title: Ideologies of Nature and Sustainability: A critical discourse analysis

authors: Tulloch, Lynley

subjects: Sutainability

abstract: In exploring ideologies of nature, sustainability and EE, I have had several goals in mind. Firstly, I want to trace the continuities and disruptions in Western ideologies of nature, and in particular, to locate them within the material context of the historical trajectory of the capitalist mode of production (CMP). That is, the ideologies of nature explored in this thesis are treated as integral to the historical and dialectical unfolding of the CMP. Many historical ideas on nature, particularly those since the Enlightenment, have become incorporated in dominant forms of social thought that are integral to Western capitalist development. In the present era of neoliberal-led global capitalism, these same fundamental ideologies are expressed in neoliberal forms within policy contexts, which are explored in the latter part of this thesis. 
Initially, I explore these ideologies of nature using Foucault’s genealogical strategy. This exploration is detailed in the first two articles in this thesis. These articles provide a foundational platform to analyse how the neoliberal project has harnessed dominant, common-sense ideologies of nature (for example, nature as benevolent and all-giving; nature as an ecosystem) and articulated them with capitalist ideologies (nature as resource, commodity or service for humankind). Through this discursive struggle for neoliberal ascendency, basic capitalist ideologies of nature have been reasserted and brought to the foreground. In this respect, I hope to capture the essential and invariant ideological core of the capitalist view of nature; how its form changes over time and space and, in particular, to examine its mid-range expression in this neoliberal era. 
Secondly, this thesis aims to document and analyse these ideologies of nature in terms of their humanist, androcentric and anthropocentric orientation. It is argued that these are also integral to the core and essential form of the capitalist view of nature. This is significant to my critique, in the latter half of this thesis, of EE, EfS) or EfSD policy. As Michael Bonnett (2007) has argued, official environmental education policy globally largely ignores the question of nature. In short, it has become invisible as dominant capitalist ideologies of nature seek to redefine it in instrumental terms as ‘resource’ or ‘ecosystem service’. 
Accordingly, I demonstrate that ideologies are not clearly demarcated and contained within labelled categories but are rather divergent and interlaced with a range of presuppositions. It is in uncovering underpinning premises about our relation as humans to nature within discursive positionings that is central to the analysis of environmental education. The meaning of ‘nature’, our underlying attitude and our relationship to it is thus of critical significance to this thesis. 
Thirdly, this thesis explores how these ideologies manifest within the political struggles of our times. I intend to demonstrate in this thesis, that neoliberal ideologies of nature operating within specific policy settings are constitutive of a particular form of the capitalist worldview concerning human-nature relations.

text: Ideologies of Nature and Sustainability: A critical discourse analysis In exploring ideologies of nature, sustainability and EE, I have had several goals in mind. Firstly, I want to trace the continuities and disruptions in Western ideologies of nature, and in particular, to locate them within the material context of the historical trajectory of the capitalist mode of production (CMP). That is, the ideologies of nature explored in this thesis are treated as integral to the historical and dialectical unfolding of the CMP. Many historical ideas on nature, particularly those since the Enlightenment, have become incorporated in dominant forms of social thought that are integral to Western capitalist development. In the present era of neoliberal-led global capitalism, these same fundamental ideologies are expressed in neoliberal forms within policy contexts, which are explored in the latter part of this thesis. 
Initially, I explore these ideologies of nature using Foucault’s genealogical strategy. This exploration is detailed in the first two articles in this thesis. These articles provide a foundational platform to analyse how the neoliberal project has harnessed dominant, common-sense ideologies of nature (for example, nature as benevolent and all-giving; nature as an ecosystem) and articulated them with capitalist ideologies (nature as resource, commodity or service for humankind). Through this discursive struggle for neoliberal ascendency, basic capitalist ideologies of nature have been reasserted and brought to the foreground. In this respect, I hope to capture the essential and invariant ideological core of the capitalist view of nature; how its form changes over time and space and, in particular, to examine its mid-range expression in this neoliberal era. 
Secondly, this thesis aims to document and analyse these ideologies of nature in terms of their humanist, androcentric and anthropocentric orientation. It is argued that these are also integral to the core and essential form of the capitalist view of nature. This is significant to my critique, in the latter half of this thesis, of EE, EfS) or EfSD policy. As Michael Bonnett (2007) has argued, official environmental education policy globally largely ignores the question of nature. In short, it has become invisible as dominant capitalist ideologies of nature seek to redefine it in instrumental terms as ‘resource’ or ‘ecosystem service’. 
Accordingly, I demonstrate that ideologies are not clearly demarcated and contained within labelled categories but are rather divergent and interlaced with a range of presuppositions. It is in uncovering underpinning premises about our relation as humans to nature within discursive positionings that is central to the analysis of environmental education. The meaning of ‘nature’, our underlying attitude and our relationship to it is thus of critical significance to this thesis. 
Thirdly, this thesis explores how these ideologies manifest within the political struggles of our times. I intend to demonstrate in this thesis, that neoliberal ideologies of nature operating within specific policy settings are constitutive of a particular form of the capitalist worldview concerning human-nature relations.

