Climate Camp Is Dead! Where Now For Climate Action?
Infantile Disorder | 02.03.2011 17:02 | Climate Chaos | Social Struggles | Workers' Movements
Last night, the Camp for Climate Action released an 'official' statement, announcing that there would no climate camps either this summer or in the future. Citing the "near-collapse of the financial system; droughts in the Amazon, floods in Pakistan; a new government in the UK; a violent programme of unprecedented cuts; food prices rising and real incomes eroding; revolutions across the Middle East", the group has decided to "team up with the anti-cuts and anti-austerity movements and play a crucial role in the revolutionary times ahead". I welcome the statement, and the consensus reached at a Dorset meeting last week.
In 2008, after two years of skepticism, I decided to attend the camp at Kingsnorth in Kent, where people were protesting against a proposed new coal-fired power station. On returning home, I wrote a lengthy piece called 'Climate Camp and Class' for Shift magazine. The article examined the successes, failures and contradictions of the camp.
In one paragraph, I described how:
"Though the Climate Camp website is declaring the week a resounding success, it can surely be judged a valiant failure in terms of its stated objectives. E.ON were inconvenienced for a few hours, but Kingsnorth was not shut down. Some campers learned about non-hierarchical organising and strategies for sustainable living, but this made little impact on the wider public. ‘Direct action’ became a media buzzword, but only as something irresponsible and to be feared. Carbon emissions became a hot topic, but in the context of the above, only as ‘footprints’ to feel guilty about."
I argued that this outcome was inevitable, given a structural weakness of 'green and black anarchism':
"The idea of a class-based transformation of society is rejected – in some cases because of righteous disillusionment with traditional forms of class struggle, in many cases because the individual is from a relatively wealthy background. When such people see impending environmental catastrophe as the number one threat to their lives, their philosophy often becomes more anti-technological than anti-capitalist. Taking this perspective to its logical conclusion, capitalism and the state wouldn’t be much of a problem if they could somehow leave people alone in ecological peace, but since they can’t, both must be overcome. But with international class-based solidarity apparently ruled out, the result is that “setting an example” (as one woman put it) becomes the main method of ideological recruitment."
However, "setting an example" is difficult - if not impossible - when:
"Due to the built-in ideological structures of mainstream media and the state, the example set is of using those compost toilets, getting attacked by police, and putting yourself in mortal danger on your week off. Understandably, this is not an example that many are willing to follow."
I wholeheartedly agree with yesterday's statement that "In 2011 the climate science is as strong as ever – and the need for action on climate change never greater – but the political landscape is radically different." But if "setting an example" of green living is not working (never mind the fact that it's horribly patronising), and we discount the idea of competing capitalist states doing anything serious about climate change, the only option left is to completely reorganise society, and abolish the profit motive. On paper, the Climate Camp propaganda always acknowledged this, but in reality climate campers did little to put it into practice.
In 2008, a group called Workers' Climate Action held a session at the Kingsnorth camp, and many went to talk with Kingsnorth workers at their local pub. In summer 2009, Workers Climate Action supporters were instrumental in agitating for an occupation at the Vestas wind turbine factory on the Isle Of Wight, when it was threatened with closure.
The 2009 Vestas occupation gave hope to climate activists
The Vestas occupation failed in its aim of keeping the factory open. The reasons for this were many and varied. From the government's perspective, then Environment Minister Ed Miliband was determined to outsource to China, which was much cheaper and therefore more profitable. As for our side, the Vestas workers remained geographically and politically isolated, receiving insufficient practical solidarity from workers and activists around the country.
However, the occupation did demonstrate a couple of very important things. One: governments are only interested in 'green jobs' in so far as they are profitable. Two: the demand for a 'green economy' is therefore a revolutionary demand.
In 2011, let us be in no doubt: the only way to create a sustainable future for our species is to have a working class-led revolution. I'm delighted that many dedicated and talented climate activists have chosen to focus more of their energy on this cause, because the class struggle and the environmental struggle are one and the same.
In one paragraph, I described how:
"Though the Climate Camp website is declaring the week a resounding success, it can surely be judged a valiant failure in terms of its stated objectives. E.ON were inconvenienced for a few hours, but Kingsnorth was not shut down. Some campers learned about non-hierarchical organising and strategies for sustainable living, but this made little impact on the wider public. ‘Direct action’ became a media buzzword, but only as something irresponsible and to be feared. Carbon emissions became a hot topic, but in the context of the above, only as ‘footprints’ to feel guilty about."
