Discourse Dialogue: Grassroots'' Perspective on Sustainable Development

Global sustainable development discourse comprises two sub-discourses; the Earth and Equity. It argues that sustainability on Earth will be attained when equity between human beings and the environment, and between developed and developing countries, take place. Economic development is seen as a means to accomplishing these two concepts of equity. Differently, grassroots farmers in northern Thailand define sustainability as “having rice to eat and having land on which to stay”. However, as the farmers have experienced developmental problems introduced to the community by outsiders, namely government development policies, they view that in order to attain sustainability, the villagers themselves have to have control over development direction. This control consists of control over agricultural production and food supply, land and forest management, and knowledge used in development processes. To have control, power to negotiate with the state development direction is required, and this power will be gained through strengthened people’s organisations and networks.