Comments on: We Should be Outraged http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2007/12/we-should-be-outraged/ a radical newsletter in the struggle for peace and social justice Mon, 01 Dec 2008 21:02:58 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: anthony http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2007/12/we-should-be-outraged/#comment-11031 anthony Mon, 17 Dec 2007 04:06:26 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2007/12/we-should-be-outraged/#comment-11031 Mulga brain you are right on the money.Capitalism unfortunately describes a social system of value exchange between human beings.When this energy is so misdirected and corrupted by the so called elites who really have no concern/life outside of the power and money game the pathological destruction of the biosphere is the consequence.As you say its days of reckoning are well along.The idea of a controlled Malthusian policy is a an artifact reductionist virtual media analysis creates.Capitalism is by nature anarchic if it has any pure manifestation.Unfortunately there is no control over events by any one group.the result is the high probability of the Earth being overun by weed species and this is the optimistic scenario.The annihilation of nursery areas we barely understand could result in the desertification of the planet at our present rate of stupidity.Cannabalism is one of the least taboo areas visited by the blogger with vision but real collapse is a breath away with current conventional thinking and the precarious state of the food chain.But you can count on that old capitalist maxim "eat the sheep".IMPEACH bad governments before world courts NOW!!!.Rule of Law not civil war.IMPEACHMENT is the only sane course of action .But then its hard to see the pathological insanity loose at the moment adopting a sane solution. antin04@hotmail.com Mulga brain you are right on the money.Capitalism unfortunately describes a social system of value exchange between human beings.When this energy is so misdirected and corrupted by the so called elites who really have no concern/life outside of the power and money game the pathological destruction of the biosphere is the consequence.As you say its days of reckoning are well along.The idea of a controlled Malthusian policy is a an artifact reductionist virtual media analysis creates.Capitalism is by nature anarchic if it has any pure manifestation.Unfortunately there is no control over events by any one group.the result is the high probability of the Earth being overun by weed species and this is the optimistic scenario.The annihilation of nursery areas we barely understand could result in the desertification of the planet at our present rate of stupidity.Cannabalism is one of the least taboo areas visited by the blogger with vision but real collapse is a breath away with current conventional thinking and the precarious state of the food chain.But you can count on that old capitalist maxim “eat the sheep”.IMPEACH bad governments before world courts NOW!!!.Rule of Law not civil war.IMPEACHMENT is the only sane course of action .But then its hard to see the pathological insanity loose at the moment adopting a sane solution.
antin04@hotmail.com

]]> By: Mike McNiven http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2007/12/we-should-be-outraged/#comment-11030 Mike McNiven Mon, 17 Dec 2007 04:05:23 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2007/12/we-should-be-outraged/#comment-11030 Mumblebrain, Thank You! Mumblebrain,

Thank You!

]]> By: Donald Hawkins http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2007/12/we-should-be-outraged/#comment-11028 Donald Hawkins Mon, 17 Dec 2007 02:23:21 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2007/12/we-should-be-outraged/#comment-11028 US representatives tried to persuade the IPCC to tone down this language, arguing that the word “irreversible” is imprecise. In one example, they argued that should the earth’s major ice sheets melt, they might eventually reform and who said all the great minds are gone. US representatives tried to persuade the IPCC to tone down this language, arguing that the word “irreversible” is imprecise. In one example, they argued that should the earth’s major ice sheets melt, they might eventually reform and who said all the great minds are gone.

