OEP aims to make visible and analyse the inequalities and socio-ecological impacts caused by interventions into nature, ecosystems and territories, including their relationship with the dominant economic model.
At the same time, they seek to record, systematise and disseminate different forms of knowledge and experiences in the context of socio-environmental struggles in the country, the defence of the natural commons and territories, as well as the promotion of ways of life consistent with the care of nature, life and different forms of community.
OEP aims to give voices and spaces for dialogue to diverse communities affected by these socio-ecological impacts, who usually have little or no presence in the hegemonic media; to promote clarity and cohesion among the varied ecologies of the country; and to offer material for academic and activist research regarding the diverse political and social issues of ecology in Venezuela.
Paradigmatic
- They seek transformation of the economic model of extractivism “at territorial, national, regional and global scales”. A strand of their work is establishing and promoting alternatives to extractivism.
- They seek transformation beyond anthropocentrism
Integrated
’- They seek solutions of multiple scales and forms, e.g. community initiatives, public policies, new technologies.
- They recognise the deep interrelatedness and interdependence between social, political, cultural and bio- diversity
- Interdependence and ecodependence are key features of their ‘ecopolitics’ which they propose as the new geopolitics we need to move beyond anthropocentrism. This involves transforming relations between humans and earth.
- Integration is important to overcome division and fragmentation which they see as part of the logic of polycrisis.
- They participate in the use artistic and ritual practices to support reconnection in the relationship between human and nature: https://ecopoliticavenezuela.org/2023/05/12/arte-y-ecologia-como-potencial-para-la-reconexion-de-la-humanidad-naturaleza/
- This article addresses the inner (psychological) dimension, speaking of feelings and imagination in relation to Political Ecology: https://ecopoliticavenezuela.org/2022/06/13/sentidos-e-imaginacion-en-la-ecologia-politica-ante-el-colapso-civilizatorio/
Pragmatic
They do research, activism and forming alliances work in 8 strategic areas: Alternatives to Extractivism; Climate Change; Political Ecology of Water; Socio-environmental conflicts; Energy and Energy Transition; Studies of the Amazon; Civic crisis and the Anthropocene; Women, bodies and territories
Key Publications
- ‘Transiciones en época de metacrisis’, https://ecopoliticavenezuela.org/2022/08/06/transiciones-en-epoca-de-metacrisis/
- ‘Energía, comunes y transiciones en femenino’, https://ecopoliticavenezuela.org/2023/06/14/energia-comunes-y-transiciones-en-femenino/
- ‘Sentidos e imaginación en la ecología política ante el colapso civilizatorio’, https://ecopoliticavenezuela.org/2022/06/13/sentidos-e-imaginacion-en-la-ecologia-politica-ante-el-colapso-civilizatorio/
- Situación Socioambiental de Venezuela 2022
Additional Notes
’- They cite the use of the term ‘polycrisis’ at Davos 2023 in this article (Feb 2023): https://ecopoliticavenezuela.org/2023/02/14/biodiversidad-sociodiversidad-y-ecopolitica-de-la-diversidad/.
- They use the term polycrisis in this article (Oct 2022): https://ecopoliticavenezuela.org/2022/10/28/transiciones-justas-para-america-latina-y-el-mundo/
- They also use the term ‘metacrisis’, e.g. in this article: https://ecopoliticavenezuela.org/2022/08/06/transiciones-en-epoca-de-metacrisis/