,COMM5TS ON ,JOHN ,Z]ZAN'S ,CRITIQUE ( ,AGRICULTURE 

,PEOPLE 3 

,AU?OR 3 ,BOB ,BRUBAK] 

,TEXT 3 

.<,FIF? ,E/ATE NOTE.> ,JOHN ,Z]ZAN'S ESSAY1 0,AGRICULTURE3 ,ESS5CE ( ,CIVILIZATION10 APPE>$ 9 ,F,E _?#c#b#i1 ,SUMM] #aihh & IS AVAILABLE = ONE DOLL> FROM #dfcb ,SECOND ,AVE41 ,DETROIT1 ,M,I #d#h#b#a4 ,IT IS ALSO P>T ( A COLLECTION ( ,JOHN'S ESSAYS 5TITL$ ,ELEM5TS ( ,REFUSAL & CAN BE OBTA9$ ?R\< \R BOOK S]VICE = @s#i44 

@9 @9 @9 @9 @9 

,IS AGRICULTURE ! ULTIMATE S\RCE ( ALI5ATION8 ,JOHN ,Z]ZAN ANSW]S ?IS QUE/ION ) AN EMPHATIC 0YES0 7SEE 0,AGRICULTURE1 ,ESS5CE ( ,CIVILIZATION10 ,SUMM] #aihh ,F,E74 ,>GU+ ?AT AGRICULTURE IS 0! EMBODIM5T & G5]ATOR ( SEP>AT$ LIFE10 HE CONCLUDES ?AT 0LIB]ATION IS IMPOSSIBLE )\T ITS DISSOLUTION40 

,JOHN BASES ?IS SOB] JUDGM5T ON SEV]AL DI/9CT BUT RELAT$ FACTORS4 ,HE *>GES AMONG O!R ?+S ?AT #a7 AGRICULTURE IS ! WILL TO P[] OV] NATURE1 ! MAT]IALIZATION ( ALI5AT$ HUMANITY'S DESIRE TO SUBDUE & CONTROL ! NATURAL WORLD2 #b7 AGRICULTURE 9EVITABLY DE/ROYS ! BALANCE ( NATURE1 LEAV+ BIOLOGICAL DEGRADATION & ECOLOGICAL RU9 9 ITS WAKE2 #c7 AGRICULTURE IS 0! BEG9N+ ( WORK & PRODUCTION10 G5]AT+ AN 9CREAS+LY /&>DIZ$1 CONF9$ & REPRESSIVE CULTURE2 & #d7 AGRICULTURE LEADS 9EVITABLY TO ! RISE ( CIVILIZATION4 

,IF TRUE1 ,JOHN'S ALLEGATIONS W\LD HAVE F>-REA*+ IMPLICATIONS = ! RADICAL ECOLOGY MOVEM5T4 ,ECOLOGICAL !ORY W\LD HAVE TO BE SUB/ANTIALLY REVIS$1 & ! LONG-S\<T GOAL ( CREAT+ AGRICULTURE-BAS$ ECO-COMMUNITIES AB&ON$4 ,9DE$1 ! V]Y NOTION ( A SU/A9ABLE 0AGRO-ECOLOGY0 W\LD HAVE TO BE SE5 AS A CRUEL JOKE1 YET ANO!R 9/ANCE ( ! RADICAL LEFT'S 9ABILITY TO 5VISION A TRULY REVOLUTION>Y ALT]NATIVE4 

,BE=E !Y AB&ON !IR CONVICTIONS & HEAD = ! HILLS1 H[EV]1 RADICAL ECOLOGI/S %\LD TAKE A CLOS] LOOK AT ,JOHN'S >GUM5T2 IT IS1 ,I'M CONV9C$1 DEEPLY FLAW$ 9 SEV]AL RESPECTS4 ,I'D LIKE TO FOCUS ON ALLEGATIONS #a7 & #b7 S9CE !Y POSE ! GREATE/ *ALL5GE TO CONV5TIONAL ECOLOGICAL WISDOM4 ,BUT ,I'LL ALSO T\* BRIEFLY ON ALLEGATIONS #c7 & #d7 DUR+ ! C\RSE ( ! DISCUSSION1 BE=E CONCLUD+ ) A COMM5T ON ! OM9\S IMPLICATIONS ( A BLANKET CONDEMNATION ( AGRICULTURE4 

,! COMMON ?READ RUNN+ ?R\<\T ,JOHN'S >GUM5T IS HIS CONVICTION ?AT AGRICULTURE IS A TOTALITY1 A WELTANS*AUNG ?AT %APES EV]Y ASPECT ( SOCIAL & CULTURAL LIFE4 ,MOREOV]1 AGRICULTURE'S P[] TO DET]M9E SOCIAL FACTS IS NO LESS TRUE AT ! BEG9N+ ?AN AT LAT] /AGES ( AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPM5T4 ,& BECAUSE AGRICULTURE IS A TOTALITY1 ! RISE ( CIVILIZATION WAS VIRTUALLY ASSUR$ ONCE F>M+ REPLAC$ HUNT+ & GA!R+ AS ! DOM9ANT MODE ( HUMAN EXI/5CE4 

