Thursday, August 07, 2014

Wall St's Ecological Response

“The financial system, profit-based production and the growth imperative of capitalism are three of the core reasons why capitalism cannot prevent ecological disaster. The fourth Horseman of the Climate Apocalypse is the nature of inter-state competition otherwise known as imperialism, which acts as the international counterpart to domestic competition between corporations, and prevents binding and effective international agreements on climate change...Science tells us what must happen; capitalism tells us that it doesn’t matter...

...Such is the psychosis buried at the heart of a system whereby money overrides physics. The fact that continued operation calls into question, in its current form, the sustained existence of our entire biosphere, still cannot overcome the remorseless logic of capital accumulation. Not for nothing did Marx declare the motto of every capitalist, “Après moi, le déluge!”...

...Therefore, we also need to recognize the need to replace capitalism with a more rational, cooperative, democratic and humanistic system in sync with our “species being” and nature. If we don’t, we will lose our only home.”

From an essay by Chris Williams, author of ‘Ecology and Socialism: Solutions to Capitalist Ecological Crisis’ (Haymarket, 2011), chair of the science dept at Packer Collegiate Institute and adjunct professor at Pace University in the Dept of Chemistry and Physical Science.

The full article can be read on Dissident Voice website.

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