Contemporary South African environmental response : an historical and socio-political evaluation, with particular reference to Blacks

Simple item page
dc.contributor.advisorBallantyne, Royen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorKhan, Fariedaen_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2015-10-25T16:59:44Z
dc.date.available2015-10-25T16:59:44Z
dc.date.issued1990en_ZA
dc.descriptionBibliography: leaves 128-148.en_ZA
dc.description.abstractThe impress of history has been particularly profound in the sphere of environmental perception, in that South Africans, both black and white, have had their notions of the environment shaped by the political forces of the past. Accordingly, this study is placed within the context of historical geography, as its open-ended techniques and multi-disciplinary approach is regarded as the most appropriate way of undertaking a study which crosses both historical and environmental boundaries. A contention fundamental to this study, is that South African environmental awareness and knowledge is at a fairly low level and that black environmental interest and concern in particular, ranges from apathy to outright hostility. It is further contended that the attainment of mass environmental literacy is essential for the success of the environmental movement in this country and that this in turn, is dependent on the adoption of a strategy incorporating an integrated historical, social and political perspective. Historico-political factors such as: the impact of the colonizing process; the dispossession of the indigenous peoples; the effect of racial attitudes; discriminatory land legislation and, in particular, the imposition of the apartheid system in 1948, are evaluated in terms of their effect on the development of black environmental attitudes. The culmination of these factors has led to a distortion of environmental perceptions and attitudes, as well as to the alienation of blacks from the environment. Conversely, the initially exploitative white response to the environment gradually incorporated a preservationist element, subsequently evolving into a conservation ideology which generally ignored black interests and perspectives. The policies and activities of the first black environmental organizations are detailed, in an attempt to place their achievements in historical perspective. Research in this area was conducted using primary sources. Interviews with selected environmental and mass democratic organizations in the Greater Cape Town Region were conducted. Using the techniques of the focused interview, their stance on environmental issues was established and their proposals for a future environmental strategy elicited. It was found that, while only one of the nine mass democratic organizations evaluated had an environmental policy, they were all committed to the establishment of a democratic society as well as to the concept of mass participation in environmental politics. Based on the insights gained from the historical aspects of the study, as well as an assessment of the proposals put forward during interviews, it is concluded that certain preconditions .are necessary for the successful implementation of future environmental strategies, if blacks are to become involved in environmental issues. These are: the destruction of apartheid; the establishment of a democratic state and the enhancement of individual quality of life.en_ZA
dc.identifier.apacitationKhan, F. (1990). <i>Contemporary South African environmental response : an historical and socio-political evaluation, with particular reference to Blacks</i>. (Thesis). University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Science ,Department of Environmental and Geographical Science. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/14294en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationKhan, Farieda. <i>"Contemporary South African environmental response : an historical and socio-political evaluation, with particular reference to Blacks."</i> Thesis., University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Science ,Department of Environmental and Geographical Science, 1990. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/14294en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationKhan, F. 1990. Contemporary South African environmental response : an historical and socio-political evaluation, with particular reference to Blacks. University of Cape Town.en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Thesis / Dissertation AU - Khan, Farieda AB - The impress of history has been particularly profound in the sphere of environmental perception, in that South Africans, both black and white, have had their notions of the environment shaped by the political forces of the past. Accordingly, this study is placed within the context of historical geography, as its open-ended techniques and multi-disciplinary approach is regarded as the most appropriate way of undertaking a study which crosses both historical and environmental boundaries. A contention fundamental to this study, is that South African environmental awareness and knowledge is at a fairly low level and that black environmental interest and concern in particular, ranges from apathy to outright hostility. It is further contended that the attainment of mass environmental literacy is essential for the success of the environmental movement in this country and that this in turn, is dependent on the adoption of a strategy incorporating an integrated historical, social and political perspective. Historico-political factors such as: the impact of the colonizing process; the dispossession of the indigenous peoples; the effect of racial attitudes; discriminatory land legislation and, in particular, the imposition of the apartheid system in 1948, are evaluated in terms of their effect on the development of black environmental attitudes. The culmination of these factors has led to a distortion of environmental perceptions and attitudes, as well as to the alienation of blacks from the environment. Conversely, the initially exploitative white response to the environment gradually incorporated a preservationist element, subsequently evolving into a conservation ideology which generally ignored black interests and perspectives. The policies and activities of the first black environmental organizations are detailed, in an attempt to place their achievements in historical perspective. Research in this area was conducted using primary sources. Interviews with selected environmental and mass democratic organizations in the Greater Cape Town Region were conducted. Using the techniques of the focused interview, their stance on environmental issues was established and their proposals for a future environmental strategy elicited. It was found that, while only one of the nine mass democratic organizations evaluated had an environmental policy, they were all committed to the establishment of a democratic society as well as to the concept of mass participation in environmental politics. Based on the insights gained from the historical aspects of the study, as well as an assessment of the proposals put forward during interviews, it is concluded that certain preconditions .are necessary for the successful implementation of future environmental strategies, if blacks are to become involved in environmental issues. These are: the destruction of apartheid; the establishment of a democratic state and the enhancement of individual quality of life. DA - 1990 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 1990 T1 - Contemporary South African environmental response : an historical and socio-political evaluation, with particular reference to Blacks TI - Contemporary South African environmental response : an historical and socio-political evaluation, with particular reference to Blacks UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/14294 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/14294
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationKhan F. Contemporary South African environmental response : an historical and socio-political evaluation, with particular reference to Blacks. [Thesis]. University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Science ,Department of Environmental and Geographical Science, 1990 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/14294en_ZA
dc.language.isoengen_ZA
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Environmental and Geographical Scienceen_ZA
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Scienceen_ZA
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Cape Town
dc.subject.otherEnvironmental and Geographical Scienceen_ZA
dc.subject.otherEnvironmental protection - South Africaen_ZA
dc.titleContemporary South African environmental response : an historical and socio-political evaluation, with particular reference to Blacksen_ZA
dc.typeMaster Thesis
dc.type.qualificationlevelMasters
dc.type.qualificationnameMAen_ZA
uct.type.filetypeText
uct.type.filetypeImage
uct.type.publicationResearchen_ZA
uct.type.resourceThesisen_ZA
Files
Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
thesis_sci_1990_khan_farieda.pdf
Size:
2.25 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
Download
Collections
Masters