old maps, new terrain: rethinking population in an...

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OldMaps,NewTerrain:RethinkingpopulationinaneraofclimatechangeReportontheMay27-29,2016meeting

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OldMaps,NewTerrain:RethinkingpopulationinaneraofclimatechangeMay27-29,2016HampshireCollege,AmherstMA

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The Population andDevelopment Program at Hampshire College (PopDev) is grateful to the co-hostsandparticipantsofOldMaps,NewTerrain:Rethinkingpopulationinaneraofclimatechange.Wewerefortunatetobringtogetheragroupthatcamefrommultiplesocialmovements,scholarlydisciplinesandgeographicregionstocollaborativelyanalyzeissueslikethenewpopulationindustry,“green”militarismanddevelopment,andtheimpactsofclimatechangeandadaptationschemes.Togetherwemappedtheshiftingpoliticallandscapes,bordersandterrainsofpopulationinthistimeofclimatechange.

AtthemeetingwerecognizedandcelebratedscholarandactivistBetsyHartmann’sfoundationalworkon population control, reproductive health and rights, environmental and climate security, and the“greeningofhate”onherretirementfromteachingasaprofessorofinternationaldevelopmentintheSchoolofCriticalSocialInquiry(CSI)atHampshireCollegeandasPopDevDirector.BetsyHartmannwasPopDev Director for most of the program’s existence, from 1988 to 2014. She is responsible forstrategicallypositioningPopDevtotakeontheideaof“overpopulation”andthecomplexandmultipleways it manifests in policy and scholarship related to family planning, environmental and climatechange, immigration and international security, as well as in popular thinking and advocacy. BetsycontinuestoworkwiththeprogramasPopDev’sSeniorPolicyAdvisor,forwhichIamverygrateful.SheisalsoaProfessorEmeritainCSIandcontinuestopublishandgivepublictalks.

PopDevextendsaheartfeltthankstothesupportersoftheOldMaps,NewTerrainmeeting.ThankyoutotheCivilLibertiesandPublicPolicyProgramatHampshireCollegefortheprogram’sgeneroussupportof PopDev. Thank you to The Antipode Foundation for a 2015-16 International Workshop Award insupport of the meeting. Thank you to Hampshire College for hosting PopDev as part of the collegecommunitysince1986.Andfinally,thankyoutotheothermeetingco-hosts:DianaOjeda,JadeSasser,SarojiniNadimpally,andBetsyHartmann.

Thefollowingreportcapturessomeof thekeydiscussionsandanalysesthatemergedat themeeting.Please note that ideas expressed in this report are not necessarily those of the Population &DevelopmentProgramatHampshireCollege.

YoucanheardirectlyfromsomeofthemeetingparticipantsinourOldMaps,NewTerrainvideointerviewseries.Visitourwebsiteatpopdev.hampshire.edutoaccessthevideos.

[email protected].

Sincerely,

AnneHendrixsonPopDevDirector


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Background..........................................................................................................................................5

Session1:OldMaps,NewTerrainFramework.....................................................................................6Whyarewecoalescingaroundtheseparticularissues?....................................................................6

BetsyHartmann&DianaOjeda...........................................................................................................6What’sgoingonwithgender?What’sgoingonwithrace?Howaretheyinterconnectedandrelatedtothismeeting?...............................................................................................................................8

AnneHendrixson&SarojiniNadimpally..............................................................................................8Whatistherangeofpowerfulandimpactfulinterestswhoareinvested—financiallyandideologically—inperpetuatingandrefashioningpopulationinaneraofclimatechange?................9

BetsyHartmann&JadeSasser............................................................................................................9Whydowethinkthatalternativevisionsforthefuturearenecessaryandpossible?.....................11

AnneHendrixson&JadeSasser.........................................................................................................11Howdoweframeapoliticsofsolidarityandstronganalysisthatbridgesmovements?.................12

SarojiniNadimpally&DianaOjeda....................................................................................................12

Session2:MappingthePopulation(Control)Landscape....................................................................13PopulationControlisNot(Just)History..........................................................................................13

AnneHendrixson...............................................................................................................................13TheEmbodiedViolenceof“SmartEconomics”...............................................................................13

KalpanaWilson..................................................................................................................................13ExplainingNeo-Malthusianism?DemographicAnxieties,Anti-Feminisms,IslamophobiaandNeoliberalism.................................................................................................................................14

MohanRao........................................................................................................................................14USReproductiveJusticeActivism“Post”-PopulationControl..........................................................15

ZakiyaLuna........................................................................................................................................15Sex,Sustainability,Wine&Cheese.................................................................................................16

JadeSasser.........................................................................................................................................16Howdoweaddresspopulationcontroltoday?ParticipantDiscussion...........................................17

Session3:ThePoliticalEconomyofToday’sPopulationControlIndustry...........................................19ALensonWomen’sHealthinSouthAfrica.....................................................................................19

MarionStevens..................................................................................................................................19NorplantinBangladesh..................................................................................................................20

ShahinaParvin...................................................................................................................................20ImplicationsofNeoliberalismonGlobalHealth..............................................................................21PoliticsofLife,ReproductionandtheZikaVirus.............................................................................21

ClaudiaRiveraAmarillo......................................................................................................................21PopulationControl,ClinicalTrials,andSystemicViolenceinIndia..................................................22

SarojiniNadimpally............................................................................................................................22Whereisthefeministresponse?ParticipantDiscussion.................................................................24


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Session4:ChartingtheLandscapeofClimateChangeandMilitarizedDevelopment..........................25StrugglesAgainstMalthusianClimate............................................................................................25

LarryLohmann...................................................................................................................................25ChallengingtheYouthBulgeTheory...............................................................................................26

AwinoOkech......................................................................................................................................26GreenMilitarizationinConservation..............................................................................................26

LibbyLunstrum..................................................................................................................................26MilitarizationofClimateChange....................................................................................................27

BetsyHartmann.................................................................................................................................27

Session5:MappingthePoliticalLandscapeofDispossession.............................................................29ClimateAdaptationasDevelopmentasUsualinBangladesh..........................................................29

KhushiKabeer....................................................................................................................................29TopographiesofAbandonment:Adaptation,riskanddispossessioninpost-disasterColombia......30

AlejandroCamargo............................................................................................................................30DispossessionsThrough“CleanDevelopment”andMilitarization..................................................31

DianaOjeda.......................................................................................................................................31ClimatePoliticsandLivedImpactsinMexico..................................................................................31

MarthaPskowski................................................................................................................................31DispossessionThroughSustainableDevelopment..........................................................................32

KiranAsher........................................................................................................................................32

Session6:AnticipatoryVisionsfortheFuture....................................................................................33ImaginingFeministFutures............................................................................................................33

WendyHarcourt................................................................................................................................33OtherWorldsarePossible..............................................................................................................33

RosalindaPinedaOfreneo.................................................................................................................33PromotingClimateJustice..............................................................................................................34

JacquelinePatterson..........................................................................................................................34PopulationControlisWhiteSupremacy.........................................................................................34

TanyaFields.......................................................................................................................................34

ChallengingNeo-MalthusianismandForgingJustice:MeetingConclusion..........................................36

References.........................................................................................................................................39

OldMapsParticipantsList..................................................................................................................40


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BackgroundFromMay27–29,2016,28scholarsandactivistsconvenedfortheOldMaps,NewTerrain:Rethinkingpopulation inaneraof climatechangemeetingatHampshireCollege inAmherst,Massachusetts,US.Meeting participantswere from11 countries (Bangladesh, India, the Philippines, Kenya, SouthAfrica,Colombia,Mexico,Canada, theUK, theNetherlands, and theUS). Participants included scholars frommultiple areas (gender studies, geography, feminist political ecology, public health, environmentalstudies and critical race theory) and activists from a variety of movements (land and water rights;immigrant rights; and reproductive, environmental, food and climate justice). These categories wereblurred:manyofus identifyasbothactivistand scholar.Thegroupalso included fourundergraduatestudentassistantsfromHampshireCollege,aswellasourmeetingcoordinator,KaiaZimmerman.

Themeetingwasco-hostedandfacilitatedbythePopulationandDevelopmentProgramatHampshireCollege(PopDev)withthreecolleaguesandpoliticalallies.Co-hostsincludedAnneHendrixson(PopDevDirector and Faculty Associate in the School of Critical Social Inquiry at Hampshire College); BetsyHartmann (PopDevSeniorPolicyAnalystandProfessorEmeritaofDevelopmentStudiesatHampshireCollege); Diana Ojeda (Faculty Member at the Instituto PENSAR, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana,Bogotá, Colombia); Sarojini Nadimpally (Executive Director, Sama: Resource Group on Women andHealth, New Delhi, India); and Jade Sasser (Assistant Professor, Department of Gender and SexualityStudies,UniversityofCalifornia,Riverside).

At thesymposium,wecollectivelyrethoughtpopulation inthecontextofclimatechange,conflictandshifting geopolitics. Participants presented on contemporary political concerns related to changingdemographic and environmental realities.Weorganized our inquiry into six in-depth sessions: 1)OldMaps,NewTerrainintroductionsandframework;2)Mappingthepopulation(control)landscape;3)Thepolitical economyof today’spopulation control industry; 4)Charting the landscapeof climatechangeandmilitarizeddevelopment;5)Mapping thepolitical landscapeofdispossession;and6)Anticipatoryvisions for the future.At the startofeach session,apanelofparticipantsmade framing remarksandthentogetherweconsideredtheconnectionsanddisjuncturestheyrevealedinthecurrentgeopoliticalterrain.

Wemappedabroaddefinitionofpopulationcontrolthatisbothcontext-specificandlocalized,aswellas useful in identifying themultiple and replicable ways that neo-Malthusian thinking shapes policy,philanthrocapitalism,scholarship,popularcultureandactivism.Thismappingallowedustoseelinkagesbetween issues and movements, made our analysis intersectional and stronger, shifted participants’relationships to the issues and one another, and allowed us to find important possibilities forconnectionsinourscholarlyandactivistworkmovingforward.

ThisisareportontheOldMaps,NewTerrainmeeting.


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Session1:OldMaps,NewTerrainFrameworkTheOld Maps, New Terrain Framework discussion featured the meeting co-hosts, who laid out thepoliticalquestionsandchallengesthatledustoholdthemeeting.Co-hostsaddressedfivequestions:1)Whyarewecoalescingaroundtheseparticularissues?2)Whatisgoingonwithgender?Whatisgoingonwith race?3)What is the rangeofpowerful and impactful interestswhoare invested—financiallyandideologically—inperpetuatingandrefashioningpopulationinaneraofclimatechange?4)Whydowethinkthatalternativevisionsforthefuturearenecessaryandpossible?and5)Howdoweframeapoliticsofsolidarityandstronganalysisthatbridgesmovements?

Whyarewecoalescingaroundtheseparticularissues?

BetsyHartmann&DianaOjedaTheOldMaps,NewTerrainmeetingwasframedsoastorethinkpopulationinthecontextofclimatechange,conflictandshiftinggeopolitics.PanelistsBetsyHartmannandDianaOjedaanalyzedthereasonsforexaminingtheseissuesandthelinksbetweenthem.

BetsyHartmanndiscussedhowneo-Malthusianismactsasgluethatadherestheissuestogetherindangerousways.Shedefinedneo-Malthusianismasanideologythatunderstandsrapidpopulationgrowthasamajor,ifnotthemajorcauseofpoverty,environmentaldegradation,resourcescarcity,andpoliticalinstability.Neo-Malthusianism’smainsolutionistopromotethereductionofwomen’sfertilitythroughtheprovisionofeffectivecontraception.Betsysuggestedthatinthecurrentmoment,thecontraceptivesolutioniscoupledwithanarrowpackageofwomen’sempowermentmeasuresthatcorrelatewithlowerfertilitysuchasbetteraccesstoeducation,micro-creditandemploymentopportunitiesintheneo-liberalmarketplace.Inherwords:

Neo-Malthusianismisaboutmuchmorethanpopulationgrowth,however.Itisabeliefsystemandpolicyvehiclethatbothobscuresandreinforcestheroleofpowerfulinterestsingeneratingsocialandeconomicinequality,dispossession,environmentaldegradationandpoliticalviolence.Assuch,itisproductiveinnumerousways:

1.Itsfocusonpopulationnumbersandtargetslendsitselftotechnocraticsocialengineeringandtoday’sfaddishmanagerialobsessionwithmeasurableoutcomes.

2.ItpitsanabstractHumanityagainstanabstractNature:“Peoplearebadfortheenvironment.”Itdoesn’taskwhichpeopleandwhichinstitutionsaredegradingtheenvironmentanddepletingresources,andwhy.But,ofcourse,beneaththeabstractionarerealrace,classed,andgenderedbodies.“Overpopulation”summonsuppowerfulstereotypesofbarbarianhordes;poor,pregnantwomenofcolor;peasantsthataredestroyingthelandandbiodiversity;anddangerousimmigrants.

3.Itformsalinkbetweencolonial,neo-colonialandpost-colonialpracticesofprivilegingtheglobalNorthovertheglobalSouth,andrichelitesovertheso-calledmassesinbothplaces.Itgivestoinequalityasenseofbiologicalandhistoricalinevitability.Itgivesasimilarinevitabilitytowarandviolentconflict.


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4.Itmorphseasilyintothestrategicdeploymentofdifferentialfertilityratesbyright-wing,nativist,patriarchalandfundamentalistforces.HigherfertilityratesofMuslimsthreatenHindus,orwhiteChristiancommunitiesinEurope.ToomanyPalestinianbabies,toofewIsraeliones.Thelistgoeson.

5.Inforecastingdoomunlessbirthratesfallandpopulationcomesintobalancewithnature,itreinforcesapocalypticthinkingandaproblematicsenseofcrisisandemergency—theendoftheworldisnigh,reproductiveandhumanrightsmustbesuspendedforthegreatergood.Thisprivilegesthemainlymaleprophets,likeconservationbiologistPaulEhrlichofpopulationbombfame,whoclaimtheyknowhowtosavetheworld—andearnegoaccoladesandmonetaryprofitsalongtheway.

Yetneo-Malthusianismoftenhasaprogressive,feministpatinatoo,particularlywhenjuxtaposedtotheanti-abortionmovementandotherconservativeandpatriarchalforcesthatdenywomenaccesstosafebirthcontrol,includingabortion.Hereit’simportanttoacknowledgethatpopulationprogramsaresometimestheonlyplacewherewomenandyoungpeoplecangetaccesstocontraceptivesorrudimentaryreproductivehealthcare.Helpedalongbyassociateddiscoursesaboutsavingandempoweringpoorwomenasthebestwaytoreducebirthrates,andprotectingtheenvironmentforfuturegenerations,neo-Malthusianismappealstomanyliberals,andmanyonthelefttoo,especiallyhereintheUS.

Thisconferenceisgoingtolookatthewaysinwhichitthusservesasideologicalglue:normalizing,naturalizingandoftenliberalizingregressiveandrepressivesocial,militaryandenvironmentalpoliciesinthepresenteraofneoliberalism,grotesquewealthconcentration,andclimatechange.Ortouseanothermetaphor,ifwecanunravelthewayneo-Malthusianismthreadsthroughthevariousarenasthatwe’reexploringhere,wecanhopefullyweakenitsinfluence.Ofcourseitisjustoneofmanythreadsthatbendandbindthemindtoanacceptanceofinequalityandinjustice.Butit’sanimportantone,andchallengingithelpstofreepeople’spoliticalimaginationtoembracenewsolidaritiesandamorepositiveviewofthefuture.

DianaOjedaaddressedtheimportanceoflookingattheseissuesatamomentwhenclimatechangeisnotonlydepoliticizedbutalsousedasaveryeffectivedepoliticizingdiscourse.Theproductionofaclimatizednaturehasreconfiguredoldgeographiesofunevenresourceaccess,generatingnewprocessesofdispossession.Thegreenimperativesofclimatechangemitigationandadaptationworktolegitimizetheseprocesses,renderinglocalcommunitiesascollateraldamage.Theresultsareaflattenedoutgeographyofclimatechange:aplanetaryillusioninwhichracial,classedandgendereddisparitiesaren'tsupposedtomatter.Thesegreenimperativesalsorestrictdissidentspaceandclosethedoorsforapoliticsofaffiliation,solidarityandcoalitions.Theself-fulfillingpropheciesenabledbysuchimperatives—suchas“poorwomenintheglobalSoutharehavingtoomanychildren,”"peasantsneedtolearnhowtotakecareoftheenvironment"or"onlyconsumptionwillsaveus"—endupwellpositionedinpublicdiscourse.Inthatway,itisurgenttoaddresshow,inaneraofmultipleclimatecrises,officialandmediacirclesendupspeakingofoneclimateemergency,onethatisyetagainprofoundlyinfusedwithMalthusiannarrativesofimpendingdoom.


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What’sgoingonwithgender?What’sgoingonwithrace?Howaretheyinterconnectedandrelatedtothismeeting?

AnneHendrixson&SarojiniNadimpallyAnneHendrixsonrecognizedtheimportanceofexamininggenderandraceinthecontextofotherintersectionalissuessuchasclass,caste,religion,ethnicityandgeographiclocation.Shenotedthatpopulationcontrolisreliantonlocatingparticularfertilebodiesasthesitesofintervention.Populationcontroldoesnotexistwithoutapredeterminedsetofbodiesthatnotonlyrequirefertilitycontrol,butcanalsobetaggedbothasthesourceofdamagingpopulationgrowthandadditionalproblematicbodies.Thesebodiesaresimultaneouslygendered,raced,classedandplaced:populationcontrolprimarilytargetspoorwomenofcolorfromtheglobalSouth,andalsogroupsofwomenofcolorintheNorth,includingincarceratedwomenandwomenwhoaccesswelfareintheUS.

IncurrentUSpolitics,immigrantsaretoooftentargetedasthesourceofunwantedpopulationgrowthandtheirbodiessubjecttorestrictivepoliciesandbravadoaboutthebuildingofborderwalls.TheBlackLivesMattermovementhasbroughttotheforetheneedtoaddressissuesofracializedviolence,includingpoliceviolenceagainstcommunitiesofcoloraspopulationcontrol.

