- Mining, environment and society: Contribution of the thought of Whitehead to the methodology of assessing the water that can really be mobilized in the Kimberley and Canning Basin, Australia   click here to open paper content963 kb
by    Vaillant, Philippe | vaillphil@orange.fr   click here to send an email to the auther(s) of this paper
Short Outline
The Kimberley, one of the last pristine areas in the world, is subject to
strong mining and gas pressure. The study, conducted with the Nyikina
people and the International Water Centre in Brisbane, raises in a dialogic
and organic way the issue of water resources that can be mobilized.
Abstract
Summary: The Kimberley is one of the last pristine areas in the world and
it is subject to strong mining and gas pressure. The study, conducted in
collaboration with the Nyikina people (Fitzroy River) and the International
Water Centre in Brisbane (IWC) with the support of the Association “Men,
Women in the City”, raises in a dialogic (Freire, AIATSIS) and organic
(Whitehead) way the issue of water resources that can be mobilized (UNESCO)
for industrial needs as well as for plant, animal and human societies. With
sustainable development in mind, this issue requires to consider the three
induced axes of governance (sovereignty), science (re-enchanted), and land
management and care.

Topics: Aboriginal Peoples (UN), governance, the study of mining and gas
impacts, Social Impact Assessment (SIA), science, water integrated
management (UNESCO WWDR4 Europe DCE 2000 IWC) the science of space
planning, organic way of thinking.

Description of the problem: Despite the attractive presentations on the
mining companies’ websites, mining leads to the loss of connection to the
land and of social ties for indigenous peoples. Moreover pollution
generates public health problems. Calculating, assessing and the management
of water that can really be mobilized lead inevitably to raise the
questions of governance, the implementation of science for impact studies,
and practical development of every unique and singular space (eg Nyikina
Country). This issue concerns all potential or current operating sites in
the world where indigenous peoples live.

Main references: Michel DESHAIES (2007), Augustin BERQUE (AIATSIS 2009 Code
of Ethics, UNESCO WWDR4-2010, Indigenous Peoples’ Charter of the UN in
2007, Paolo Freire (1970), Tuhiwai Linda Smith (1988), Joseph GRANGE
(Nature 1997, 1999 City) , A.N. WHITEHEAD (Process and Reality, 1929-1995),
Handbuch for A .N. Whitehead 2006 DR GRIFFIN (Re-enchantment of science,
1988) P.VAILLANT Geography thesis 2008, W. Twitchett 1995, P.BRACONNIER
2005, V.PACCINI, 2008, P.J. BOREY 2008, Martin PREAUD Ethnology thesis 2009
Roger LAMBERT Geography of the water cycle, PUM 1996, M.McDUFFIE Film
Mardoowarra Living Water, 2008.

Method: Methodology of Sustainable Development, to value what already
exists, and to weave together induced notions of governance (sovereignty),
science (re-enchanted) and land management and care (Aboriginal
spirituality). This weaving is enlightened by Whitehead’s organic approach
and his definition of ''drops of experience.''

Main results: Proposal for a planning methodology that connects governance,
science of impact studies (water) and the culture of the territory
(Aboriginal spirituality).

Scope: This method concerns any region in the world where mining operations
are implanted. It is useful to articulate the conflicting interests of
industrialists, the population, indigenous peoples and ecosystems in a
dialogic organizational relationship and a ''win-win'' logic.
Keywords
Case Study presented on the ISOCARP Congress 2013: Frontiers of Planning - Evolving and declining models of city planning practice
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