The Ecosocialist Resources column is published at irregular intervals. It features links to new articles, reports, talks and videos that are relevant to Climate & Capitalism’s mission and goals.
Inclusion of a link does not imply endorsement, or that we agree with everything (or even anything!) the item says.
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- How Capitalism 'Solves' a Climate Disaster: Katrina, Three Years LaterThree years ago today, Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans. The pain hasn’t stopped … From Climate and Capitalism, one year ago: There have been many debates, on this blog and elsewhere, about whether global warming can be “solved” in a capitalist framework. Many people have proposed plans to radically reduce greenhouse gas emissions without radical ...---READ-->>
- The Myth of the Tragedy of the CommonsBy Ian Angus See also A reply to criticisms and questions about this article Will shared resources always be misused and overused? Is community ownership of land, forests and fisheries a guaranteed road to ecological disaster? Is privatization the only way to protect the environment and end Third World poverty? Most economists and development planners will answer “yes” — ...---READ-->>
- Africa: Forced to Clean Up After a Party It Didn’t Attend“Africa and the rest of the Global South are owed a huge historical and ecological debt for slavery, colonialism, and centuries of exploitation” By Dennis Brutus and Patrick Bond Durham South Africa, 23 August 2008 “We are the creditors!” insist a new layer of African social activists, victimised by the ongoing Third World debt crisis but now gathered ...---READ-->>
- Socialists in Britain Discuss Class Struggle and EcologyEcosocialism included in a discussion of regrouping the left Earlier this year, the left-wing Respect coalition in Britain went through a damaging split, when one of its founding groups, the Socialist Workers Party, decided to walk away over disagreements with the coalition’s leader, radical MP George Galloway. Desite the walk-out, Respect still includes a strong Marxist ...---READ-->>
- The Global Warming Report Ottawa Doesn't Want You to SeeCanada’s federal government is trying to bury an important report on climate change and health … but the blogosphere is fighting back Last month, C&C reported that Canada’s federal government was planning a “low-profile release” of Human Health in a Changing Climate: A Canadian Assessment of Vulnerabilities and Adaptive Capacity, a 500-page report prepared for Health ...---READ-->>
- Indigenous Activists in Peru Defend Collectively-Owned Lands“The government has declared open war on indigenous people and the demonstrators will stay there until the problem is solved. They prefer to die there, they aren’t afraid.” By Milagros Salazar Inter Press Service, August 19, 2008: Defending the state of emergency declared in three provinces in Peru to crack down on protests by indigenous ...---READ-->>
- No, We Won't Debate That …Global warming deniers have many places to post their oft-refuted nonsense. This is not one of them For reasons best known to themselves, some global-warming-deniers have recently been posting comments on Climate and Capitalism. The theme is consistent: they want us to debate whether global warming is caused by human activity. Yesterday, someone named Jeff insisted that ...---READ-->>
- Israel's Discriminatory Water Policies Leave West Bank DryPer capita water consumption in Palestine is far below the minimum recommended by the World Health Organization From B’Tselem – The Israeli information center for human rights in the occupied territories The chronic water shortage in the West Bank, resulting from an unfair distribution of water resources shared by the Palestinians and Israel, will be much ...---READ-->>
- Carbon Capture and Storage Will Increase PollutionStudy finds that burying carbon dioxide from coal-fired plants will increase acid rain By Patrick Barry From Science News, August 13th, 2008 As pollution bad guys go, carbon dioxide may be the media darling, but trying to capture it and lock it away could allow other repeat offenders to go free. Power plant emissions that cause acid rain, water ...---READ-->>
- Can Markets Stop Climate Change?“Can we trade our way out of our climate difficulties? Can market mechanisms deal with a problem of such scale and urgency?” By Renfrey Clarke from Green Left Weekly (Australia) August 9, 2008 Internationally, as in Australia, governments forced to promise climate change action have generally promoted market-based carbon abatement schemes, mostly of the “cap and trade” variety. ...---READ-->>
- Irish newspaper looks at capitalism as a threat to the environment“Bring the relationship between capitalism and climate change into mainstream debate” This article appeared on August 9 in the World View column in the Irish Times, Ireland’s leading (and usually pro-business) daily newspaper. Thanks to Justin O’Hagan for drawing it to our attention. Capitalism as a Threat to the Environment by Paul Gillespie “Contemporary capitalism and a habitable planet ...---READ-->>
- Climate Change Threatens Brazil’s Food CropsEven moderate rises in temperatures would cause significant damage to food production By Jonathan Wheatley Financial Times August 10, 2008 Brazil’s soya exports could slump by more than a quarter over the next 12 years as a result of climate change, according to a study to be presented at an agribusiness conference opening in São ...---READ-->>
- The truth is, we're fighting for survivalAmid the trivial political squabbles, a stark truth lies hidden: humanity is staring global catastrophe in the face By Joss Garman From The Guardian August 8, 2008 Up to 4 billion people left without water. Up to 5 billion at risk of flooding. Half a billion left hungry as agricultural yields decline by 15-35% ...---READ-->>
- 'Markets have failed miserably even to recognize climate change'A liberal journal argues that market solutions won’t do the job In Canada, as elsewhere in the world, all of the major political parties favour “market solutions” to global warming. The Conservatives propose efficiency objectives. The Liberals want a carbon tax. The New Democrats argue for cap-and-trade. The differences are minor — all are based on ...---READ-->>
- Australian Climate Activists Plan Week of ProtestsA call for a national week of protest action beginning September 21 We need urgent action on climate change! Climate change is already occurring, much faster than the world’s scientists have predicted. Recent data including the very real possibility of the arctic sea-ice melting by September this year demonstrate that this is a climate emergency. We are concerned ...---READ-->>
- Stop Global Warming–Change the WorldJonathan Neale. Stop Global Warming – Change the World. Bookmarks Publications, London, 2008. £11.99 Reviewed by Roy Wilkes Two years ago, George Monbiot published Heat, a ground-breaking book which armed a generation of activists with the technical and scientific know how to fight climate change. Jonathan Neale’s new book starts in a similar vein, by explaining ...---READ-->>
- Interested in a Canadian Ecosocialist Network?Cy Gonick, editor of the magazine Canadian Dimension, is setting up a listserv (egroup) for Canadians to discuss issues related to organizing an ecosocialist network in Canada. One of the goals will be to discuss Canadian participation in the Ecosocialist International Network meeting that is planned for next January in Brazil. Readers in Canada who wish ...---READ-->>
- First Nation's Lawsuit Could Shut Down the Tar Sands“If the Beaver Lake Cree win clearly in this case, it could mean an end to development on their territory” By Tom Sandborn From TheTyee.ca, July 28, 2008 Jack Woodward and the Beaver Lake Cree aim to change Canadian law — and their success likely would throw a huge wrench into Alberta’s tar-sands oil production. The suit pits ...---READ-->>
- Activists Invade Tar Sands Pollution SiteBanners raised over Syncrude’s poisonous tailings pond Greenpeace Canada activists entered Syncrude’s Aurora North Tar Sands facility early on July 24, erecting a banner that transformed the opening of a tailings pond pipe into the “mouth” of a giant skull, spewing toxic sludge into the same tailings pond that earlier this year killed 500 migrating ducks. Activists ...---READ-->>
- Three Important Books for EcosocialistsMust-have additions to your library Three new books, from three different continents. We may publish full reviews in the future if our workload allows. But don’t wait: all three are important resources for activists. Because they are new and not to be found in most bookstores, we’ve suggested places where you can order them. Climate Code Red: ...---READ-->>