Whilesomepopulationcontrolinitiativeshavetargetedmen,mosttargetwomenasthesourceofthepopulationproblem.Populationcontrolhasdisproportionatelyimpactedwomen’sbodiesandlives.However,simultaneously,populationcontrolandpopulationcontroldiscoursescontributetohardenedbinaryunderstandingsofgenderandsexualityininternationaldevelopmentandfamilyplanning.Underpopulationcontrol,allpeoplearewomenormen,andareheterosexual.Genderrelations,genderfluidities,anddifferencesbetweenwomenonthebasisofrace,class,ethnicityandsexualityareabsent.Thisunderminesproductivevisioningofwhateffectivepoliciesmightlooklikeinanumberofareas,butparticularlysexualandreproductivehealthandrights(SRHR).ItreinforcestheideathattheprimarygoalofSRHRisfertilitycontrol,andthatsomepeopleneedtokeeptheirfertilitymoreundercontrolthanothers.

Atthesametime,wehavetograpplewiththeeconomicempowermentandwomen’sagencyframeworksthatdenytheongoingproblemsofpopulationcontrolandhavefar-reaching,negativeimpactsininternationalandnationaldevelopmentschemes.Finally,wehavetorecognizethattherehasbeensomegoodworkonwomenandadaptationtoclimatechange,onwomenandsustainabledevelopment,andinreproductivejustice.

Sarojinidiscussedtheenduringneo-Malthusiantalesabout“overpopulation”andhowtheyareemployedinaneraofclimatechange.ShenotesthatthesegenderedandracializedtropescontinuetoplaceblameonpoorwomenofcolorintheglobalSouthforout-of-controlgrowthleadingtoenvironmentaldegradation.Inherwords:


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Variousinternationalorganizationsandnationalgovernmentshaveidentifiedtheissueofclimatechangeasoneofthemajorchallengesfacedtodaybythehumancivilization.Thedominantdiscourseonclimatechangesquarelyblamestheunbridledpopulationgrowth,particularlyinlowandmiddle-incomecountries,forirreparabledamagescausedtoecosystemsandenvironments.Theidentificationofoverpopulationastherootcauseofsocio-economicproblems,includingseverestrainonnaturalresourcesleadingtocatastrophicchangesinecosystems,hasalongerhistory.RepackagingtheMalthusianideaoffasterpopulationgrowthandlimitedresources,andthedisciplineofdemography,whichemergedduringthede-colonizationperiodofthe1950sand60sinleadingeconomiesoftheWest,notonlyinfluencedthepolicymakingprocessesbutalso,toalargeextent,shapedthecommonsensicalunderstandingofthegeneralpopulation.Forinstance,adoptingtheneo-Malthusianapproach,thepolicymakersandexpertsinIndiaidentifiedoverpopulationasoneofthemajorcausesofpoverty,unemployment,illnessesandlackofeducation.Itis,therefore,notsurprisingthatpopulationcontrolwasoneofthecoreelementsinthedevelopmentalstrategiesofthepost-colonialgovernmentinIndia.Inthelastthreedecades,withthespecterofeconomicgrowthtakingcenterstageindevelopmentalstrategies,theneo-Malthusianapproachhasrepeatedlybeeninvokedtoblameoverpopulationforclimatechange.Itobfuscatesthecatastrophicimpactonnatureandtheenvironmentofadevelopmentalmodelthatispropelledbytheideaofgrowthforgrowth’ssake.It’sironicalthattodaypeopleinIndia,whoarelargelyinvolvedinthesubsistenceeconomy,areblamedforenvironmentaldamages,whilethegovernmentsaregivingminingleasestomulti-nationalcompaniesinecologicallysensitivezones.

Whatistherangeofpowerfulandimpactfulinterestswhoareinvested—financiallyandideologically—inperpetuatingandrefashioningpopulationinaneraofclimatechange?

BetsyHartmann&JadeSasserBetsyHartmannidentifiedfourclustersofpowerfulandimpactfulintereststhatareshapingthepopulationconversationinthistimeofclimatechange.First,shenamedtheaid/philanthrocapitalist/pharmaceuticalnexus.Sheusedadefinitionof“philanthrocapitalism”,borrowedfromLindsayMcGoey’s2015bookNoSuchThingasaFreeGift,asaphilanthropicstylethatmimicsthebusinesspracticesofthefor-profitworldinnon-profitcontexts.Capitalismisthoughttobe“naturally”philanthropic.TheGatesandBuffetFoundationsareexamplesofsuchphilanthrocapitalistentitiesthatwieldenormousinfluence,asdoBillGatesandWarrenBuffetasindividuals.Asanexample,Betsynoted“TheGoodClub”summitonMay24,2009,coveredintheSundayTimes.ConvenedbyGates,itwasattendedbyBuffett,TedTurner,DavidRockefeller,Jr,andothers,who,takingtheircuefromGates,agreedthatoverpopulationwastheirumbrellacause.Accordingtothearticle,aconsensusemergedthat“theywouldbackastrategyinwhichpopulationgrowthwouldbetackledasapotentiallydisastrousenvironmental,socialandindustrialthreat.”1

Atthesametime,Betsyargued,thereisanincreasedcorporatizationofaid,includingthepartnershipsmadebyUSAID,DFID,UNFPA,andWHOwithbigpharmaandphilanthrocapitaliststodevelopanddisseminatemassquantitiesoflong-actingreversiblecontraceptionforpurposesofinternationalfamilyplanning,liketheSayanaPress,amechanismforself-injectionofthehormonalcontraceptiveDepo-Provera.Shenotedthegrowingpowerofthisnexuscontrastingwithaweakeningofindependent


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oversightandthedeclineofcriticalinvestigativejournalism.Here,Betsyreferredtowhatjournalistshavecalledthe“BillChillEffect”inwhichGates’fundingofmediaoutletsleadsjournaliststocensornegativecriticism.Thelackofinternationaloversightandcriticaljournalismmakesdissentharder.

Second,Betsydiscussedanti-immigrantmovements,usingtheexampleofthe“greeningofhate”intheUSandthegrowingsophisticationofmessages.Forinstance,thePopulationMediaCenterandFoundationforDeepEcologyproducedthe2015coffeetablebookcalledOverdevelopment,Overpopulation,Overshoot,whichblamesmostecologicalcrisesonpopulationgrowth,andfeaturesphotosofcrowdsofbrownpeopleandclose-upsofpregnantbellies.ThePopulationMediaCenter’sDirector,WilliamRyerson,wasformerlyontheboardofProgressivesforImmigrationReform,whichispartoftheanti-immigrantJohnTantonnetwork.Thebook’sforewordwaswrittenbytheheadoftheGlobalFundforWomen.

Third,Betsydiscussedthewaysinwhichneo-MalthusianideasarepromotedthroughenvironmentalstudieseducationandtextbooksintheUS,BritainandIndia.ShereferredtoPopDev’sstudyofUStextbooks,whichperpetuateideasof“overpopulation”and“carryingcapacity,”andPopDev’salternativecurriculumresource,PopulationinPerspective,nowinitssecondedition.2In2015,SamaproducedareportonhowIndiantextbooksportraypopulationas“overpopulation.”3

Fourth,Betsynotedthatnationalsecurityinterests,theso-called“waronterror,”themilitarizationofhumanitarianaid,andconservationandclimateadaptationallpowerfullyinfluencethepopulationdiscourseinthistimeofclimatechange.Shenotedthatthereisaneedformoreexplicitmappingofthefinancialandideologicallinkagesbetweenthem.

Finally,shenotedthatthe“visibleandinvisibleelephantintheroom”wastheanti-abortionmovement.Betsyremarkedthatanti-abortionactivismandanalysesmakestheseneo-Malthusianinterestslookprogressivebycomparison.Sheraisedtheimportantquestion:whatdowedowhentheyuseourinformationandanalysis?

JadeSassermadeanimportantdistinctionbetweenpowerfulinterestsandeffectiveinterests.Inherremarks,shenoted“someinterestsandgroupscanbeextraordinarilyeffectivewhilewieldingarelativelysmallamountofeconomicorpoliticalpower,particularlyifthey’reabletoharnessandexpandthesupportforanideology.”Jadediscussedthewaysinwhichdonorsworkwithscientists,NGOsandactiviststopromotefamilyplanningasthesolutiontoclimatechange,includingdonorswhogivesmallergrants,andhowtheyhavebeenextraordinarilysuccessful.


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Whydowethinkthatalternativevisionsforthefuturearenecessaryandpossible?

AnneHendrixson&JadeSasserAnneHendrixsongavetwoexamplesofwhyitisimportantforustoforwardvisionsofthefuturethatincorporateourhopesforsocialjustice.Shesuggestedthatpeoplearehungrytomakepositivechange,butthatsomeeffortstoshapethefutureintheUSareextremelyproblematic.First,AnneraisedtheexampleoftheGINKs(GreenInclinations,NoKids)orthosewhofeelliketheir“greenestact”istoabstainfromhavingchildren.Inessence,babiesandchildrenareunderstoodonlyasnegative“carbonfootprints”andarethoughttohaveanautomatic,negativeimpactontheenvironment.Thisvisionunderminesasocialjusticeapproachtocomprehensivelyaddressingenvironmentalproblemsandholdingthosemostresponsibleforenvironmentaldegradation—liketheUSmilitaryandcorporations—accountable.

Second,Annementionedwhatspeakersatthe2013BioneersconferenceinSanRafael,Californiacalledthe“SecondGreatAwakening.”Theywerereferringtogreen,progressiveentrepreneursandcommunityorganizers,whomtheyunderstoodtoberecognizingandrealizingthepossibilitiesofahealthy,holisticfuture.Yetthe2013Bioneersconferencefeaturedtheneo-MalthusianpopulationprojectionsoftheWashington,DCWorldwatchInstitute,whichinjectedanelementofpopulationapocalypseintotheBioneersvisionofagreenfuture.Neithertheneo-MalthusianvisionsoftheGINKsnortheBioneersofferfeministalternativesthatemphasizesocialjusticeandhumanrights.Weneedvisionsthatstemfromourtheoryandactivism.

JadeSassersuggestedthatvisioningthefutureshapeswhatweseeaspossible.Weneedtoconceptualizealternativesthatofferhopeandpower.Shediscussedtheideathatcreatingpossiblefuturesisnotabstract.Demographersandclimatemodelerscreatemodelsandprojectionsthatareusedtobuildfutures.Thesemodelsareusedtomobilizeresources,andshapepolicyanddiscourses.Constructingalternativefuturesdoesn’tnecessarilymeanemployingthesametools,butitdoesrequireanticipation.JadereferstoAdams,et.al(2009)todefine“anticipation”as“anemotionalstate;it’saformofaffectthatstructureshowweapproacheventsthatwethinkmighthappen,buthavenot.”4Shesuggeststhatourapproachestofutureeventsarerelatedtoourfeelingsaboutpossibilitiesandtheactionsweseeaspossibletoshapethoseeventualities.Weinfluencethefutureinhowweactonouranticipationofwhatwillhappen.

Jadeaskedthequestion,“Whatcanwedoaboutalternativefuturesinthecontextofpopulationismandpopulationcontrol?”Shesuggeststhatthereareimportantactivisteffortsthatarealreadyprovidingalternativediscoursesandactions.Forinstance,thelinkingofsocialjusticemovements—reproductive,environmental,climateandfood—withanexplicitlyanti-neo-Malthusianapproachhasbeenusefulinprovidingalternatives.AnotherimportantinterventionisreflectedinthetacticsandstrategiesfromtheBlackLivesMattermovementintheUSand“itsinsistenceondisruption—disruptionofpoliticalrallies,socialgatherings,traffic—disruptingeverydaylifeasusual.”Jadealsonotedtheimportanceofyouth


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activismthatchallengesneoliberalmodelsofresourceextraction,developmentanddistribution,likeintheinternationalclimatejusticemovement.

Howdoweframeapoliticsofsolidarityandstronganalysisthatbridgesmovements?

SarojiniNadimpally&DianaOjedaSarojinitiedherdiscussionofapoliticsofsolidaritytothequestionofwhyalternativevisionsforthefuturearenecessary.Shecontendedthatneoliberalideologyequatesinternationaldevelopmentwitheconomicgrowth,and,further,thatthisreificationofeconomicgrowthplacesitabovesocialandeconomicjustice.Inherwords:Theinsatiablehungerforeconomicgrowthisnotonlyplayinghavocwithourecosystems,butalsowideningthegapbetweentherichandthepoor,leadingtopoliticalconflictseverywhere.Thismodelofdevelopment,whichisbasedonhigh-energyinputsandisdrivenbythepromotionofmindlessconsumption,isnotsustainableinthelongrun.It’sthereforeimperativetodevelopanalternativevision,whichpromotessustainabledevelopmentswithsocialandeconomicjustice.Thecurrentgrowth-drivenmodelofdevelopmenthasallthepotentialtoleadthehumanraceintoanightmareoffuturedystopiaunlessitischallengedbyapowerfulglobalmovementcharacterizedbythepoliticsofsolidarities.Theglobalsolidaritiesandcomingtogetherofvariousmovementscanonlybebuiltoncertainsharedpoliticalprinciples.Principlesofeconomicandsocialjusticemustbecomethebulwarksaroundwhichsolidaritiesshouldbeforged.Thisglobalmovementarmedwiththeinvincibleevidencesshouldtakeupcampaignstoconvincenationalgovernmentsandinternationalorganizationstoadoptanalternativemodelofdevelopmentwheretheeconomyisgearedtowardsfulfillingthebasicneedsofthemajorityofthepopulation.

DianaOjedasuggestedthatitistheroleofsocialmovementstopushandconfrontneo-Malthusiandiscoursesinaneraofclimatechangeandfightforsocialjustice.Sheurgedus:“Don'tlimitthediscourse!Challengeeverything!”


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Session2:MappingthePopulation(Control)LandscapeInthissession,speakersexaminedtheshiftingpopulationlandscapeandcurrentneo-Malthusianpopulationnarratives.Howcanwemorecomprehensivelydefinepopulationcontroltounderstanditsmanyeffects?Howdoespopulationcontrolmanifestinthisnewlandscape?

PopulationControlisNot(Just)History

AnneHendrixsonAnneHendrixsonstartedwithanoverviewofdemographictrendsandnotedthatthepopulationlandscapeisshifting.Insomeways,theglobalpopulationpanicisover.Smallerfamilysizeistheglobalnormandpolicydiscoursesreflectamorenuancedconsiderationofgenderaswellasdemographictrendslikeagedistributionandurbanization.However,neo-Malthusianideologycontinuestoinfluencepopulationdiscourses,suchasthoseofthedemographicdividend/youthbulgetheories,whichsuggestthatyoungbrownmen(theyouthbulge)arepronetoviolenceandinstability,whereasyoungwomen(thedemographicdividend)havethepotentialtoboosteconomicgrowthandstrengthennations,iftheycurtailtheirfertility.Incontrast,agingpopulationsarediscussedintermsofdependency,aninabilitytowork,andthepotentialforoverwhelminggovernments.

Annearguedthattheclaimthattop-down,target-drivenpopulationcontrolis“history”iscommonincurrentscholarlyandpolicydiscourseaboutsexualandreproductivehealthandrights.Shesuggestedthatthisclaimisextremelyproblematicbecauseit:1)narrowsthedefinitionofpopulationcontrolandembedsitinthepast;2)givesundueimportancetoCairoastheendof(populationcontrol)history;3)ignoresongoinguseofneo-Malthusiannarrativesthatflamefearsofcurrentpopulationgrowth;4)discouragescriticalinquiryintopopulationcontrolasapresentphenomenon;5)suggeststhatstereotypesofthehyper-fertilityofpoorwomenofcolorarepartofthepast;6)stymieschallengestocurrentmanifestationsofpopulationcontroland7)blocksaproductiverevisioningofsexualandreproductivehealth.Contrarytotheclaimthatpopulationcontrolishistory,elementsofthisapproachpersistinthetroubledpresentalongsidehumanrightsandwomen’sempowermentapproaches,particularlyintheFamilyPlanning2020(FP2020)targetsandpromotionoflong-actingreversiblecontraceptives(LARC).Annecalledforanexpandeddefinitionofpopulationcontrolthatwouldincludethemultiplewaysinwhichfertilityandfamiliesarecontrolled,including,forexample,deportation,punitivewelfarecaps,andthecarceralstate.Suchadefinitionwouldencourageresistanceacrossmovements.

TheEmbodiedViolenceof“SmartEconomics”

KalpanaWilsonKalpanaWilsonspokeon“Theembodiedviolenceof‘SmartEconomics.’”5Shecritiquedtheracializedandgendereddiscoursescomingfrominternationalfinancialinstitutions,developmentagenciesandcorporationsthatpromotefertilityreductionasaneconomicgrowthstrategy.Shearguedthatthese


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discoursesemploythelanguageofreproductiverightsandchoices,butinsteadfurthereroderightsandincreaseinequality.Populationcontrolfacilitatesneo-liberalpoliciesthatunderminesocialprovision.Forinstance,aformerUKDevelopmentSecretarycharacterizedImplanon,ahormonalcontraceptive,as“excellentvalueformoney”initspotentialforreducingtheneedforTanzanianteachersandteachers’salaries.Kalpanastressedthat“practicesofpopulationpolicies,ratherthangivingwomenintheglobalSouthmuch-neededaccesstosafecontraceptiontheycancontrol,involvescoercivesterilizationsandtestinganddumpingbypharmaceuticalcorporationsofharmfullong-actinghormonalcontraceptives.”Shespoketothecentralityofracismtosuchpopulationinterventionswithinnationalcontextsandwithinglobalpolicy.Further,Kalpananoted,“SmartEconomics”areacommodificationofwomen’sempowermentthatleadstointensifyingandextendingwomen’slaborinallspheres.Thesepromote“genderedandracializedideasofpoorwomenandgirlsintheglobalSouthashavinganinfinitelyelasticcapacityforlabor,aswellasforaltruism.”Shearguesthat“SmartEconomics”shift“responsibilityforsurvivalontowomeninlow-incomehouseholds(aswomenarethoughttobethebestmanagersofpoverty);furtherincorporatewomenintogloballabormarketsandvaluechains”and,insteadofchallengingunequalgenderrelations,usesthemasaresourcetopromotewomen’sproductivity.Further,“theunderlyingconnectionwith“SmartEconomics”isnotoneofpromotinggenderequalitybutofcertainpeopleandtheirbodiesbeingseenasbothdisposableanddangerousintermswhicharedeeplyracializedandgendered.”Kalpanacallsforfeministstoquestiontheappropriationof“rights”languageandthenotionofgenderequalityinneo-liberalinstitutions.