]]> By: Mulga Mumblebrain http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2007/12/we-should-be-outraged/#comment-10920 Mulga Mumblebrain Sat, 15 Dec 2007 22:23:04 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2007/12/we-should-be-outraged/#comment-10920 Climate change is simply Capitalism in action. As long ago as the mid-19th century Marx and Engels mentioned, in passing, the ability of capitalism, with its gargantuan Protean strength and lack of moral restraint, to not only destroy societies and ancient social relationships, but the fabric of Nature itself. The mechanics of climate change were outlined by Arrhenius as long ago as the 1890's, and we now have fifty years of CO2 measurements showing its inexorable rise. Concern began slowly mounting twenty years ago, rising now to a cacophony as panic sets in, particularly amongst the more intelligent, informed and decent members of society. What has been the reaction of the capitalists who rule the world? Did they mobilize the 'magic of The Market' to avert catastrophe? Did they bear in mind their responsibility to the unborn future generations, even their own descendants? Of course not! They put their short-term profits first, as they are required by law and Market Fundamentalist ideology to do. They financed a network of loony and fraudulent disinformationists, some even veterans of the tobacco denial industry, to confuse the stupider elements of the populace. And they crucially realised that characterising climate change as an ideological, Left vs Right question, would enroll the entire vast Rightwing media propaganda apparatus. The result has been predictable. Rightwing propaganda apparatchiks, cunning and unscrupulous, but usually, when you get down to it, ignorant and stupid, mobilised their legions of brain-dead, self-centred, morally obtunded followers, and another twenty years have been lost. These twenty years now seem to have been crucial. There is a very real question whether we have already passed 'the point of no return', and one must then face a crucial question, or two. Bearing in mind that the rise in carbon-based greenhouse gases, and the other less crucial if often more potent,non-carbon GHGs, will not just cause worse droughts, greater floods, more violent cyclonic storms and the spread of deserts and the shrinking of polar ice and tropical forests. Crucially it is causing acidification of the oceans, and their thermal stratification. This will cause the already near collapsed fisheries of the world to finally crash, and beyond that doomsday scenarios that mirror the supposed causes of the Permian mass extinction are wretched possibilities. Always to remember that global warming may be the worst of our capitalism induced ecological woes, but deforestation, pollution, species loss and degradation of agricultural soils and myriad other disasters have not been addressed in any meaningful way. Taking as a given that our capitalist rulers and their media and political stooges may be psychopaths, but they are surely not imbeciles, what explains, not just the lack of remedial action, but the furious acts of disinformation and mendacity that spew from the Denialism Industry they created? I've shifted over the years to believing that this indifference is not merely the habitual attitude of the psychopath where they are totally indifferent to the suffering of others and crazily believe suffering can be quarantined in the poor world. I've finally come to the conclusion that this must be, at some level, a deliberate policy of Malthusian de-population, where the rich world intends to batten down the hatches while the Horsemen of the Apocalypse ravage the poor world. Occasional expeditions will be launched, a la Iraq, to secure vital resources, and these neo-colonial endeavours will be marked as in Lebanon, Iraq, El Salvador or Indo-China, by the use of death-squads, disappearances and torture. We must face the facts that the rulers of our societies are not rational, responsible individuals who will one day see the light and launch a great global campaign of ecological repair and human advancement. They are mostly evil, greedy and stupid, and the system drives out or kills any other type who accidentally falls within its bounds. Unless they and the ultimately anti-human, inhumane and malignant system they serve and of which they are quasi-living manifestations , Market Fundamentalist Capitalism, is utterly destroyed, we are stuffed, and soon. I would imagine the prospects of this occurring, when the psychotics