Date: Mon, 1 Dec 1997 10:02:10 +0000 From: James Heartfield <James-AT-heartfield.demon.co.uk> Subject: M-TH: Against Nature Mark is right that I did find it somewhat tiring and repetetive to defend such 'extraordinary' views as those that the people of the third world deserved as high a living standard as those in the first, and, that the barrier to progress is capitalist social organisation, not natural limits. I thought also that the other subscribers to the list might have found that a bit boring, too. I intend no disrespect to MI when I say that the audience for a Channel 4 documentary is a somewhat wider arena in which to challenge Green conservatism. I would be happy to defend any argument made in that excellent programme, if you wish to mail me direct. I wonder what it is that you disagreed with? The suggestion that Indian villagers' lives would be improved by piped and treated drinking water, or by electricity? Do you deny that the worship of nature was a central part of Nazi ideology? It is pointed that in the liberal press here, a concerted campaign was initiated against the documentary Against Nature before it had even been aired. The Guardian on Monday printed not one but two articles denouncing the programme as 'racist'. This kind of knee-jerk liberal spasm is designed to forestall any serious discussion of the issues. Readers must have wondered if they were watching the same programme, since its central message was that the people of the third world deserve better, and that the West should not be allowed to impose its agenda of frustrating third world development. Fraternally -- James Heartfield --- from list marxism-thaxis-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu ---
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