ExplainingNeo-Malthusianism?DemographicAnxieties,Anti-Feminisms,IslamophobiaandNeoliberalism

MohanRaoMohanRao’spresentationwastitled“ExplainingNeo-Malthusianism?DemographicAnxieties,Anti-Feminisms,IslamophobiaandNeoliberalism.”6Henotedthewidespreadappealofneo-Malthusianismatatimewhen“politicallycorrect,influentialpeople”havestoppedusingmetaphorsofthepopulationbombandtermslikeyellowperil.Hediscussedhowoverlappingandreinforcingnativisms,fundamentalisms,masculinities,“pinkwashing”(Israel’suseofgayrightstomaskanti-Palestinianpolicies)andIslamophobiabolsterneo-Malthusianideology.Theseblame“Muslimoverpopulation”forviolenceandthreatinmultiplelocationsandcontexts.Mohanspokeof“fearasagrowthindustry”inthisrespect.Hespokeofexampleslikethe2011massmurderinNorway,inwhichthewhite,maleshooter,whoheldwhitesupremacist,fundamentalistChristianviews,aimedtodrawattentiontowhathesawasthedownfallofNorwayunder“multi-culturalMarxists.”Mohanhighlightedtheshooter’sadmirationforHindufundamentalistsinIndia,perceivingthemascontainingMuslimsthroughviolence.


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Mohannextdiscussedthehowracismandneo-Malthusianismarerelatedthroughfalseeugenicscience,sociobiology,andanti-immigrantrhetoric.Further,heexaminedhowtheseflameneo-Malthusianfearsandfirmupessentializedidentitiesinwhathecalled“disciplinesofidentity”:

Thereistodayinneo-liberaltimes,areifiedpoliticsofidentity,feedingintoneo-Malthusiananxieties.Thereisaparadoxhere:whileneo-liberalismexaltsandcelebratestheindividual,identitiesareincreasinglydrawnincommunitarianterms,andcarvedinheartlessstone.Sennoteswrylythatwehavetodaya“disciplineofidentity”basedontheunfoundedassumptionthatwemusthaveasingleorprincipleidentitythatwe“discover.”7Ofcourse,thisdiscoveryismostoftenofaspuriousethnickind,forgettingthattheethnic,orthenativist,isonlyoneamongmanyclaimstoloyalty,andindeedthatthereisfrequentlynothingauthenticeitheraboutimaginedethnicity.Weddedhereareessentialismsofvariouskinds:nativistpost-modern,withfundamentalistneo-Orientalism,withright-wingneo-liberalism.Unitingalltheseessentialismsisalsoaferventanti-feminism,seenasbothtarnishedbytheEnlightenmentproject,anti-traditionalandderivative.8ItisthusnoaccidentthattheIslamicBrotherhoodinEgypt,9themurderousHindufascists,GeorgeBushandAndersBreivikechoeachotherinderivativeirony.Entirelymissinginthesediscoursesisthenotionofimperialismorneo-imperialism,whichindeedgildsthem,evenasitholdsthemtogether.

Mohanwentontoexaminehowcommunalidentitiescanstokecommunalviolencesandreinforcefearsofoverlyfertileothers,aswellaspromotepro-natalismasawaytosupposedlystrengthenracial,ethnicandreligiousidentitygroups.HerehediscussedfearsofdifferentialfertilityincludingZionistfearsofPalestiniansoutnumberingJewsinIsrael,far-rightgroupsfearingMuslimgrowthinEurope,andtheHinduRightfearingMuslimfertilityinIndia,amongothers.Heconcludesbyexplainingtheappealofneo-Malthusianismandwhyitinvokescomplicitybetweenunlikelygroups:

Neo-Malthusianismoffersasimpleorderingofacomplex,fracturedandfrighteningworld.Inthisorderingoftheworld,GodisindeedinHisheaven,andallwouldbewell,haditnotbeenforthepredilectionofthepoor,theThem,tobreedquitesoincontinently.Itisaprofoundalchemyofthemindthatendowssocietywithbiologicalcharacteristics,allthebettertocontrolandrecreateit.Itallowsustothinkoftheworldwithoutdangerousideasofre-orderingadeeplyunjustsocialorder,indeedblamingvictims,the“them,”whowouldotherwisethreaten“us”withtheirdemandsforequalityandjustice.Itisnotonlyabeguilinglysimpleexplanationoftheworld;thisexplanationhasalsotheimprimaturofthestateandallpowerfulorgansofdisseminationofknowledgeandinformation,constantlyreiteratedandrestatedinanynumberofways.Indeed,itmightperhapsnotbeanexaggerationtostatethatmoreresourceshavebeenspentoncreatingthiscommonsense,overmorethanahundredyears,thananyothersuchideaintheworld.

USReproductiveJusticeActivism“Post”-PopulationControl

ZakiyaLunaZakiyaLunaspokeon“USReproductiveJusticeActivism"Post"-PopulationControl.”Shestartedbydiscussingtheoriginsofthereproductivejusticemovementandhow“reproductivejustice”asatermwascoinedbyfeministsofcolorin1994toconceptualizereproductiverightswithinasocialjusticeframework.10SheusedbothSisterSong’sdefinitionofreproductivejustice—“therighttonothavechildren,righttohavechildren,righttoparentourchildren”—andForwardTogether’sas“allpeoplehavingthesocial,political,andeconomicpowerandresourcestomakehealthydecisionsabouttheirgender,bodies,sexuality,andfamiliesforthemselvesandtheircommunities.”1112ProfessorLunawent


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ontosituateherdiscussionintheenvironmental,politicalandsocialrealitiesofSantaBarbara,wheresheteaches.

Fromhere,shediscussedtheinterwovenneo-Malthusiannarrativesofpopulationandtheenvironment,likeUniversityofCalifornia,SantaBarbaraprofessor1968GarretHardin’sTragedyoftheCommons,whicharguedthatthecommonsarefiniteresourcesputunderstrainbypopulationgrowth.Thepopulationcontrolideologyandpracticethatgrewoutoftheideathat“populationgrowthistheproblem”havemovedintothereproductiverightsdiscourse.Sheconnectedthistothereactiontothe1969SantaBarbaraoilspillbeingcriticaltotheformationoftheenvironmentalmovement.Withthis,ProfessorLunamadethepointthatreproductivejusticeissituatedandcontextspecific.

ShetalkedabouttheclassprojectofZacharyKing,astudentinhergraduateseminaronReproductiveJustice.Kinghasbeenactiveintheenvironmentalmovement.Inspiredbyhisexperienceandanarticlebyanotherconferencepresenter,ProfessorSasser,hebegantoexploretheselinks.ThroughtracingpublicationsofpopularGreenInclinations,NoKids(GINKs)groupsthatarguethatabstainingfromhavingkidsisagreenact,hefoundspecificlinksbetweentheirpublicationsandpro-choiceblogsthathadreproductivejusticeconnections.Thisshowshowneo-Malthusianthinkinghasbeenre-packagedinwaysthatarenotevenrecognizabletosomepro-choiceadvocateswhowouldotherwisebeopposedtofocusingonwomen’sreproductionasanenvironmentalhazard.

Inclosing,ProfessorLunaposedseveralquestionsforustoconsider:

1. Whatarepeople’spersonalstakesinpopulationcontrol? 2. Whydocurrentvisionsappeal/persist?(apocalypticvisionsreveal/revelinfearsthat

humansarebasicallyselfishORheroicratherthanthemessymiddle)3. Wherearethepointsofcommonality?4. Wheredoweagreewiththe“opposition”? 5. Whatarethedifficultconversationsweneedtohave?(e.g.,withfamily) 6. Whatarethepracticalstepstocreatinganewvision?

Sex,Sustainability,Wine&Cheese

JadeSasserJadeSasserspokeon“Sex,Sustainability,Wine&Cheese.”Shepresentedherresearchintoenvironmentalgroups’“populationjustice”advocacy,startingwithananecdoteaboutanactivistwineandcheeseeventhostedbytheSierraClub’sGlobalPopulationEnvironmentProgram(GPEP).13Startingin2009,theSierraClubranacampaigntomobilizeyoungactivists,includingtrainingsandactivisttools.Inthesecampaigns,Jadenoted,“youtharemobilizedbecauseoftheirpoliticalorganizingskillsanddesiretoeffectsocialchange.However,thesepopulation-environmenttrainingsaredesignedtodepoliticizepopulationistthinking,inpartbyreframingitassociallyjust,andalsobydecontextualizingithistorically.”Jadeunderscoredthatoneofthe“keytoolsofdepoliticizationismakingpopulationsexy,”


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whichisreflectedinthenamesofcampaignsandtheiradvocacytools.Whenpushedtothepast,populationcanberepackagedasfun,sexyandappealingtoyouth.Jade’sresearchshowshowthesetrainings1)perpetuatepopulationistideasaboutpopulationtrends,genderandtheenvironmentintheglobalSouthor,inherwords,“produceaparticularformofexpertise”;2)presentstrategiesforparticipantsto“representwomen’slives,educateothers,andinfluenceglobalpopulationpoliciesandprograms,”orasJadecommented,to“producetargetedinterventionstrategies”and3)“producenewdevelopmentactors.”

Howdoweaddresspopulationcontroltoday?ParticipantDiscussionAllparticipantsdiscussedthequestions:1)howcanwemorecomprehensivelydefinepopulationcontroltounderstanditsmanyeffects?and2)howdoespopulationcontrolmanifestinthisnewlandscape?ParticipantswerealsoinvitedtoconsiderZakiyaLuna’squestions,above.

Inresponse,participantsdebatedtheutilityofanewtermtobetterexpandtheunderstandingof“populationcontrol”to1)includeimmigrationrestrictions,dispossession,thecarceralstate,andbiomedicalmarketsaswellascoerciveandtargetedfamilyplanningprograms,and2)tofostercross-movementchallengestopopulationcontrol.Someparticipantssuggestedtakingawiderlens,tolookatsystemsthatperpetuatepopulationcontrol—capitalism,neoliberalism,andwhitesupremacy,forinstance—tobetterunderstandhowpopulationsaremethodicallycontainedandcontrolledthroughmultiplemechanisms.Withaviewtostructuringsuchanexpandedunderstanding,LindsaySchubinerasked:whatarethegoalsofpopulationcontrol?Whatarethetoolsused?Whatismobilizedtoencompasstheoldnarrativesandthenewnarratives?

Participantsunderscoredthattheneoliberalemphasisonindividualcontroloffertilityobscurestheroleofsystemsandstructuresthatdelimitbodilyintegrityandtargetgroupswithintheoverallpopulation.LorettaRossremindedus,paraphrasingDazonDixonDiallo,founderandExecutiveDirectorofSisterLove,thatthe“populationproblemisn’tapopulationproblem—somepeoplehaveproblemswithcertainpartsofthepopulation.”

RajaniBhatiasuggestedexploringthepotentialoftheterm“bio-populationism”totheorizethemultipleareasinwhichpopulationcontrolisenactedandthemechanismsemployedtherein.14Othersdiscussedtheutilityof“populationism.”WendyHarcourtnotedthatrecentlyagroupofsociologistscameupwiththe“biomedicalization”term.Thetermexpandedformerlyenclosedframes.Shesuggestedthatifwedothesame,itmighthelpustoshowthatpopulationcontrolhasmanydifferentkindsofmanifestationsinthismomentwithrootsinthepast.

Participantshighlightedtheimportanceofupholdingpopulationcontrolhistoryinrecognitionofpastabusestounderstanditslegacies,andtobettertrackongoingabuses.Someparticipantsfeltthatincorporatinganewtermintothediscussioncouldeclipsethehistoryandpoweroftheterm“populationcontrol.”Otherparticipantsraisedtheissuethatcurrentpopulationcontrolabusesare


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oftenmaskedinthelanguageof“choice,”asanenvironmentalandeconomic“win,”andevenasreproductivejustice,whileregulatingwomen’sbodies.Conversely,anti-abortionand-contraceptionactivistsarevocalinnamingrestrictionstoreproductionaspopulationcontrol,andhavebecomeassociatedwiththeterm.Thesetrendsmakeitdifficulttochallengecurrentpopulationcontrolabusesfromafeminist,reproductivejusticeposition.Thismeansthatanynewtermwouldneedtostronglysupportreproductivejusticeandcarefullypromoteself-determinationandbodilyautonomyaskey.Inaddition,anytermtocriticallyaddresspopulationcontrolwouldneedtocomplicatethewaysinwhichpopulationcontrolreinforcesdamagingracial,genderandreligiousstereotypes,includingIslamophobia.


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Session3:ThePoliticalEconomyofToday’sPopulationControlIndustryPopulationcontrolisenactedinandthroughmultiplemeans,includingfamilyplanning,racializedviolence,prisons,welfare,closedandrestrictedborders,landgrabs,andevenwar.Thissessionfocusedonthecurrentiterationofpopulationcontrolinrelationtoreproduction,health,andfamilyplanning.Anewpopulationindustryhasemergedwhichincludesmanyfamiliarplayersandsomenewerones,liketheGatesandClintonFoundations,whichcombinethepoweroftheirmoneywithsophisticatedpublicrelationsstrategies.Inthissessionweasked,whatisthepoliticaleconomylandscapeofbigpharma/contraception,theaidindustry,healthpolicy,newreproductivetechnologies,theanti-abortionmovementandphilanthrocapitalism?Whatdoesitmeanfortheraced,classedandgenderedembodimentofpopulationcontrolinparticularlocations?

ALensonWomen’sHealthinSouthAfrica

MarionStevensMarionStevensprovided“ALensonWomen’sHealthinSouthAfrica”inthecontextofoverallSouthAfricanhealthsystemsandpolicy.ShespokeabouttheAmericancaptureofSouthAfricanwomen’shealthandhowtheAmericanflaghasdescendedovertheSouthAfricangovernment’shealthpolicybecauseofinfluentialfundingfrombothpublicandprivateUSdonorsinPEPFARandUSAID(thelargesthealthfunderinSA),aswellasthecorporatepresenceofJohnson&JohnsonandtheGatesFoundationinthecountry.Despitethisinfluence,post-apartheidSouthAfricahasdevelopedaprogressivepopulationpolicyandlegalframeworkthatincludesabroadunderstandingofsexualandreproductivehealthandgender.15

Marionhighlightedthepersistinginequalitiesandaneconomic,capitalistpoliticinwhichthereislimitedimplementationofthepolicy.InFebruary2014,SouthAfricalaunchedhumanrightsbasedcontraceptionandfertilityplanningguidelines,andatthesametimelaunchedmassdisseminationofImplanon,thehormonalimplant.Onemillionwomenwereimplanted,andyoungblackwomenweretargetedforimplantation.However,womenareunabletogettheimplantremoved,despitecomplicationsandadverseeffects.Inthecontextofhealthsystemschallenges,womenreceivepoorqualityofcareand,sometimes,thereisinadequateinformedconsent.

MarionnotedthatanotherinconsistencywiththehumanrightsbasedguidelinesisthesupportfortheECHOTrial(EvidenceforContraceptiveOptionsandHIVOutcomesStudy),arandomizedhumantrialthatisrecruitinginSouthAfrica.ECHOistryingtodetermineifDepo-ProveracausesanincreasedbiologicalriskofHIV,asissuggestedinanumberofepidemiologicalstudies.Therehasbeenresistancetohumantrials,giventhepossibilityofincreasedHIVacquisition.However,thetrial’sorganizershaveestablishedacommunityboardtocontaindissent.Anotherexampleisabortion.Despitebeingon-demandat12weeks,abortionismainlyaccessibleonlyformiddleclasswomen.Tenpercentof


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maternaldeathsannuallyarefromunsafeabortionandthesearegenerallypoorblackwomen,only40%ofsurgicalservicesarefunctional,andhalfofabortionsareperformedbyaninformalorillegalprovider.

NorplantinBangladesh

ShahinaParvinShahinaParvinpresentedherresearchonNorplantdisseminationinBangladesh.BetweenDecember2000andFebruary2002,ShahinaconductedinterviewswithfivehealthprofessionalswhoimplantedNorplant,andwith32womenwhousedNorplantinthreevillagesintheJoypurhatdistrictinthenorthernpartofBangladesh.ThehormonalimplantNorplanthaslongbeenemployedasamethodofpopulationcontrolinBangladesh.16ThePopulationCouncilinitiatedtheresearchtodevelopNorplantin1967,whichwasthenproducedinFinlandbyLeirausPharmaceuticalin1983.Between1970and1975,manyclinicaltrialswerecarriedouttomeasurethemosteffectivecombinationofcapsulesandhormone.17ShahinanotedthatpoorBangladeshiwomen’sbodieshavealsobeensitesofexperimentation.In1985,600BangladeshiwomenwereimplantedwithNorplantaspartofatrialdesignedtoevaluatethesafetyandefficacyofthecontraceptive.18

Inherresearch,ShahinafoundthatthehealthprofessionalsexercisedtheirpowerbyconstructingknowledgeaboutimpoverishedBangladeshiwomen’slives.TheyservedtheBangladeshistate’spopulationcontrolprogram,whichislinkedwiththeinternationalpopulationcontrolprogramandpharmaceuticalcompanies’interests.19Atthesametime,manyusersexperienceddebilitatingadverseeffectsandwereunabletogettheirimplantremoved.Forinstance,Shahinaquotedadoctorwhotoldher:

ItisnottruethatwedonotremoveNorplant.WeremoveNorplantwhentheyfaceseveretroubles.Poorwomenoftencometoremoveitwithoutareason.Wedonotremoveitforasillyreasonbecausethisisanexpensivecontraceptionandthegovernmentpaysforit.Wedonotwanttowastethemoney.

Incontrast,Shahinaquotedtheperspectiveofawomanwhocouldnotgetherimplantremoved.Theintervieweestated,“Iwasdying.IdidnotgettreatmentswhenIhadseverepaininmyhand.Iwenttothehospitaltoremoveit,butthedoctorssaidthattheydonothavetimeforthoseofwomen,whoarewaitingtoimplantNorplant;therefore,howtheywillhavetimetoremove.”