have a near monopoly on the means of violence, no compunction in using it and time is very, very short, are infinitessimally small. Climate change is simply Capitalism in action. As long ago as the mid-19th century Marx and Engels mentioned, in passing, the ability of capitalism, with its gargantuan Protean strength and lack of moral restraint, to not only destroy societies and ancient social relationships, but the fabric of Nature itself. The mechanics of climate change were outlined by Arrhenius as long ago as the 1890’s, and we now have fifty years of CO2 measurements showing its inexorable rise. Concern began slowly mounting twenty years ago, rising now to a cacophony as panic sets in, particularly amongst the more intelligent, informed and decent members of society. What has been the reaction of the capitalists who rule the world? Did they mobilize the ‘magic of The Market’ to avert catastrophe? Did they bear in mind their responsibility to the unborn future generations, even their own descendants? Of course not! They put their short-term profits first, as they are required by law and Market Fundamentalist ideology to do. They financed a network of loony and fraudulent disinformationists, some even veterans of the tobacco denial industry, to confuse the stupider elements of the populace. And they crucially realised that characterising climate change as an ideological, Left vs Right question, would enroll the entire vast Rightwing media propaganda apparatus. The result has been predictable. Rightwing propaganda apparatchiks, cunning and unscrupulous, but usually, when you get down to it, ignorant and stupid, mobilised their legions of brain-dead, self-centred, morally obtunded followers, and another twenty years have been lost. These twenty years now seem to have been crucial. There is a very real question whether we have already passed ‘the point of no return’, and one must then face a crucial question, or two. Bearing in mind that the rise in carbon-based greenhouse gases, and the other less crucial if often more potent,non-carbon GHGs, will not just cause worse droughts, greater floods, more violent cyclonic storms and the spread of deserts and the shrinking of polar ice and tropical forests. Crucially it is causing acidification of the oceans, and their thermal stratification. This will cause the already near collapsed fisheries of the world to finally crash, and beyond that doomsday scenarios that mirror the supposed causes of the Permian mass extinction are wretched possibilities. Always to remember that global warming may be the worst of our capitalism induced ecological woes, but deforestation, pollution, species loss and degradation of agricultural soils and myriad other disasters have not been addressed in any meaningful way. Taking as a given that our capitalist rulers and their media and political stooges may be psychopaths, but they are surely not imbeciles, what explains, not just the lack of remedial action, but the furious acts of disinformation and mendacity that spew from the Denialism Industry they created? I’ve shifted over the years to believing that this indifference is not merely the habitual attitude of the psychopath where they are totally indifferent to the suffering of others and crazily believe suffering can be quarantined in the poor world. I’ve finally come to the conclusion that this must be, at some level, a deliberate policy of Malthusian de-population, where the rich world intends to batten down the hatches while the Horsemen of the Apocalypse ravage the poor world. Occasional expeditions will be launched, a la Iraq, to secure vital resources, and these neo-colonial endeavours will be marked as in Lebanon, Iraq, El Salvador or Indo-China, by the use of death-squads, disappearances and torture. We must face the facts that the rulers of our societies are not rational, responsible individuals who will one day see the light and launch a great global campaign of ecological repair and human advancement. They are mostly evil, greedy and stupid, and the system drives out or kills any other type who accidentally falls within its bounds. Unless they and the ultimately anti-human, inhumane and malignant system they serve and of which they are quasi-living manifestations , Market Fundamentalist Capitalism, is utterly destroyed, we are stuffed, and soon. I would imagine the prospects of this occurring, when the psychotics have a near monopoly on the means of violence, no compunction in using it and time is very, very short, are infinitessimally small.

