Sun And Bike.

     Managed out on the bike yesterday, just the same wee circuit that I abandoned last week because of roadworks temporary traffic lights in two sections, and single lane driving always a bit of a nuisance to an old guy like me. However all that had gone so it was just a half a dozen wee runs round the circuit from Cadder cemetery out past Lowmoss and towards Lenzie, turn and join the main Kirkintilloch Bishopbriggs road round the Cadder cemetery and repeat about half a dozen times or so. Just enough to remind the legs what they are supposed to do.

Visit ann arky's home at https://radicalglasgow.me.uk

What Is Wrong With Extinction Rebellion?

           Though I have always believed that the people have to take to the streets in a drive to change society to one that sees to the needs of all of society, not just the privileged few, I just can’t accept the direction of this particular protest. Yes I accept that climate change is a rapidly impending disaster, and yes we have to tackle it head on. However to ignore the root cause of this looming disaster, which is the capitalist economic system, which is part and parcel of the state system, is doomed to failure. This particular protest is aiming to get the state apparatus to legislate for “green capitalism”, a mythical beast that belongs in the category of fairy tales. Capitalism, green or any other shade, can only survive by continual growth, ever increasing consumption and growth of profit for the few. These are its essence, its blood vessels for survival, and it is obvious that these very goals are the very cause of the climate disaster that we face. To “save the planet” we have to stop the drive for continued growth, drastically cut consumption and end the mantra of everything must produce a profit. In other words we must destroy capitalism if we are serious about “saving the planet”. 

 

 

       I consider it naive in the extreme to expect capitalism ever to embark on a drive that will destroy it, an end to perpetual growth, and to work towards a continual cut in consumption, as both these aims would destroy its need for ever growing profits. Profit, wealth and power is what capitalism is all about, no matter its colour. If you wish to “save the planet” then get behind those who wish to destroy capitalism and its bastard twin, the state, as that is the only direction that will take you down the road to “saving the planet”. 

       Yes, take to the streets, grow your numbers, create disruption, stop the city, but have no illusions about who your real enemy is, capitalism brought us to this catastrophe, it can never get us out of it. Capitalism of any shade or colour and “save the planet” ideals, will never make pleasant bed-fellows, one will have to kill the other to survive, they are totally incompatible. 

Visit ann arky's home at https://radicalglasgow.me.uk

Where Do We Live When We Finally Screw The Planet?

 

       A call for all you environmentalists, Earth Firsters, etc., to share you ideas, actions, hopes and fears. Magazines like Earth First can only survive because of people like you, if you like and want the magazine, then put pen to paper, of course today it might be finger to keyboard, but you know what I mean.

From Tarcoteca, a Call from Earth First:

We want your writing!
For a semi-regular zine of activist reflections and actions.

       This is an invitation for articles offering a critical analysis and reflections on Earth First! and related environmental and social justice direct action movements, how we organise and the actions we take. Contributions can be about actions in the UK or international. We also welcome book reviews, activist resources, short rants, illustrations, cartoons, poems and photographs. We suggest 500 – 2000 words for articles, but contact us if you want to do something longer.
        We aim to have a zine in print and online by the Earth First! winter moot 2017. All articles will be copyleft and you can choose whether to write anonymously. Deadline November 30 2016.
      Also contact us if you want to join our editorial collective or offer us funding. zine@earthfirst.org.uk or contact us if you want to send an article by snail mail.

Visit ann arky's home at www.radicalglasgow.me.uk

It's Going Down.

         There is no doubt that capitalism is destroying the earth, turning into a planet that can't support civilised human life. A depressing statement, but is there anybody out there that can see the future blossoming into a world fit for all, under the present economic system? Save humanity, kill capitalism, save the planet, kill capitalism, I don't see any alternative. The time may never be better to bring an end to capitalism, as at present it is facing major crisis after major crisis, it lurches from disaster to an emergency situation, the world's debt keeps spiralling into the stratosphere, though poverty runs ragged over the world, production keeps producing more than people can buy. If it were a beast, it would be humane to put it out of its misery. Only then will the ordinary people of this world be able to bathe in the warmth and light of justice and freedom.

This from Kickstarter:

A magazine of anarchist news & practice across so-called North America, compiling the best texts published to itsgoingdown.org

Visit ann arky's home at www.radicalglasgow.me.uk

EARTH DAY -- ANTI-CAPITALISM DAY!!

Sunday April 22^nd

the 42^nd celebration of Earth Day.

Wikipedia,

         Earth Day is a day early each year on which events are held worldwide to increase awareness and appreciation of the Earth's natural environment. Earth Day is now coordinated globally by the Earth Day Network,[1] and is celebrated in more than 175 countries every year.[2] In 2009, the United Nations designated April 22 International Mother Earth Day.[3] Earth Day is planned for April 22 in all years at least through 2015.[4]

         The name and concept of Earth Day was allegedly pioneered by John McConnell in 1969 at a UNESCO Conference in San Francisco. The first Proclamation of Earth Day was by San Francisco, the City of Saint Francis, patron saint of ecology. Earth Day was first observed in San Francisco and other cities on March 21, 1970, the first day of spring in the northern hemisphere. This day of nature's equipoise was later sanctioned in a Proclamation signed by Secretary General U Thant at the United Nations where it is observed each year. About the same time a separate Earth Day was founded by United States Senator Gaylord Nelson as an environmental teach-in first held on April 22, 1970. While this April 22 Earth Day was focused on the United States, an organization launched by Denis Hayes, who was the original national coordinator in 1970, took it international in 1990 and organized events in 141 nations.[5][6] Numerous communities celebrate Earth Week, an entire week of activities focused on environmental issues.

        Well we all know that if we want to do something to preserve the earth on which we all live and depend, then we have to think of getting rid of corporate capitalism. We can celebrate Earth Day by doing something simple, like forget the car and/or public transport when possible and walk or take the bike. Plant a tree, don't buy anything, decide where possible to grow your own veggies. There are a million small ways we can all do something to protect the environment, but the damage will still go on as long as we don't change the system under which must of the damage occurs, capitalism. It is the continual drive to control world markets by large multi-national corporations that is ripping the heart out of the planet. Everything must be done on a massive scale, whole swaths of land are turned into a colossal chemical driven agricultural factory, mountains are ripped apart and polluted for their minerals, the sea is vacuum cleaned of its fish. Everything has to be on a gigantic scale to feed the greed of the corporate world. Until we address that problem all the little efforts of turning the heating down one degree, taking less time in the shower, only boiling enough water for the amount of tea you require, etc. will be of no avail. The planet can support the human race and all its other diverse species, but it can't support the greed of corporate capitalism.

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