ShahinanotedthatnowtheBangladeshigovernmentisdistributingasecondgenerationofNorplant(alsocalledJadelle)whichwasapprovedin1996andhasthesameformulationandadverseeffectsasNorplantI.20ThemaindifferencebetweenthetwoisthatJadellehasfewerrods(two,ratherthansix)—whichisthoughttomakeiteasiertoimplant—andsuppressesovulationforfiveyears(ratherthanthree).TheBangladeshigovernmentispromotingJadelle,citingfertilityreductionasastrategytopursueeconomicdevelopmentandalleviatepoverty.Thepoorareblamedfortheirownpoverty,ratherthanthestructural,internationalpowerdynamicsundercapitalismthatperpetuatepoverty.


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ImplicationsofNeoliberalismonGlobalHealthThisspeaker(whochoosestobeanonymous)discussedtheimplicationsofneoliberalismontheglobalhealthregime—whatshecalledthe“fortifyingofglobalhealthsecurity.”WhitemenandWestern-fundedsolutionsareatthecenterofthisregime,whichproliferates“whitesavior”narrativesintheAfricanhealthcontext.Theyfacilitateamonopolyofgiving,inwhichfundsaresiphonedfromcommunitiesandusedtobolsterthe“infrastructuresthataidbuilt.”Inthecaseofthe2014Ebolaepidemic,whenmultilateralagencies,liketheWorldHealthOrganization,wereslowintheirresponse,therewasaninfluxoffundsfromphilanthrocapitalistslikePaulAllenofMicrosoftandMarkZuckerburgofFacebook,spurringthe#tackleebolanarratives.21ThespeakernotedthatthesenarrativeslackanuancedunderstandingofthecomplexcausesofpovertyintheEbola-impactedcountries,andtendtoblamefaultyormissinginfrastructureswhilesuggestingthatAfricanscannotbe“architectsoftheirownsolutions.”Thissingleissue,singleresponseapproachchipsawayatintersectionalresponsesthatappropriatelyincludewomenandcommunityinput.

Thespeakercontrastedtheglobalhealthregimewithcommunityplatformsfordetermininghealthpriorities.UsingtheEbolaepidemicasanexample,shetalkedaboutAfricaResponds,acollaborativeplatformthroughwhichAfricanorganizationsandalliespooledtheirresources,networks,andcollectivevoicestorespondtotheEbolaoutbreak.22TheplatformworkedinsupportoflocallyrootedorganizationsthatwereatthefrontlineoftheEbolaresponseandcontinuetosupportthebulkoftherecoveryefforts.AfricaRespondsandothercommunitydrivenprojectsgalvanizedunderthe#unitedagainstebolacampaign.Incontrasttothe#tackleebolanarrative,#unitedagainstebolacenteredcommunityandhighlightedtheroleofAfricansonthecontinentandinthediasporainchallengingdominantglobalhealthnarratives,forexample,byillustratingtheimpactofremittancesfromtheAfricandiasporaasanimportantsourceoffundsinsupportofacommunityresponse.ThespeakeralsoreferencedNEAR(NetworkforEmpoweredAidResponse),whichispushingbackagainsttheunequalpowerdynamicsoftheinternationalaidindustryandcallingforasystemthatis“locallydrivenandowned,andisbuiltaroundequitable,dignifiedandaccountablepartnerships.”23

PoliticsofLife,ReproductionandtheZikaVirus

ClaudiaRiveraAmarilloClaudiaRiveraAmarilloconsideredthepoliticsoflifeandreproductioninrelationtotheZikaepidemicresponseinColombia.ThenumberofpeoplewiththeZikavirusishigh,particularlyinBrazilandColombia,evenwithunderreporting.Atthesametime,climatechangeconditions,likeElNino,favortheprogressionofthemosquitoesthatspreadthevirus.ClaudiacommentedthatintheseconditionsandbecauseofthebirthdefectsassociatedwithZika,“theentireepidemiologicsurveillancesysteminColombiaisfocusingonwomen.”Thefocusonwomen’sfertilityandtheZikavirushasdonelittletoincreasecontraceptionandabortionaccess,particularlyforyoungwomeninruralareas.AsClaudianotes,“Thishighlightsthetensionsbetweencontrolandownershipofwomen'sbodiesinwhichdebatesaboutZikadisease,neurologicalcomplicationsandabortioninthecountryfall.”


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Controlmanifestsinthemonitoringofpregnancies—theColombianMinistryofHealthlabeledallpregnanciesinColombiaas“highrisk”becauseofZika,resultingingreaterhealthagencymonitoringofpregnantwomen.Inaddition,therehavebeenrestrictionsonpregnantwomen’smobility.WomeninthecoldAndesregionsofColombiahavebeentoldtostoptraveltowarmerclimatezones.Theserestrictionscorrespondwithracializedtropesabout“white”urbanareasintheAndesand“mestizos”and“blacks”inthewarmerzones,whohavehistoricallybeenseenasbarbarians.Claudianotes:“Theseimaginariesareenrichedwiththerelationshipbetweenpopulationpressure,environmentaldegradationandscapegoatingoflow-incomepeopleforsuchdegradation.InthecaseoftheZikadisease,itispossibletoimaginethattheincreaseandmovementofnonhumanagentssuchasAedeswillbecomeapartoftheseimaginaries.”TheAedesmosquitoisseenas“climbingthemountain”alongwiththewarmerweather,encroachingonthecoolerclimates.Claudiawarns,“howthischangewillbeintegratedintotheimaginariesthatlinkclimatechange,mosquitoes,ZikadiseaseandcoercivepoliciesonfertilityamongthepoorestpeopleinColombia,issomethingthatstillremainstobeseen.”

ThebirthdefectsassociatedwithZikacontributetochallengestolegalabortionrestrictionsandtheanti-abortiondiscoursesinColombia.TherearethreeinstancesinwhichabortionislegalinColombia:ifthepregnantwoman’slifeisindanger,ifthefetusisdeformed,orifthepregnancyisaresultofrape.Inadditionmanyinstitutionshaveestablisheda12-weekcut-offforabortionsifthefetusisdeformed;howevertheZikaviruscannotbedetecteduntilweek12.Atthesametime,anti-abortiongroupsaresecularizingtheirmessagesandrelatingwomenhavingabortionstoother“biologizedandpoliticized”threatstoColombiansociety.ThislanguageofthreatisusedinmilitarymetaphorsabouthowtoappropriatelyrespondtotheZikavirus.Claudiaclosedwiththesuggestionthat“thesemetaphorsofterrorgivespecialmeaningtotheWHO’sglobalcategoryofemergency,butpresentedfromthesemanticfieldoflocalwar:themosquitoisubiquitous,unpredictableandadaptable,asthegroupsthathavespreadterror.”Instead,Claudiaargued,weresistthesemilitarizedhealthefforts,“becauseresistanceisalsocontagious.”

PopulationControl,ClinicalTrials,andSystemicViolenceinIndia

SarojiniNadimpally

SarojiniNadimpallygaveanoverviewofkeyissuesofpopulationcontrol,contraceptivesandsex-selectiveabortioninIndia.ShetalkedaboutcurrentcoercivepopulationcontrolmeasuresinIndiathathavenotchangedsubstantiallyinoversevendecades.Anemphasisonfemalesterilizationisapartofthispopulationcontrolpolicyandhasresultedincontinued,targeted,sterilizationabuses.Forinstance,inBilaspurin2014,13womendiedfollowingsterilization.Afact-findingreportbySama:ResourceGroupforWomanandHealthandcolleaguesfoundthat“thetragicdeathsofthe13women,allintheir20sor30sandthecriticalconditionofthe70otherwomen,followingproceduresoflaparoscopicsterilisationinBilaspurdistrict,Chhattisgarh,raisegravequestionsonceagainaboutthecalloustreatmentofwomen,thepoorandmarginalisedaswellastheclearviolationsofethicalandquality


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normsinthehealthcaresystem.Thisunacceptableincidentcallsurgentattentiontotheunsafe,unhygienicconditionsandtheslipshodmannerinwhichthesterilisationswereconductedresultingindeathsandmorbiditiesamongthewomen.”24

Further,Sarojinioutlinedimportantethicalandmedicalrightsissuesrelatedtoothersexualandreproductivehealthconcernsinthecontextofpopulationcontrolefforts.First,sheanalyzedissuesofabortionaccess.AbortioninIndia,whichwasseenatoolofpopulationcontrolinthe1970s,isnowatoolofso-called“populationstabilization.”Limitingfamilysizetotwochildrenisseenaslegitimategroundsforabortion.Inacommentarypublishedafterthemeeting,Sarojiniarticulatedmanyofthesamepointssheraisedinhertalk:

Thedebateonabortionoftentendstopitwomen’srightstoreproductiveautonomyandtheirbodilyintegrityagainstafoetus’debatablerighttolife.Theissueofwhenafoetusisconsideredtogainsuch“righttolife”isalsofraughtwithcontentions.However,itisessentialtoengagewithwomen’sbodilyintegritybycontextualisingtheissuebyraisingdeeplyunsettlingquestionsabout:disability,congenitaldeformitiesandcaringfordisabledchildrenwithoutadequatesocialsecurityandinfrastructuralsupport.Inpolariseddebatesbetweenpeoplewhoidentifyaspro-lifeoranti-abortionistsandpro-choiceproponents,itiseasytopitoneagainsttheother,butitisfarmorecomplicatedtobringthemtogether.Weneedtoguardagainstaeugenicpushtobeget“perfect”and“normal”childrenaswellasresistthepatriarchalpressureforsex-selectiveabortionsinordertohaveanethicalapproachtothedebateonwomen’sreproductiverights.25

Inaddition,SarojinidiscussedissueswithmedicalresearchinIndiainthecontextofpopulationcontrolandpublichealthsysteminadequacies.Thereisnouniversalstandardofethicsforhumantrialsandresearch.Inthisvacuum,biomedicalexperimentationhasmovedintotheglobalSouthandthereisaglobalizationofclinicaltrialsundertherulesoftradeoftheWorldTradeOrganization.NGOsparticipateinclinicaltrialsinprivate/publicpartnershipswithfor-profitpharmaceuticalcompaniesandthegovernment.Forexample,SarojinicitedtheHumanPapillomaVirusvaccine“demonstrationprojects”runbytheUSmedicalnon-profitPATH(ProgramforAppropriateTechnologyinHealth),theGatesFoundation,andtheIndianCouncilforMedicalResearchandthestategovernmentsofAndhraPradeshandGujarat.Theprojectwasimplementedongirlsfrompoor,scheduledtribes,scheduledcaste,andMuslimcommunities,mostoftenwithoutinformedconsentandwithotherbreachesofethicalguidelines.Fourgirlsdiedfollowingadministrationofthevaccine.26

Sarojiniconcludedthatcurrentpopulationcontroleffortsandtheincreasedimpactofthebiomedicalizationindustryleadtoincidentsofviolationsandviolence.Technocraticsolutionsbythestateobfuscatethestate’sresponsibility,exacerbatinginequality.Thissystemicviolenceistheconsequenceofourpoliticalandeconomicsystem.Weneedtoidentifythistoformulatearesponsetotheskewedprioritiesofthestateandtopromoteaccesstoaffordablehealthcare.


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Whereisthefeministresponse?ParticipantDiscussionInthequestionanddiscussionperiod,RosalindaOfreneoaskedanimportantquestion:whyistheresuchastrongcomebackofimplantswithoutresistancefromfeministgroups?Shesuggestedthatthereisahugegapinknowledgeaboutthepushformassdissemination.ShahinaParvinsuggestedthatfeministshavemovedtootherissues,butitisimperativethatwecontinuecriticism.KhushiKabeercitedtheNGO-izationofmanymovementsasinfluencingfeministmovements’priorities.Groups’fundingisimpactingtheirwork,andGatesandothermajordonorsareactuallypromotingthesekindsofinterventions,asthey“arefundingtheorganizationswhothenfeelconstrained,andunabletocriticizetheseinterventionseventhoughtheyconcernthemselveswithviolenceagainstwomeninotherforms.”Inresponse,AwinoOkechsuggestedthatweshouldremembertoalso“foregroundtheworkandresearchfeministorganizationsdotobuildmotivationforchange.”


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Session4:ChartingtheLandscapeofClimateChangeandMilitarizedDevelopmentNeo-Malthusianisminfluencestheframingofclimatechangeinanumberofinter-relatedways.Thatfamilyplanningwillbothmitigateclimatechangeandhelpwomenadapttoitisnowacommonclaimofthepopulation-environmentlobby.Neo-Malthusianmodelsofpopulationandresourcescarcityalsoundergirdsecuritynarrativesaboutthethreatsposedbyso-calledclimateconflictandclimaterefugees.Thesenarrativescontributetothemilitarizationofclimatechangethroughpromotinggreatermilitarycontrolofdisasterrelief,developmentaid,conservationandclimateadaptation,andborderenforcement.TheyalsoservetolegitimizefurtherUSinterventioninAfrica.Meanwhile,certainnotionsoftheAnthropoceneandimpendingclimateapocalypsemasktheroleofpoliticaleconomyintheclimatecrisisandinciteMalthusianfears,evenontheleft.Howdoweforegroundpoliticaleconomyandchallengetheseproblematicpolitics?Howdoweforgestrongerprogressivelinksbetweenreproductivejustice,climatejustice,andanti-warmovementsinourowncountriesandinternationally?

StrugglesAgainstMalthusianClimate

LarryLohmannLarryLohmannspokeon“StrugglesAgainstMalthusianClimate.”Larryopenedbyconnectingland,laborandclimateresistancestrugglesaschallengingthe“foundationalprocessesofcapital.”Hearguedthatlaborandresourcesarecreated,makingcapitalaccumulationpossible,bytakingpeopleoffthelandinanongoingprocessofenclosureofcommons.Laboristhendisciplinedandmademoreproductivewiththeassistanceofthermodynamic(or“big-E”)Energy.Hearguedthatthisprocessisconsistently“failing,incompleteandvulnerable”inpartbecauseofresistancemovementsfightingforfairwagesandreasonableworkingconditionsandagainstthe“resource-ification”ofthecommons.Challengingthedominanceofbothbig-EEnergyandfossilfuelsisconnectedtothesestruggles,althoughthisisnotalwaysrecognized.

Whatiscapital’sresponsetotheseinterconnectedchallengestoaccumulation?Oneresponse,Larryasserted,is“tofightandhidetheserefusals,to‘naturalize’thefoundationaldivisionsunderlyingcapital,andtosaythattheserefusalsareeitherirrationalordonotexist.”HeemphasizedthatthisresponsefollowstheleadofMalthus,indeed,that“capital'smostfundamentalresourceagainstglobalwarmingstruggles”isneo-Malthusianism.Neo-Malthusianismposits“population”eternallystrainingagainstthelimitsof“nature”(read,post-enclosure,as“resources”).Capitalreiteratesthisbinaryoppositioninitsclimatepoliticsjustasithaselsewhereforthelast200years.Itclaimsthatthewaytoaddressglobalwarmingisforanon-natural“society”to“adapt”tochangesinanonsocial“nature”(climate),andatthesametimethatchangesinthatexternal“nature”mustbemanagedor“mitigated.”So,todaywehavecarbonmarkets,highlytechnicalbig-EEnergy“alternatives”and,increasingly,geo-engineering.Allofthesecapitalist“solutions”engenderthesameracism,classismandanti-womanviolencethatare


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familiarfromearlierMalthusianisms.Inclosing,Larrycalledforaglobalwarmingstrugglethatresiststhe“Malthusianstructuringofclimate”andlinksitselfwithlaborandcommonsstruggles.

ChallengingtheYouthBulgeTheory

AwinoOkechAwinoOkechspokeabouttheso-called“youthbulge.”Shecritiquedthe“youthbulge”theoryasthesecuritizationofpolitics,underwhichyoungpeopleareunderstoodasviolentelementswithinviolentenvironments,particularlyinAfricancontexts.Awinonotedtheriseof“youth”asapoliticizedcategoryandtheconsequencesofthiscategorization,suchasthelegitimizationofviolenceandsurveillanceofyoungpeoplepost9/11.Thisiscoupledwithanincreaseinstatisticsshowinganupsurgeofyouthviolence.Educationisseenasasolutiontomitigateviolence.However,employmentislinkedwithpatronageandforthoseexcludedfromsystemsofpatronage,educationisnotanoption.

Awinoaddressedthemultiple,genderedeffectsof“youthbulge”thinking.Theseincludewomen’srightsreversalsbyregressivemovementsframedaroundtheconceptofcontainment.Governmentsareabletocapturewomen’srightsasawaytoshowhowprogressivetheyare,demonstratinga“feminismbythestate.”Women’sfreedomofmovementisoftenrestricted,whichimpedestheirabilitiestomovefreelyandtobuildnetworksandsocialcapital.“Thereisaflashbacktotraditionalroles,”Awinocommented.

Notionsof“youth,”whichincludepeopleaged21-45,aregenderedasmale.Assuch,toooftenwomenareeliminatedfromthediscussion,whichcanrestrictwomen’sinvolvementinresistancemovements.Thereareunderlyingstructuralquestionsthatyoutharepushingagainst.Youtharemobilizingtoupsetthestatusquo,nottotakepower.Whythen,whenquestionsofclassandracearecontextualizedandchallenged,isgendernaturalized?

GreenMilitarizationinConservation

LibbyLunstrum

LibbyLunstrumspokeongreenmilitarization,whichshedefinesas“aglobaltrendintheuseofmilitaryandparamilitary(military-like)actors,techniques,technologies,andpartnershipsinthepursuitofconservation.”27Libbyarguedthatthisprovidesinsightnotonlyintocurrentpracticesofconservation,butalsointothemilitarizationofclimatechange.Thisisimportant,shecontends,becauseconservationandclimatechangearetwoofthebiggestsocio-environmentalproblemsweface.Libbyasked,whatauthorizesmilitarizationinthesecontexts?Howisthreat/howarethethreatenedproduced?Andwhoaretheactors?

