alanjjohnstone
Forum Replies Created
-
Posts
-
Petteri Taalas, who is secretary-general of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said he fully supported UN climate goals, but he criticised radical green campaigners for forecasting the end of the world.
Dr Taalas agrees polar ice is melting faster than expected, but he’s concerned that public fear could lead to paralysis – and also to mental health problems amongst the young.
“We are fully behind climate science and fully behind the (upcoming) New York climate summit”, he said. “But I want to stick to the facts, which are quite convincing and dramatic enough. We should avoid interpreting them too much. When I was young we were afraid of nuclear war. We seriously thought it’s better not to have children. I’m feeling the same sentiment among young people at the moment. So we have to be a bit careful with our communication style.”https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-49689018
However,
Dennis Hartmann from the University of Washington in Seattle can’t hide their feelings completely: “I do not use the ‘scary’ word.
“I prefer to talk about moving on to an economy in harmony with the natural world, but still providing a better life to humans. This is entirely possible. It is disheartening to me personally that we are moving faster in the opposite direction in most of the world. Much of what we are doing in increasing atmospheric CO2, extinction of species and destruction of ecosystems is nearly irreversible. So maybe it is time to be frightened.”Prof John Church from the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia says
“What is scary is our lack of appropriate response. Our continued lack of action is committing the world to major and essentially irreversible change.”There will be no need to study monetary theory as in socialism we have gone beyond the exchange economy and the need for a universal equivalents such as money, although some socialist still adhere to the old idea of labor time vouchers which we believe to be superfluous today.
There are ideas today worth exploring , such as in “management” techniques and logistics and Artificial Intelligence applied to production. Specialist areas to expand upon and bring to popular attention so they can be discussed and applied.
There are still a full debate upon how democracy can be effectively applied and in what sort of structures, again involving the adaptation of modern new technology.
Increased knowledge and experience will still be bringing producing ideas for people to learn about and debate.
As for today, socialists have to understand how capitalism operates to answer those who present their “better improved” versions of it as a political choice for people. We have begun this process by critiquing MMT proponents who wish governments to adopt it.
The other theme that the media may wish to make the headlines (but I don’t think they will) is to make it a personality fight between Boris or Jeremy and concentrate the campaigns on their individual qualities but mostly on their failings, hoping to garner support for the LibDems and the so-called moderate factions within both the Tories and Labour, that the BBC/Guardian appears to emulate more and more.
SW Region have come up with what they hope is adopted as new slogan
“World for the Workers, Workers for the World” if we decide to jump on the environmentalist bandwagon but I don’t think climate change will rival Brexit and EU as issues of the day that concern voters.
But to add, I am not decrying everything the party has done.
Edinburgh is embarking on the pedestrianisation of large parts of the city centre, in particular around the university district. I’m sure similar projects are planned for many other cities and towns.
This could have presented opportunities for the revival of out-door speaking venues, bringing soapbox oratory to a new generation that have never encountered such before – the return of the public forum of ideas.
Sadly, we now lack the experience we once had in the past when we produced so many skilled speakers. It is a shame we cannot take full advantage of urban redevelopment.
However, the new open spaces are offering venues for street stalls that some branches are already making very good use of. Every branch should be urged to hold a weekly street stall, and the Party should help out by providing the banners and flags and stocks of literature to draw attention to their presence.
I think the imminent election will be seen as a referendum on Brexit and Remaining so nationalism or internationalism (albeit limited to the EU) will be the basic ideas being presented.
But being specific about the benefits of in or out, is entering dangerous ground of sectional interests.
We have to challenge the whole idea of national identity and that neither British nor European expresses being World Citizen.
“Neither the UK or the EU but the World is our home”…something along those lines
I recall chatting to someone while I was working alongside him and he talked about listening to the socialists at the Mound and how the speaker pointed him out and said that there were dummies in shop windows better dressed so who was the real dummy.
He was quite indignant at the time, being in his Sunday best and thought of himself as a dapper dresser, but even after 30 years, he still remembered what was said and understood the message. The name of the Party however no longer registered with his memory but the message remained fresh in his mind.
Socialism is not inevitable, we have always argued against the determinist automaticity of believing it will come. It requires the active will of the people.
And yes we have often said that the Party is only just a contributory factor to the acquirement of consciousness and that our existence as an organization can pave the way to socialism more smoothly.
But I suggest that your assumption that we have put over the direct case for socialism, in various and changing ways doesn’t really reflect the propaganda or promotional efforts in the past. We have been rather predictable and our campaigns mundane. Even this week we are relying upon a means of conveying our ideas that will not be welcome by environmentalists so how can we expect them to be receptive. I hastily add it should not be all about style at the expense of substance.
I bow to your knowledge at detecting false quotes but I think my meaning was pretty much clear. We need to think out the box and experiment differently with the way we engage with fellow-workers. Even if they forget our name, our ideas may sink in and stay.
The answer to this is very easy. No need to guess. Do a simple poll.
Ask people if they have heard of us.
If they have, ask if then ask if they are aware of what “sort of socialism” we stand for.
