Blockades to Strikes – Rallies to Rebellion
There are many criticisms and much discussion around the environmentalist movement, with all the to and fro and arguments there is one thing that is certain. So long as it progresses along the path it is on at this moment; it is bound to be a movement of impotence. That is to say, it is marching into its own grave. It cannot be said, however, that it will have no impact. Concessions will be handed out and minimal efforts will be made by the ruling elites to satisfy the activists, only false change will be made.
What is it meant by false change? Let’s take a look at the situation as it stands
For years climate change has been THE hot topic, the focus of many a protest, scientific paper, debate, etc. So much effort, so much study, so much arguing. All this energy has gradually manifested itself into an army of activists who have put their heart and soul into bullying the (apparently) relevant people into taking action to avert disaster. What enormous amounts of PASSION! Surely the more shouting at politicians there is, the more of what we want will happen! On the contrary, by forcing officials to give speeches about global warming, the only thing being produced is a load more hot air!
“Think plastic bag bans despite many products still being wrapped in plastic or electric cars still being powered by energy from coal powerplants or even city councils declaring a climate emergency without any real ability to enact meaningful policies”
One can only wonder at the sheer amount of time wasted by well-meaning people. They can’t really be blamed after all. The people at the top of capitalist society (and indeed all class society) implant into the heads of the lower class, knowingly or not, their own rancid ideology in order to keep them in check. It is precisely the ideological taint of capitalism that fools people into thinking that the ruling class can simply be bullied into change. It is a most insidious tactic, allowing the seeds of rebellion and resistance to exist within the mind of a person yet to shackle them with pretenses engineered to keep them docile. An idea that is dangerous to the ruling order neutralized by one that keeps it intact.
Here’s a dangerous little idea: Big business and the government are in bed with each other and have vested interests in the opposition to green energy.
Neutralizing idea: This can be solved by putting the “right” people into government and putting regulation on big business.
Dangerous little idea: maybe we shouldn’t be so consumerist and waste so much plastic.
Neutralizing idea: I can keep consuming so long as it’s all recyclable. No more plastic straws!
Dangerous little idea: The world needs to change.
Neutralizing idea: I can’t do it, I’m only one person. Alternatively, I can do it as one person!
Dangerous little idea: I can change the world!
Neutralizing idea: By chaining myself to a fence!
It may be environmentally friendly to a limited extent to recycle, resist the temptation of consumerism, live off green energy and all that good stuff, but the problem however is that all those things are unprofitable. So in order to have people feel like they’re helping “save the planet”, the same entities threatened by the need to adapt make small concessions such as donations or bans or slogans plastered over products. Think plastic bag bans despite many products still being wrapped in plastic or electric cars still being powered by energy from coal powerplants or even city councils declaring a climate emergency without any real ability to enact meaningful policies. This is what is meant by false change, more accurately described as the illusion of progress; apparent “solutions” that do nothing to greatly affect the root cause of an issue (in our case, capitalism) yet are advertised as the saving grace we so desperately need.
What a tragedy it is that all the recent environmental activism in the world has, as of yet, been unable to create real change.
That begs the question though, what is the real change that is needed? What amazing, fantastical change to society could enable us to overcome the present crisis?
The answer is simple, no more being at the mercy of those who would destroy the planet for a buck. No more production for the sake of profit. Instead, the people must take their destiny into their own hands, make the economy rationally planned as to provide for all.
What it means for the environmental movement is equally as simple. It must break free of the capitalist ideology that currently encapsulates it. Every activist must understand the teachings of Marx and Lenin. They must understand the interconnected nature of the capitalist political economy, that the climate crisis they fight against is but a product of the pursuit of profit and the only way to progress is by the dismantling of capitalism.
Slogans to actions
Blockades to strikes
Rallies to rebellion
What is needed isn’t multiple single-issue organizations united by the intention to throw insults at the government, but a unified one hell bent on replacing the dictatorship of capital with a worker’s democracy which is the duty of communists to deliver!