Democracy Gone Astray

Democracy, being a human construct, needs to be thought of as directionality rather than an object. As such, to understand it requires not so much a description of existing structures and/or other related phenomena but a declaration of intentionality.
This blog aims at creating labeled lists of published infringements of such intentionality, of points in time where democracy strays from its intended directionality. In addition to outright infringements, this blog also collects important contemporary information and/or discussions that impact our socio-political landscape.

All the posts here were published in the electronic media – main-stream as well as fringe, and maintain links to the original texts.

[NOTE: Due to changes I haven't caught on time in the blogging software, all of the 'Original Article' links were nullified between September 11, 2012 and December 11, 2012. My apologies.]

Sunday, June 12, 2011

Embracing a New Kind of NIMBY

On reading about the growing resistance to a mega-quarry being proposed for southern Ontario, I had an epiphany about the media's use of the term NIMBY, which stands for "Not in My Backyard." It's normally used to describe grassroots efforts to block everything from landfills and windmills to big box stores and bike lanes. "NIMBYism" has taken on a negative association, often implying naïve or parochial resistance to projects that challenge the status quo in a community.

But NIMBYism isn't always bad. Although it can arise out of fear of something new or different in a community, it can also be the result of genuine concern for the local environment. I'd like to propose a new kind of NIMBY – one that is positive and reflects a true sense of caring for our communities. Let's go green and say "Yes" to "Nature in My Backyard.

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Full Article
Source: The Mark 

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