Renowned Indian physicist and environmental activist Vandana Shiva advocated the worldwide decentralization of agricultural production into smaller farms at a lecture in Crowell Concert Hall Thursday night. Her talk, entitled “Saving Our Planet: Environmental Decision Making in an Uncertain World,” explored issues regarding the environment and the need for biodiversity in agricultural production.
“Decentralization [for countries] is key, not isolation, but with deep interdependency and mutuality,” Shiva said.
Shiva referenced her native India numerous times, pointing to some new developments in agricultures where farmers are using 60 percent less water and a reduced amount of chemical fertilizers, which can be poisonous at high concentrations.
Shiva criticized the agricultural mode of production in the United States that prides itself on employing only two percent of the population towards food production. She argued that this depiction is incorrect. While only two percent of Americans are working the land, 40 percent are employed in the food production industry, processing and packaging food. The same percentage of India’s population works the land.
“The [modern] system displaces people with chemicals and uses 10 times as much energy,” Shiva said. “And [our] food has become a by-product of a toxic chain.”
Shiva argued that we should place greater value on how efficiently we use land and water than on how few Americans work on farms.
“I think [Shiva] exemplifies the kind of interdisciplinary thinking that is so important to global environmental decision-making,” said Danya Sherman ’06.
“[The lecture] was unbelievable,” said Barry Chernoff, Professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences, who helped organize the event. “She can deal so well on a human and theoretical level. It’s purely inspiring. I am so pleased that we could bring someone like this to our campus because she shows how an individual can make a big difference.”
Biodiversity, according to Shiva, includes democracy for people, participation and diversity of crop yields.
Much of the lecture revolved around the concept of uncertainty with regard to the environment.
“For me, uncertainty is the very state of existence,” she said.
Shiva said that the Industrial Revolution strived for absolute certainty and that this false notion, according to Shiva, divided people into “knowers and non-knowers.”
Shiva is the founder of the Research Foundation for Science, Technology and Ecology (RFSTE). Founded in 1982, the organization works on biodiversity conservation and protects native peoples from threats to their livelihoods. The RFSTE also regulates environment-centralized systems of monoculture in forestry, agriculture and fisheries.
“It’s so important to have [Shiva] here because she has such a grasp on how the food industry goes beyond agriculture, and includes culture, labor and racism,” said Rachel Lindsay ’05, who introduced Shiva to the audience.
Shiva concluded with a quote from Ghandi about working harmoniously with the earth and encouraged everyone to take an active role in bettering mankind’s relationship with the environment.
“Whatever you’re doing, start doing the right thing with respect to the planet and the society,” Shiva said.
The Shasha Seminar for Human Concerns, endowed by James Shasha ’50, is sponsoring Shiva’s visit, which will last through Saturday.
A seminar will be conducted Friday for pre-registered students, faculty and alumni at the Inn at Middletown. Shiva will return to campus Saturday to speak at a smaller venue.
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