Mike Foster
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Thanks to everyone who came along to Birmingham for this weekend's Environment-themed Summer School. Hopefully everyone had a good time, and enjoyed meeting up with friends and comrades. Glenn opened the weekend on Friday evening with an interesting – and sobering – talk about how the profit motive leads to production methods which damage the natural world in order to save or make money. Afterwards in the lounge, there was plenty of time to chat (and get boozed up) while the rain tipped down outside.Saturday started with Janet's talk about how the global (and especially American) military's activities harm the environment, an issue which goes ignored in the mainstream media. Between the talks, we could browse the bookstall run by Dave, take a look at the display of past Socialist Standard articles about the environment, have a walk around the gardens, or head to the pub. In the afternoon, Paddy discussed how socialists could and should respond to the growth of veganism and the unsustainable environmental impact made by the meat and dairy industry. Written versions of the talks were among the articles included in the event's publication, also featuring pieces about fracking and agriculture, along with one of Richard's insightful poems. In the evening, Carla's quiz tested our knowledge of environmental issues, and congratulations go to the winning team. Then it was back to the bar, with the ginger cat occasionally popping in. On Sunday morning, Brian rounded off the weekend with his talk speculating about how production in a socialist society would need to be run to minimise climate change. Then, after lunch, it was sadly time to say cheerio. Thanks again for an enjoyable weekend.
Here's one last reminder about our Environment-themed Summer School, being held in Birmingham Friday 21st – Sunday 23rd July. Residential tickets cost £100 (or £50 concessions), and for this you get accommodation and all meals at Fircroft College, four talks, a quiz, an exclusive publication, an exhibition, a second-hand bookstall and the chance to meet up with fellow comrades! To make a booking, or for more details, go here: http://www.worldsocialism.org/spgb/event/summer-school-birmingham-0Bookings will have to close on Saturday 15th, so don't delay if you want to come along.
There are still a couple of places left for Summer School, and bookings will be closing on Saturday 15th July. To make a booking, or for more details, go here: http://www.worldsocialism.org/spgb/event/summer-school-birmingham-0
There are still a few places left for Summer School. For more details or to make a booking, visit this page: http://www.worldsocialism.org/spgb/event/summer-school-birmingham-0
The remaining Summer School session can now be revealed!Socialism Saves The World! How Quickly Could Socialised Production Resolve Climate Change? – a talk by Brian GardnerRevolution is long overdue of course – but the threats climate change presents to the habitability of the planet for humans in the long-term keep growing. Capitalism's apparent continued inability to face up to this existential challenge, makes this an issue of increasingly critical importance. As a future socialist revolution unfolds, what sort of planet would an international, politically-aware working class be likely to be taking over? Capitalist states and corporate sectors are currently outlining various future scenarios, and the market is busy laying bets on which technology might save the day. Shouldn’t socialists also look to this uncertain future? Would a global socialist society have to contend with a growing and hungry population? Would there be an urgent need for rapid industrial and agricultural development? And how would this impact on an already dangerously overheating planet? Brian opens this session by looking at why we shouldn’t shy away from asking these often tricky questions. The talk will discuss some of the ways in which economic decisions might be made in the absence of the market, and then asks whether a system based on production for use will really be able to meet the fundamental challenge of a warming planet, in time?
There's still one more Summer School session to be confirmed, and an announcement is on the way! The event will also include an exclusive publication, an exhibition about the SPGB's views on environmental issues, and a second-hand bookstall. There aren't many places remaining now, so if you're interested in coming along I'd suggest making a booking shortly!
The next Summer School talk which can be confirmed will be given by Glenn Morris:DESTROYING THE HAND THAT FEEDS US – Why Capitalism cannot solve our environmental problemsAs scientists continue to warn us of species decline, climate change, pollution and environmental collapse, what is it that makes most people continue to believe that Capitalism has the answers? Glenn Morris will look into these issues and present the case for a new society in which the threats to our environment can be addressed and how society can work alongside nature without being instrumental in its downfall.
Good to hear of the radio slot – best of luck, Bill. And I thought Danny did very well on the telly!
The design is eye-catching, and the bulk of the text puts our ideas across in a positive, optimistic way. Sorry, but I'm not sure if the 'don't vote for Brian Johnson' lines work, though.
Mike Foster wrote:The publication from 2015's Summer School is already available from the online shop: http://www.worldsocialism.org/spgb/catalog/non-party-publications/new-perspectives-socialism and I'll look into making last year's one more widely available.Last year's Summer School publication is now available for sale here: http://www.worldsocialism.org/spgb/catalog/non-party-publications/money-talks
The other two publications weren't produced by the SPGB, and the New Perspectives On Socialism one includes speculative articles which don't necessarily reflect party canon, hence them listed as non-party publications. I'm guessing another reason why they're listed for sale rather than having the text on the website is to recoup the cost of the printed copies in stock!
The publication from 2015's Summer School is already available from the online shop: http://www.worldsocialism.org/spgb/catalog/non-party-publications/new-perspectives-socialism and I'll look into making last year's one more widely available.
Thanks for your suggestions, robbo203. The remaining talks are still being planned, and I'll see if your thoughts can be incorporated into them.The last two Summer Schools have been accompanied by pamphlets which include versions of some of the talks (and most recent Summer Schools have had special publications), so there's a chance that something similar will be produced again this year…
Saturday evening will feature a quiz, run by Carla Dee:One World, Our World. A Quiz.What do you know about climate change, the natural world and urban environments? Test your knowledge here.
The next talk which can be confirmed will be given by Paddy Shannon:The Vegans Are Coming!The currently accepted socialist view of vegetarianism is that it’s a ‘lifestyle choice’. What this means is that, while a future socialist society may choose to be vegetarian or vegan as it pleases, the question has no immediate relevance to the class struggle we need to win right now, and therefore it’s not for us to tell workers what to do.Yet this view is arguably being overtaken by events in wider society, which is having to face the realities of climate change including the huge and unsustainable impact of meat production. The anti-meat propaganda movement is gaining muscle in the wake of the 2009 Stern report, the 2010 UN call for a global move towards veganism, and just recently Simon Amstell’s controversial BBC mockumentary Carnage (see May Socialist Standard TV review). Perhaps it’s no longer a question of socialists telling workers what to do, but of workers telling socialists what to do. How should we react to this? After all, if meat production is unsustainable in capitalism it is likely to be just as unsustainable in socialism. Does it make sense, in that case, for us to remain aloof from the debate?This session explores the various arguments with a view to clarifying what our position as socialists ought to be.