Inconservation,greenmilitarizationisemployedthroughamultiplicityofpractices.LibbyusedtheexampleoftheresponsetocommercialrhinopoachinginKrugerNationalParkinSouthAfrica.These


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includetheparamilitarizationofparkrangers,deploymentoftroopsonparkland,theuseofmilitarytechnology,intelligencegathering,relocationofso-called“insurgents,”shoot-on-sightpolicies,andconductinga“waronpoaching.”Thissecuritizedapproachtoconservationhasseriousandfatalimpactsonlocalcommunities.Libbynotedthatit“killspoorpeople,thosewhoareexploitedbyruthlesscriminalsyndicatesandleadstoanarmsracewhichputsrangers,rhinos,andpoachersinharm’sway.”Sheassertedthat“ultimately,thisalienationofcommunitiesisbadforconservation”becauseitpitsthecommunityagainsttheconversationefforts.

Libbyanalyzedthediscursivemovesthatmakegreenmilitarizationpossibleinconservation,usingtheKrugerNationalParkexample.Insteadofsimplyarguingthatgreenmilitarizationisnecessarybecause“peoplekillrhinos,”LibbynotedamorecomplexconstructionofrhinosasasymbolofSouthAfrica’snationalheritage.Inthisstory,“armedforeignpoacherstransgresstheinternationalbordertoviolatenationalsovereigntyanddecimateSouthAfrica'snaturalheritage.”Libbyarguedthatthisframingjustifiesawaragainstpoaching.Additionally,Libbydiscussedthewebofpeopleandinstitutionsthatsupportsandenablesgreenmilitarization,includingmilitaryactors,defensecorporations,asegmentofthepublic(intheSouthAfricancontext)andNGOsanddonors.Thismultiplicityofactorsmakesithardertocontest.

Notingthelinksbetweenbiologicaldiversity,conversation,populationandgreenmilitarization,Libbyurgedforbroadeningofthescopeof“populationcontrol”toincorporatenotonlylivesthatareseenas"avertable,"butalsothoserendered"killable.”Thiswouldrequireengagingwiththeblurrylinebetweenbiopoliticsandnecropolitics.

MilitarizationofClimateChange

BetsyHartmannBetsyHartmannanalyzedthe“MilitarizationofClimateChange,”focusingonthestrategicdemographyofso-calledclimateconflictandclimaterefugees.Betsydefinedstrategicdemographyasthe“deploymentofpopulationnumbersandnarrativestoconstructsecuritythreats,”whichshenoteshasacceleratedpost-9/11intheUnitedStates’so-calledWaronTerror.Notionsofclimateconflictandclimaterefugeesbuildonneo-Malthusiandegradationnarratives,whichsuggestthatinruralareasoftheglobalSouth,populationpressurecoupledwithpovertyisthemaincauseoflanddegradation.Betsynotedthat:

Overthecourseofthe1970sand1980sdegradationnarrativesexpandedtoincludeanegativeviewofmigration.Afterpoorpeopledepletetheirimmediateenvironments,thestorylinegoes,manymigratetoothermarginallands,settinginmotionthesameviciousdownwardspiral.Fromthe1990sonwardstheyincludedthepoorwhoflocktoalready-overcrowdedcitieswheretheiryoung,unemployedsonsbecomea“youthbulge”thatgravitatestopoliticalextremism.


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Betsyassertedthatthesamelogicisnowbeingappliedtoclimatechangethroughconstructingthethreatofclimaterefugeesandclimateconflict.Thenarrativemobilizesassumptionsthat“poordarkpeople,especiallyinAfrica,areessentiallybarbarianswhoautomaticallywillengageinbloodybattlesoverscarceresourceslikewaterandthenmigratetowardourborders.”BetsycritiquedUSmilitaryandintelligencereportsthatpromotetheideasofclimateconflict,notingthata2004Pentagon-commissionedreportoncatastrophicclimatechangereliesontheconceptof“carryingcapacity”tomakesitsalarmistclaims.

Asexamples,BetsycitedthewarinDarfurasoneofthefirstconflictstobenamedaclimateconflict,despiteevidencetothecontrarythattheauthoritarianregimeinKhartoumwasthemaininstigatoroftheconflict.Sheassertedthat“Syriaisnowtheclimatewardujour”.ThismeansthatthecurrentrefugeecrisisinEuropeisconsideredtobepropelledbyclimatechange.Betsysaid:

LinkingthecurrentrefugeecrisiswithclimatechangecreatestheimpressionthatsuchamassmigrationisanewnormalwhichwillcontinueinoneformoranotherevenaftertheSyrianwarends.Ratherthanseeingthecurrentcrisisaspoliticallyrootedandlimitedintime,itgivestheimpressionthatweareenteringaworldof“permanentemergency”inwhichnationsneedtoretreatfromtheircommitmentstoharborrefugeesandinsteadbeefuptheirbordersandsurveillance—whichispreciselywhatishappening.Italsostrengthensthemilitary’shandbyprovidingyetanotherrationale—thethreatofclimateconflicts—fordevotingevermoreresourcestonationalsecurity.

Innationalsecuritycircles,climatechangeisseenasa“threatmultiplier.”BetsysuggestedthatthisisaparticularlyusefulrationaleforfurtherUSmilitaryinvolvementinAfrica,butalsoinAsia.TheUSmilitaryseeksgreatercontroloverdisasterreliefanddevelopmentaidmorebroadly.Betsynotedthatenvironmentalistsendorseclimatemilitarizationforseveralreasons,inpartbecausethe“worst-caseapocalypticscenarioappeals,includingfearofthedark,overpopulatedhordes,harkeningbacktoMalthus.”ShealsonotedthestrategiccalculationinbackingthisstrategyinlightofclimatechangedenialismintheUS.EnvironmentalistsconsiderplayingthenationalsecuritycardasoneofthefewwaystomotivateconservativesinCongresstogetonboardwithclimatelegislation.Inconclusion,Betsyarguedfortheneedtochallengethemilitarizationofclimatechangeandthewaysinwhichitiscolonizingenvironmentalimaginationsanddistortingviewsofthefuture.


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Session5:MappingthePoliticalLandscapeofDispossessionInthissessionspeakersdiscussedvariousprocessesanddynamicsofdispossessioninthefaceofclimatecrisis,andtheirarticulationswithviolenceandinequalityindifferentgeographicalsites.Theyaddressedtheclassed,genderedandracializedeffectsofclimatechangemitigationandadaptationprojectsonlocalresourceaccessandcontrol.Intakingseriouslythepracticesandnarrativesofclimatechangeandtheireffectsacrossdistanceanddifference,speakerspushedforwardamorenuancedandpoliticallyenablinganalysisofenvironmentalcrises.

ClimateAdaptationasDevelopmentasUsualinBangladesh

KhushiKabeerKhushiKabirdiscussedtheappropriationoflandandwaterinBangladesh.Registeringlanduseforcommercialproductionandcommodifyingwaterhaveintensifiedasaresponsetoclimatechangeadaptationprograms.BecauseBangladeshisalreadyexperiencingtheeffectsofclimatechange,thegovernmentisfocusedonadaptationasarecipientofclimatechangeadaptationfundsasopposedtonegotiatingonmitigationmeasuresthatalsoneedtobetakenupwiththosepollutingnationswhoareshirkingtheirresponsibilitiesbymerelyprovidingadaptationfundstocountrieslikeBangladesh.KhushiofferedacritiqueofWorldBankmitigationprogramsthatmirrorlarge-scaledevelopmentfromthe1990sforfloodmitigationthathaveprovedfailuresovertime.Theyinterruptedsiltingprocessesandnaturalirrigation,andendedupcreatingwaterloggingandothersevereenvironmentaldisruptions.

Likewise,climatechangeadaptationprojectshavemeantnotonlydevelopmentasusual,butanintensificationofharmfulpractices.Forinstance,aftersigningtheParisAgreement,newprojectsareintheprocessofbeingbuiltontheBangladeshicoast,inthefloodplains,andinfragileecosystemssuchasecologicallycrucialmangroveforestsinthecoastalbeltofBangladesh.Inaddition,landhasbeenappropriatedforshrimpfarmingasanindustryonlyforexport—againinthecoastalbelt—whichhascauseddisplacementofpeople.Finally,thereisthemostcontentiousprojecttobeundertaken:acoal-basedpowerplantontheedgeoftheSundarbans,whichstudieshaveshownwilldestroynotjustthelargestmangroveforest,aUNESCOheritagesite,butalsoaddtothegeneraldeteriorationofeco-systems,leadingtoincreasedclimatevulnerability.Specialeconomiczoneshavebeenestablishedinwhichmostfarmers/producersareforcedtomoveintocashcropsinplaceofcropsforlocalconsumption,andendupmerelybeinganagentoflarge-scalecommercialglobalinterests.Khushicontendsthatthisispopulationcontrolthroughdisplacement.Peoplearerelegatedtothecategoryofpaidworkers,creatingthe“other,”andextendingthemajority’sideologicalcontrol.


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TopographiesofAbandonment:Adaptation,riskanddispossessioninpost-disasterColombia

AlejandroCamargoAlejandroCamargocriticallyanalyzedhowadaptationprojectsareactualized,experienced,andtransfiguredintheeverydaylifeofruralpeopleinnorthernColombia.Hearguedthatadaptation—asaglobalconceptpromisingresilienceandsafety—mutatesintolocalexperiencesandspacesofdispossession,abandonment,andexclusion.Heoutlinedhowruralmenandwomenhavechallengedglobalnotionsofadaptationfromtheirdomesticagrarianspaces.

In2010,Colombiaexperiencedoneofthemostdramaticdisastersinitshistory.Record-breakingrainsassociatedwiththeglobalintensificationoftheLaNiñaphenomenoncausedcatastrophicfloodingacrossruralareas.Thousandsofpeasantslosttheircrops,livestockandhouseholdsandwereforcefullydisplacedfromtheirvillages.

TheColombiangovernmentexplainedthatthiscalamitywasamanifestationofglobalclimatechange,andconsequentlyitcreatedanationalplanofclimateadaptationtorestorethepublicinfrastructureandhousinginareasaffectedbythedisaster.Asapartofthisprogram,localauthoritiesdefinedriskareasinordertodeterminethegeographicalboundariesofadaptationprograms.Yettheseriskareasdidnotsimplydelimitaspaceofficiallyconsideredtobeunsafe.Theyalsoidentifiedthepeoplewhoinhabitthoseareasassubjectsatrisk.Becauseofthisdenomination,thesepeoplewereaskedtoadaptthroughresettlementprogramsthatwouldguaranteeasafelife.Forstateinstitutions,thedefinitionofriskareaswasthereforeapreconditiontohelpingthepeopleaffectedbythedisaster.

However,Alejandroargued,forhundredsoffamilieswhoendeduplocatedinthosezones,theenforcementofthesegeographiesofriskandadaptationwasaformofsubtledispossessionoftheirhomes,domesticspaces,andagrarianlivelihoods.Thebackyardsoftheirhomesarespacesoflifewherewomenraisecrops,medicinalplants,anddomesticanimals.Thesespeciesandthelaborofwomenprovidevitalelementsforthesocialreproductionandresilienceoftheirhousehold.

Forthisreason,Alejandronoted,manyfamiliesrefusedtogiveuptheirhomesandtorelocateto"safe"areas,wherenewhouseswerephysicallyunsuitableforthereproductionoftheiragrariandomesticspaces.Governmentofficialsemphasizedthatbymakingthatchoice,thesefamilieswouldforfeittheirrightstobebeneficiariesofstate-sponsoredwelfareandadaptationprograms.Inotherwords,thesefamilieswouldbecondemnedtoliveinaspaceofstateabandonment.Yetpeoplestoodfirmintheirdecisionandrefusedtobe“adaptedtoclimatechange.”


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DispossessionsThrough“CleanDevelopment”andMilitarization

DianaOjedaDianaOjedaarguedthatthepeople’sdispossessionfromlandinColombiaistheresultofmultipleforces:climatechangemitigationstrategies,entrepreneurialendeavors,andparamilitaryoperations.Withclimatechangemitigation,“cleandevelopment”ispursuedthroughthecreationofcarbonmarketsandclaimingforestsforforeigninvestmentthroughcarbondeposits.Dianacontendedthatsuchmitigationprojectsrelyonthemeansofdispossessionforcapitalintervention.Atthesametime,theparamilitaryenact“massiveandspectacularviolenceoversmallpartsoflands.”Paramilitaryviolencecaptureslandsandlives.Followingforcibledispossessionbythemilitary,thelandisthentakenbyentrepreneursforprojectslikeexpandingteakforests.

Dianasuggestedthatthereisa“dispossessionfollowingthedispossession.”Thereis“subtle”dispossessionintheformofsmall-scaletransitionaljustice,relatedtoliteralhectaresrepossessedandrelocationthatdoesnotaccountforalloftheimpactsofdispossession:lossofwatersources,mobilizationofongoingfear,andtheprotectionoftheteak.Dianacontendedthatdispossessioncontributestothesecuritizationofthestate.Dispossessionalsoaddstodiscoursesandpolicieslabelingcertainpopulationsas“avertible,”aswellasthe“disposable,”likepeasants.Iterasestheroleoflaborindispossession.

ClimatePoliticsandLivedImpactsinMexico

MarthaPskowskiMarthaPskowskispokeon“ClimatePoliticsandLivedImpactsinMexico,”startingwithadiscussionofMexico'sfederalandseveralstategovernments.Theyhavetakenleadingrolesinclimatechangeinitiativesontheinternationalstage.However,progressinMexicooncarbon-emissionsreductionsismeager.Thisisdueinparttoalackofinternationalfundingforclimatechangemitigationandadaptationactivities,butalsocanbeattributedtoMexico'spushtoincreaseenergyproductionnationally,whichdrivesupemissionsoverall.Fracking,hydroelectricdams,andwindpowerareallontheriseinMexico.Anewwaveofminingconcessionshasalsobeengrantedunderthecurrentpresident.WhileMexicoboastsaboutits"green"energydevelopment,manyoftheseprojectsarebeingrolledoutwithbusinessmodelsidenticaltothoseofdirtyenergyindustries.ThecaseofwindpowerintheIsthmusofTehuantepec,Oaxacaisaniconicexample.IndigenousgroupshavedocumentedhowaSpanishenergyfirmillegallyclaimedtheirterritorytoputupamassivewindfarm.Theenergygeneratedthereisfedintothenationalgrid,andisnotavailableforlocalenergyneeds.IfcleanenergyistotakeoffinMexico,itwillhavetoreconcilewiththedirtybusinesspracticesofnumerouscompaniesinvolvedandrestructuretodistributebenefitstolocalcommunities.MexicohasalsobeenactiveinmitigationschemessuchasREDD+(ReducingEmissionsfromDeforestationandForestDegradation).Whilefundinghasbeenlimited,thestronghistoryofcommunityforestryinMexico


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haspushedthisprogramtomeettheneedsofforest-dwellingcommunitiesandholisticallyaddressthecausesofdeforestations.

DispossessionThroughSustainableDevelopment

KiranAsherKiranAsherdiscussedtheneedforacriticalchallengetothetenetsof“sustainabledevelopment”asadriverofdispossession.Shearguedthat“ifsocialjusticeandsustainabilityareimperativesinthe21stcentury,afeministcritiqueandpoliticsisnecessarytorespondcriticallytothetechnical,apolitical,anddefactocapitalistsolutionsthatunderlietheinstitutionalizedandpolicyversionsofsustainabledevelopment.”

Tobuildthiscritique,Kiranstartedwithanoverviewofpost-WorldWarIIinternationaldevelopmentastheprecursortotoday’ssustainabledevelopmenttheory.Further,shereviewedtheUNconferences,agencies,andconservationandenvironmentalethicsthatcontributetotheproblematicthinkingthateconomicdevelopmentandenvironmentalconservationcansynergisticallyachievesustainabledevelopment.

Kiranlookedatthewaysinwhichinternationaldevelopmenthaspositioned“ruralpeasantsandThirdWorldwomen”inrelationtotheenvironmentandsustainabledevelopment.Theseideashaveshiftedovertime,followinginternationaldevelopmenttrends.Fromthe1950stothe1970s,tropesofso-calledbackwardpeasantsandwelfarerecipientspredominated.Inthe1970sand1980s,peasantsandwomenwerealternatelyseenasresourcedegradersand/orvictimsofunderdevelopment.Atthesametime,theycouldberesourcestewardswithaccesstotraditionalknowledges.Fromthe1990stotoday,peasantsandwomenarepaintedas,inKiran’swords,“sustainableusersandmanagers…consumersandentrepreneurs.”Theyareseenasresistingeconomicglobalization,promotingalternativesandparticipatinginsustainabledevelopment.

Kiranconcludedwithalookathow“sustainabledevelopment”playsoutinthePacificlowlandsofColombiaandshapesofficialdiscoursesandsocialmovements.Shelookedathowideasof“sustainabledevelopment”influencetheinternationaldevelopmentrealm.HereshereferencedtheCenterforInternationalForestResearch(CIFOR),andtwoprojectsincludingslopinglandsinAsiaandREDD/REDD+.Finally,sheexaminedhowthescientificandpolicycommunityresistandrejectcriticalinsightsfromsocialscience,anddefactoanddejurefacilitatedispossessionthroughdevelopment.


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Session6:AnticipatoryVisionsfortheFutureInthissessionspeakersdiscussedvariousprocessesanddynamicsofdispossessioninthefaceofclimatecrisis,andtheirarticulationswithviolenceandinequalityindifferentgeographicalsites.Theyaddressedtheclassed,genderedandracializedeffectsofclimatechangemitigationandadaptationprojectsonlocalresourceaccessandcontrol.Intakingseriouslythepracticesandnarrativesofclimatechangeandtheireffectsacrossdistanceanddifference,speakerspushedforwardamorenuancedandpoliticallyenablinganalysisofenvironmentalcrises.

ImaginingFeministFutures

WendyHarcourtWendyHarcourtopenedthesessionwiththeassertionthatfeminisminacademiaispolitical,andthatacademeiscentraltoimaginingfeministfutures.Sheoutlinedstrategiesforengaginginembodiedthinkingthatopensopportunitiesforvisioningsuchfeministfutures.First,sherecommendedengaginginontologicalpoliticsandembodyingwhatoneisdoing.Inthis,Wendynotedthatasthinkersweshouldrecognizethatweneedtobeuncomfortable,thatweshouldrecognizeandfollowthechaotic.Second,Wendyhighlightedtheimportanceofdecolonialityinhelpingustorecognizethosehistoriesandletgoofourcertainties.Third,Wendyarguedfortoolsforsurvivingcrisisnarratives,whichincludesafluidanddiscontinuedplace-basedconnection,thatallowforplace-based,globalizedthinking.Fourth,Wendyexploredconnectionsbetweennature/culture.Fifth,shearguedforastrategythatasks,“Willwebeabletolovetheworldwewishtocreate?”Willwebeabletolivewithanxieties,unhealth?

