topic: As We Have Always Done (2017) by Leanne Betasamsake Simpson
In this assignment, you will be examining the radical imagination. How have different groups of people come together to fight for more just futures? What have they identified as the root causes of present problems?
In this essay, you will be analyzing a text(s) or organization/movement that proposes a vision of a more just and egalitarian future.
Some of the text(s) and movements focus specifically on the issues in workplaces, while others deal with broader issues that affect who gets work, who’s work gets paid, and more generally, the conditions under which people work and live. As you think about the vision proposed in your case, pay attention to the connection between issues raised i.e. how might struggle against austerity policies of governments be linked to work and the future of work?
You will choose a text(s) or movement from the list below and write an essay that answers the following questions (and so please keep these in mind while you are reading/taking notes):
-How does the author or collective critique the present?
-What do they see as the root causes of the problems we face today in terms of social,
political, and economic justice?
-What vision for change do they put forward?
-What is their rationale for social change? i.e. justice, equality etc…
-How do they see change happening?
-How do their goals relate to ideas we’ve considered in the course?
-What are some of the obstacles you see to realizing their vision of the future?
The essay should be written clearly and concisely addressing the questions above. • Only use description insofar as it helps you make your point.
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As We Have Always Done (2017) by Leanne Betasamsake Simpson
Introduction
Over the years, climate change has been a big issue globally, especially in labor movements, where reading about climate change creates fear and uncertainties about the future since it affected our ecological and social settings. In 2018, climate disasters were reported to have caused great damage worth fourteen billion through floods, fires, hurricanes, and other unpredictable disasters. However, the labor movement has been affected by climate changes, where mitigation, such as work time reduction, and economic democracy, has created a new labor movement, according to Ryan Gunderson. The paper discusses the Gunderson movement’s impact, which focuses on workplace issues, the rationale for change, and future work.
How does the author or collective critique the present?
According to Ryan Gunderson, work time reduction(WTR) is the total amount of time spent in a paid work. According to the author, the present issue involves greenhouse gas emission(GHG) on work-time reductions. Reducing working hours is associated with reducing greenhouse gas emissions, ecological prints, and energy use. Gunderson discusses the impact, use of work time reduction, and economic democracy as a climate change mitigation strategy. Climate change has affected the labor market, especially the increased temperature in the workplace.
The current climate changes have caused several currents and predicted future damages in the workspace. The current heatwave of above thirty five-degree celcious causes several health issues affects work productivity, and decreases work capacity. According to the author, climate employment policies do not address climate change, especially on health and work productivity, and the development of safety response measures to safeguard employees’ health. For example, advocating for drinking water at the workplace, output largest management, and frequent rest breaks. One of the most impact climate change impact today is heat-induced-labor productivity, where production has decreased in places that are hotter than cooler. The impact of climate change, especially the thermal conditions, impacts countries’ gross domestic products, especially in developing countries like Nigeria and India.
The heat issues have led to rising death cases at the workplace, especially in highly exposed areas, such as South America, West Africa, South East Asia, and the Southern united states. According to the newest reports, reducing working hours due to climate change has reached five percent. Various protection measures have been developed to reduce climate change, for instance, drinking water and other measures that create a good environment for workers. According to research, climate change will lead to a great reduction in work ability in 2050 and across other regions, especially in Germany, where the economy has shifted based on labor productivity impacts.
-What do they see as the root causes of the problems we face today in terms of social,
political, and economic justice?
Climate change being the big problem in the labor market and cause of workplace issues, can be explained based on political, social, and economic points of view. Climate change is considered a social-political-economic development issue according to the intergovernmental panel on climate change. Climate change has affected how people carry out their daily economic activities, the physical state of people, and the economic state, which has affected people’s overall livelihood, according to Gunderson’s perspective. Additionally, the government’s adaptive capacity and environmental system are caused by an increased rate of vulnerability. The sudden and high changes in production and consumption patterns caused by climate change affect a county’s economy and social conditions. The main root cause of the issue is the increased rate of emission greenhouse gases and other human practices that have affected our ecosystem, affecting labor and productivity in the workplace. According to Gunderson, personal consumption has been a major economic problem, making a big difference between production and consumption. Carbon emission, consumption, advertisement, social norms changes, corruption, embezzlement of funds, and systematic work changes are the main causes of climate change impacts in a workplace.
-What vision for change do they put forward?
Climate change is a social development issue that has been very impactful on productivity and social development. According to Ryan Gunderson, climate change mitigation could be the first step in dealing with labor and workplace issues, especially weather patterns. According to Ryan, work time reduction and economic democracy can Help in dealing with the impacts of climate change in the workplace. Work time reduction is one of the effective solutions that have been proposed, especially in reducing the number of greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere. Work time reduction has several environmental, social, and economic benefits, especially in solving the brutal impacts of climate change on productivity and labor.
In the united states, most organizations’ main focus is reducing working hours and increasing income, which has not been embraced in developing countries due to the tight economy, especially during the pandemic. Reduction in work time has been reported to increase employment opportunities, improve workers’ health, and create happiness among workers. According to Gunderson’s perspective, reducing time has been important in cutting the level of energy used and dematerialization. A reduction in work time can reduce overall energy use in a nation by sixteen percent. However, reduction in time has helped reduce the emission of carbon for oxide, especially to companies still using carbon-emitting energy sources, hence reducing global warming, which leads to low productivity, and time consumption.