Of the 6 or 7 million who have been directly contacted by us, then there will be evidence of its influence.
I don’t know the cost of doing such but there are commercial businesses out there who will conduct an opinion poll on our behalf for a fee.
Let them also lay out the results by age-group. We have to engage with the younger generation to survive so let us find out what they know of us.
How many know about us when we have not been in the public eye as we were once with outdoor meetings and selling the Standard on street corners. At one time I think we did have a brand and name recognition. I don’t think we have that nowadays.
Actually, we can do a very basic poll ourselves.
Stand on Clapham High St, outside HO, and ask passers-by. Even with the HO blatantly as the backdrop I don’t think the figure will be high.
Sometimes the truth does hurt, especially when some have invested whole lives in promoting the Party and/or socialism so I can sympathise with the reluctance to accept weaknesses or failure.
It is far too simplistic to argue that our fellow-workers have had the opportunity to hear from us and so it all must be their fault for rejecting the ideas.
We abrogate any responsibility that we may have not have communicated sufficiently well in a good enough manner to be understood.
Or we deterministically pass the buck to the fact that the “system” is too powerful, that capitalist ideology will always prevail in dominating the consciousness of our fellow-workers.
I haven’t given up trying but I am questioning if what we do are the right things and if a different approach might be required. Re-appraising tactics and strategy is not self-flagellation. But it can be painful, I grant you.
Didn’t Einstein once say doing the same thing over and over again but somehow expecting a different outcome is a symptom of insanity.
Climate demonstrators protested at Germany’s biggest car show in Frankfurt on Saturday, using the event as a platform to demand the car industry address its role in damaging the environment. Between 18,000 and 25,000 protesters, with more than 10,000 of these on bicycles who blocked the motorways A661 and A648 on their journey to the IAA protest. The protest is a further sign of a snowballing global movement calling on world leaders and industry to take action against the destruction and degradation of the environment.
Merkel opened the show with a warning on climate change, yet set out no plans for regulations, only asking the industry to invest more resources in producing affordable and sustainable electric cars.
https://www.dw.com/en/thousands-of-climate-protests-target-frankfurt-auto-show/a-50435008
Another article on the Lexiteers for the Brexit Party.
Extinction Rebellion’s co-founder, Roger Hallam, has been arrested for the second time in three days after trying to fly a drone near Heathrow Airport during an environmental protest, the group said.
Seems he is determined to be a martyr for his cause and wishes to become a political prisoner. Won’t this divert resources and attention away from the goal?
Another ominous sign
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/sep/14/pompeo-iran-saudi-arabia-oil-yemen-houthi
US and Saudis blame Iran for drone attacks
An interview on Libcom which is very illuminating and very much worth a read to counter those who consider it all a Western imperialist anti-Chinese plot.
https://libcom.org/news/protests-hk-talk-workers-group-12092019
“BKW: Is the movement connected to foreign powers like the U.S.A.?
WG: It is not at all controlled/led/funded by foreign powers in any sense. I would say this movement is not even controlled by any masterminds at all, neither local nor foreign. Yes, the U.S.A. has a long history of funding opposition politicians, media and union in Hong Kong, and Hong Kong opposition politicians often lobby in Washington or Geneva. But I don’t see these people playing important roles in mass protests over the past years, from 2003 till now. Actually their influence is declining because the majority of pro-democratic people in Hong Kong no longer trust political leaders…… The motivation of going to the US Consulate is to persuade the US Congress to pass the ‘Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act’. If passed, key person in HK government who are responsible for repression may be sanctioned by the US government. Many protesters believe it is a good idea as an revenge towards the HK government, align with the spirit of ‘if we burn, you burn with us’… It shows that Hong Kong people has no national identity and no one care Chinese government’s accusation of cooperating with foreign conspiracy…”
Lib Dem and their eco-policies. I suppose they are reflective of the middle of the road progressive reformers.
Citizens’ assemblies will decide what action should be taken on the climate crisis,
The Treasury’s ability to stymie green measures will be neutralized,
The Green Investment Bank will be revived,
There would also be more support for onshore wind and solar schemes by increasing incentive and changing planning laws.
A department of climate change,
Councils would be given new powers to cut emissions,
An end the sale of diesel and petrol cars by 2030 – 10 years sooner than the Conservatives
A moratorium on airport expansion
An end to fracking,
With the UK achieving net-zero carbon status by 2045 – five years sooner than the current government goal.
Just in case democracy becomes runaway like the climate change, “Citizens’ Assemblies would not replace politicians’ decision-making, but would inform the options,” said Hobhouse.
From the SWP to Brexit Party.
Not surprised by the political careerist trajectory of this person
Climate protesters have blockaded a bridge in central Melbourne, Australia with police moving in and arresting multiple people. 300 activists descended upon the bridge to call for action around the climate emergency.
“The seriousness of the global climate crisis demands mass non-violent, disruptive action to get the kind of urgent change we need if we want to avoid catastrophe,” spokeswoman Miriam Robinson said. “We know this type of action is inconvenient for some and we don’t set out to disrupt people’s lives needlessly,” she said.