Wendyarguedforembracinghybridityandcomplexityinencouragingcollectivepossibilities.Shereferredtotheconceptofinterculturalandintergenerational“meshworks”—asopposedtonetworks—tostimulateandupholdcollectivities.Wendydrewtheideaofmeshworksfromherco-authoredleadarticle,writtenwithArturoEscobarintheir2005anthologyWomenandthePoliticsofPlace.28Aspartofcreatingmeshworks,Wendyadvisedthatwelooknotforenclosure,butforourselves.

OtherWorldsarePossible

RosalindaPinedaOfreneoRoslindaPinedaOfreneospokeonthethemeof“OtherWorldsarePossible”withanemphasisonpluralworlds,asopposedtothesingular“AnotherWorldisPossible”inthesloganoftheWorldSocialForum.Otherworldsaremadepossiblebycross-movementorganizingtowardsasocialjusticeagenda,includingastrongcommitmenttogenderjustice.Rosalindaarguedthatthisistruedespitetheseriouschallengesweface.RosalindaspokeaboutthecontextinthePhilippinesamidstclimatechange.ThePhilippinesisthethirdmostdisaster-pronenationwithahighrateoftyphoons(20peryear).Atthesametimethereismal-development,includinggrowthinunemployment,andhighmaternalmortalityratesevenasbirthratesaregoingdown.


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However,Rosalindasuggeststhat“Otherworldsarepossible,alifeofdignityforall.”Thisispossiblethroughsocialprotectionsandafocusonsocialjusticefortheworkingpoor.Wemustfocusonreducingviolenceagainstwomen,andrethinkreproductivehealthtoenablealesstechnocracticapproach,likehomebirths.Shenotesthatthreeoutoffourwomenpreferhomebirth.Inaddition,Rosalindaapplaudedmovestowardsfoodjustice.

PromotingClimateJustice

JacquelinePattersonJacquiPattersonplacedtheimperativesofclimatejusticeinhistoricalandgeographicalcontexts.Shehighlightedthefactorsthathavedriventhecurrentcourseofunsustainabledevelopment,includingprofitsoverpeople,rampantextraction,exploitationofhumansandnaturalresources,excessiveconsumption,and“ismsandphobias,”includingfearsandbiasesbasedinracialization,ethnicity,class,gender,andxenophobia.Shespokeabouthowthispathofoverconsumptionpropelsenvironmentalinjustices,particularlybetweentheglobalNorthandSouth,aswastefromtheglobalNorthisdumpedintheglobalSouth.TheNorthisresponsibleforthecarbonemissionsdrivingclimatechange,whereaslow-lyingcommunitiesintheglobalSoutharefeelingtheeffects.SimilarenvironmentalinjusticesareperpetuatedwithintheglobalNorthaswell;wastedumpsandtoxicenergyproducingplantsareoftenlocatednearpoorcommunitiesofcolorintheUS.

Asexamplesofthis,Jacquidiscussedtheoilandcoalindustries,andhowthefossilfuel-basedindustrydisproportionatelyaffectsblackandbrownpeople.SheshowedphotosofanoilplantnexttotheCesarChavezHighSchool’sathleticfieldinHouston,Texasanddiscussedtheunder-regulationofBritishPetroleum’s(BP)oilspillintheGulf.Further,Jacquitalkedaboutlandfillsincommunitiesthatsufferadversehealtheffects,lowerpropertyvaluesandunder-resourcedschoolsystems.

Inconclusion,Jacquitalkedaboutthe“disasterdiscourse”ofclimatechangethatinterlinkswithproblematicstructuresofcriminalizationandgenderedviolence.ShepointedtohumanrightsdiscoursesandtheBlackLivesMattermovementtoprovidealternatives.

PopulationControlisWhiteSupremacy

TanyaFieldsTanyaFieldsaddressedissuesofpopulationcontrolaswhitesupremacy.SheputforthradicalmotheringandreproductivejusticeaspathwaystosystematicallychallengingpopulationcontrolandthetargetingofBlackwomen’sfertility.Shestartedwiththeassertionthatthenotionof“overpopulation”isamyththathasnonethelessadverselyaffectedBlackwomenworldwide.Reproductiverightsandthefocusonbirthcontrolandabortionislimited—thereproductivejusticeframeworkencompassesmoreandisabetterframeworktosupportBlackandimmigrantwomenwhohavenothadthesamechoicesaswhite


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women.Blackandimmigrantwomenhavethehighestriskofchildremovalandfacedisproportionatechallengestoraisingchildren.HereTanyaquotedaverseofpoetWarsanShire’s“Home”:

Youhavetounderstand,thatnooneputstheirchildinaboatunlessthewaterissaferthantheland

Tanyabroughtthisintoahistoricalcontextbytalkingaboutthegoalsofearlybirthcontrollers,likeMargaretSanger,whofollowedtheracializedandbiasedeugenicsscienceofthedayandtargetedbirthcontrolatthe“unfit.”Shenotedthatsciencereflectsthepoliticsofasociety.Tanyaleftuswiththisstatement:“MotheringforBlackwomenisreproductivejustice.”


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ChallengingNeo-MalthusianismandForgingJustice:MeetingConclusionOldMaps,NewTerrainrevealedhowinterwovenneo-Malthusianideologiesdrivepopulationcontroltoday.Ourdiscussionslaidthefoundationforproductivelyexpandingonunderstandingsof“populationcontrol”tobetterencompasstherangeofsystematiceffortstolimitfertility,curtailfamilyformations,anddisruptandtargetcommunitiesofpoor,peopleofcolor,migrants,landlesspeoples,andpeoplewhoareincarceratedintheglobalNorthandSouth,whilesimultaneouslyencouragingfertilityamongothercommunities,primarilythewhite,eliteandwealthy.Suchanexpandedunderstandingcouldinclude:

• Currentinternationalandnationalfamilyplanningstrategies’useoftargetsandacceptorpaymentsinpromotinglong-actingreversiblecontraceptives(LARC),likeImplanonandJadelle,aswellasDepo-ProveraandtheSayanaPress.

• Surrogacyandotherreproductivehealthtechnologiesthatfacilitateconceptionandparenthoodamongthosewhocanaffordthem.

• Anadditionalterm,like“bio-populationism”whichcouldsignalsomethingdifferentthanandcomplementanexpandedunderstandingof“populationcontrol”bytheorizingthefullrangeofcontraceptiveandconceptivereproductivetechnologiesandhowtheseencourageanddiscouragefertilityamongdifferentpopulations.Inaddition,itcouldexaminethepoliticsofwholivesandwhodies(biopoliticsandnecropolitics).

• Theimpactsofgreenmilitarizationandthewaysinwhichsecuritizationoflandandpeoplecontributestodispossession,dissolutionofcommunitiesanddisruptionoflivelihoods.Greendevelopmentisanotherkeyfactorindisplacementandanincreasinglyimportantfactorinthistimeofclimatechange.

• Theheighteningofbordersandnativism,whichiscoupledwiththecontrolofmigrants,detainmentofimmigrants,andthecontainmentofpeoplethroughracializedandcommunalviolences,detainmentandincarceration.

• Thecreationof“threat,”duetopoliticallychargedinterpretationsofpopulationlike“differentialfertility,”Islamophobia,andracializedandethnicstereotypesofviolence.AsMohanRaonotedinhistalk,“fearisagrowthindustry.”

Atthemeeting,werecognizedthatstrategiestoaddresstheurgentproblemsofclimatechangeoftenexacerbateexistinginequalitiesandbolsterneo-Malthusianthinking,contributingtoanupsurgeinpopulationcontrolrhetoricandpractice.However,thispopulationcontrolrhetorichasshiftedinimportantways.Thesecondsession,MappingthePopulation(Control)Landscapeshowedthatithasbeenrepackagedinenvironmentalismtoappealtonewgenerationsofactivistsandrelatetocurrentclimateandenvironmentalconcerns(Sasser,Luna).Populationcontrolisrelegatedtothepast,openingopportunitiesfortherecognizedmisstepsofthepast—includingcoercivetargetsandpaymentsininternationalfamilyplanning—toberepeatedandatthesametimebereinterpretedas“motivational”


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ratherthanabusive(Hendrixson).Inasimilarvein,KalpanaWilsonarguedthatloweringfertilityisagainseenasgoodeconomicdevelopmentpractice.Thisrationalecorrespondswithanappropriationofwomen’srightsandempowermentdiscoursesas“SmartEconomics.”MohanRaonotedthatoverlappingandreinforcingnativisms,fundamentalisms,masculinities,“pinkwashing”(usinggayrightsadvancestomaskanti-immigrantpoliticsandotherrightsviolations)andIslamophobiaallbolsterandshapeneo-Malthusianideologytoday.

Theexamplesfromthethirdsession,ThePoliticalEconomyofToday’sPopulationControl,showedthecontinuitiesofpopulationcontrolinfamilyplanning,post-Cairo,aswellastheformationofanewpopulationindustry.Today’spopulationcontrolindustryhasgrowninthecontextoftheriseofglobalhealthsecuritizationinresponsetotheZikaandEbolaepidemics(Rivera,Wako)andincreasedbiomedicalizationandincidenceofhumantrials(Sarojini).ExamplesincludedNorplantpromotioninBangladesh(Parvin),masssterilizationcampsinIndia(Sarojini),andImplanonpromotioninSouthAfrica,coupledwithgovernmentscalingbackfromDepo-ProveraandahumantrialonthelinkbetweenDepoandincreasedbiologicalriskofHIVacquisition(Stevens).TheseexamplesexposedtheinfluenceofphilanthrocapitalistsliketheGatesFoundationinsupportingandshapingthenewpopulationindustryinpartnershipwithpharmaceuticalindustries,internationalagenciesandgovernments,aswellasnon-profitslikePATH.ThediscussionexploredthedifficultiesinadvocatingforcontraceptiveaccessandsafetyandsafeandlegalabortionwhereLARCpromotionistheprimarygoalofmanyinternationalfamilyplanningefforts.Advocacyforsafecontraceptionandabortion,aswellasaccesstotheseresources,iscomplicatedbyanti-abortionandanti–contraceptionactivists’challengestoLARC,philanthrocapitalism,andabortionaccess.

Sessionsfourandfiverevealedthelinkagesbetweenresponsestoclimatechange—includingthemilitarizationofclimatechange—theconstructionofthreat,andneo-Malthusianthinking.Sessionfour,ChartingtheLandscapeofClimateChangeandMilitarizedDevelopmentanalyzedthe“Malthusianstructuringofclimate”(Lohmann)andhowthisorganizesandcontributestonarrativesofpopulation-motivatedthreat,suchasthe“youthbulge”theory,whichpositionsyoungmen,particularlyAfricanmen,asviolentelementswithinviolentenvironments(Okech).ClimatecrisisandMalthusianfearsalsocontributetotropesaboutclimateconflictasdrivenbyclimaterefugeeswhosupposedlydegradethelandandengageinresourcewars(Hartmann).Asclimatechangechallengesareconstruedasthreatstolandas“resource,”and“nature,”approachestoconservationaremanifesting“greeningmilitarization”(Lunstrum).Similarly,whenclimatechangeispositionedasa“threatmultiplier,”itbecomesarationaleforfurtherUSmilitaryinvolvementinpartsofAfricaandAsia,includingindisasterreliefanddevelopmentaid(Hartmann.)

Insessionfive,MappingthePoliticalLandscapeofDispossession,speakersinvestigatedhowclimatecrisisresponsesininternationalandnationaldevelopment,greenentrepreneurship,andmilitarizationfacilitatetheappropriationoflandandwaterforgovernmentsandcorporations,anddispossesspeople.ExamplesincludedstateappropriationoflandandwaterinBangladesh(Kabeer),dispossessionof


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peoplesthroughclimatechangeadaptationandmitigationschemesinColombia(Camargo,Ojeda)aswellasthrough“cleandevelopment”(Ojeda)andgreenandsustainableinternationalandnationaldevelopmentschemes(Asher,Kabeer,Pskowski).Speakershighlightedtheracializedandgenderednarrativesthataccompanysuchschemes.

ThefinalsessionaddressedAnticipatoryVisionsfortheFuture.Speakersconsideredthepotentialforvisioningandrealizingfeministfuturesarisingoutofpeople’smovementsforsocialjustice,includingeconomic,food,environmentalandclimateandreproductivejustices.Thisincludeddiscussionofthechallengeswefacewithdeepandsystematicenvironmentalandclimateinjustices(Patterson),populationcontrolandwhitesupremacypropellingreproductiveinjustices(Fields),andmal-developmentnegativelyimpactingpeople’slivesandhealth(PinedaOfreneo).Othersconsideredthepotentialforthesechallengestospurother“worlds”(PinedaOfreneo)toreduceviolence,supportfoodjustice,andenablealesstechnocraticapproachtoreproductivehealth,aspartofalargersocialjusticeplatform.Feminisminacademiaalsoopensopportunitiesforvisioningotherworldsthroughmeshworks,including“survivingcrisisnarratives”(Harcourt).

Whenconsideringthespectrumofconversationsfromthemeetingasawhole,participantsarticulatedthepressingneedtogetsuchintegratedanalysesintomainstreamdiscoursesandamongmultiplemovements,aswellasinacademiato1)confrontracism,2)buildsolidarity,3)influenceacademia,activismandphilanthropy,and4)offerfeministfuturesthatbuildonsociallyjustresponsestoclimatechange.

TheOldMaps,NewTerrain:Rethinkingpopulationinaneraofclimatechangemeetingbroughttogetherpowerfulideasandpeople.Asthelastsessionaptlyshowed,thewaysforwardarenotwithoutsignificantchallenge.However,themeetinghighlightedthepotentialandneedforsolidarity—cross-border,movement,discipline,identityandarea—toshareideas,newsandsolutions,andtoupholdsocialjusticeandaddressclimatechangeinmeaningful,multi-layeredways.


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References 1Harlow,J.May24,2009.BillionaireClubinBidtoCurbOverpopulation.TheSundayTimes.http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/news/world_news/article169829.ec2PopDev.2014.PopulationinPerspective,2ndedition.Amherst,MA:ThePopulationandDevelopmentProgram,HampshireCollege.https://sites.hampshire.edu/popdev/population-in-perspective/3SeeSama:ResourceGrouponWomenandHealth.2015.SpectresofMalthus:AStudyofRepresentationofPopulationinSchoolTextbooksinIndia.NewDelhi:Sama.http://www.samawomenshealth.org/publication/spectres-malthus-study-representation-population-school-textbooks-india4Adams,V.,Murphy,M.,Clarke,A.2009.Anticipation:Technoscience,Life,Affect,Temporality.Subjectivity28(1):pp246–2655SeeWilson,K.2015.TowardsaRadicalRe-appropriation:Gender,Development,andNeoliberalFeminism.DevelopmentandChange46(4):803-832.6Rao,M.2014.CrawlingInsectsinaPetriDish.InPrasantaChakravarty(Ed),ShrapnelMinima:WritingsfromHumanitiesUnderground,SeagullBooks,Calcutta.7Sen,A.2005.TheArgumentativeIndian:WritingsonIndianHistory,CultureandIdentity.NewDelhi:PenguinBooks.8Sangari,K.2001.PoliticsofthePossible:EssaysonGender,History,Narratives,ColonialEnglish.NewDelhi:TulikaPublishers.9Ali,K.A.2002.PlanningtheFamilyinEgypt:NewBodies,NewSelves,Austin,TX:UniversityofTexasPress.10SeeLuna,Z.andLuker,K.2013.ReproductiveJustice.AnnualReviewofLawandSocialScience9:327-352.11SeeSisterSong.ReproductiveJustice:Whatisreproductivejustice?http://sistersong.net/reproductive-justice/12SeeForwardTogether.2014.ReproductiveJusticeMediaGuide.http://strongfamiliesmovement.org/assets/files/rj-media-guide.pdf13SeeSasser,J.2013.FromDarknessintoLight:Race,PopulationandEnvironmentalAdvocacy.Antipode46(5):1240-1257.14Participantsreferredtotheconceptof“populationism”putforwardbyeco-socialistsIanAngusandSimonButleras“ideologiesthatattributesocialandecologicalillstohumannumbers”(xxi).SeeAngus,I.andButler,S.2011.TooManyPeople?Population,Immigration,andtheEnvironmentalCrisis.Chicago,IL:HaymarketBooks.15Seehttps://www.health-e.org.za/2014/05/06/guidelines-national-contraception-fertility-planning-policy/16Akhter,F.1995.ResistingNorplant,Dhaka:NarigranthaProbortona.17Hardon,A.1994.Norplant:conflictingviewsonitssafetyandacceptability,inIssuesinReproductiveTechnology,editedbyHelenBequaertHolmes,11-30.NewYork:NewYorkUniversityPress.18Akhter,F.1995.ResistingNorplant,Dhaka:NarigranthaProbortona.19Ibid.20Sivin,I.2003.Risksandbenefits,advantagesanddisadvantagesoflevonorgestrel-releasingcontraceptiveimplants.DrugSafety26(5):303-33521Seehttp://www.tackleebola.org/22Seehttp://africaresponds.org/23Seehttp://near.ngo/24SamaResourceGroupforWomenandHealth,JanSwasthyaAbhiyan,andNationalAllianceforMaternalHealthandHumanRights.November27,2014.CampofWrongs:Themourningafterwards,afactfindingreportonsterilizationdeathsinBilaspur.Delhi:SamaResourceGroupforWomenandHealth,JanSwasthyaAbhiyan,andNationalAllianceforMaternalHealthandHumanRights.25Nadimpally,S.andBanerjee,S.August16,2016.Whydowomenneedamedicalboardtosignoffonabortion?TheWire.http://thewire.in/59330/why-do-women-need-a-medical-board-to-sign-off-on-abortion/26SeeSama,JanSwasthyaAbhiyanandAnthra.2010.FindingsofvisittoBhadrachalam:HPVVaccine‘demonstrationproject’siteinAndhraPradesh.Delhi:SamaResourceGroupforWomenandHealthandN.B.SarojiniandShenoi,An.2010.AtWhatPrice?GardasilResearchTargetsGirlsfromVulnerableCommunities.DifferenTakes65.http://hdl.handle.net/10009/91927SeeLunstrum,E.2014.GreenMilitarization:Anti-PoachingEffortsandtheSpatialContoursofKrugerNationalPark,AnnalsoftheAssociationofAmericanGeographers,104(4):816-832.28HarcourtW.andEscobarA.,Eds.2005.Womenandthepoliticsofplace.Bloomfield,CT:KumarianPress


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OldMapsParticipantsListAlejandroCamargoSyracuseUniversityPh.D.CandidateingeographyatSyracuseUniversityandexternalresearcherattheColombianInstituteofAnthropologyandHistory.Heisbroadlyinterestedinthetransformationofrurallivelihoodsandlandscapes,waterandlandgovernance,andagrarianrelationsinacontextofabruptenvironmentalchangeandunevendevelopment.Hehasconductedarchivalandethnographicresearchinthefloodplains,wetlands,andriversofnorthernColombiainordertounderstandtheconflictsandcontradictionsthatemergeattheintersectionsofwater,land,andsociety.Hisdissertation“Disastrouswaters,renascentlands:politicsandagrariantransformationsinpost-disasterColombia”examinesthetensionsinvolvedintheimplementationofclimateadaptationprojectsinruralareasofnorthernColombiaintheaftermathofcatastrophicfloods.