I argued that this outcome was inevitable, given a structural weakness of 'green and black anarchism':
"The idea of a class-based transformation of society is rejected – in some cases because of righteous disillusionment with traditional forms of class struggle, in many cases because the individual is from a relatively wealthy background. When such people see impending environmental catastrophe as the number one threat to their lives, their philosophy often becomes more anti-technological than anti-capitalist. Taking this perspective to its logical conclusion, capitalism and the state wouldn’t be much of a problem if they could somehow leave people alone in ecological peace, but since they can’t, both must be overcome. But with international class-based solidarity apparently ruled out, the result is that “setting an example” (as one woman put it) becomes the main method of ideological recruitment."
However, "setting an example" is difficult - if not impossible - when:
"Due to the built-in ideological structures of mainstream media and the state, the example set is of using those compost toilets, getting attacked by police, and putting yourself in mortal danger on your week off. Understandably, this is not an example that many are willing to follow."
I wholeheartedly agree with yesterday's statement that "In 2011 the climate science is as strong as ever – and the need for action on climate change never greater – but the political landscape is radically different." But if "setting an example" of green living is not working (never mind the fact that it's horribly patronising), and we discount the idea of competing capitalist states doing anything serious about climate change, the only option left is to completely reorganise society, and abolish the profit motive. On paper, the Climate Camp propaganda always acknowledged this, but in reality climate campers did little to put it into practice.
In 2008, a group called Workers' Climate Action held a session at the Kingsnorth camp, and many went to talk with Kingsnorth workers at their local pub. In summer 2009, Workers Climate Action supporters were instrumental in agitating for an occupation at the Vestas wind turbine factory on the Isle Of Wight, when it was threatened with closure.
The 2009 Vestas occupation gave hope to climate activists
The Vestas occupation failed in its aim of keeping the factory open. The reasons for this were many and varied. From the government's perspective, then Environment Minister Ed Miliband was determined to outsource to China, which was much cheaper and therefore more profitable. As for our side, the Vestas workers remained geographically and politically isolated, receiving insufficient practical solidarity from workers and activists around the country.
However, the occupation did demonstrate a couple of very important things. One: governments are only interested in 'green jobs' in so far as they are profitable. Two: the demand for a 'green economy' is therefore a revolutionary demand.
In 2011, let us be in no doubt: the only way to create a sustainable future for our species is to have a working class-led revolution. I'm delighted that many dedicated and talented climate activists have chosen to focus more of their energy on this cause, because the class struggle and the environmental struggle are one and the same.
Infantile Disorder
Homepage:
http://infantile-disorder.blogspot.com/
Comments
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Let's all stop consuming animal products
02.03.2011 19:44
It's a well known fact, (from a 2006 report by the UN), that animal agriculture is THE biggest cause of human caused emissions of greenhouse gasses, responsible for at least 24% of all emissions, (which is more than the entire transport industry combined). So whilst we can do many things to combat climate change, the most effective action we can possibly take is to give up our addiction to animal products...the simple fact is there's no such thing as a meat-eating environmentalist, it's an oxymoron!!!
and have a real effect on climate change
Homepage:
http://ftp://ftp.fao.org/docrep/fao/010/a0701e/a0701e00.pdf
Electricity from Renewables is the correct political position.
02.03.2011 22:56
These workers unions were seen by Morris, Marx, and Engles as the vehicles to the workers state, and thusly were frequently smashed and their members killed, wounded, or jailed for even daring to question the bosses private systems. Big money for private pollution was the so-called victor forever as the bosses state had far more guns on their side and the workers lived in a semi-enslaved condtion while the bosses made all the laws and the workers were worked to the death early.
That was no matter because the bosses then would hire unemployed right on the spot to make the shortfall of man power never ending. The socialist society that William Morris wrote about was cast in future when the workers and their unions grew stronger so that they could overthrow the pollution causing classes and industries, and own and contol them by re-tooling to wind, tidal, and solar power that transforms to electricity and ends the fossil fuel burn out of oxygen (now at 36% of replacment of CO2 which we cannot live-on), and O2 going fast to fail-safe and beyond, with the continued burn-out policies of the capitalist-Imperialist bosses state. Beware said William Morris in large public meetings that workers must not fight workers in other countries for the ill-gotten gains of Empire. They cannot win by killing off their fellow workers in other countries.
Look now to the present conservatives getting ready to war against the peoples of Libya for Imperialist humanity reasons. Everyone with any sense at all knows that their war machine is a dirty pollution machine that conqerors the planets life--plants, animals, and peoples, air, land, and water. It is not a liberation humanity cause at all, it is very much a polluted liers unjust war, and illegal violence they are organizing, and the unemployed will be press ganged into their military for new made cannon fodder.
