WHEN self-determination was a major issue in the 1970s and 1980s and former colonies were either breaking out of their colonial yoke, or like Yugoslavia where ethnic communities were breaking free from their artificial unions, the word subsidiarity saw light of day and became a major principle of self-determination.
Subsidiarity was used to argue that the desires and wishes of the local community had to be respected — even more had to take precedence over any desires and wishes of external parties or forces wishing to impose their point of view on the local community.
In my view, subsidiarity has become one very powerful principle rooted in respect, in the recognition that the best determinant of one’s future is the individual himself or the local community itself. Imperialism is what results from someone else — an outsider, for example, desires to impose his or her views instead.
‘… subsidiarity means respect. And respect is what every community deserves — something many do-gooders and tree-huggers are happy to forget.’
Even the Catholic Church embraces subsidiarity although I have to say that embracing it does not always mean practicing it.
Subsidiarity is one principle that many activists — especially of the environmental kind – are so happy to violate. I see this among anti-mining advocates who descend on mining communities with their prelates and their placards, demanding that this or that operation cease in toto because mining is destructive to the environment and in the process causes global warming.
Forget about the unscientific bases of their allegations, especially given the fact that global warming is caused by the extreme production of GHG in the big five: China, The United States, India, the EU and (I think) Russia. Even if the Philippines (which contributes less than 1% of global GHG emissions) produces no GHG, global warming will be a harsh reality. Forget also the fact that the main source of GHG emissions in the Philippines (more than 55%) are our power plants (want to shut them all down?), followed by agriculture (let’s stop all cattle production) and industry and then only land use changes (of which mining is part). Or forget the fact that the main reason we have polluted skies is our motor vehicles — do you want to advocate a car-free country?
Forget all that — and still the anti-mining advocates come from far away to lobby for the closure of mining operations, which would result in lost jobs and development opportunities for communities where they do not come from. Will the anti-mining advocates provide alternative sources of work or livelihood for the displaced? No. They’ll just happily move on to their next target, after submitting accomplishment reports to their European funders.
In their wake, they’ll leave behind unemployment and communities condemned to poverty.
Yet global warming marches on.
So let’s stop the BS. Let’s respect the wishes of local communities, and should communities express their desire to allow responsible mining operations in their areas then let’s help make sure it’s responsible indeed.
Because subsidiarity means respect. And respect is what every community deserves — something many do-gooders and tree-huggers are happy to forget.
