FIRST INTERNATIONAL ECOSOCIALIST MEETING

On October 7th and 8th 2007, a group of ecological activists from thirteen countries met in Paris to inaugurate the Ecosocialist International Network. The International Ecosocialist Manifesto, written some years ago by Joel Kovel and Michael Löwy, was the starting point for this initiative. "Ecosocialism is a word that does not yet appear in any dictionary," said one of the conveners of the event, "yet we believe that it represents the single best hope for healing the planet and saving society from ecological devastation."

More than 60 activists from Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Cyprus, Denmark, France, Greece, Italy, Switzerland, United Kingdom, and the United States belonging to various political parties and ecological movements took part in this meeting. It was decided to organize a larger ecosocialist international conference on January 2009, in association with the next World Social Forum in Brazil. The conference elected a coordinating committee which will help to develop the network in its opening phase; its members are: Ian Angus (Canada), Pedro Ivo Batista (Brazil), Jane Ennis (UK), Sarah Farrow (UK), Danielle Follett (USA/France) Vincent Gay (France), Joel Kovel (USA), Beatriz Leandro (Brazil), Michael Löwy (France/Brazil), Laura Maffei (Argentina), George Mitralias (Greece), Jonathan Neale (UK), Tracy Nguyen (UK) Ariel Salleh (Australia), Eros Sana (France) and Derek Wall (UK). The committee intends also to incorporate members from China, India, Africa, Oceania and Eastern Europe.

Ecosocialists believe that the driving force of the ecological crisis is the ruthless pressure of the capitalist system to expand, in a process which destroys not only the integrity of nature but also the ecological basis of human survival. They therefore reject pseudo-solutions that only adjust the system, and seek basic changes in society and its relationship to nature. Ecosocialism is a dynamic synthesis between 'red" and 'green' approaches. It has no fixed blueprints for transforming society and takes a critical viewpoint toward the experiences maide in the name of socialism during the last century. Ecosocialists are united in the belief that if we are to have a worthwhile future, the whole world needs to come together to drive capitalism from the stage and create an alternative society based on principles of social and environmental justice as well as popular participation. Thus the network sees itself as enabling communication and solidarity among the ever-increasing numbers of people and organizations who are coming to this realization.


For further information, please consult www.ecosocialism.org.