Paper short abstract:

In this paper I explore the experimental efforts of environmental activists in creating an international space where liberal notions of rights are included, but where other cultural values have an equal say in shaping decision-making policy and practice.

Paper long abstract:

Friends of the Earth International (FoEI) is a federation of NGOs from around the world. One of the factors that distinguishes FoEI from other world wide environmentalist groupings is that it is broadly concerned with environmental justice. In FoEI policy-building practices, the notion of equity implies preventing, and reversing cultural imperialism. One of the FoEI missions is: "To secure the empowerment of indigenous peoples, local communities, women, groups and individuals, and to ensure public participation in decision making". In their policies-building practices within the federation, activists attempt to combine the cultural values and experiences of the different members from around the world. As a result in their statement, both 'groups' and 'individuals' are listed as requiring empowerment.

The production of artefacts in FoEI, such as the mission statement, are experiments in inclusive decision-making. An experimental attitude towards inclusion in the activists themselves is partly achieved during the international meetings where such documents are made. Here the activists' sense of identity shifts from attributional identity to relational identification. In the latter, relational identification, belonging is not defined by homogeneity. However, these experiments in inclusion are not free from work in progress failures. In this paper I explore the experimental efforts of FoEI activists in creating an international space where liberal notions of rights are included, but where other cultural values have an equal say in shaping decision-making policy and practice.