The goal is to move to less consumption since over-consumption affects the economy. On the other hand, due to the opportunities created from a reduction in working time, the policy can also be impactful in reducing the level of poverty and increase in employee job satisfaction, for instance, a case in France, where the government developed a reduced working time policy to reduce e the level of unemployment in 1998. A democratically controlled workplace has very minimal issues, especially those caused by climate change, especially regarding fairness in working hours and wages. According to Ryan Gunderson, democratization plays a big role in reducing carbon emissions and other harmful climate change effects. The policy works best in risk-prone areas such as in developing countries and among minorities, such as women and low-income earners. How n organization responds to climate change and the impacts of climate change play a big role in mitigating the issue financially and economically.
Democratization, however, solves several political impacts that affect climate, for instance, advocating the government to embrace energy conservation in the country, which Helps the organizations in reducing carbon emission, which disrupts the normal flow of work. Democratization helps an organization build strong societal roots, which lay an important part in reducing fighting climate change by developing new policies. The united states level of democracy focuses on climate securitization, especially in protecting energy supplies, promoting economic security.
Democracy tends to promote human rights and values, making the government take huge steps in developing policies that mitigate climate change, focusing on society’s interest. On the other hand, embracing democracy helps provide finances and material that Help in dealing with climate change issues. Since women promote environmental conservation more than men, democratization can be a good platform for empowering women in climate change movements, creating awareness, and advocating for reduced work time in the organization. Democracy is better climate change mitigation compared to non-democracies. Comparing democratic countries and non-democratic countries, such as China and the united states, provides a big difference in climate change mitigation. The united states have well-developed policies in light of climate change, compared to China, where carbon emission is still an issue. According to Ryan Gunderson, people in non-democratized countries are more affected by climate change than people living in non-democratic countries, which also affects the citizens’ economic status and income due to pt high rate of corruption, and embezzlement of funds to be used in mitigating climate change.
-What is their rationale or social change? i.e., justice, equality, etc.…
Democratic organizations and countries tend o promote social and political equality, especially in enhancing social change in mitigating climate change, which is a big issue for laborers and employees. Additionally, the labor movement promotes social change and advocates for justice and equality at the workplace by applying democracy in dealing with climate change. Climate change needs a renewed labor movement, which provides employment, averts climate catastrophes, develops new green deals, and works o dealing with poverty which creates equality AND justice when it comes to improving the economy and working environment.
According to Ryan Gunderson, the labor movement needs to develop a labor-friendly coalition with several laborers and farmers. Democratically unifying laborers would help protect workers and their environment, hence promoting production and high income. The rationale is for the corporation of democracy, which considers workers’ interest through the application of labor and effective laws that advocate for climate protection. Democratization and use reduction in working time promote climate protection and workers’ rights. On the other hand, the author advocates developing windmills, solar panels, and other types of developments that help save energy and emission greenhouse gases. The provision of jobs for all is an effective strategy in dealing with climate change, especially jobs in manufacturing and construction companies and better jobs for generations to come. Also, the policies Help in providing employment, which reduces poverty, bringing social change to workers, promoting justice and equality.
Uniting the social class and developing a labor-friendly environment is promotes social change by creating a common interest among workers, especially in climate protection. However, uniting the working class and applying democracy brings together workers from different races, ethnicity, religions, and sexuality, hence creating equality. Also, coming up with labor-friendly programs helps build a powerful labor coalition, which transforms the united states’ political and social aspects by providing security and promoting workers’ rights through democratic parties. Also, Ryan advocates for expansion for an apprenticeship, strengthener worker’s bargaining power, and training among workers, especially in receiving training for new jobs.
-How do they see change happening?
The united states currently have developed the green new deal which is meant for promoting social change, through the development of electric systems, low-emission transport system, and equability of marginalizing areas. The new united states policy program consists of several programs, such as civilian conservation, environmental restoration, labor rights, public infrastructure development, subsidization of necessities, constriction of social amenities, and income maintenance. The programs are planned and developed through the national recovery act, fair labor standard act, civil work administration, and social security act. Base on Ryan Gunderson’s perspective, the green new deal focus on reducing poverty, promoting gender-based equity, investment equitably, distribution of federal aids, and racial equality. The green new deal promotes both workplace equity and mitigating climate change, affecting production and labor movements. The green new deal is the new labor movement designed to fit the current climate change issues, important for mitigating climate change. Labour, however, is expected to support the united state’s policies through the expansion of human rights and the development of programs that promote justice and equity.
-How do their goals relate to ideas we’ve considered in the course?
However, the united states’ goals match with the course on Ryan s Gunderson’s perspective on reduction of work time and economic democracy in mitigation of climate change. However, the green new deal policy is a climactic proposal designed to mitigate climate changes and create positive social change, especially concerning jobs. Together with other policies, the green new deal focuses on reducing carbon emissions through carbon-free technology, democratization, and reduction n working tome, which help maintain the environment. However, the great new deal will solve the economic, political, and social impacts caused by climate change for a better future for American citizens. On the other hand, the green new deal is a labour sustainable policy. On the other hand, the policies are in light of Ryan Gunderson’s future prediction of climate change, which focuses on changing labor productivity through climate change mitigation.
-What are some of the obstacles you see to realizing their vision of the future?
The goal of the unites states in dealing with climate change and its impacts on the labor market may face several obstacles, which might hinder the vision’s realization in the future. The main issue and obstacles include material problem, exchange values, monetization for goods, services, material extractive, constraints of renewable energy, resource scarcity, planetary boundaries, and the fact that the multipliers do not care about climate change. However, reducing working time may have great implications, such as loss of potential sales, competitors, loss of employees, impact on workers morale and creation of a poor working environment, hence may not be advocated by most organization despite its impact on mitigating climate change.