,! EM]G5CE ( CIVILIZATION 0WAS DICTAT$ BY AGRICULTURE10 ,JOHN ASS]TS1 = ! SIMPLE REASON ?AT AGRICULTURE ALREADY IS1 9 ALL ITS ESS5TIAL ATTRIBUTES1 ! BEG9N+ ( CIVILIZATION4 ,!RE >E1 ACCORD+ TO HIM1 VIRTUALLY NO IMPORTANT DI/9CTIONS TO BE F\ND AMONG PRIMITIVE F>M+ COMMUNITIES1 E>LY AGRICULTURAL CIVILIZATIONS1 & ! MOD]N AGRICULTURAL-9DU/RIAL /ATE4 ,! DIGG+ /ICK & ! TRACTOR2 ! T9Y G>D5 PLOTS ( ! ,TROBRI& ,ISL&]S & ! VA/1 SLAVE-WORK$ PLANTATIONS ( ! ,ROMAN ,EMPIRE2 ,HOPI MAIZE CULTIVATION & ,U4,S4 AGRIBUS9ESS1 >E ALL ELEM5TS ( A S+LE1 L9E> PROCESS ( SOCIO-HI/ORICAL DEVELOPM5T--JU/ A S]IES ( PO9TS SPANN+ ! GR[? CURVE ( CIVILIZATION4 

,!RE IS1 H[EV]1 A S]I\S PROBLEM ) ?IS MODEL ( AGRICULTURAL CONT9UITY3 IT IS BAS$ ON A COMPLETE MISREAD+ ( PRIMITIVE SOCIETY4 ,SYMBOLISM1 NOT AGRICULTURE1 WAS ! SUN >\ND :I* PRIMITIVE LIFE REVOLV$4 ,EV]Y 9/ITUTION 9 PRIMITIVE SOCIETY--9CLUD+ F>M+1 HUNT+1 MY?1 RITUAL1 CELEBRATION1 K9%IP1 & FRI5D%IP--WAS /RUCTUR$ 9 ACCORDANCE ) A SOCIAL LOGIC BAS$ ON NORMS ( %>+1 RECIPROCITY & GIFT EX*ANGE4 

,?IS SYMBOLIC EX*ANGE1 AS IT HAS BE5 T]M$1 WASN'T M]ELY ONE ASPECT AMONG O!RS 9 ! PRIMITIVE ORD]4 ,ON ! CONTR>Y1 0PRIMITIVE 'SOCIETY' DOES NOT EXI/ AS A SEP>ATE 9/ANCE AP>T FROM SYMBOLIC EX*ANGE4444,= ! PRIMITIVES1 EAT+1 DR9K+ & LIV+ >E FIR/ ( ALL ACTS ?AT >E EX*ANG$3 IF !Y >E NOT EX*ANG$1 !Y DO NOT OCCUR40 7,JEAN ,BAUDRILL>D1 ,! ,MIRROR ( ,PRODUCTION1 #a#i#g#e1 PP4 #g#h-#i7 

,SYMBOLISM WAS AT ONCE ! ORD]+ PR9CIPLE ( PRIMITIVE SOCIETY & ITS MEANS ( 9T]PRET+ ! WORLD4 ,9 ! PRIMITIVE SYMBOLIC ORD]1 NATURE WAS P]CEIV$ AS AN 9TEGRAL P>T ( SOCIETY1 NOT AS SOME?+ SEP>ATE2 AT ! SAME TIME1 SOCIETY WAS SE5 AS EXI/+ )9 ! NATURAL WORLD4 ,PRIMITIVE SYMBOLISM TRULY WAS 0! HUMANIZATION ( NATURE & ! NATURALIZATION ( HUMANITY40 ,& IT WAS ALSO PR(\NDLY ECOLOGICAL 9 ?AT IT RECOGNIZ$1 9TUITIVELY & EXP]I5TIALLY1 ! MUTUAL 9T]DEP5D5CE ( ALL LIFE4 ,?AT PRIMITIVE SOCIETY'S 9SI<TS 9TO NATURE W]E C\*$ 9 SPIRITUAL T]MS %\LDN'T BL9D US TO !IR PR(UNDITY OR SIGNIFICANCE4 

,ONCE WE UND]/& ?AT PRIMITIVE SOCIETY WAS A SYMBOLIC ORD]1 WE CAN READILY SEE ! DEEP 9ADEQUACY ( ,JOHN'S 9T]PRETATIONAL CATEGORIES4 ,TAKE1 = 9/ANCE1 HIS DESIGNATION ( PRIMITIVE HORTICULTURE AS 0FOOD PRODUCTION40 ,JOHN MEANS MORE BY ?IS T]M ?AN ! SIMPLE OBS]VATION ?AT PRIMITIVE PEOPLE GREW FOOD3 HE MEANS ?AT FOOD GR[+ WAS A SY/EMATIC OP]ATION :OSE AIM WAS TO EXPLOIT NATURE & HUMAN LABOR TO PRODUCE A COMMODITY3 ! BEG9N+ ( WORK & PRODUCTION1 :]E NATURE 5T]S 9TO ! ]A ( ITS DOM9ATION4 

