Friday, December 23, 2016

Terrain


Forthcoming in Lexicon for an Anthropocene Yet Unseen, edited by Anand Pandian and Cymene Howe (2017, Punctum).

           The wind was strong and steady, regularly shaking up the wooden structure of Martín’s home while we were inside talking and occasionally pausing to feel the power of that unruly atmosphere. Gushes of air and dust occasionally got inside, for the house’s door-less entrance was covered by a tarp that every now and then relented to the air’s pressure. That opening also let us see clouds of dust churning wildly outside. Those swarms of dust briefly receded to reveal some of Martín’s cattle fifty meters away, only to form again constellations of particles blurring most objects and their forms in a haze.

            I was in Salta Forestal, a rural area located 80 kilometers east of the town of Las Lajitas and one of the hotspots of the soy frontier in northern Argentina. This was once a heavily forested part of the western Gran Chaco —the tropical lowlands that encompass much of northern Argentina, western Paraguay, and southeast Bolivia. But when the price of soy rose dramatically in the early 2000s and led to the Argentine soy boom, businessmen and officials saw those forests inhabited by campesinos as available space to be turned into soy fields. Bulldozers, often supported with armed civilians and the police, began pushing forth against the forest and its human and non-human inhabitants. As the wind raged outside, Martín and Ana, his wife, described how a decade earlier they had confronted and stopped eighteen bulldozers that were crushing a forest two kilometers from their home. With the help of over 200 other residents from a wide area, they set up barricades and forced the drivers to abandon the machines. After a long legal dispute, a sympathetic judge eventually ruled in their favor, for Martin’s family was able to prove that despite lacking legal titles they had been living there since the 1930s —which under Argentine law gives families ownership rights. Their struggle managed to save 5,000 hectares of forests where they raise 200 head of cattle. But this was a localized victory that could not stop the deforestation of surrounding areas. The forests that Martín and Ana’s family saved from destruction, in this regard, are now surrounded by fields planted with genetically-modified soy and regularly sprayed with herbicides.
            As I was listening to Martín and Ana’s accounts, our conversation kept returning to the power of the wind. “This wind is unbelievable!” Ana exclaimed, raising her voice as the noise of things battered outside by the wind increased. “It’s because of the fields,” Ana said again. Martín nodded. They explained that winds like that did not exist when the area was covered with forests. With most of the forests gone, they said, powerful winds appear out of nowhere, blowing through those open fields and scattering huge amounts of soil into the air. On windy days, blue skies acquire a brownish tone. Without the forests, as a woman in another town put it, people now have to brave “tierrales horribles,” “horrible dust clouds.” The air is so full of microscopic particles that residents suffer epidemics of allergies previously unknown in the region. Everybody agrees that the air is drier and hotter, rains are scarcer, and droughts are longer and more intense. Scientists have confirmed this perception, for the destruction of forests meant the disappearance of the moisture that forests absorb and release into the atmosphere.
             Local people’s perception that the very texture of space has changed makes apparent that the soy boom has created much more than political, cultural, and territorial transformations. Those socio-political transformations have, indeed, been profound. What once was peasant territory formed by families sharing the forest as a commons has become a largely deforested, depopulated, privatized constellation of mechanized farms that produce for the world market. As a result, the sensibilities of residents forced to resettle in towns are now under the influence of urbanized patterns of consumption and new class inequalities. But something else has changed in the region: the ambient texture, forms, and rhythms of terrain. The tactile materiality of terrain, in particular, has adopted new levels of ambient thickness: that is, of palpable intensities that in the form of wind gushes, heat waves, or dust affect people’s mobility, visibility, and sensory experience. This ambient density has been made all the more intense by the impact of climate change, of which deforestation by industrial agriculture is one of the most important contributors. 
            Global warming challenges human-centered views of places, landscapes, and territories as socially configured spatial fields for a simple reason: it confronts us with the vast, uncontrollable physicality of terrain. I propose “terrain” for our lexicon of the future because only this term admits that all actually-existing places have volumes, forms, and textures that are irreducible and indifferent to human practice, and whose dynamism becomes most apparent in the elusive physicality of the wind. And the air moves because we live in a planet in motion that rhythmically exposes the ocean and the atmosphere to the heat of the sun, creating temperature imbalances, flows, and currents in a state of flux.
            In the most materialist sense of the term, “climate change” names the atmospheric process whereby the planetary terrain is thickening: that is, increasing the intensity of the physical pressures it imposes on human bodies and on all life forms through more intense heat, droughts, storms, or rising sea levels. Terrain, like the deforested terrains of the western Argentine Chaco, is thereby not a rigid “thing” but a figure of multiplicity and becoming: a processual, turbulent field of trajectories, objects, and pressure points that are atmospheric in nature. Atmospheric events, so-often reified as “the weather” or “nature,” are thereby nothing but part of the ever-shifting physicality of terrain. And this is a bodily materiality crucial to understanding what global warming entails for life on Earth. “The era of humans,” or “the Anthropocene,” might be the era, ironically, when modern humans learn to appreciate, and fear, the power of terrain.



