Penelope Marshall is a PhD candidate in the Research School of Social Sciences in the Political Science program in the Deliberative Democracy group.
“And the reason why some have four feet and others many was that the stupider they were the more supports god gave them, to tie them more closely to earth. And the stupidest of the land animals, whose whole bodies lay stretched on the earth, the gods turned into reptiles, giving them no feet, because they had no further need for them…” Plato: Timeaus 49.92
This seminar will explore several aspects of the current construction of the savannah cat controversy. Firstly, it will reveal the competing discourses evident in the savannah cat case as complex; if not irreconcilable; Secondly, it will reveal the nomenclature relied on within these discourses as equally complex. Thirdly, it will highlight suggested changes to the existing administrative powers of the national Vertebrate Pest Committee as being neither transparent nor accountable and therefore of concern.
Hi
Sorry I missed this seminar – it only seemed to appear on Google alerts after it was presented.
In response to Penelope’s points;
– absolutely the different “discourses” (positions?) are irreconcilable. They want Savannah cats in Australia; we don’t.
– I’m not sure what is meant by the second point. If it is that the language used by the competing sides is hard to understand, I’m not sure I agree. It might be slightly technical, but way less complicated than “revealing the nomenclature of the discourses as equally complex”, to be honest. I’d argue there needs to be a degree of technical discussion in a debate hinging on genetics.
– I’m interested in the views on the Vertebrate Pest Committee. I don’t think the problem here is transparency of their administrative powers. The problem might stem from the fact that the VPC has no powers. All this Savannah cat stuff is happening under the EPBC Act, and does highlight some problems, but I’m not sure the problems lay with VPC.
If there are notes on the seminar, I’d appreciate them. Hope it went well.