,BUT PRIMITIVE AGRICULTURE WASN'T AT ALL A RATIONALI/ PROJECT4 ,PRODUCTION1 AFT] ALL1 IS BAS$ ON AN OBJECTIVE ATTITUDE T[>D NATURE1 ITS R$UCTION TO RAW MAT]IALS & RES\RCES = HUMAN USE4 ,PRODUCTION ALSO 9VOLVES RATIONAL CALCULATIONS ( UTILITY1 EFFICI5CY1 ALLOCATION ( RES\RCES1 & SO ON4 ,BUT NONE ( !SE OBJECTIVE *>ACT]I/ICS >E G]MANE TO PRIMITIVE F>M+4 ,TRIBAL SOCIETIES DIDN'T USUALLY ATTEMPT TO SY/EMIZE FOOD 0PRODUCTION0 TO A*IEVE GREAT] PRODUCTIVITY OR PRODUCE A SURPLUS2 AS ,M>%ALL ,SAHL9S & O!RS HAVE %[N1 ! DOME/IC 0ECONOMY0 ALWAYS OP]ATES B5EA? ITS POT5TIAL4 

,FUR!RMORE1 PRIMITIVE PEOPLE (T5 GREW FOOD = PURPOSES AP>T FROM NUTRITION4 ,DORO?Y ,LEE OBS]V$ ?AT ,TROBRI& ,ISL&]S W\LD GR[ YAMS 7CALL$ TAYTU7 TO GIVE AS GIFTS3 IDEALLY1 ! TAYTU W\LD ROT UNEAT5 9 ! YAM H\SE ( ! RECIPI5T4 ,LEE NOTES ?AT 0IT FILLS ! [N]S ) NAUSEA AT ! ?\<T ( EAT+ ! TAYTU2 IT GIVES !M1 9/EAD1 AN URGE TO GO TO ! BU% & EAT :AT GR[S !RE40 ,?IS KEEPS ! TAYTU FREE ( PURPOSE3 IDEALLY1 !Y >E NOT FOOD4 

,LEE GOES ON TO REM>K ?AT MO/ ( ! GIFT TAYTU >E EAT5 EV5TUALLY1 0BUT ONLY 9CID5TALLY02 !IR MA9 FUNCTION WAS TO S]VE AS GIFTS 09 A SY/EM ( FREE GIV+ )\T :AT WE CALL ULT]IOR MOTIVES1 NOT = ALTRUISM1 NOT 9 B>T] OR EX*ANGE =02 SU* YAMS HAD 0A V]Y IMPORTANT PLACE 9 ! EV]YDAY1 AS WELL AS ! C]EMONIAL1 LIFE ( ! PEOPLE40 7,FRE$OM & ,CULTURE1 #a#i#e#i1 PP4 #i#f-#g7 

,NONE ( ! OBJECTIVE1 RATIONALI/1 PURPOSIVE OR EXPLOITATIVE *>ACT]I/ICS TYPICAL ( A SY/EM ( PRODUCTION W]E PRES5T 9 PRIMITIVE AGRICULTURE4 ,?IS AGRICULTURE S]V$ ONLY ONE PURPOSE3 TO SEAL ! RELATION%IP AMONG 9DIVIDUAL MEMB]S ( SOCIETY1 & BETWE5 SOCIETY & NATURE4 

,AS ,JEAN ,BAUDRILL>D OBS]VES 9 ,! ,MIRROR ( ,PRODUCTION3 0,PRIMITIVE MAN DOES NOT *OP ONE TREE OR TRACE ONE FURR[ )\T 'APPEAS+ ! SPIRITS' ) A C\NT]-GIFT OR SACRIFICE4 ,?IS TAK+ & RETURN+1 GIV+ & RECEIV+1 IS ESS5TIAL4 ,IT IS ALWAYS AN ACTUALIZATION ( SYMBOLIC EX*ANGE ) GODS4 ,! F9AL PRODUCT IS NEV] AIM$ =4 ,!RE IS NEI!R BEHAVIOR AIM+ TO PRODUCE USEFUL VALUES = ! GR\P ?R\< TE*NICAL MEANS1 NOR BEHAVIOR AIM+ AT ! SAME 5D BY MAGICAL MEANS40 ,?IS IS :Y1 HE CONT9UES1 !RE IS REALLY NO SC>CITY 9 PRIMITIVE SOCIETY4 0,SC>CITY ONLY EXI/S 9 \R [N L9E> P]SPECTIVE ( ! ACCUMULATION ( GOODS4 ,H]E IT SUFFICES ?AT ! CYCLE ( GIFTS & C\NT]-GIFTS IS NOT 9T]RUPT$40 7PP4 #h#b-#c7 

,JOHN'S FAILURE TO TAKE ?IS SYMBOLIC EX*ANGE 9TO ACC\NT COLORS VIRTUALLY ALL HIS OBS]VATIONS AB\T PRIMITIVE AGRICULTURE4 ,JOHN DESCRIBES AGRICULTURE AS ! WILL TO P[] OV] NATURE1 ! MAT]IALIZ+ ( A MALEVOL5T DESIRE TO SUBJUGATE ! L& & TURN PLANTS & ANIMALS 9TO 0M]E ?+S TO BE MANIPULAT$40 

