[WSF-Discuss] Some criticisms of the Belem Ecosocialist Declaration

[Ana Margarida Esteves]

Dear all,

I suppor the criticisms of the ecosocialist declaration and also think
that there is a another very important point here: The need for a
deeper critical analysis and review of the cultural mechanisms that
produce the behaviours that lead not only to the over-accumulation of
debt, particularly from the part of working people, but also to the
destruction of nature:

1) The role of the media - see a very interesting BBC documentary of
Youtube called "The Century of the Self";

2) The role of certain socialization processes that lead people to
consume and accumulate debt so as to keep up with certain patterns of
"social acceptability", "beauty", "desirability", "success" and
"Comfort";

3) The role of other socialization processes the lead people to see
themselves as separated from other human beings and species, therefore
thinking that "there is no problem if I continue using a highly
polluting car. Someone else will take the responsibility of reducing
C2O emissions." or "Other people don't care, so why should I? I don't
want to be seen as a holier-than-thou politically correct freak".

What we need I a rethinking of the foundations of our culture.

Warm regards,

Ana Margarida Esteves


2009/3/29 David Stodolsky <dss at secureid.net>:
>
> On 29 Mar 2009, at 9:00 AM, CACIM wrote:
>
> My main remark is that an ecosocialist declaration should absolutely link
> the climate crisis to the worst and deepest business crisis since 1929. This
> is a key condition if we want to get some influence among the workers and
> the poor in general.
>
> Yes, but the relationship is that 'green taxes', carbon trading, etc. result
> in transfers of wealth to the rich. The economic crisis hit because workers
> simply couldn't acquire more debt.
>
>
> We should explain that the combination of both crisis opens a totally new
> situation.
>
> What is the difference between the 'global warming crisis' and the 'oil
> crisis' recently and in the 1970's that capital used to justify massive
> transfers of wealth?
>
>
> Rich economies have to reduce their energy consumption by 50% or more. Such
> a reduction can not be achieved only by better energy efficiency: a certain
> “de-growth” of material production and consumption will be necessary.
>
> A sure loss of support from workers and the poor.
>
>
> The first step in any political action is seeing thru the propaganda of the
> ruling class:
>
> http://mises.org/story/3283
>
> there is in fact no consensus of scientists behind global-warming:
> Professor Dennis Bray of Germany and Hans von Storch polled climate
> scientists to rate the statement, "To what extent do you agree or disagree
> that climate change is mostly the result of anthropogenic causes?" … They
> received responses from 530 climate scientists in 27 countries, of whom 44
> percent were either neutral or disagreed with the statement…
>
>
>
> Suppression, etc. are summarized here:
>
> http://www.marxist.com/global-warming-socialist-perspective-part-one.htm
>
>
> Actual measurements of the Planet's energy balance hardly make an appearance
> in the media:
>
> <http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20060824/news_lz1c24moon.html>
>
> Reflected earthshine reveals changing global climate and clues to seeking
> other Earths
>
> "From the middle 1980s to about 2000, they found that there was indeed a
> drop in the Earth's reflectance – enough to have increased the average
> amount of solar energy absorbed by 3.5 watts per square meter, a startling
> 1.7 percent increase.
> By comparison, human emissions of greenhouse gases have added only 2.5 watts
> per square meter to the amount of energy retained by the Earth, Goode says.
>
> Then, in 2000, the trend reversed. Earthshine increased, and the amount of
> sunlight reaching the surface began declining – an observation subsequently
> confirmed by data from orbiting satellites."
>
>
> dss
>
> David Stodolsky
> david.stodolsky at socialinformatics.org  Skype: davidstodolsky
>
>
>
>
>
>
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