News from the Ecosocialist Coalition
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- Published on Wednesday, 30 July 2014 14:40
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New York Climate Convergence!
System Change Not Climate Change members in New York City and across North America have been hard at work building for the NYC Climate Convergence from September 19-21 – three days of movement building workshops, skill-shares, teach-ins and speak-outs in the run-up to the People's Climate March. This is our chance to build a movement on radical foundations that addresses the climate crisis at its roots, a socio-economic system that values profits over people, planet, and peace.
Our registration page is now up and running, so please sign-up.
Who's coming?
Oscar Olivera – La Coordinadora (Bolivia)
Jill Stein – Green Shadow Cabinet
Christian Parenti – Author, Tropic of Chaos
Jacqui Patterson – NAACP Climate Justice Initiative
Josua Mata – Alliance for Progressive Labor (Philippines)
Olga Bautista – Southeast Side Coalition Againt Petcoke & SCNCC (Chicago)
John Bellamy Foster – Author and professor (University of Oregon)
Patrick Bond – Author and climate activist (South Africa)
Immortal Technique – Hip-hop artist
Erica Violet Lee Idle No More
And you! Click here to propose a teach-in. The deadline is August 12.
We are also proud to announce that we are partnering with LUNGS, Loisaida United Neighborhood Gardens. In addition to the classrooms and churches we are in the process of booking for the NYC Climate Convergence, teach-ins also be taking place in beautiful green space located in the East Village and Lower Eastside neighborhoods of New York.
New at
System Change Not Climate Change
Egyptian revolutionary, climate activist and lawyer Mahienour El-Massry has been unjustly jailed and needs our help. Learn about El-Massry here and join the campaign to set her free here.
Residents of economically water-boarded Detroit are losing their H20 to Homrich Wrecking Inc, a private corporation handed $5.6 million by the bankrupt municipal government to shutoff their taps. Residents have been fighting back.
In a series of exchanges, Ian Angus, Sam Gindin, Brad Hornick and Terry Moore discuss the issue of "environmental catastrophism" and whether it belongs in discussions among socialists. See Angus's most recent contribution here and the discussions leading up to it listed below the article.
Toronto-based activist Umair Muhammad, discusses going from direct action to organization through Canada's Line 9 pipeline protests.
Back to School
The SCNCC Education/Materials/Outreach (EMO) working group has drawn up a suggested study guide for chapters and affiliates to utilize:
No revolutionary formation can weather the ups and downs of movement building and class struggle without the exploration and discussion of political theory and history. Neglecting these leaves any organization more vulnerable to “common sense” thinking, or progressive language draped over the pro-market status quo. En vogue in environmental circles is the refrain that we’ve done enough talking, which has only sewn division, and because the climate crisis is so acute, we must prioritize action above all else. While action is essential, it is only useful when informed by theory. If we do not train ourselves in Marxism and the rich history of resistance to colonialism, imperialism and oppression, our actions will be shaped by the more popular middle class idealism of liberals and anarchists. SCNCC happily works with these forces in the environmental movement, but candidly asserts our goal of system change, and the embrace of working class power and ecosocialism.
The more immediate threat posed by an action-only approach is burnout. Without a theoretical grounding or an ability to assess the political moment, many activists devote countless hours to the movement only to fade away out of frustration. Setbacks are inevitable and the power and influence of corporate power and government make our work challenging. Individual willpower is finite. Unless we collectively recharge our batteries through reading, discussion and collaboration, our movement will constantly hemorrhage talented activists to the siren song of individualism and cynicism.
SCNCC’s Education, Media and Outreach working group is calling for the establishment of monthly study groups. These study groups are voluntary suggestions to SCNCC chapters, affiliates and members at large to host the discussion of articles or books during the second week of each month. The EMO working group will publish these recommendations shortly before each coalition-wide monthly call (the first Monday of the month) along with questions when possible, and work with point people in chapters to solicit feedback.
Proposed Schedule
week of Aug 11
Articles on the Merits of a Carbon Tax or What Kind of Green Jobs
Carbon Tax:
http://monthlyreview.org/2013/02/01/james-hansen-and-the-climate-change-exit-strategy
http://climateandcapitalism.com/2014/05/05/debate-ecosocialists-support-carbon-taxes/
http://climateandcapitalism.com/2014/05/12/debate-hansen-program-more-than-carbon-tax/
http://socialistworker.org/2013/03/12/whats-in-the-climate-change-bill
Or the question of labor, green jobs and a just transition:
How Green is the “Green New Deal”
From the UK Climate Jobs Campaign
and the founding document of Trade Unions for Energy Democracy
The following will likely be revised based on feedback and current debates in the movement. Not every SCNCC chapter will be able to read a book a month, so articles will supplement these readings.
week of Sept 8
Marx and Nature by Paul Burkett
week of Oct 13
Roots of Oppression: the American Indian Question by Steve Talbot
week of Nov 10
Too Many People? Population, Immigration, and the Environmental Crisis by Ian Angus and Simon Butler
The EMO working group will also keep a list of recommendations, so please forward any articles or book titles you think worthy.
Another books to consider
Naomi Klein’s new book This Changes Everything: Capitalism vs. The Climate
Be sure to check SystemChangeNotClimateChange.org daily for the news and information you need to know in the fight for a society that puts people and planet before profits.
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