,?IS IS ALLEG$ TO BE TRUE ( ALL AGRICULTURE1 )\T EXCEPTION4 ,ONE W\LD EXPECT TO F9D1 !N1 PRIMITIVE F>M]S EXHIBIT+ HO/ILE OR AGGRESSIVE ATTITUDES T[>D NATURE1 OR AT ! V]Y LEA/ TREAT+ IT 0OBJECTIVELY10 AS M]E MATT] TO BE MANIPULAT$ ACCORD+ TO HUMAN DESIRES4 ,BUT IF ANY?+1 IT WAS ! OPPOSITE3 PRIMITIVE PEOPLE HAD AN 9T5SELY COOP]ATIVE1 SUBJECTIVE1 SOCIAL RELATION%IP ) NATURE4 

,CONSID]1 = EXAMPLE1 ,DORO?Y ,LEE'S DESCRIPTION ( ,HOPI MAIZE CULTIVATION 9 ,FRE$OM & ,CULTURE3 

0,! ,HOPI ,TALAYESUA1 DESCRIB+ HIS WORK ON ! L&1 DOES NOT SEE HIMSELF 9 OPPOSITION TO IT4 ,HE WORKS ) ! ELEM5TS1 NOT AGA9/ !M4 ,HE HELPS ! CORN TO GR[2 HE COOP]ATES ) ! ?UND]/ORM & ! POLL5 & ! SUN4 ,HE IS 9 H>MONY ) ! ELEM5TS1 NOT 9 CONFLICT2 & HE DOES NOT SET \T TO CONQU] AN OPPON5T40 

,AS ,MURRAY ,BOOK*9 A/UTELY REM>KS 9 ,! ,ECOLOGY ( ,FRE$OM1 9 PRIMITIVE SOCIETY NATURE 05T]S DIRECTLY 9TO CONSOCIATION ) HUMANITY--NOT M]ELY H>MONIZATION OR EV5 BALANCE444,ECOLOGICAL C]EMONIALS VALIDATE ! 'CITIZ5%IP' NATURE ACQUIRES AS P>T ( ! HUMAN 5VIRONM5T40 

0,9 PRIMITIVE SOCIETY10 ,BOOK*9 CONT9UES1 0NATURE & HUMANITY =M AN ORGANIC UNITY 9 AN ONTOLOGICAL S5SE ?AT ! PROTOPLASM ( HUMANK9D R5ATURE 9 ! PROCESS ( BE+ K9 IS CIRCULAT$ BY DI/9CT ACTS ( ! COMMUNITY3 C]EMONIALS1 DANCES1 DRAMAS1 SONGS1 DECORATIONS & SYMBOLS40 7PP4 #d#g-#h7 

,JOHN W\LD PROBABLY REPLY ?AT ! DI/9CTION BETWE5 SYMBOLIC 9T]ACTION ) DOME/ICAT$ PLANTS & ANIMALS & ! NAK$ EXPLOITATION ( !M IS TOO SLI<T TO MATT]4 ,HE >GUES ?AT DOME/ICATION ( ANY K9D IS 9DEF5SIBLE BECAUSE IT ROBS CREATURES ( !IR FRE$OM & CORRUPTS !IR BIOLOGICAL POT5TIAL4 ,BUT ?IS POSITION /RIKES ME AS TOTALLY >BITR>Y4 ,IT SEEMS MORE APPROPRIATE TO VIEW DOME/ICATION1 ON ! SMALL SCALE PRACTIC$ BY TRIBAL SOCIETY1 AS SIMPLY A V>IANT ( PR$ATION3 A WAY TO P>TICIPATE 9 ! 0%IMM]+ FOOD-*A91 FOOD WEB0 7,G>Y ,SNYD]7 ( :I* WE >E ALL--HUMAN & NON-HUMAN ALIKE--AN 9TEGRAL P>T4 

,JOHN'S HO/ILITY TO PRIMITIVE DOME/ICATION1 AS WELL AS PRIMITIVE AGRICULTURE 9 G5]AL1 LACKS PROPORTION4 ,! ,HOPIS1 AFT] ALL1 DIDN'T ATTEMPT TO UNILAT]ALLY IMPOSE A HUMAN DESIGN ON NATURE4 ,!IR 9T]V5TIONS 9 PRI/9E NATURE W]E MODE/ 5DEAVORS1 9T]ACTIONS ) ! ECOSY/EM RA!R ?AN TOTAL DISRUPTIONS ( IT4 ,! ,HOPIS DIDN'T CLE>CUT ! =E/S1 DAM ! RIV]S OR HUNT GAME TO EXT9CTION4 ,HOPI VILLAGES W]5'T C>V$ \T ( ! WILD]NESS1 AS CIVILIZATION'S T[NS & CITIES >E1 BUT EXI/$ )9 IT2 & ! ,HOPI PEOPLE REGUL>LY V5TUR$ AWAY FROM !IR SETTLEM5TS 9TO REMOTE >EAS TO 9T]RELATE ) NATURE & F9D SPIRITUAL 9/RUCTION !RE4 ,TO SEE 9 ALL ?IS ANY?+ ANALOG\S TO CIVILIZATION'S SY/EMATIC EFFACEM5T ( WILD1 UNTAM$ NATURE1 IS TO DI/ORT & EXAGG]ATE TO ! PO9T ( UTT]' FALSIFICATION4 