AnneHendrixsonDirector,Population&DevelopmentProgram,HampshireCollegeAnneHendrixsonistheDirectorofPopDevandafacultyassociateatHamsphireCollege.ShehasaBAinwomen’sstudiesanddancefromHampshireCollegeandaMAininternationaldevelopmentandsocialchangefromClarkUniversity.AnnewasPopDevCoordinatorfrom1996–2000andreturnedtotheprogramasAssistantDirectorin2012.BeforecomingbacktoPopDev,sheservedastheAssistantDirectorforaids2031,aprojectcommissionedbyUNAIDStochartalong-term,globalresponsetoHIV.ShealsostartedupseveralnewinitiativesforVentureWell,aneducationalnon-profit.

AwinoOkechAfricanLeadershipCentre,KingsCollegeLondonDr.AwinoOkechhasforthelasttwelveyearsbeeninvolvedinsocialjusticetransformationworkinEasternAfrica,theGreatLakesregion,andSouthAfrica.Dr.Okech’sworkhasfocusedonwomen’srightsinconflictandpostconflictsocieties,securitysectorgovernanceandgovernancemorebroadly.Shehassupportedtheworkofanumberofinternationalandinter-governmentalorganisationsintheseareas,mostnotably:actingasleadresearcherforNigerandBurkinaFasoinaUNECAcommissionedstudyon“CausesandConsequencesofconflictintheSahel”in2015,servingastheleaddrafterfortheAfricanUnion’sOperationalGuidelinesonGenderandSecuritySectorReformin2014andsupportingUNDP’sSomalilandCivilianPoliceProgrammetoreviewtheirpolicereformworkinHargeisain2012.ShecontributestoknowledgeproductionandtransferthroughanadjunctteachingpositionwiththeAfricanLeadershipCentreatKingsCollegeLondon.DrOkechservesontheeditorialadvisoryboardofFeministAfrica,apeerreviewedjournalproducedbytheAfricanGenderInstituteattheUniversityofCapeTown,isanadvisoryboardmemberoftheAfricanFeministInitiativeatPennStateandisamemberoftheAfricanSecuritySectorNetwork,apan-Africannetworkofscholarsandpolicyadvocatesworkingintheareaofsecuritysectorreform.


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BetsyHartmannProfessorEmerita,DevelopmentStudies,HampshireCollegeSeniorPolicyAnalyst,Population&DevelopmentProgram,HampshireCollegeBetsyHartmannisprofessoremeritaofdevelopmentstudiesandseniorpolicyanalystofthePopulationandDevelopmentProgramatHampshireCollegeinAmherst,MA.Herworkfocusesontheintersectionsbetweenpopulation,migration,environmentandsecurityissues,andsheiswidelypublishedinpopular,policy,andscholarlyvenues.SheistheauthorofReproductiveRightsandWrongs:TheGlobalPoliticsofPopulationControl(thirdeditionappearinginFall2016)andtwopoliticalthrillersabouttheFarRight,TheTruthaboutFireandDeadlyElection.Sheistheco-authorofAQuietViolence:ViewfromaBangladeshVillageandco-editoroftheanthologyMakingThreats:BiofearsandEnvironmentalAnxieties.HerbookonapocalypticthinkingintheU.S.,TheAmericaSyndrome,willbepublishedbySevenStoriesPressinSpring2017.BetsyhasconsultedfortheUnitedNationsEnvironmentProgramandUNWomen,andinspring2015wasaFulbright-NehruDistinguishedChairinNewDelhi,India.Along-standingactivistintheinternationalwomen’shealthmovement,sheisknownforherworktochallengeandreforminternationalpopulationpolicy.ShereceivedherB.A.magnacumlaudeinSouthAsianStudiesfromYaleUniversityandherPh.D.inDevelopmentStudiesfromtheLondonSchoolofEconomics.

ChaelCowanStudent,HampshireCollegeChaelCowanisgoingintoherfourthyearatHampshireCollegewithafocusonmedicalethics.SheisparticularlyinterestedinthecoercivenatureofclinicaltrialsperformedintheGlobalSouth,aswellasintersectionsofhealthcareandsystemsofoppression.

ChemiChemiStudent,HampshireCollegeChemiChemiisajunioratHampshireCollege,studyingPublicPolicyandWomen'sAccesstoReproductiveHealthcare.ShewasborninTibetandraisedinNepaluntilherfamilymovedtotheStatesin2007.Inthesummerof2014,shewasaReproductiveRightsActivistServiceCorps(RRASC)internwithTheDoulaProjectinNewYorkCity.Thispastsemester,sheparticipatedintheInternationalHonorsProgram:HealthandCommunity:Globalization,Culture,andCare.Theprogramfocusedonaccesstohealthcareusingvariouslenses(i.e.History,MedicalAnthropology,etc)inthefollowingsites:SanFrancisco,Hanoi;Vietnam,Bushbuckridge;SouthAfrica,andBuenosAires;Argentina.SheispassionateaboutreproductivejusticeandhopestopursueadegreeinMasterofPublicHealth(MPH)inthenearfuture.


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ClaudiaRiveraAmarilloPontificiaUniversidadJaveriana,ColombiaClaudiaRiveraAmarillo,anthropologist,B.A.fromNationalUniversityofColombia,M.A.inSocialHistoryfromFederalUniversityofRiodeJaneiro.Areasofinterest:Sexuality,HealthandPoliticsinColombiaandBrazil,SexualandReproductiveHealthandRights,Prostitution,HistoryofScience,HistoryofthePharmaceuticalIndustryinLatinAmerica,MentalHealth,PoliticalEcology,ConflictandViolenceinColombia.HercurrentresearchinterestsfocusonPublicHealth,Biotechnology,CapitalismandClimateChangeinColombiaandBrazil.

DianaOjedaAssociateProfessor,PontificiaUniversidadJaveriana,ColombiaI'mafeministgeographer.Myworkcombinespoliticalecologyandcriticalgeopoliticsinthestudyofprocessesanddynamicsofdispossessioncarriedoutandlegitimizedinthenameofnature.I’manassociateprofessoratInstitutoPensar,PontificiaUniversidadJaveriana(Bogotá,Colombia).I’maco-founderandcoordinatoroftheCentrodeEstudiosenEcologíaPolítica(CenterforPoliticalEcologyStudies)–CEEPinBogotá.IholdaBAinHistoryandaBAinEconomics.IobtainedmyMAandPhDinGeographyfromClarkUniversity.I’minterestedinanalyzingsocioenvironmentalconflictsfromaninterdisciplinaryperspectivethatprivilegesanethnographicapproachtodisputesandnegotiationsovernaturalresources.Myresearchinterestsincludelandandwatergrabbing,everydaystateformations,climatechangeandecotourism.Icarryoutresearchtooonissuesofobstetricviolenceandongender-basedviolenceatuniversitycampuses.

EllenFoleyAssociateProfessor,ClarkUniversityIamamedicalanthropologistwhoseresearchhasprimarilyfocusedonfrancophoneWestAfrica,Senegalinparticular.Myresearchexamineshealthdisparities,reproductivehealth,HIV/AIDS,andsexwork.

EtobssieWakoIndependentConsultantEtobssieWakohasoveradecadeofexperienceworkingwithgrassroots,national,andinternationalorganizationsaddressingreproductivehealth,rights,andjusticeissues.Asanindependentconsultant,shehasworkedwithnon-profitorganizations,governmentagencies,UNbodies,andfoundationsinsupportingsocialjusticemovement-building,strategicplanning,leadershipdevelopment,programmanagement,andevaluationdesignandimplementation.Etobssiebelievessystemschangeandsocialjusticeareseededandnurturedincommunities,andassuchiscommittedtostrengtheninggrassrootsorganizing.Sheupholdsherancestralteachingsthatcommunitiesarearchitectsoftheirownsolutions,andbelievesinthepowerofcreative,collaborativeandfuturisticideasininformingtransformativeandsustainedchange.


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IonaPearlReid-EatonCivilLibertiesPublicPolicyProgram(CLPP)IonaPearlReid-Eaton[her+she]wasborninNewYork,grewupinNorthCarolina,andattendsschoolinMassachusetts.ArisingfourthyearatHampshireCollege,IonaPearlstudiesReproductiveJusticewithafocusonabortion[access,politics,procedures,etc.]andsexualityeducation,aswellasjournalism.CurrentlyoneofCLPP’sStudentGroupco-coordinators,IonaPearlwasintroducedtotheReproductiveJusticeMovementwhenshebeganworkingforCLPPherfirstsemesterofcollege[F13].IonaPearlisthe2016RRASCinternattheReproductiveHealthAccessProjectandplanstobecomeanabortionproviderafterfinishingatHampshire.Inherfreetime,IonaPearlenjoysreading(SisterOutsider),eating(SourPatchChildren)andclimbing(theHampshireTree).

JacquelinePattersonDirector,EnvironmentalandClimateJusticeProgram,NAACPJacquelinePattersonistheDirectoroftheNAACPEnvironmentalandClimateJusticeProgram.Since2007Pattersonhasservedascoordinator&co-founderofWomenofColorUnited.JacquiPattersonhasworkedasaresearcher,programmanager,coordinator,advocateandactivistworkingonwomen‘srights,violenceagainstwomen,HIV&AIDS,racialjustice,economicjustice,andenvironmentalandclimatejustice.PattersonservedasaSeniorWomen’sRightsPolicyAnalystforActionAidwheresheintegratedawomen’srightslensfortheissuesoffoodrights,macroeconomics,andclimatechangeaswellastheintersectionofviolenceagainstwomenandHIV&AIDS.Previously,sheservedasAssistantVice-PresidentofHIV/AIDSProgramsforIMAWorldHealthprovidingmanagementandtechnicalassistancetomedicalfacilitiesandprogramsin23countriesinAfricaandtheCaribbean.PattersonservedastheOutreachProjectAssociatefortheCenteronBudgetandPolicyPriorities,andResearchCoordinatorforJohnsHopkinsUniversity.ShealsoservedasaU.S.PeaceCorpsVolunteerinJamaica,WestIndies.Pattersonholdsamaster’sdegreeinsocialworkfromtheUniversityofMarylandandamaster’sdegreeinpublichealthfromJohnsHopkinsUniversity.ShecurrentlyservesontheInternationalCommitteeoftheUSSocialForum,theSteeringCommitteeforInterfaithMoralActiononClimate,AdvisoryBoardforCenterforEarthEthicsaswellasontheBoardsofDirectorsfortheInstituteoftheBlackWorld,CenterforStoryBasedStrategy,GRIDAlternatives,andtheUSClimateActionNetwork.


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JadeSasserAssistantProfessor,UniversityofCalifornia,RiversideJadeS.SasserisanAssistantProfessorintheDepartmentofGenderandSexualityStudiesattheUniversityofCalifornia,Riverside.SheholdsaPhDinEnvironmentalScience,Policy&ManagementandanMAinCulturalAnthropologyfromtheUniversityofCalifornia,Berkeley.Herbookmanuscript,MakingSexualStewards:Population,ClimateActivism,andSocialJusticeintheNewMillennium,explorestheroleofclimatechangeactivismincontemporarydebatesoverglobalpopulationgrowthandwomen’sreproductiverights.Herbroaderresearchinterestsincludeclimatechange,internationaldevelopment,women’shealth,andtheintersectionsbetweengenderandtechnology.

KaiaZimmermanPopDevMeetingCoordinatorKaiaZimmermanisthePopDevMeetingCoordinatorforOldMaps,NewTerrain.ShecametoHampshireCollegeafterworkingasacommunityorganizerintheBronxattheBananaKellyCommunityImprovementAssociation.ShehasaBAfromSarahLawrenceCollegeincommunitybuildingandsocialjustice,aswellasvisualarts.

KalpanaWilsonLondonSchoolofEconomics;SouthAsiaSolidarityGroupKalpanaWilsonwritesandresearchesonquestionsofgender,raceandimperialisminSouthAsiaandBritain.Herresearchhasexploredwomen'sparticipationinrurallabourmovementsinBihar,India,populationpoliciesandreproductivejustice,theappropriationoffeministideaswithinneoliberaldiscourses,andthewaysinwhichraceisinscribedwithindevelopment.Herbook,Race,RacismandDevelopment:interrogatinghistory,discourseandpractice(2012),publishedbyZedBooks,placesracismandconstructionsofraceatthecentreofanexplorationofthedominantdiscourses,structuresandpracticesofdevelopment,exploringthemesofpopulationcontrol,theHIV/AIDSpandemic,humanrightsandsecurityamongothers.SheisafoundermemberoftheUKbasedcampaigningorganisationSouthAsiaSolidarityGroup,whichsupports,publicises,andbuildssolidaritywithpeople’sstrugglesforjusticeanddemocracyandagainstexploitation,genderandcastebasedoppression,imperialism,andwarinthecountriesofSouthAsia.SheteachesattheLondonSchoolofEconomicsGenderInstitute.


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KhushiKabirNijeraKoriIn1972,immediatelyaftertheLiberationofBangladesh,KhushijoinedBRAC,asthefirstBangladeshiwoman,tolive,workandbebasedintheirveryremoteruralworkingarea.Shebeganworkingwithlike-mindedyoungpeoplewithanalternativeapproachtodevelopmentin1980,joiningNijeraKoriasitsCoordinator.NijeraKoriisanationallevelNGOworkingforself-empowermentofmarginalisedandlandlessruralwomenandmenatthegrassroots.NijeraKoribelievesincreatingstrongautonomousorganizationsoftheruralpoortoasserttheirrightsandensuretheirentitlementsascitizens.Itsmandateistoworkwiththepeopleandnotforthepeople.Since1975,sheorganisedandfacilitatedseveraltrainings,workshops,andconsultationsonWomen,Development,Environment,LandandHumanRightsIssues,andparticipatedandpresentedpapersinmajorconferencesnationally,regionallyandinternationally.Sheispassionatelyinvolvedinpromotinggenderequalityandrightsofwomen;rightsofindigenousandotherexcludedcommunities;people’srightsandcontroloverresources;environmentaljustice;foodsovereignty;ensuringdemocraticvaluesandaccountability;andreinforcingsecularism.Currently,sheisChairperson,AssociationofLandReformandDevelopment-ALRD,anetworkofNGOsandCitizensactiveinLandRights;Trustee,CentreforPolicyDialogue;CoreGroupmember,Sangat-AFeministNetwork;Member,APWLD-AsiaPeopleWomenLaw&Development;Chair,ASIA-AsiaSolidarityagainstIndustrialAquaculture;Chair,PanosSouthAsia;OneBillionRisingGlobalCoordinatorforBangladesh;AdvisoryCommitteeMemberfortheMrinalGoreInteractiveCentreundertheKeshavGoreTrust,India;BureauMember,SouthAsiansforHumanRights.

KiranAsherWomen,Gender,SexualityStudies,UniversityofMassachusetts,AmherstGroundedintwodecadesoffield-basedresearchinLatinAmericaandSouthAsia,KiranAsher’sdiverseresearchinterestsfocusonthegenderedandraceddimensionsofsocialandenvironmentalchangeintheglobalsouth.Herpublicationsincludeamonograph,BlackandGreen:Afro-Colombians,Development,andNatureinthePacificLowlands(DukeUniversityPress,2009).Sheiscurrentlyworkingonatheoreticalandpoliticalcritiqueofdevelopmenttheoriesandpost-developmentproposalsbydrawingonfeministandmarxistapproachesinapostcolonialframe.From2002-2013,shewasAssociateProfessorofInternationalDevelopmentandSocialChangeatClarkUniversity,Massachusetts.From2013-2015,shewasaSeniorScientistintheForestsandLivelihoodsProgramattheCenterforInternationalForestryResearch(CIFOR),inBogor,Indonesia.SheisnowAssociateProfessorintheDepartmentofWomen,Gender,andSexualityStudiesattheUniversityofMassachusetts,Amherst.


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LarryLohmannTheCornerHouseLarryisanactivistworkingwithTheCornerHouse,aresearchandadvocacyorganizationbasedintheUK.Hespentthe1980steachingandworkinginenvironmentalmovementsinThailand.Hehascontributedtoscholarlyjournalsinsociology,politics,development,sciencestudies,law,socialpolicy,environment,accountingandAsianstudies.HeisafoundingmemberofDurbanGroupforClimateJustice.HisbooksincludeMercadosdeCarbono:LaNeoliberalizaciondelClima(Quito,2012),andPulpingtheSouth:IndustrialTreePlantationsintheGlobalPaperEconomy(withRicardoCarrere)(London,1996).