59 comments:

  1. On the other hand, urban streetwear isn't just restricted to the skateboard style sense as it is also said to have actually been stemmed from the roots of the Los Angeles surfing culture, the hip-hop culture of New York City, gangsta rap as well as various other city subcultures also.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I read Your terrain like blog It was Amazing.Keep Sharing


    political party in tamil nadu

    ReplyDelete
  3. synmac tax consultant in Delhi
    doing company registration in Delhi,GST registration in Delhi,Tax consultant in Delhi...
    if you have any requirement GST,ITR
    click the below link...

    tax consultant in Delhi
    company register in Delhi
    GST register in Delhi
    tax consultant in Delhi

    ReplyDelete

  4. Look, I found an awesome Software Development company named THESOFTKING, they are offering 500+ PHP Buy laravel script and HTML templates from USD 29$ Only and visit to this site.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Whether you are single, in a relationship or married, loneliness can set in at any time. Best Sex Dolls there are times when you are really in the mood for sex and your partner is not available or maybe tired.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Its Very Good Post And Let Me Share It For Alot Of People. And Dont Forget Ti Visit Me Back
    MAUU GAMES ONLINE SERU ASYIK DAN MENGUNTUNGKAN BESAR DAN DIBAYAR LAGI KLIK LINK SALAH SATU LINK DIBAWAH INI ANDA TIDAK PERCAYA SILAHKAN BUKTIKAN SENDIRI SUDAH BANYAK YANG BERHASIL MENDAPATKANNYAZ
    1.JUARA303
    2.FOTO MODEL HOT
    3.BOLA
    4.Variasi Slot Online Yang Sering Mengeluarkan Free Game

    ReplyDelete
  7. Thanks for sharing the blog, seems to be interesting and informative too.
    Top Stock Broker In India

    ReplyDelete
  8. Mau Hadiah Jutaan Rupiah, Rasakan Sensasi Menariknya Bermain Game Online Bersama Kami, Cek Linknya Dibawah Ini..

    Sabung Ayam Online
    Live22
    ACE333

    ReplyDelete
  9. We cooperate with elite and experienced doctors who are accredited in A class hospitals in the field of hair transpalant

    ReplyDelete
  10. We cooperate with elite and experienced doctors who are accredited in A class hospitals in the field of hair transpalant

    ReplyDelete
  11. https://domsdomainpolitics.blogspot.com/2020/08/flipping-senate-requires-protecting-dem.html?showComment=1611052935117#c8243580731249001126

    ReplyDelete
  12. Amazing Article !! wisdom capital provides best discount broker in India & Margin in NSE,MCX/Commodity And mcx lot size With the minimum brokerage, they can easily start trading with out worrying much about the brokerage part. Or, in other words, one can step ahead in the Indian stock market without paying heavy brokerage which become worse on overall trading. The lowest brokerage is offered to suit the demands of all kinds of traders and not for any personal profit. for more info please visit wisdom capital

