Ecosocialism

Ian Angus, Facing the Anthropocene: Fossil Capitalism and the Crisis of the Earth System (New York: Monthly Review Press)

(Full disclosure: Ian Angus and MR Press sent me a review copy of this book, which isn’t otherwise available in the UK yet, and Angus re-posted a piece from Made Ground at Climate & Capitalism the other day.)

Key conclusion of Anthropocene Working Group report to Geological Congress: the "Great Acceleration" in the second half of the 20th century marked the end of the Holocene and the beginning of a new geological epoch.

The evidence is overwhelming: earth entered a new geological epoch in about 1950.  In an official report to the International Geological Congress, the Anthropocene Working Group made that case, and proposed to move towards official adoption in the next 2-3 years.

A balance sheet of the movement to block the cross-Toronto ‘Line 9’ pipeline project.

With notes on the meaning of “climate justice” and the relationship of socialism to social movements.

This year’s Democratic platform has the fingerprints of progressive movements all over it. A $15 minimum wage, a pathway to cannabis legalization, improvements to Social Security, police accountability, and financial reforms — including a tax on speculation — all make an appearance.

“Economic expansion is unavoidable under capitalism, and destruction of the planet is the inexorable result.”

Green capitalism: the god that failed
by Richard Smith
World Economics Association eBooks, 2015

reviewed by David Klein