,9 ALLEG+ ?AT AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES 09EVITABLY RU9 !IR 5VIRONM5TS10 ,JOHN IGNORES ONE ( ! MO/ IMPORTANT ASPECTS ( ! SYMBOLIC /RUCTURE ( PRIMITIVE SOCIETY4 ,JOHN POSITS A DIRECT L9K BETWE5 AGRICULTURAL SETTLEM5TS1 ! RISE ( PRIVATE PROP]TY1 ! GR[? ( CITIES & ! RISE ( CIVILIZATION--A CONT9U\S DEVELOPM5T :I* RESULT$ 9 WIDESPREAD ECOLOGICAL DE/RUCTION 9 ! REGIONS :]E ! FIR/ CIVILIZATIONS >OSE4 

,BUT ?IS SC5>IO COMPLETELY IGNORES ! FACT ?AT MO/ TRIBAL CULTURES W]E /ABLE1 NOT EXPANSIONI/ 9 NATURE1 & ?IS FACT BE>S A DIRECT RELATION%IP TO !IR IMPACT ON ! 5VIRONM5T4 ,MO/ TRIBAL SOCIETIES DIDN'T EXT]M9ATE !IR NEI<BORS1 5?RALL$ :OLE POPULATIONS1 OR SEIZE !IR T]RITORY4 ,W>S BETWE5 NEI<BOR+ COMMUNITIES W]E LIMIT$ 9 OBJECTIVE & DURATION1 MORE LIKE CLAN RIVALRIES1 OR EV5 SPORT+ EV5TS1 ?AN MOD]N W>F>E 7= ?IS REASON1 SOME AN?ROPOLOGI/S HAVE REFUS$ TO USE ! T]M 0W>F>E0 TO DESCRIBE !SE PRIMITIVE CONFLICTS74 

,MO/ PRIMITIVE PEOPLE S\<T TO A*IEVE PEACEFUL & COOP]ATIVE RELATION%IPS ) !IR NEI<BORS--ALSO 9 ACCORDANCE ) ! NORMS ( SYMBOLIC EX*ANGE & RECIPROCITY ?AT %AP$ RELATION%IPS )9 ! TRIBE 7AS ,DORO?Y ,LEE PO9T$ \T 9 ,FRE$OM & ,CULTURE1 TRADE BETWE5 NEI<BOR+ TRIBES WAS G5]ALLY /RUCTUR$ AS A GIFT RELATION%IP1 NOT AS SIMPLE B>T] BAS$ ON OBJECTIVE CRIT]IA ( ECONOMIC EQUIVAL5CE7--& ?IS COOP]ATIVE 5DEAVOR HAD IMPORTANT ECOLOGICAL CONSEQU5CES4 

,ECOLOGI/ ,RAY ,DASMANN HAS *>ACT]IZ$ PRIMITIVE SOCIETIES AS 0ECOSY/EM-BAS$ CULTURES40 ,SUMM>IZ+ ,DASMANN'S >GUM5T1 ,G>Y ,SNYD] HAS WRITT5 ?AT !SE >E CULTURES 0:OSE LIFE & ECONOMIES >E C5T]$ 9 T]MS ( NATURAL REGIONS & WAT]%$S4- ,SNYD] NOTES ?AT ) ! DECL9E ( ! LA/ ,ICE ,AGE & ! CONSEQU5T DEMISE ( BIG GAME HUNT+1 0A FAIRLY NOMADIC GRASSL&-&-TUNDRA HUNT+ LIFE0 GAVE WAY TO A MORE SETTL$ EXI/5CE4 

,AS A RESULT1 0,C\NTLESS LOCAL ECOSY/EM HABITATION /YLES EM]G$4 ,PEOPLE DEVELOP$ SPECIFIC WAYS TO BE 9 EA* ( ?OSE NI*ES3 PLANT KN[L$GE1 BOATS1 DOGS1 TRAPS1 NETS1 FI%+--! SMALL] ANIMALS1 ! SMALL] TOOLS4 ,FROM /EEP JUNGLE SLOPES ( ,S\?WE/ ,*9A TO CORAL ATOLLS TO B>R5 >CTIC DESS]TS--A SPIRIT ( :AT IT WAS TO BE !RE EVOLV$ ?AT SPOKE ( A DIRECT S5SE ( RELATION TO ! 'L&'--:I* REALLY MEANS1 ! TOTALITY ( ! LOCAL BIO-REGION SY/EM1 FROM CIRRUS CL\DS TO LEAF MOLD40 7,! ,OLD ,WAYS1 PP4 #f1 #e#i7 

