By Ben Courtice
How can a socialist organisation in a rich country with a huge carbon footprint ignore climate change? How can it remain completely aloof from the growing movement to stop climate change?
Australia’s largest socialist organisation on campus is Socialist Alternative, and their record on climate change is almost non-existent. They have a pamphlet on the issue (published some time ago, rarely seen on their stalls). They show up at big protests to sell their magazine (which occasionally has an article on why market solutions won’t fix climate change). In 2008 they had two members who were involved in organising the Melbourne Climate Emergency Rally, but have not lifted a finger since on climate issues. Their forte is handing out leaflets and putting up posters, but they wouldn’t even put up posters for the Switch Off Hazelwood protest on their regular poster runs.
One of the greatest weaknesses of the climate change movement is the lack of youthful and energetic new activists: much of the backbone of the movement is older, experienced or not, coming from suburban groups. The campus environment groups are small and just starting to come together to organise for climate movement events.
Socialist Alternative, who believe in the need for conscious political leadership of the working class (and students) on all matters of oppression, have a claimed 100 members in Melbourne. They have active clubs on several campuses. How much could their membership contribute if they really tried to support the climate movement? Even without abandoning other priorities, they could have a big impact.
Read more...
How can a socialist organisation in a rich country with a huge carbon footprint ignore climate change? How can it remain completely aloof from the growing movement to stop climate change?
Australia’s largest socialist organisation on campus is Socialist Alternative, and their record on climate change is almost non-existent. They have a pamphlet on the issue (published some time ago, rarely seen on their stalls). They show up at big protests to sell their magazine (which occasionally has an article on why market solutions won’t fix climate change). In 2008 they had two members who were involved in organising the Melbourne Climate Emergency Rally, but have not lifted a finger since on climate issues. Their forte is handing out leaflets and putting up posters, but they wouldn’t even put up posters for the Switch Off Hazelwood protest on their regular poster runs.
One of the greatest weaknesses of the climate change movement is the lack of youthful and energetic new activists: much of the backbone of the movement is older, experienced or not, coming from suburban groups. The campus environment groups are small and just starting to come together to organise for climate movement events.
Socialist Alternative, who believe in the need for conscious political leadership of the working class (and students) on all matters of oppression, have a claimed 100 members in Melbourne. They have active clubs on several campuses. How much could their membership contribute if they really tried to support the climate movement? Even without abandoning other priorities, they could have a big impact.
Read more...