    ReplyDelete
  13. We carefully select our cannabis products Buy Weed Online and perform laboratory tests in order to have total assurance on the quality of our products.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Judicasino adalah kumpulan situs casino online Indonesia yang menjadi pilihan terbaik bagi para pemain yang masih mencari permainan live casino untuk mendapatkan keuntungan dalam permainan judi.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Awesome and interesting article. Great things you've always shared with us. Thanks.Keep sharing.
    Best Health Insurance Plans For Family

    ReplyDelete
  16. Girl Scout Cookies, like so many other awesome weed strains hails from the West Coast of the US girl scout cookies strain where she created waves of raving excitement among cannabis lovers shortly after she came to the scene. So big was the excitement about this super-potent strain that it didn’t take long until these waves and her stellar reputation reached Europe and the rest of the world. Today she is the best selling strain on the West Coast and the most popular strain in North America.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Pink runtz strain buy pink runtz online.pink runtz uk. white runtz strain. A hyped cookies family strain, runtz is a cross of zkittlez and gelato that is rare and sought-after runtz strain.

    ReplyDelete
  18. psychedelic education Monthly MAPS donors sustain our work and support year-round psychedelic research, drug policy reform, public education, harm reduction,
    peer support, and general operations.

    ReplyDelete
  19. The latest Full-Featured Skincare Device that brings freedom to skincare professionals and amazing skin results to your customers. The Zemits DermeLuxx unique skin-perfecting technology combines.
    watch Youtube.
    watch video here
    watch Youtube.
    A-Esthetic TV.
    watch video here.
    watch Youtube.
    A-Esthetic TV.
    watch video here.
    watch video here.
    A-Esthetic TV.

    ReplyDelete
  20. The Buy horse and camel supplies .Veterinary Medicine supplies Dubai and the UAE and the rest of Asian and African Countries with quality Horse medicines, Camel medicines, and general veterinary medicines to promote performance and overall health of your livestock, racing animals, and domestic pets.

    ReplyDelete
  21. The write my essays for money most important thing in their functioning is to attract as many people as possible. Although the majority of the audience consists of students, such services can be helpful to any person who wants to buy an essay of high quality.

    ReplyDelete
  22. 28G MDMA Pure Champagne Crystal is on sale, as we discussed above all the features belong to the MDMA. So, now it’s your choice to order online from bestplushop to grab the best deals of your life. DMT vape pen .

    ReplyDelete
  23. The 4-aco-dmt pellets.Vaping DMT makes it much more convenient when compared to actually lighting it up and smoking it. A client can accomplish a full hallucinogenic involvement with 5-15 minutes. Significantly less when contrasted with psilocybin, LSD, or most different. DMT vape pan

    ReplyDelete
  24. CrownQQ Agen DominoQQ BandarQ dan Domino99 Online Terbesar

    Yuk Buruan ikutan bermain di website CrownQQ
    Sekarang CROWNQQ Memiliki Game terbaru Dan Ternama loh...

    10 permainan :
    => Poker
    => Bandar Poker
    => Domino99
    => BandarQ
    => AduQ
    => Sakong
    => Capsa Susun
    => Bandar 66
    => Perang Baccarat
    => Perang Dadu

    Keunggulan bermain di CrownQQ :
    => Bonus Refferal 20%
    => Bonus Turn Over 0,5%
    => Minimal Depo 20.000
    => Minimal WD 20.000
    => 100% Member Asli
    => Pelayanan DP & WD 24 jam
    => Livechat Kami 24 Jam Online
    => Bisa Dimainkan Di Hp Android
    => Di Layani Dengan 5 Bank Terbaik
    => 1 User ID 10 Permainan Menarik
    => Menyediakan deposit Via Pulsa

    Link Resmi CrownQQ:
    - maincrownqq.com
    - maincrownqq.net
    - maincrownqq.org

    Info Lebih lanjut Kunjungi :
    Website : DominoQQ Online
    Daftar CrownQQ : Poker Online
    Info CrownQQ : Kontakk
    Linktree : Agen Poker Online

    WHATSAPP : +6287771354805
    Line : CS_CROWNQQ
    Facebook : CrownQQ Official
    Kemenangan CrownQQ : Agen BandarQ

    ReplyDelete
  25. Thanks for sharing such great information… It really helpful to me... always search to read the quality content and finally i found this in your post. Keep it up!
    visit us to Learn more about United India Insurance Online Payment and other details!

