Ecosocialist Notebook: Books, Videos, Events and Blogs

June 10, 2007

Another of our occasional round-up of books, videos, events, blogs and other things of importance to eco socialists

Climate Change, Carbon Trading and Civil Society

Climate Change, Carbon Trading and Civil Society: Negative Returns on South African Investments. Edited by Patrick Bond, Rehana Dada and Graham Erior. Co-published in Europe by Rezenberg Publishers and in South Africa by KwaZulu-Natal Press 2007.

This important anthology was officially released last week at the Cape Town Book Fair, where two of the editors spoke on “South Africa’s Climate Change Crisis: Is Carbon Trading the Cure?” — they discussed “South Africa’s lamentable contribution to global warming and the essential questions posed by South Africa’s intensive greenhouse gas emissions and carbon trading” which is also the central theme of this book. The 11 essays in this book are essential reading for everyone who wants to understand the impact of “carbon colonialism” on Africa. It isn’t available yet from the major Internet booksellers, but it can be purchased online from Rezenberg Publishers

Green Venezuela

Climate and Capitalism recently featured an article by Derek Wall, Co-Principal Speaker of the Green Party of England and Wales, explaining why his visit to Venezuela convinced him that “ecological concern is central to the Venezuelan approach under Chavez.”

Derek spoke on the same subject, but in more detail, at a recent Hands Off Venezuela meeting in London. Liam Mac Uaid has posted a video of that talk on his excellent blog.

Climate Change Meetings in Atlanta, Sebastapol

Richard Greeman of the Praxis Research and Education Center at the Victor Serge Library in Moscow writes to tell us of a panel on “Ecosocialism versus Capitalist Ecosuicide” that Praxis is organizing at the U.S. Social Forum in Atlanta, June 27-July 1.

Richard writes: “We have room for another speaker on the panel. If any Ecosocialists are available, please contact me at rgreeman@gmail.org”

Praxis is organizing a conference on “Global socio-ecological crisis and ways for its overcoming,” in Sebastapol, Ukraine, July 17-18. For information email praxis2001@mail.ru

Dave Riley Blogs

Long-time Australian socialist Dave Riley recently launched two important blogs.

He describes Green Lefts:Left Greens as “a hub that aggregates resources & commentary on the environment & climate change from a green left and a left green perspective.” If you find Climate and Capitalism useful, you should also read GL:LG — we each try to avoid duplicating material that appears on the other’s site.

And LeftClick is a multi-author blog “that seeks to address the question of what we can do now, today, to achieve a 21st Century Socialism, and who we need to do it with.” The discussion has just begun, but Dave has assembled an impressive list of socialist bloggers from many countries to participate.

There’s no question in my mind that Dave Riley is an ecosocialist, but in a recent LeftClick post, he is critical of the term ecosocialism — “My view would be that there is one socialism — the one you actually get by dint of struggle and such. And if it is a real socialism it’s also a green or “eco” one.” I suspect someone will respond to that.

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