Communism, Capitalism and The Climate Emergency We're Still in Denial About
Recommended food for thought from Indi Samarajiva and the BBC
Dear Human of Planet Earth,
A couple weeks ago I wrote a rough proposal to eliminate the profit motive for the fossil fuel industry. In response, all free marketeers must have bristled at least, and near-exploded at worst! My suggestions would have come across as criminal to any free-market enthusiast.
Especially if you are a free market enthusiast yourself, I challenge you to listen to BBC’s story of Big Oil v The World and not feel your conviction wobble at least, and collapse at best.
Should the industry that has deliberately manipulated governments and citizens to accelerate our climate emergency and draw us closer to unthinkable tipping points, really continue to be rewarded financially?
Their actions really are a crime against humanity. At the least, we should be mandating them to get to work by way of restorative justice. I stand by the thinking behind the idea of removing the profit motive from the fossil fuel industry. Relinquishing profit, and running on an ‘as-needed basis’ only is the least they can do.
After viewing Big Oil v The World, let me know if you agree wholeheartedly! It’s not really about punishing them, though I sympathise with the strength of feeling against the industry. It’s about helping them change - through enforced globally agreed legislative frameworks.
The story of Big Oil v The World begins in the 1970’s when ESSO’s own research team recognises fossil fuels are responsible for the greenhouse effect - and then begins a war that continues to this day, to defend the industry against change and protect fossil fuel industry growth. The three-part documentary’s episodes are titled 1.Denial, 2. Doubt and 3.Delay.
The BBC says the documentary will be available for another 11 months on their iplayer app but if you can’t watch it immediately, set aside time to do it soon. If you’re anything like me, what doesn’t get scheduled doesn’t get done!
Climate Communism anybody?
I really thought Fidel Castro’s death would be the end of communism, but communism has been experiencing a resurgence in the last ten years.
I’m a fan of Indi Samarajiva’s writing. Like many new generation communists, he argues that communistic ideas might just be an important part of building a new world in the anthropocene - a new world that’s agreeably habitable for everyone, and not just the mega-rich. You can read his work for free by subscribing on the link below:
Or on Medium:
Till next time!
With Love,
Your Friendly Neighbourhood Radical,
Croydon,
London,
That patch of earth known today as the United Kingdom
Lat +51.51 Long, -0.118