Outline
OUTLINE
THE GLOBAL ECOLOGICAL CRISIS
1. POWERPOINT PRESENTATION OF THE CLIMATE CRISIS
THE GREENHOUSE EFFECT
THE CARBON CYCLE
IMBALANCE
CAUSES OF GLOBAL WARMING
FUTURE EVOLUTION OF THE CLIMATE
CONCRETE CONSEQUENCES
STOP TEMPERATURE RISE AT 2 C ??
CLIMATE POLICIES KYOTO – RECENT EVOLUTION – BARBARIC MANAGEMENT ( Pentagon)
BUDGETS FOR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT IN ENERGY SECTOR
NECESSITY OF AN ANTICAPITALIST STRATEGY
LINK SOCIAL AND ECOLOGICAL DIMENSION
URGENT SECTORIAL DEMANDS
2. NECESSITY OF AN ECOSOCIALIST ALTERNATIVE
The ecological crisis is a crisis of the historically determined relation between human society and its environment caused by the specific characteristics of the capitalist mode of production.
production of use values → fulfilment of human needs production of exchange values → realisation of surplus value (money) incompatibility between capitalism and the necessary respect of natural limits
Productivism or production for the sake of production
constant pressure of competition labour done by workers is replaced by labour done by machines renovation aims at extra profits creation of new and artificial needs and outlets consumption for the sake of consumption
Theory of “green”capitalism is a lie. They pretend that we can decouple growth of GDP from the ecological footprint of production. increased efficiency cqannot go on indefinitely higher efficiency is always compensated by the growth of production (cars!)
What are the limits of capitalism?
Capitalism is not an object but it is a social relation Capitalism contains a double exploitation: of human labour and of nature Marx: capital has no other limit than capital! Capitalism is ecological blind All proposals for green capitalism stumble on the logic of profit
The mirage of internalisation
Assign a price to natural resources? This would mean further commodification of natural resources! Any regulation under capitalism must follow the logic of profit. What price should be assigned to sunshine?? Carbon taxes in order to stop using fossil fuels is socially unsustainable
3. RATIONAL MANAGEMENT OF HUMAN METABOLISM WITH NATURE
Marx means by this the suppression of classes and NOT a technocratic solution. Need for organised mastery of exchange of matter between society and the environment. This rational exchange can only be realised by the associated producers. The fight against global warming AND against disgraceful living conditions. Two alternatives : leave capitalism behind us or remain inside capitalism!
Strong constraints on the transition towards socialism
Stop all harmful and unnecessary productions is not enough. We must change the property relations. We must change the way we produce and organise mobility. Absolute necessity for organic farming and diminishing meat production. A real ecosocialist alternative consists in producing less,transport less, consume much less energy, replace all fossil fuels by renewables!
A new philosophical vision on society and its link with nature
Humans are not the masters of nature. Our definition of socialism must be enlarged. Get away from a compartmentalized, utilitarian and linear vision on nature. Energy sources and the way they a applied are not socially neutral. Dangerous tipping points should be avoided. We should be critical about the growth of labour productivity. Increase in 'life' labour should be compared with experiences in the “care”sector. Priorities other than material growth. Free goods and services for everyone; radical reduction of working hours. ECOFEMINISM
Women's oppression, inequality, women's liberation. The division of labour between men and women devalued women's work. Women became the central figures in maintaining life and caring for the overall well being of men and children. Women = private sphere Men = public sphere, politics, economic power, religion, art, science, technology, the army. Women's movement in the 20th century, real progress.
Women took the forefront in many local ecological struggles in the second half of the 20th century. Via Campesina – World March of Women – Women farmers in the Third world ; a new awareness amongst women; also women in mobilisations against nuclear weapons and for peace.
The concept of Mother Earth and the parallel between the exploitation/oppression of women and of nature.
The struggle for an ecological sustainable environment combined with the struggle for social justice involves “the other half”of humanity and can make the ecosocialist/feminist or ecofeminist movement a central material force for an ecosocialist and ecofeminist alternative.