year: 2017

title: Molecular Systematics of the New Caledonian Cryptocaryeae (Lauraceae)

authors: Carter, Sophie Nicole

subjects: Phylogenetics

abstract: New Caledonia is an archipelago located in the southwest pacific.  It has a tropical climate influenced by the surrounding sea and is recognised as a “biodiversity hotspot”.  The flora of New Caledonia is poorly understood especially in regards to Lauraceae which has not undergone taxonomic revision since Kostermans 1974 taxonomic treatment.
The aim of this study was to test the taxonomic delimitations of the Lauraceae sub-family Cryptocaryeae in New Caledonia.  This study tested whether the New Caledonian Beilschmiedia, Cryptocarya and Endiandra are monophyletic.  Were these genera the result of one or more colonization events?  This study tested if the Cryptocarya group forms two clades as suggested by Rowher et al. (2014) and van der Merwe et al. (2016).
The phylogenetic analyses were conducted using ITS and Bayesian inference, 58 new complete ITS sequences were generated. Majority of the sequences generated were New Caledonian specimens, overall the topology of the tree was well supported.
New Caledonian Beilschmiedia and Endiandra are monophyletic, whereas, the New Caledonian Cryptocarya are not monophyletic.  New Caledonian Beilschmiedia and Endiandra are most likely the result of a single colonization event for each genus and subsequent radiation.  New Caledonian Cryptocarya are most likely the result of multiple colonization events.  The relationship between the clades of Beilschmiedia and Endiandra are unresolved.  Cryptocarya forms two strongly support clades supporting the findings of Rohwer et al. (2014) and van der Merwe et al. (2016).
Between Beilschmiedia, Cryptocarya and Endiandra, there are at least six putative new species and five genetically diverse species.  These samples need to undergo taxonomic revision and potential reidentification.  The biogeographical relationship between New Caledonian Cryptocaryeae and the rest of the Cryptocaryeae sampled is unresolved and requires further data collection and study.

text: Molecular Systematics of the New Caledonian Cryptocaryeae (Lauraceae) New Caledonia is an archipelago located in the southwest pacific.  It has a tropical climate influenced by the surrounding sea and is recognised as a “biodiversity hotspot”.  The flora of New Caledonia is poorly understood especially in regards to Lauraceae which has not undergone taxonomic revision since Kostermans 1974 taxonomic treatment.
The aim of this study was to test the taxonomic delimitations of the Lauraceae sub-family Cryptocaryeae in New Caledonia.  This study tested whether the New Caledonian Beilschmiedia, Cryptocarya and Endiandra are monophyletic.  Were these genera the result of one or more colonization events?  This study tested if the Cryptocarya group forms two clades as suggested by Rowher et al. (2014) and van der Merwe et al. (2016).
The phylogenetic analyses were conducted using ITS and Bayesian inference, 58 new complete ITS sequences were generated. Majority of the sequences generated were New Caledonian specimens, overall the topology of the tree was well supported.
New Caledonian Beilschmiedia and Endiandra are monophyletic, whereas, the New Caledonian Cryptocarya are not monophyletic.  New Caledonian Beilschmiedia and Endiandra are most likely the result of a single colonization event for each genus and subsequent radiation.  New Caledonian Cryptocarya are most likely the result of multiple colonization events.  The relationship between the clades of Beilschmiedia and Endiandra are unresolved.  Cryptocarya forms two strongly support clades supporting the findings of Rohwer et al. (2014) and van der Merwe et al. (2016).
Between Beilschmiedia, Cryptocarya and Endiandra, there are at least six putative new species and five genetically diverse species.  These samples need to undergo taxonomic revision and potential reidentification.  The biogeographical relationship between New Caledonian Cryptocaryeae and the rest of the Cryptocaryeae sampled is unresolved and requires further data collection and study.

year: 2017

title: Indigenous people with disabilities: The argument for representation in human rights legislation (with specific reference to the development stage of the United Nations International Disability Convention)

authors: Hickey, Huhana

subjects: Tangata whaikaha

abstract: Until comparatively recently, human rights legislation was largely based on a universalist analysis. In treating all human beings alike, in failing to acknowledge the need for special measures to combat the marginalisation and oppression of particular groups, such as indigenous people and people with disabilities, it actually contributed to their invisibility and, hence, to their marginalisation and oppression. More recently, however, there has been a global trend towards the recognition of marginalised groups in human rights legislation. Even so, universalism, and the prejudice that so often accompanies it, is still in evidence. For example, although the United Nations is currently involved in drafting a Disabled Persons Convention, indigenous people with disabilities are not specifically represented. Their particular situation, one that involves a dual form of oppression (as indigenous people and as people with disabilities) is not acknowledged. Unless this situation is remedied, the Convention will inevitably be both less acceptable and less useful than would otherwise be the case.

text: Indigenous people with disabilities: The argument for representation in human rights legislation (with specific reference to the development stage of the United Nations International Disability Convention) Until comparatively recently, human rights legislation was largely based on a universalist analysis. In treating all human beings alike, in failing to acknowledge the need for special measures to combat the marginalisation and oppression of particular groups, such as indigenous people and people with disabilities, it actually contributed to their invisibility and, hence, to their marginalisation and oppression. More recently, however, there has been a global trend towards the recognition of marginalised groups in human rights legislation. Even so, universalism, and the prejudice that so often accompanies it, is still in evidence. For example, although the United Nations is currently involved in drafting a Disabled Persons Convention, indigenous people with disabilities are not specifically represented. Their particular situation, one that involves a dual form of oppression (as indigenous people and as people with disabilities) is not acknowledged. Unless this situation is remedied, the Convention will inevitably be both less acceptable and less useful than would otherwise be the case.

year: 2005-09