    ReplyDelete
  26. This was an extremely enlightening post. Thankful for this Blog, if you should explore more about such a data, you can see Daily News Capsule

    ReplyDelete

  27. Hanya di sbobet saja yang mampu memberikan pelayanan paling terbaik dari paling terbaik. judi bola sbobet . Sbobet dan maxbet sendiri sering disebut sebagai provider bettingan online sepakbola tertua dan paling banyak digemari di indonesia.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Another specialty of Santa Barbara is the simultaneous festivals hosted which consists of several amusing goods and activities to involve in. santa barbara.The county is often described as the American Riviera because of its landscapes and close-knitted society.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Social media management tool Awesome article, it was exceptionally helpful! I simply began in this and I'm becoming more acquainted with it better! Cheers, keep doing awesome!

    ReplyDelete
  30. Investing is a necessary aspect of life. We put our money into our families, friends, and education. This investment can be emotional, but it is frequently monetary, making investing a big sum of money problematic.
    As a result, stockbroker, sharebroker, and investment broker are no longer uncommon phrases. Every one of us wishes to have some form of insurance protection for our shares and the money we invest in the stock market, which is our most valuable asset, and we want to be with the finest discount brokers in India to prevent needless risk.
    A stockbroker is a firm or investment adviser who works for the advantage of their customers by offering best demat account in India relevant and competent assistance, as well as stock acquisition and sale.
    This is typically a fee-based service that is collected by commission, price spread, or an hourly rate. Some of the top share brokers in India provide zero brokerage, which is why they are regarded as the best.

    ReplyDelete
  31. its amazing Article!! The first requirement for beginning share trading is a best discount broker in india. Most beginners are perplexed as to what a Demat account is and which is the best Demat account. A Demat Account is a digital storage account in which shares are stored in digital form. Consider a bank account and what it does: it stores money in digital form. India's best stock broker 

    ReplyDelete
  32. Thanks for sharing this information.
    Yes Done is the best online site for on demand home services, professional service providers in Jaipur, Rajasthan. We are providing top services like carpenter, cleaning, TV, best pest control services in Jaipur, ro repair service in Jaipur, ac repair service in Jaipur online by Yes Done is there for services at your doorstep in Jaipur, Rajasthan. For more service visit our website. For more services visit our website.

    ReplyDelete
  33. Es ist Weihnachtszeit und wir haben für euch die besten Weihnachtsgeschenke gesammelt! Entdeckt unsere große Auswahl an Geschenkideen für Weihnachten für eure Liebsten. Egal für welches Budget - bei uns findest du witzige, romantische und persönliche Weihnachtsgeschenke für die ganze Familie.

    ReplyDelete

  34. Welcome...To DUMP99.IN Dumps With Pin Shop Online, dumps cc for sale .Yep We know you have alots right now - you can be free from your debt in no time.- Your student loans will be gone, your car loan, your house mortgage loan.

    ReplyDelete
  35. Hey Nice Blog!!! Thank you for sharing information. Wonderful blog & good post.Its really helpful for me, waiting for a more new post. Keep Blogging!!!

    Dr Abhishek Yadav - Educationist & Social Activist
    Educationist & Social Activist

    ReplyDelete
  36. Gymnastics is a great sport for all of us. Gymnastics is a great way for someone to stay active and flexible. gymnastics hall of fame .Remember, activities involving motion can make you stronger and healthy. But if you have some physical limitations you need more prudent to make the program of training.

