The global uranium rush and its Africa frontier. Effects, reactions and social movements in Namibia

Conde, Marta; Kallis, Giorgos

doi:10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2012.03.007

Cited by 50 publications

(46 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…In Kolkata, in the early 1980s, a forcible community takeover of neglected privately-owned fishponds in the wetlands system helped to protect the community's livelihoods, increased the productivity of the ponds, and maintained the wetland ecological processes. Although undesirable to the ruling establishment, organized political struggle through social mobilization is a vital tool for progressive social change (Conde & Kallis 2012, Friedmann 1987). …”

Section: Beyond Ramsar: Struggles For Socio-ecological Justice In Thementioning

confidence: 99%

Forty-three years of Ramsar and urban wetlands

Hettiarachchi

Morrison

McAlpine

2015

Global Environmental Change

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The Ramsar Convention is unquestionably the backbone of modern wetland management theory and practice. In the last four decades, it has mainstreamed wetlands in the environmental discourse and fostered the development of a comprehensive institutional framework for wetland governance. However, many of the wetlands that occur in human-dominated landscapes remain acutely threatened. The problem is most alarming in urban areas, especially in the fast expanding cities of the developing world, where unprecedented wetland destruction is leading to recurring environmental disasters. This triggers the question: are these failures in wetland governance purely induced by factors exogenous to Ramsar-based institutions or are they manifestations of conceptual drawbacks within the Ramsar conceptual framework? Here, we investigate the success and failures of the application of the Ramsar framework's policy directives and management guidelines for urban wetlands using two rapidly expanding cities in South Asia as case studiesColombo (Sri Lanka) and Kolkata (India). We conclude that despite its remarkable achievements over the past four decades, the Ramsar framework has several conceptual drawbacks that weaken its effectiveness in complex urban contexts. An inadequate recognition of the complex dynamics of urban social-ecological systems, an inadequate recognition of the political complexity of policy processes, and a lack of an environmental justice perspective are the main shortcomings contributing to failures in urban wetlands governance. While we acknowledge that some solutions are contingent upon national socio-political processes and reforms, we offer a pragmatic set of technical and strategic modifications to the Ramsar framework that can significantly improve its effectiveness in urban wetlands governance.

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Section: Beyond Ramsar: Struggles For Socio-ecological Justice In Thementioning

confidence: 99%

Forty-three years of Ramsar and urban wetlands

Hettiarachchi

Morrison

McAlpine

2015

Global Environmental Change

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“…[ Figure 2 here] 2.1 Primary impacts: Labour demand shock and income For conventional energy, new employment is generated as the extractive industry develops, often generating great hopes of employment opportunities for local communities (Conde and Kallis, 2012). However, demand for labour usually exceeds local supply very quickly (Black et al, 2005) and workforces often need to be attracted from far beyond the region.…”

Section: A Framework To Understand Impacts Of Energy Extraction On Homentioning

confidence: 99%

A conceptual model of the socioeconomic impacts of unconventional fossil fuel extraction

Measham

Fleming

Schandl

2016

Global Environmental Change

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As global energy demand increases, the rapid expansion of the unconventional fossil fuel sector has triggered an urgent need for social, economic and policy research to understand and predict how this sector affects host communities and how governance systems can respond to changes presented by this sector. In response to this need, this paper addresses three linked objectives. The first is to review the literature on regional impacts of energy extraction, presented in the form of a framework of hierarchical effects. The second is to consider how these are playing out differently in the context of conventional compared with unconventional fossil fuels. The third is to draw attention to the institutional avenues for addressing these impacts, including an overview of the lessons from existing research on the human and policy dimensions associated with conventional energy industries. In particular, we consider the importance of multistakeholder dialogue, which plays an important role in how regions respond to the challenges brought about through extractive industries. Overall, we demonstrate that experiences from conventional energy development provide a useful starting point for navigating the human and policy dimensions of unconventional energy for host communities and discuss how these experiences differ when unconventional energy seeks to co-exist with other land uses such as agriculture. The paper draws attention to the dispersed nature of impacts (positive and negative) and how this may shape winners and losers from unconventional energy development, particularly in regions with pre-existing land uses such as agriculture.

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“…Chief concerns include possible exposure to the carcinogenic gas, radon; disposal of toxic waste; safe and secure transportation of uranium oxide and other radioactive materials; and surface and groundwater contamination, affecting both human and environmental health (Brugge and Goble, 2002;Conde and Kallis, 2012). While it is important to draw a distinction between the uranium industry (mining and exploration activity) and end use services in the nuclear industry (for example, nuclear electricity generation, medical imaging, isotopic food preservation and weapons fabrication), attitudes toward risks associated with these end use services can-and do-influence perceptions of risk at the mining and exploration stages.…”

Section: Global Issues In Uranium Productionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…There are significant ore deposits in Namibia, where uranium is mined at In another case, the Topnaar, an Indigenous Nama ethnic group in central Namibia, have voiced concerns about the proposal by Australian miner, Reptile Uranium, to develop the company's Aussinanis tenement. Concerns centre on the location of the mine and its potential effects on grazing areas and wildlife, and dust and noise pollution (Conde and Kallis, 2012). Members also have reported community fragmentation, due to concerns about payments that the company has made to the Chief of the community.…”

Section: Africamentioning

confidence: 99%

Uranium mining and First Peoples: the nuclear renaissance confronts historical legacies

Graetz

2014

Journal of Cleaner Production

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Abstract:Forecasts of an increase in nuclear electricity generation would require a commensurate increase in the mining of uranium; however, there are a number of impediments to its successful extraction. These include government regulation, bans on uranium mining and exploration, and environmental, waste management and nuclear proliferation concerns. While literature on these issues exists, less is known about the effects of community opposition to uranium developments, particularly from First Peoples. This area of study is important for uranium companies, as 70 per cent of uranium deposits are located on the traditional lands of First Peoples. Crucially, the history and legacy of relationships between First Peoples and uranium companies would suggest that opposition by host communities could disrupt future uranium production. This paper explores these issues and reviews the experiences of First Peoples and uranium companies in Australia, Canada, the United States and several African states. It argues that if companies were to prioritise more respectful engagement with host communities, social and business risks may be reduced and more mutually beneficial development outcomes may be achieved.

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The global uranium rush and its Africa frontier. Effects, reactions and social movements in Namibia

Cited by 50 publications

References 29 publications

Forty-three years of Ramsar and urban wetlands

Forty-three years of Ramsar and urban wetlands

A conceptual model of the socioeconomic impacts of unconventional fossil fuel extraction

Uranium mining and First Peoples: the nuclear renaissance confronts historical legacies

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