,DASMANN CONTRA/S !SE ECOSY/EM-BAS$ CULTURES ) :AT HE CALLS 0BIOSPH]E CULTURES10 MEAN+ 7TO QUOTE AGA9 FROM ,SNYD]'S SUMM>Y7 0?OSE :O DISCOV]$--SEV5 OR EI<T ?\S& YE>S AGO 9 A FEW CORN]S ( ! GLOBE--?AT IT WAS 'PR(ITABLE' TO SPILL OV] 9TO ANO!R DRA9AGE1 ANO!R WAT]%$1 ANO!R PEOPLE'S T]RITORY1 & /EAL AWAY ITS RES\RCES1 NATURAL & HUMAN40 

,:ILE ECOSY/EM-BAS$ CULTURES USUALLY S\<T TO MA9TA9 A MUTUALLY-SU/A9+ RELATION%IP ) !IR LOCAL 5VIRONM5TS1 BIOSPH]E CULTURES C\LD AF=D TO WRECK A LOCAL HABITAT & !N MOVE ON TO EXPLOIT ! NEXT4 0,?US ! ,ROMAN ,EMPIRE W\LD /RIP :OLE PROV9CES = ! B5EFIT ( ! CAPITAL1 & VILLA-[N+ ,ROMAN >I/OCRATS W\LD HAVE HUGE SLAVE-OP]AT$ F>MS 9 ! S\? US+ GIANT :EEL$ PL[S4 ,S\!RN ,ITALY NEV] RECOV]$4 ,WE KN[ ! T]M 'IMP]IALISM'--,DASMANN'S 'BIOSPH]E CULTURES' ADDS TO ?AT1 HELPS US REALIZE ?AT BIOLOGICAL EXPLOITATION IS A CRITICAL P>T ( IT TOO--! SPECIES MADE EXT9CT4 ,! CLE>CUT =E/S40 7,! ,OLD ,WAYS1 P4 #f#a7 

,IT IS TELL+ ?AT ,JOHN'S EXAMPLES ( ECOLOGICALLY-DE/RUCTIVE AGRICULTURE >E TAK5 MO/LY FROM ! ANNALS ( E>LY AGRICULTURAL CIVILIZATIONS4 ,IT IS1 ( C\RSE1 WELL-KN[N ?AT !SE CIVILIZATIONS--) !IR CONC5TRAT$ POPULATIONS1 SPREAD+ URBANIZATION1 9T5SIVE F>M+ ME?ODS1 & FREQU5T W>F>E & PLUND]--MO/LY DECIMAT$ !IR 5VIRONM5TS4 ,BUT = EV]Y EXAMPLE ( AN ,ATTICA 0WA/$ BY DISEASE10 ONE CAN ALSO PO9T TO A TROPICAL ISL&1 A L[L& RIV] VALLEY1 OR A M\NTA9 SLOPE :]E TRIBAL AGRICULTURI/S--G>D5]S IS A BETT] WORD--APP>5TLY A*IEV$ A H>MONI\S BALANCE ) ! NATURAL WORLD4 

,AGRICULTURAL PEOPLES HAD BE5 LIV+ 9 ,NOR? ,AM]ICA = ?\S&S ( YE>S PRIOR TO ! ,EUROPEAN 9VASION1 YET !RE ISN'T ANY EVID5CE ?AT !SE TRIBES HAD RU9$ 7OR W]E RU9+7 !IR 5VIRONM5TS4 ,ON ! CONTR>Y1 ! /ILL-EXT5SIVE WILD]NESS & FANTA/IC ABUNDANCE ( WILDLIFE ?AT SO AW$ ! FIR/ ,EUROPEAN EXPLOR]S SUGGE/ ?AT TRIBAL F>M+ HAD AN ESS5TIALLY B5IGN IMPACT ON ! ECOLOGY ( ! ,NOR? ,AM]ICAN CONT95T4 ,DE/RUCTION ( ! CONT95TAL ECOSY/EM COMM5C$ :5 ! FIR/ WAVE ( SETTL]S FROM ! EXPANSIONI/1 NATURE-HAT+ 0BIOSPH]E CULTURES0 ( ,EUROPE L&$ ON ,NOR? ,AM]ICAN %ORES4 

,BY ! #a#h#bS1 A M]E TWO HUNDR$ YE>S LAT]1 !SE SETTL]S HAD SEIZ$ MILLIONS ( SQU>E MILES ( L&1 CLE>$ BILLIONS ( ACRES ( =E/1 EXT]M9AT$ C\NTLESS BE>S1 DE]1 WOLVES1 M\NTA9 LIONS1 BIRDS & O!R ANIMALS1 & KILL$ OR DISPLAC$ ALMO/ ALL ! 9DIG5\S PEOPLE EA/ ( ! ,MISSISSIPPI4 ,TO IMPLY ?AT ?IS VA/ DE/RUCTION WAS CAUS$ BY AGRICULTURE P] SE--& NOT ! MORE COMPLEX PH5OM5ON ( BIOSPH]IC IMP]IALISM--NOT ONLY OV]SIMPLIFIES ! CAUSES ( ECOLOGICAL DE/RUCTION1 BUT SUBTLY DEMEANS ! TRIBAL PEOPLES :O RESI/$ ?IS ONSLAU<T1 MANY ( :OM W]E F>M]S !MSELVES4 

