A Postcolonial Perspective

“Earth is home to millions of species. Just one dominates it. Us." says Stephen Emmott, in his book "Ten Billion".

Alvin Toffler examines the agrarian and industrial revolution and the subsequent period as the Third Wave.  Trying to intitle this period, many alternative names are used; space age, information age, communication age, the age of speed,  the age of globalization, innovation, internet age, digital age, big data age, multimedia age, social age... Paul Crutzen, a scientist, called this age "the antropocene", meaning "the age of man": Since 18th century, the human activities had such a significant impact on the Earth's ecosystems, that it almost cause the world to enter into a new geological age.  ( see Welcome to the Antropocene: vimeo.com/anthropocene/shortfilm )

Technology and developments facilitate our daily lives in many ways and improve our qualities of life: everything's a click away,  a click at hand. But all this convenience bear a high cost, both materially and morally. Some of these are highlighted as follows:

Poverty

Global Environmental Issues, Global Warming, Water Issues

Economic and Financial Crisis and Issues,

The Power and Impact of Multinational Corporations,

Wars,

Terror,

Global Health Issues

Energy Resources

Psychological Issues, Alienated and Isolated Individuals..

( see Interconnected Global Issues Chart by geni.org )

Claiming superiority in economy, technology, science and military, the West prevails its sovereignity in the world with a neo colonial approach. But the sovereignity of man in the world, and the West on other people and cultures are lacking the concept of  haqq (right/just) and amanah (trust: things that are kept safe, protected and made sure no harm is in the way) in essence. On the other hand, as the pioneers of technology, science and democracy(!), the West is leading and providing for the people of the north, the south and the east. Being subaltern for ages ( maybe  300 or 500 years) had an impact on beliefs and attitudes which in turn influenced actions. Feeling inferior against these superior powers, not having

the resouces, means and media, the voices of these crowds were pale and silent as to the voices of the west. On this regard, not only the west but the east, the  south and the north deserve a critical view as well.

Postcolonial perspective contains this critical view within itself and presents means for all "others" who are not dominant or superior.

By the end of this century, our grandchildren will be living in a world of ten billion population. For the sake of  today and tomorrow, we need a new way of looking, a new way of understanding and a new way of dealing with things in all fields.

"Now is the time to say new things." *

*Jalal ud-Din Rumi

Tuba Albayrak