The democracy and freedoms of the Libyan people will be forgotten as it was and is in the lying wars in Afghanistan, Iraq, Palestine, Iran, Pakistan, Yeman, Bahrain, Eygpt, Tunisia, Jordan, Lebanon, etc. all of which British and American Imperialist forces supported cheap dictators that they propped up for the resources of the area, namely oil.
Great golly omighty, they are being exposed and caught up by peoples climate camps, and direct actions that stop their lying propaganda. The article above serves well in the necessary exposure and explanation that the way forward is for the working classes to take over the ownership and control of the means of production, and re-tool to the non-pollution solutions such as wind, tidal, and solar power with help from hemp and marijuana to replace all oil products, which it can do while supplying the farmers with a livable organic future.
The anti-fascist side set the liberation path as scraping the war machine, and its manufactury, as they are the main machine holding all pollution in place locally, nationally, and internationally. The CDN First Division says that.
You have nothing to lose but male domination of democracy, and a world matriarchy to gain. Double democracy by electing woman equally 50-50- as nature necessitates. That is a political task for the 21st century. End pollution causing wars, not endless wars for more and more pollution. That is how the workers can become real heroes, and liberaters saving the planets life for present and future generations. Workers of the world, unite!!
Union Jack.
sustainable..
03.03.2011 11:39
BTW Electricity wasn't invented.
William Gilbert
another way to have a real affect on climate change
03.03.2011 12:25
If anyone wants more advice on simple things you can do to make a difference please email me at
ethical_consumerism_will_never_change_things (a) getagripyouidiot.com
yacob
Echos of dissent network
04.03.2011 13:01
They say:
To make sure that we don’t lose what we have learnt over the years, nor the capacity, relationships, networks and skills, we have created four interim working groups to help us in this transition:
1. A group to maximise the usefulness of our material resources.
2. A group to address ongoing communications plus learn from and document our experiences over the past few years.
3. A group to investigate new organisational forms, structures and tactics for possible next experiments.
4. A group to organise a meeting to share ideas about these next experiments.
or is it the same old, same old:
One group to rule them all, One group to find them,
One group to bring them all and in the darkness leave them walking in the wrong direction without a clue!
twice shy
re: ethical_consumerism_will_never_change_things
04.03.2011 15:57
Should we all just fuck everyone and everything over just because our own individual ethical choices won't make a difference on their own? Maybe I should get a job as a merchant banker or become a Tory MP or a cop. After all, these ethical choices won't make any difference in the grand scheme of things, right?
Your kind of negativist cynicism is OK up to a point, but it is kind of energy-sapping and inspires apathy and a fatalistic attitude.
Individual lifestyle decisions are propaganda by the deed. It's one of the cornerstones of anarchism! It's only a problem if you think that it will change things on its own. Of course it needs to be tied to an attack on the power structure too. But I'm not waiting until the mythical "revolution" comes before making a start on things. That's just a cop-out.
And veganism isn't really ethical consumerism anyway. Food is a necessity, it's not like it is some crappy consumer product we can do without. If we are going to eat, we may as well avoid things that cause animal suffering or destruction of the environment. In fact, veganism is anti-consumerist, because if you look at the entire supply chain, you will actually be consuming much less.
anon
re: ethical consumerism, veganism
04.03.2011 18:01
vegan food - no animal suffering
meat - animal suffering
mass agriculture is incredibly destructive, to the land, and animals that once lived on the land. I don't by any means agree with the meat industry, but i also don't agree with any industry that produces anything on such a large scale. Be it meat, grains or vegetables.
I don't think its ok to be cynical, saying that ethical consumerism will never change anything. Saying that fuck it, let's just get jobs in a bank etc.
But I don't think it will. What you choose to buy and eat won't have an affect on these massive industries.
It's the bigger actions that we take that will change things.
To say that there is o such thing as a meat eating environmentalist is ridiculous.
And also to buy 100% vegan, fair trade, organic food is expensive. You have to come from a place of privilege to be able to do that.
james
re: ethical consumerism, veganism
04.03.2011 21:45
Most meat production does involve mass agriculture though - I think meat production uses about ten times the amount of grain per weight of meat compared to just using the grain directly. So if the world went vegan we could see 90% of the land used for agriculture return back to nature. Of course rising populations would quickly reverse that, but that's another argument...
What sort of "bigger actions" are you thinking of that will change things?
Of course an individual person won't have an effect on massive industries, but if enough people do it, it definitely will. Corporations are amoral, they are about making money first and foremost, so if meat doesn't make them money they won't sell it.
And actually being vegan is way cheaper than being a meat eater. Have you seen how much meat and dairy products cost?!
anon
Climate change is system independent
07.03.2011 20:38
Beno Klee