idea is to track the distribution and redistribution of
resources in the interests of social and environmental justice. The
central argument looks for ways to hold the powerful to account so as to
enable virtuous living by the majority to be demonstrated in what the
author calls a "planetary passport" - a careful use of resources and a
way to provide safe passage to those in need of safe habitat. The book
argues that nation states need to find ways to control the super-rich
through the governance process and to enhance a sense of shared
ecological citizenship and responsibility for biodiversity. The
fundamental approach is collaborative research.
Planetary Passport: Representation, Accountability and Re-Generation
is comprised of six chapters. Chapter 1 begins by making a case for a
paradigm shift away from business as usual and the pursuit of profit at
the expense of the social and environmental fabric of life. The aim is
to explore alternatives and to discuss some ways of achieving wellbeing
whilst the focus is on human rights, discrimination and outlining the
notion of a planetary passport. Chapter 2 makes a specific link between
people and the planet as a basis for understanding the nature of
hybridity and interconnectedness and the implications for ethics.
Chapter 3 focuses on building this planetary passport for social and
environmental justice in order to enable people with complex needs to
consider the consequences of either continuing to live the same way as
before or making changes to the way that they live. Meanwhile Chapter 4
does the same as the previous chapter, but explores the political
context of consumption and short term profit Chapter 5 examines the
challenges and opportunities that come from explorations within a
cross-cultural learning community. This includes a look at co-creation
and co-determination. Finally Chapter 6 ends with a look to the future
and a potential new framework for people and the planet through a
planetary passport.
