Re: [A-List] Fwd: Globalisation and revolution in the XXIst century

["Tom Warren" <tomzbox@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Writes Bob:

> Maybe we could agree that the pre-condition for any hopes at all for a
> livable planet is the defeat of the Empire.....

Yes agreed, at least in the sense you mean it, Bob. "Collapse" of Empire is
more likely. The mistake is to think that it follows, therefore, that we can
allow ourselves the time to wait until the defeat of Empire before
socialists begin taking decisive action regarding the environment.

My concern is that the precious time left for Socialists to help insure a
liveable planet is eaten up by the agenda of people like Martens who don't
display eco-awareness. I don't mean to be argumentative to you, but the real
change needs to be in seeing that action to avert the environmental
holocaust you speak of must be *concurrent* with action to defeat the
Empire, instead of the biosphere waiting upon completion of Martens' agenda.
 When the revolution succeeds, it must from day one already have
bio-awareness as a fundamental principle.

> But it will take us all to win the preconditions for survival;
> reds,greens,anarchists, even the occasional national bourgeois-democrat.

AGREED. I bet there is even a bordgewah capitalist or two who could play a
positive role, if we held a gun to their heads. And we must remember that
those pre-conditions include a viable biosphere.

> So; I will help you convince the comrades that the primary contradiction is
> between Imperialism and the eco-system, if you help me convince the Greens
> that reforming capital is a non-starter. Then, after the revolution, we can
> both join the new "left opposition", and
> continue the struggle!

Thanks, Bob, I appreciate your sentiment and your spirit of ecumenism. My
affinity for Socialists lies in their advanced perceptions about the issues
of imperialism and the eco-system. Many Socialists "get it" about that, ...
but I hardly ever see them say so publicly (prolly out of solidarity with
their comrades who live in denial.)<g>

"Greens" are convinced that Mother Nature will reform capitalist/
imperialist excesses if somebody else doesn't first. Very few place much
faith in human action to reform capital as a viable solution, actually. For
most of us, the fundamental struggle is to convince ALL socio-economic
ideologies that they must adjust their attitudes to conform to environmental
justice.  However, I have at every opportunity explained to my environmental
activist friends that socialism ain't the enemy, but an ally in the good
fight. I will continue to say this, but it would certainly help to be able
to point to a Socialist who speaks out publicly regarding environmental
justice instead of insisting it take a back seat.

Meanwhile, large primates have 5% of their natural habitat left, and it will
be none by 2020. Tigers have a decade of existence left, whales perhaps 25
years, coral reefs perhaps 50-75. Atlantic fish stocks may be doomed as we
write these emails. We face the end of petroleum in 35 years. Right NOW, 30
billion dollars (capitalist dollars, socialist dollars, Romanov dollars,
martian dollars) spent in 2002 would protect 75% of the biodiversity on the
planet, in those regions designated as endangered "hot spots" by the
community of scientists who study these things. 10 years from now 90% will
be lost and no amount of money will save them. I hope you can appreciate my
unwillingness to wait until "after the revolution" to continue work on these
issues at the highest priority. I support your work on revolution as I can,
I promise.

> May we all, together with our hopes and dreams, survive the coming year(s).
>
> Best wishes,  Bob

Thanks, I certainly join you in those wishes.

tom

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