Newman takes the view that "Capitalism is not sustainable by its very nature. It is predicated on infinitely expanding markets, faster consumption and bigger production in a finite planet." and "Only by breaking up corporate power and bringing it under social control will we be able to overcome the global environmental crisis."

He is rightly cynical of the meagre efforts of corporations. "Solutions need to come from people themselves. But once set up, local autonomous groups need to be supported by technology transfers from state to community level." and he sees the need for organisations such as the Just Transition Alliance which "was set up by black and Latino groups in the US working with labour unions to negotiate alliances between "frontline workers and fenceline communities", that is to say between union members who work in polluting industries and stand to lose their jobs if the plant is shut down, and those who live next to the same plant and stand to lose their health if it's not." and he asks "What kinds of organisational structures will work as climate change makes pretty much all communities more or less "fenceline" and almost all jobs more or less "frontline"?"

Interested in doing something practical on this? Why not get involved in the Rising Tide campaign. And rather than getting a cheap flight to Europe for the summer you could come to the Earth First! Summer Gathering (16th - 20th August) and the Climate Camp (26th August - 4th September).

Peak Oil on Indymedia [ 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 ]
George Monbiot on Climate