RCSD is pleased to invite you to participate in a thesis examination:

Objectifying the More-Than-Human: Bornean Orangutans and Indonesian Oil Palm Plantations in the Ecocidal Capitalism

Thursday 7 April 2022 at 9.00 A.M.

Presenter: Hanna Nur Afifah Yogar,  (MA in Social Science, specializing in Development Studies)

Examining committee
Asst. Prof. Dr. Carl Middleton, (Chulalongkorn University)
Asst. Prof. Dr. Mukdawan Sakboon, (Faculty of Social Science, Chiang Mai University)
Lect. Dr. Chaya Vaddhanaphuti, (Faculty of Social Science, Chiang Mai University)

Onsite: RCSD study room 02-001, 2Fl, Operational building, Faculty of Social Science

Online: https://cmu-th.zoom.us/j/93125569053

Abstract:
For Indonesia, Bornean Orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus) and the economic development project of oil palm plantations in Kalimantan Island are two sides of the same coin. The one that is valued as a “free gift,” and another serves as an economic good as manifested through ecocidal capitalism respectively. It signifies the distinct way in conceiving and treating more-than-human, or the process of embracing the other beings other than human’s existence. Therefore, it leads to the process of objectification of degrading Bornean Orangutans’ values—while this ape plays a great role in maintaining the balanced ecosystem. This study calls attention to the process of how causal chains of intersection between Bornean Orangutans, capitalism, and oil palm plantations alter the socio-ecological condition in Kalimantan island; and scrutinizes how eco-governance in the context of Bornean Orangutans and Indonesian oil palm plantation be managed to achieve ecology-economy sustainability and knowledge integration. Three theories underpin this study: the Actor-Network Theory (ANT), eco-governmentality and knowledge integration, as well as social (ecological) embeddedness through theory of doughnut economics. This study employs a qualitative approach by
conducting online interviews and case study in Kalimantan. In addition to that, secondary data is obtained through extensive literature review to support the primary information. The key findings show that each actor conceives more-than-human according to their interest and knowledge-based abilities that navigate to the given priority treatment. The Indonesian government tends to comprehend the oil palm agro-industry as a source of material gain—while protecting Bornean Orangutans on the basis of its icon or flagship species for the country, and its critically endangered (CR) status linked to the ecological niche. In a different sense, Kalimantan Dayak ethnic see the oil palm plantations as the battlefield in defending their lives and customary rights—including their cognizance of Bornean Orangutans as a sentient being that co-existing based on their indigenous ethics. For the conservation organization and environmental organization, they appear as actors that bridge the government’s scientific rationale and Kalimantan Dayak’s indigenous worldview and produce the so-called situated knowledge. Importantly, the findings testify that the constant expansion of the oil palm mega-agro industry brings ecocidal capitalism as an activity to multiply capital—and therefore yield unintended and detrimental effects, e.g., climate crisis, transboundary conflict, socio-economic inequality, and other demerits. Ecocidal capitalism is exacerbated by the oil palm global demand that forces global land rush within the globalization epoch. These findings provide alternatives in dealing with this particular problem of addressing the economic-ecology to not merely rely on technocentric methods such as technical and technological-based conservation—but also the approach from indigenous and situated knowledge as alternatives in addressing and solving the problem to balance the system of
economy and ecology. These all can be embodied in written codified regulations as a formal guideline, and an uncodified practice that involves multi actors in different levels, rationale, and implementation in dealing with a similar issue—the objectification of Bornean Orangutans within the oil palm plantations’ context.

Thesis proposal examination
Thursday, 7 April, 1:30 P.M.

“The Role of Chinese Investment in Banana Plantation, Lamyang village, Kachin State”

Presenter: Mr. Aung Nyi Lwin, (Master of Arts in Social Science, Specialization in Development Studies)

Venue
Online: https://cmu-th.zoom.us/j/92281648546
Onsite: RCSD study room 02-001, 2 Fl, Operational Building, Faculty of Social Sciences.

Examining committee
Lect. Dr. Ta-Wei Chu (David): Chair
Lect. Dr. Siya Uthai: Committee
Asst. Prof. Dr. Mukdawan Sakboon: Committee