,DE/RUCTION ( ! PLANET>Y ECOSY/EM ISN'T SIMPLY A FUNCTION ( AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITY AS SU*1 BUT RA!R ( ! RELATION%IP BETWE5 AGRICULTURE & SOCIAL LIFE4 ,& :]E !RE IS SYMBOLIC 9T]ACTION ) NATURE1 ECOLOGICAL DE/RUCTION DOESN'T TAKE PLACE4 ,! SETTL]S :O CLE>CUT =E/S1 SLAU<T]$ WILDLIFE1 & EXT]M9AT$ NATIVE ,AM]ICANS DIDN'T DO SO \T ( A SIMPLE DESIRE TO F>M ! L&1 BUT \T ( A DESIRE1 F9ALLY1 TO OBLIT]ATE ! WILD]NESS COMPLETELY & ) IT !IR DEEP AMBIVAL5CE AB\T EV]Y?+ ?AT WAS /ILL WILD & FREE4 

,!SE SETTL]S HAD 9 FACT LO/ T\* ) ?AT P>T ( !MSELVES ?AT ! WILD]NESS REPRES5T$4 ,& ! HUMAN 9HABITANTS ( ?AT WILD]NESS--SOME ( !M F>M]S1 O!RS FI%]M51 /ILL O!RS HUNT]S--!Y TOO HAD TO BE ELIM9AT$1 SO AS NOT TO REM9D ! CONQU]ORS ?AT JU/ BEYOND ! WALLS ( ! /IFL+ CITIES & ! F5CES ( ! PACIFICI$ C\NTRYSIDE A MORE NATURAL1 FREE & EXUB]ANT EXI/5CE WAS ABUNDANTLY POSSIBLE4 

,DID AGRICULTURE LEAD DIRECTLY TO ! RISE ( CIVILIZATION8 ,H]E1 TOO1 ,JOHN IGNORES ! SYMBOLIC RELATION%IP AT ! HE>T ( PRIMITIVE SOCIETY4 ,TRIBAL CULTURES1 HE NE$S TO BE REM9D$1 >E NON-/ATE SOCIETIES3 P[] IS DISP]S$ ?R\<\T SOCIETY AT L>GE1 NOT CONC5TRAT$ 9 9DIVIDUALS OR 9/ITUTIONS AT ITS SUMMIT4 ,JU/ AS IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO ISOLATE ! ECONOMIC AS A SEP>ATE 9/ANCE 9 PRIMITIVE SOCIETY1 IT IS ALSO IMPOSSIBLE TO ISOLATE ! POLITICAL AS SU*4 ,& YET SYMBOLIC EX*ANGE IS MANIFE/LY 0POLITICAL40 

,! 5DLESS CYCLES ( GIFT EX*ANGE1 ! CONSUMPTION ( SURPLUSES 9 FEA/S & POTLAT*ES1 ! *IEFLY DUTY TO ACT AS A CONDUIT = ! R$I/RIBUTION ( WEAL? FROM HAVES TO HAVE-NOTS--ALL FUNCTION$ TO GU>ANTEE A SOCIETY ( EQUALS :]E DISP>ITIES ( WEAL? & P[] C\LDN'T CRY/ALLIZE4 ,A 6,KUNG ,BU%MAN ONCE DESCRIB$ ?IS POLITICAL FUNCTION ( SYMBOLIC EX*ANGE 9 ! FOLL[+ T]MS3 0,! WORSE ?+ IS NOT GIV+ PRES5TS4 ,IF PEOPLE DO NOT LIKE EA* O!R BUT ONE GIVES A GIFT & ! O!R MU/ ACCEPT1 ?IS BR+S A PEACE BETWE5 !M4 ,WE GIVE :AT WE HAVE4 ,?AT IT IS ! WAY WE LIVE TOGE!R40 7,LORNA ,M>%ALL1 #a#i#f#a1 QUOT$ 9 ,M>%ALL ,SAHL9S' ,/ONE ,AGE ,ECONOMICS1 #a#i#g#b1 P4 #a#h#b7 

,ONLY :5 !SE NORMS ( RECIPROCITY W]E VIOLAT$--REPLAC$ BY NORMS ( DEBT OBLIGATION1 ALI5AT$ LABOR & ! ACCUMULATION ( WEAL?--C\LD ! /ATE1 & ULTIMATELY CIVILIZATION ITSELF1 IRRUPT FROM ! DEP?S ( PRIMITIVE SOCIETY4 ,NOR1 IF WE >E TO JUDGE FROM ! C\NTLESS TRIBAL SOCIETIES ?AT ONLY SUCCUMB$ TO ! /ATE ?R\< VIOL5CE & CONQUE/1 CAN WE ASSUME ?AT ?IS IRRUPTION WAS 9EVITABLE4 ,TO SAY ?AT AGRICULTURE L$ DIRECTLY TO ! RISE ( CIVILIZATION IS TO NEGLECT ! WAYS 9 :I* ! CULTURAL VALUES ( PRIMITIVE SOCIETY BLOCK$ OR 9HIBIT$ ?AT TRANS=MATION4 