    ReplyDelete
  37. Thanks for sharing this Amazing content. I really appreciate your efforts.!! According to our study and analysis, the broker is a reliable online best discount brokers in India 2022. To your information, it is also regarded as lowest brokerage and high exposure broker in india 2022. The Demat Account in India is the initial requirement for beginning share trading. The majority of newcomers are perplexed as to what a Demat account is and here is the list of top 10 best Demat account in India 2022. A Demat account is a digital storage account where shares are kept in digital format. Consider a bank account. Its purpose is to hold money in digital form. For more details about list of top 10 Best online Trading App In India 2022 please visit

    ReplyDelete
  38. Let's find out how to make easy money. All you need is a cell phone, Click to play Luxury Golden Panther game. No matter how much money you have, you can have fun in this game. Start playing the game for only 1 baht. If you are interested, คลิกที่นี่. These support for all mobile phones. There is also an automatic deposit and withdrawal service that comes with stability and one hundred percent safe.

    ReplyDelete
  39. Vamos descobrir como fazer dinheiro fácil. Tudo o que você precisa é de um telefone celular, clique para jogar Prosperity Lion jogo. Não importa quanto dinheiro você tenha, você pode se divertir neste jogo. Comece a jogar o jogo por apenas 1 R$. Se você estiver interessado, click here. Estes suportes para todos os telefones celulares. Há também um serviço automático de depósito e saque que vem com estabilidade e cem por cento seguro.

    ReplyDelete
  40. Wow, what great writing. I liked the way you have explained with that much detail.

    Read about Wi4 Software Solutions including HL7 FHIR Development . We also deal with the data with program design and implementation . Know more about platforms and products offered by Wi4.

    ReplyDelete
  41. Thanks for writing such a good article, I stumbled onto your blog and read a few post. I like your style of writing...
    เว็บยูฟ่าเบท

    ReplyDelete
  42. เกมสล็อต 3 มิติ pg slot กับสัญลักษณ์ที่พบเห็นได้บ่อย ๆ สามารถทำเงินได้จริง ฝาก ถอนออนไว ด้วยระบบออโต้ เล่นเกมสล็อต pgslot สำหรับผู้เล่นส่วนใหญ่ ก็มักจะมองหาเกม ที่แปลกใหม่

    ReplyDelete
  43. 대한 제주도의 가치를 좀 더 지속 가능한 관광산업으로 발전하기 위해도쯤 지방 재정학회에서 계속해서 되어 왔다는 것이죠. 순천 렌트카
    순천시 렌트카가 있습니다. 환경보전기여금 제도 도입의 타당
    있는데다, 완성차 업체들이 부품 조달이 어려워지자 물들이 굉장히 많이 배출되고 있습니다.

    ReplyDelete
  44. Thai lottery is one of only two forms of legalized gambling permitted in Thailand, the other being horse racing in Bangkok. All winning numbers of Thai Lotto Today Result are here on this post! Check Now And Enjoy Today Thailand Lotto Result 2022.

    ReplyDelete
  45. Ac milan jersey.AC Milan is one of the most popular soccer clubs in the world. AC Milan jersey are top sellers also especially their red and black color home jersey. Support your AC Milan team with their jerseys like t-shirts, AC Milan shorts, AC Milan jersey kits and more designed for both men and women. cheap soccer jerseys . AC Milan is one of the most successful clubs in Serie A, having won a total of 30 domestic honors, in addition to their continental successes.

    ReplyDelete
  46. if you want to know Indian No1 Lottery Sambad Today result then Visit Here
    Lottery sambad Today

    Every one want to know about Lottery Sambad Today result then Visit Here
    Dear Lottery Sambad

    ReplyDelete
  47. For those who haven't applied yet, don't wait. Good promotion like this doesn't come often. Free credit. pgslot เว็บตรง

    ReplyDelete
  48. and see and study when you come in. Will definitely come to make profits in our slot games AMBKING

    ReplyDelete