LibbyLunstrumAssociateProfessor,GeographyDepartment,YorkUniversityLibbyLunstrumisanAssociateProfessorofGeographyatYorkUniversityandScholaratYork’sCentreforRefugeeStudies.Herresearchandteachingfocusonpoliticalecologyespeciallyofinternationalborders,people-parkrelations,territorializationandprocessesofbordering,andpoliticalviolence.Hercurrentresearchexaminesenvironmentaldisplacement(tiedtoconservationandclimatechange),thepoliticalecologyofcross-borderanimalmovementandwildlifecrime,relatedmilitarizationofconservation,andattemptstoreinventconservationtomakeitrelevantto“non-traditional”groups.HerresearchfocusesonSouthernAfrica(MozambiqueandSouthAfrica)andNorthAmerica(Canada).Youcanfindoutmoreinformationathttp://www.yorku.ca/lunstrum/.

LindsaySchubinerSeniorProgramManager,CenterforNewCommunityLindsaySchubineristheSeniorProgramManagerattheCenterforNewCommunity,wheresheworkstocounterorganizednativismintheU.S.LindsaypreviouslyservedasaCongressionalstafferhandlingimmigration,housing,andhealthpolicy,andmanagedadvocacyforsexualrightsatAmericanJewishWorldService.SheholdsaMasterofSciencefromtheHarvardSchoolofPublicHealth.

LorettaRossSisterSongFormerNationalCoordinatorFiveCollegesWomen'sStudiesResearchCenterLorettaJ.Rosswasaco-founderandtheNationalCoordinatoroftheSisterSongWomenofColorReproductiveJusticeCollectivefrom2005-2012,anationalnetworkfoundedin1997ofwomenofcolorandalliedorganizationsheadquarteredinAtlanta,GA.Sheisoneofthecreatorsofthetheoryof"ReproductiveJustice"developedbyAfricanAmericanwomenin1994.AsSisterSong’sleader,sheledthenationalcampaignagainstanti-abortionbillboardstargetingtheAfricanAmericancommunitywhensheorganizedthe“TrustBlackWomen”partnership.Aspartofafour-decadehistoryinsocialjusticeactivism,Lorettaisanexpertonwomen’sissues,hategroups,racismandintolerance,humanrights,andviolenceagainstwomen.


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LorettahasappearedonCNN,BET,"LeadStory,""GoodMorningAmerica,""TheDonahueShow,"theNationalGeographicChannel,and"TheCharlieRoseShow.”ShehasbeenquotedasanexpertintheNewYorkTimes,TimeMagazine,TheLosAngelesTimes,theWashingtonPostandmanyothernewspapersandmagazines.SheisamemberoftheWomen'sMediaCenter'sProgressiveWomen'sVoices.Sheistheco-authorofUndividedRights:WomenofColorOrganizeforReproductiveJustice,writtenwithJaelSilliman,MarleneGerberFried,andElenaGutiérrez.HerforthcomingbookisentitledWhatisReproductiveJustice?co-writtenwithRickieSolingerandwillbepublishedinearly2017bytheUniversityofCaliforniaPress.SheisagraduateofAgnesScottCollegeandholdshonorarydoctoratedegreesfromArcadiaUniversityandSmithCollege.

MarionStevensCoordinator:WISHAssociatesResearchAssociate:AGI/UCTChair:SexualandReproductiveJusticeCoalitionMarionStevenshasabackgroundasamidwife,inmedicalanthropologyandinpublichealthanddevelopment.Shehasworkedintheareaofsexualandreproductivejusticeforover20years.Herworkhasincludedconductingparticipatoryresearch,policyanalysisanddevelopmentandadvocacy.Shehasworkedwitharangeofstakeholdersbothlocallyandinternationally.In2010sheformedWISHAssociates(WomeninSexualandReproductiveRightsandHealth)andcoordinatesthisnetworkofsevenSouthAfricanconsultantactivists.SheisalsoaresearchassociateattheAfricanGenderInstituteatUCTandin2015shewaselectedchairpersonoftheSexualandReproductiveJusticeCoalition(SRJC).

MarleneGerberFriedFacultyDirector,CivilLiberties&PublicPolicyProgram(CLPP),HampshireCollegeAbortionRightsFundofWesternMAWomen'sGlobalNetworkforReproductiveRightsMarleneGerberFriedisalong-timereproductiverightsactivist.ShewasthefoundingpresidentandalongtimeboardmemberoftheNationalNetworkofAbortionFunds(NNAF)andtheAbortionRightsFundofWesternMassachusetts.SheworksonabortionaccessinternationallywiththeWomen’sGlobalNetworkforReproductiveRights.Shereceivedthe2014FeliciaStewartAdvocacyAwardfromtheAmericanPublicHealthAssociation,andin2015,NNAFestablishedandawardedherthefirstMarleneGerberFriedAbortionAccessVanguardAward.SheisalsoaprofessoratHampshireCollegeandFacultyDirectoroftheCivilLibertiesandPublicPolicyProgram(CLPP),anorganizationdedicatedtoreproductiverightseducationandleadershipdevelopment.In2010-2011shewasInterimPresidentofHampshireCollege.Sheedited,FromAbortionRightstoReproductiveFreedom:TransformingAMovement,andco-authoredwithSilliman,RossandGutiérrezUndividedRights:WomenofColorOrganizeforReproductiveJustice,November,2004,secondedition,HaymarketPress,April,2016.


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MarthaPskowskiNationalAnthropologyandHistoryInstitute,Mexico(INAH)MarthaPskowskiisajournalistandresearcherbasedinMexicoCity.ShegraduatedfromHampshireCollegein2013whereshestudieddevelopmentandtheenvironmentandwasaPopDevfellow.From2014-15MarthawasaFulbrightfellowstudyingtheimpactsofclimatechangepolicyinindigenouscommunitiesattheNationalAnthropologyandHistoryInstitute(INAH)inMexico,whereshenowworksasaresearchassistant.Herfreelancejournalismonmigration,humanrightsandtheenvironmenthasappearedinpublicationsincludingVICENews,GOOD,andTruth-Out.

MohanRaoProfessor,JawaharlalNehruUniversity,NewDelhiMohanRaoisProfessorattheCentreofSocialMedicineandCommunityHealth(CSMCH),SchoolofSocialSciences,JawaharlalNehruUniversity,NewDelhi.Amedicaldoctorspecialisedinpublichealth,hehaswrittenextensivelyonhealthandpopulationpolicy,andonthehistoryandpoliticsofhealthandfamilyplanning.HeistheauthorofFromPopulationControltoReproductiveHealth:MalthusianArithmetic(Sage,NewDelhi,2004)andhaseditedDisinvestinginHealth:TheWorldBank'sHealthPrescriptions(Sage,NewDelhi,1999)andTheUnheardScream:ReproductiveHealthandWomen'sLivesinIndia(Zubaan/KaliforWomen,NewDelhi,2004).Hehasedited,withSarahSextonofCornerhouse,UK,thevolumeMarketsandMalthus:Population,GenderandHealthinNeoliberalTimes(Sage,NewDelhi,2010).AvolumeeditedwithSarahHodges,PublicHealthandPrivateWealth:StemCells,SurrogacyandOtherStrategicBodies(OUP)isforthcoming.HeisactivelyinvolvedwiththeJanaSwasthyaAbhiyan.

MstShahinaParvinAssistantProfessorIamanMAstudentinSociologyandprospectivePhDstudentofCultural,Social,andPoliticalThoughtattheUniversityofLethbridge,andanAssistantProfessorfromtheDepartmentofAnthropologyatJahangirnagarUniversity,Dhaka,Bangladesh.EmployingaFoucauldiandiscourseanalysis,myMASociologythesisexaminesthediscoursesofmotherhoodandchildlessnessinrelationtoAssistedReproductiveTechnologiesinBangladeshimediaandfertilityclinics,whilemyMAinAnthropologyexploredthebiomedicalcontrolofpoorBangladeshiwomen’sbodiesthroughtrialsofthecontraceptiveNorplant.Duringmycareer,IhavereceivedthreeresearchgrantstoconductresearchonMundaethnicminoritywomen’schildbirthpractices;BangladeshistatepoweroverminorityMundapeople,andMazarcultureanditsconsequencesinDhakacity.Assuch,myresearchcareerhasfocusedonquestionsofgender,power,andmedical,stateandprofessionalcontrolofwomen'sbodies.


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RajaniBhatiaAssistantProfessor,UniversityatAlbany(SUNY)RajaniBhatiaisAssistantProfessorattheUniversityatAlbanyinWomen’s,Gender&SexualityStudies.ShecompletedherPhDfromtheDepartmentofWomen’sStudiesattheUniversityofMarylandinthespringof2012.Herresearchinterestslieindevelopingnewapproachestofeministtheorizationsofreproductionandfeministscienceandtechnologystudies.Topically,shehasfocusedonissuesthatlieattheintersectionofreproductivetechnologies,health,bioethics,andbiomedicine.Throughengagementasascholar-activistwithininternationalandnationalwomen'shealthandreproductivejusticemovements,Dr.Bhatiacontributedtofeministanalysisofglobalpopulationcontrol,right-wingenvironmentalism,coercivepracticesandunethicaltestingrelatedtocontraceptiveandsterilizationtechnologiesbothinsideandoutsidetheU.S.Herarticle,“ConstructingGenderfromtheInsideOut:SexSelectionPracticesintheUnitedStates,”inFeministStudiessummer2010(vol.36,no.2)reflectsontransnationaldynamicsofsexselectionpractices.Sheiscurrentlypreparingabookmanuscriptonsexselection.

RosalindaPinedaOfreneoCollegeofSocialWork&CommunityDevelopment,UniversityofthePhilippinesDiliman;HomenetPhilippinesRosalindaPinedaOfreneo,Ph.D.,isafullprofessorattheDepartmentofWomenandDevelopmentStudies,UniversityofthePhilippinesCollegeofSocialWorkandCommunityDevelopment(UPCSWCD).SheservedasdeanoftheUPCSWCDfrom2010to2013andteachesacourseattheDoctorofSocialDevelopment(DSD)programofthesameCollege.Shehasbeenactiveinthewomen’smovementformorethanfourdecades,workingwithorganizationsofruralwomenandwomenintheinformaleconomysuchasPATAMABAandHomenetPhilippines.Shehaspublishedmanybooksandresearchpapers,haseditedanumberofjournals,andhastraveledextensivelytoserveasresourcespeakerininternational,national,andlocalconferences.Lately,shehasbeendoingpolicyadvocacyonadaptivesocialprotection,disasterriskreductionandmanagement,climatechangeadaptation,andsolidarityeconomy.ShewasafoundingmemberandformerboardmemberoftheWomen’sStudiesAssociationofthePhilippines(WSAP).SheservedasvolunteerregionalcoordinatorofHomenetSoutheastAsiaandiscurrentlyaboardmemberofHomenetPhilippines,AsianSolidarityEconomyCouncil(ASEC)PhilippinesandtheSustainableDevelopmentSolutionsNetwork(SDSN)Philippines.Shewritespoetryandchildren’sstories,forwhichshehaswonanumberofawards.


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SarojiniNadimpallySamaResourceGroupforWomenandHealthSarojiniNadminpallyhasbeenworkingonwomen’shealthandrightsforover20yearsandisalsooneofthefoundermembersofSama-ResourceGroupforWomenandHealth.Shewasinstrumentalinbuildingtheresourcegrouponwomen’shealththroughcoordinationofvariousstrategiesincludingcapacitybuildingofcommunities,researchandadvocacy.Shewasinvolvedinthecoordinationofnationallevelstudiesonassistedreproductivetechnologiesincludingsurrogacyandtheirimplicationsonwomenandparticipants’perspectivesinclinicaltrialsandaccesstomedicines.Sarojinihasco-coordinatedReproductiveTourisminIndia:actors,agenciesandcontemporarytransnationalnetworks,ajointprojectoftheCentreforSocialMedicineandCommunityHealth,JawaharlalNehruUniversity,SAMAandKings’CollegeLondon,UK.Shehasbeenapartofmanyfactfindingsrelatedtomaternaldeaths,sterilisationsdeaths,unethicalclinicaltrialsandissuesrelatedtocommunalriotsinGujaratandMuzaffarnagar.Shehasbeenapartofthestudy“SpectresofMalthus”reviewingpopulationdiscourseinIndiantextbooks.Shehascontributedseveralarticles/paperstonationalaswellasinternationaljournalssuchasGlobalisationandHealth,ReproductiveHealthMatters,EconomicandPoliticalWeekly,tonameafew.Sherecentlyco-editedananthologyforZubaanpublishinghouseonmedicalizationandreproductivetechnologies.SheisaMemberofMissionSteeringGroupofNationalHealthMissionsetupbyMinistryforHealthandFamilyWelfare,GovernmentofIndia,andamemberofCentralEthicsCommitteeoftheIndianCouncilofMedicalResearch.

SydneyLovingStudent,HampshireCollegeIamafourth-yearstudentatHampshireCollegefromDallas,TX.Myareaofstudy,inwhichIusewriting,researchandvisualart,istheintersectionofeducationandwhitesupremacy.Myconcentrationdealswiththedevelopmentofaninterdisciplinaryblackhistorycurriculumforprimaryandsecondaryschoolthatutilizesarchivalresearch,art-makingandAfrofuturisttextstoengagewithnon-linear/progressivenotionsoftime.


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TanyaFieldsExecutiveDirector,TheBLKProjekTanyaFieldsisafoodjusticeactivist,educator,urbanfarmer,foodblogger,andthefounderandexecutivedirectoroftheBLKProjek.ThisBronx-basedfoodjusticeandhealthorganizationservesunderservedwomanofcolorbycreatingwomen-ledeconomicdevelopmentopportunitiesandiscommittedtourbanfarmingandtheeliminationoffooddeserts.Fieldsandherworkaregraduallyrevolutionizinglow-incomeneighborhoodsinoneofthepoorestcongressionaldistrictsinthecountry.FieldsalsowritesatwicemonthlycolumnonfoodandfoodjusticeforEBONY.comandcontributedachapterforthebookTheNextEco-WarriorsbyEmilyHunter.FieldshasappearedonnumerousTVprogramsincludingMSNBC's"UpWithChrisHayes"and"TheMelissaHarrisPerryShow."

Fields'inspirationcamefromherexperiencesasasingleworkingmotheroffour,livinginamarginalizedcommunity.Shewitnessedsexistinstitutionalpolicies,structurallyreinforcedcyclesofpoverty,andharshinequitiesinwealthandaccesstocapitalthatresultinfartoomanywomenbeingunabletoriseoutofpovertyandsustaintheirfamilies.Inresponse,shefoundedtheBLKProjeKin2009andtwoyearslater,theorganizationwasnominatedfora2011UnionSquareAwardwhichidentifiesvisionariesrespondingtosociety'smostpressingsocial,politicalandeconomicissues.SheisalsoaFellowwithGreenForAll,anationalorganizationworkingtobuildaninclusivegreeneconomystrongenoughtoliftpeopleoutofpoverty.Fieldsisrecognizedforhereffectivestrategiesforengaginglow-incomecommunitiesofcolorintheSo.Bronxinbuildinghealthyneighborhoodsandclimatesolutions.PriortocreatingtheBLKProjeK,Fieldsearnedabachelor’sdegreeinpoliticalsciencefromBaruchCollegeandworkedwithseveralhigh-profileenvironmentalorganizationsintheSouthBronx-MothersontheMove,SustainableSouthBronxandtheMajoraCarterGroup.

WendyHarcourtAssociateProfessor,InternationalInstituteofSocialStudiesofErasmusUniversityDrWendyHarcourtisAssociateProfessorinCriticalDevelopmentandFeministStudiesattheInternationalInstituteofSocialStudiesoftheErasmusUniversityinTheNetherlands.WendyjoinedtheISSinNovember2011after23yearsattheSocietyforInternationalDevelopment,RomeasEditorofthejournalDevelopmentandDirectorofProgrammes.Herresearchinterestsarefeministpoliticalecology,sexualityandgenderandcriticaldevelopmenttheory.Hermonograph:'BodyPoliticsinDevelopment:CriticalDebatesinGenderandDevelopment'publishedbyZedBooksin2009,receivedthe2010FeministWomenStudiesAssociationBookPrize.SheisserieseditorofPalgraveGender,DevelopmentandSocialChangebookseriesandisactivelyinvolvedinseveraljournalboardsandgenderanddevelopmentnetworks.Shehasedited10collections,thelatestofwhich'ThePalgraveHandbookonGenderandDevelopmentHandbook:Criticalengagementsinfeministtheoryandpractice'waspublishedbyPalgraveinJanuary2016.


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ZakiyaLunaAssistantProfessor,UniversityofCalifornia,SantaBarbaraIamanAssistantProfessorofSociologyatUniversityofCalifornia,SantaBarbaraandfacultyaffiliateoftheCenteronReproductiveRightsandJusticeatBerkeleyLaw.Myresearchisintheareasofsocialchange,sociologyoflaw,healthandinequality.Specifically,Iaminterestedinsocialmovements,humanrightsandreproductionwithanemphasisontheeffectsofintersectinginequalitieswithinandacrossthesesites.

IwastheleadauthoroftheReproductiveJusticereviewarticleinthe2013volumeoftheAnnualReviewofLawandSocialScience.MyworkhasalsobeenpublishedinResearchinSocialMovements;ConflictandChange;SociologicalInquiry;FeministStudies;andSocietieswithoutBorders:SocialScienceandHumanRights.Iamwritingabookmanuscriptonthereproductivejusticemovement.Iamco-editorandco-creatoroftheUniversityofCaliforniaPressbookseries,ReproductiveJustice:ANewVisionforthe21stCentury.IserveontheAmericanSociologicalAssociation’sPublicUnderstandingofSociologycommittee.

IearnedajointPhDinSociologyandWomen’sStudiesfromUniversityofMichigan,whereIalsoearnedaMastersofSocialWork.IwasaUCPresident’sPostdoctoralFellowatUCBerkeleyaffiliatedwiththeDepartmentsofGenderandWomen'sStudies,SociologyandtheCenterfortheStudyofLawandSociety.IwashostedbytheCenteronReproductiveRightsandJusticeatBerkeleyLaw,whichIaccidentallyhelpedco-found(longstory).IwasalsotheMellonSawyerSeminarHumanRightsPostdocatUniversityofWisconsin.Iteachcoursesattheundergraduateandgraduatelevelonreproductionandsocialmovements.Inmyleisuretime,Ilikelearningtosurfandbaking.

old maps, new terrain: rethinking population in an...

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