,JOHN MAKES A CASE = G5]ALIZ+ AB\T AGRICULTURE 9 ! SAME WAY AS O!RS HAVE G5]ALIZ$ AB\T WAGE LABOR1 9DU/RIALISM1 HI]>*Y & SO ON4 ,BUT 9 DO+ SO1 HE COMPLETELY IGNORES ! SPECIFIC-&-UNIQUE-CULTURAL BE+ ( PRIMITIVE SOCIETY4 ,JOHN R$UCES CULTURE TO A M]E REFLECTION ( AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION1 :]EAS :AT ,I'VE TRI$ TO %[ IS ?AT CULTURE IS AN 5TITY 9 ITS [N RI<T1 ONE ?AT1 9 FACT1 %APES ! *>ACT] ( AGRICULTURE ITSELF4 ,& :ILE ,JOHN HAS DESCRIB$ AGRICULTURE AS SYNONYM\S ) WORK1 PRODUCTION & DOM9ATION ( NATURE1 ,I'VE %[N ?AT NONE ( !SE PEJORATIVES CAN BE US$ TO DESCRIBE PRIMITIVE AGRICULTURE :I*--ANTI-PRODUCTIVE1 NATURE-AFFIRM+ & GIFT-ORI5T$ AS IT IS--/&S 9 DIRECT OPPOSITION TO ! VALUES & PRACTICES ( CIVILIZATION4 

,F9ALLY1 ,JOHN'S REL5TLESS HO/ILITY TO AGRICULTURE RAISES AN OBVI\S QUE/ION3 :AT MEAN+ CAN HIS APOCALYPTIC J]EMIAD HAVE 9 A WORLD ( FIVE BILLION PEOPLE1 ONLY A FRACTION ( :OM C\LD BE SUPPORT$ BY HUNT+ & GA!R+8 ,CAN SU* AN APPEAL1 IF TAK5 S]I\SLY1 LEAD TO ANY?+ BUT DESPAIR & NIHILISM8 ,! ANSW]1 JUDG+ BY ,JOHN'S ESSAY1 IS 0NO40 ,WOND]+ H[ ! WORLD'S BILLIONS >E SUPPOS$ TO SURVIVE )\T AGRICULTURE1 ,JOHN CONC$ES HE HAS 0FEW IF ANY PRESCRIPTIONS0 = REA*+ ! HUNT]-GA!R] ,P>ADISE4 ,YET HE /ILL CONCLUDES1 SOME:AT MASO*I/ICALLY1 ?AT LIB]ATION IS IMPOSSIBLE )\T AGRICULTURE'S DISSOLUTION4 ,?IS F9AL PRON\NCEM5T IS NO?+ BUT WI%FUL ?9K+ PUNCTUAT$ BY DESP]ATION--!ORY AT ! 5D ( ITS ROPE1 OP5LY PROCLAIM+ ! IMPOSSIBILITY ( ITS REALIZATION4 

,FANTASIES AB\T AN ULTIMATE RETURN TO HUNT+ & GA!R+ DO LITTLE TO ASSI/ \R LIB]ATION H]E1 9 ! REAL WORLD4 ,B>R+ NUCLE> W>1 ! TOTAL COLLAPSE ( ! BIOSPH]E1 OR ! UNLIKELY SC5>IO ( A CATACLYSMIC ,A,I,D,S EPIDEMIC DRA/ICALLY R$UC+ HUMAN NUMB]S1 HUMANITY WILL CONT9UE TO DEP5D ON AGRICULTURE ( SOME K9D = A LONG TIME TO COME4 

,9DE$1 \R IMM$IATE SURVIVAL--9 A WORLD WOR? LIV+ 91 IF NOT \R SURVIVAL AS A SPECIES--DEP5DS ON F9D+ & IMPLEM5T+ ECOLOGICALLY VIABLE =MS ( AGRICULTURE ?AT CAN S]VE AS A BASIS = A LIB]ATORY SOCIETY4 ,! EVID5CE ( PRIMITIVE SOCIETY SUGGE/S ?AT SU* AN AGRICULTURE IS POSSIBLE1 IF ONLY WE CAN F9D \R WAY BACK TO NATURE4 ,?IS IS :]E WE'RE AT1 & :AT WE MU/ DO2 ANY?+ ELSE IS JU/ :I/L+ 9 ! D>K4 

--,BOB ,BRUBAK] 

,MI%IMA1 ,JAPAN 

,FROM 3 ,!,AN>*I/,LIBR>Y4ORG4 

,*RONOLOGY 3 
,JANU>Y #a#d1 #bba 3 ,COMM5TS ON ,JOHN ,Z]ZAN'S ,CRITIQUE ( ,AGRICULTURE -- ,ADD$4 
,JANU>Y #f1 #bbb 3 ,COMM5TS ON ,JOHN ,Z]ZAN'S ,CRITIQUE ( ,AGRICULTURE -- ,UPDAT$4 

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