]]> By: gerald spezio http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2007/12/we-should-be-outraged/#comment-10856 gerald spezio Sat, 15 Dec 2007 00:13:55 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2007/12/we-should-be-outraged/#comment-10856 Inescapable evidence of accelerating consequences of increasing global heating; The rate of ice-mass loss from the Danish-owned island (Greenland map) increased by 250 percent during a period spanning May 2004 to April 2006 relative to the period from April 2002 to April 2004, the study concludes. Inescapable evidence of accelerating consequences of increasing global heating;

The rate of ice-mass loss from the Danish-owned island (Greenland map) increased by 250 percent during a period spanning May 2004 to April 2006 relative to the period from April 2002 to April 2004, the study concludes.

]]> By: Ron Horn http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2007/12/we-should-be-outraged/#comment-10836 Ron Horn Fri, 14 Dec 2007 19:22:49 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2007/12/we-should-be-outraged/#comment-10836 Capitalism is caught in an insolvable contradiction in relation to global pollution and its many effects including global warming. This system, which at its core is the private ownership of economic property resulting in the private accumulation of socially produced wealth, relies mostly on the consumption of mass produced goods. It doesn’t matter if these goods are harmful to people such as weapons and environmentally harmful pesticides or useless items such as cosmetics or shoddily produced products that wear out in a short time. They will be produced because they generate wealth for the owning class. To preserve our resources by producing only what we really need, and to produce those things to function efficiently and to last for lengthy periods of time with a little maintenance is simply not in the interests of capitalists. And then there are the never ending wars for markets and resources that have accelerated since the advent of this system. So this is precisely why we are witnessing so much resistance to doing what needs to be done to save our planet. This system is a disaster and must be changed if we are to survive as a human race Capitalism is caught in an insolvable contradiction in relation to global pollution and its many effects including global warming. This system, which at its core is the private ownership of economic property resulting in the private accumulation of socially produced wealth, relies mostly on the consumption of mass produced goods. It doesn’t matter if these goods are harmful to people such as weapons and environmentally harmful pesticides or useless items such as cosmetics or shoddily produced products that wear out in a short time. They will be produced because they generate wealth for the owning class. To preserve our resources by producing only what we really need, and to produce those things to function efficiently and to last for lengthy periods of time with a little maintenance is simply not in the interests of capitalists. And then there are the never ending wars for markets and resources that have accelerated since the advent of this system. So this is precisely why we are witnessing so much resistance to doing what needs to be done to save our planet. This system is a disaster and must be changed if we are to survive as a human race

]]> By: gerald spezio http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2007/12/we-should-be-outraged/#comment-10816 gerald spezio Fri, 14 Dec 2007 16:29:47 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2007/12/we-should-be-outraged/#comment-10816 For two years it has been obvious to any genuinely scientific observer that global heating trumps every other issue. The factual basis of global heating from fossil fuel burning and CO2 production are glaring and inescapable. Hundreds of thousands of innocent people have already died. I am a member of a species of ostriches. As one person who has done his best to absorb the best science about the consequences of runaway non-linear global heating, it is very difficult to have much hope for the future? For two years it has been obvious to any genuinely scientific observer that global heating trumps every other issue.

The factual basis of global heating from fossil fuel burning and CO2 production are glaring and inescapable.

Hundreds of thousands of innocent people have already died.

I am a member of a species of ostriches.

As one person who has done his best to absorb the best science about the consequences of runaway non-linear global heating, it is very difficult to have much hope for the future?

]]> By: Deadbeat http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2007/12/we-should-be-outraged/#comment-10810 Deadbeat Fri, 14 Dec 2007 15:46:28 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2007/12/we-should-be-outraged/#comment-10810 I think global warming advocate need to make better connections. If you were able to link BASF to fascism then why not make similar connection with global warming. I saw no references to capitalism in the article. The problem with coal mining has been around for decades well before the global warming issue became mainstream. In addition I detected a degree of arrogance by the author ridiculing folks with the following reference ... <i>Although that is not an accurate characterization, it does reflect a prevalent attitude of those who rely on Rush Limbaugh and friends for their news.</i> It would seem that Valley Watch has to expand their reach if they desire to reach out to more people. Why should people feel the same sense of outrage to "global warming" when their may have other pressing needs and interest. For example I saw no linkage to wasteful energy use and the huge military budget. Ending the Iraq War and cutting the military budget would go a long way to reduce energy consumption. There was no mention in the article of reducing military spending. There was no outrage from the author regarding this issue. Unless equality is addressed I don't think there will be much interest by the public on this issue. Perhaps "middle class" activist may have the time and money to be interested in global warming but for most workers who are tying to survive day to day they are not going to be as interested in an issue whose effects are not immediate. Finally the author assumes that "we" are equal actors and "equally" responsible for the environmental deprivation resulting from Capitalism. We can only become "equal" actors when we have equality. I think global warming advocate need to make better connections. If you were able to link BASF to fascism then why not make similar connection with global warming. I saw no references to capitalism in the article. The problem with coal mining has been around for decades well before the global warming issue became mainstream.

In addition I detected a degree of arrogance by the author ridiculing folks with the following reference … Although that is not an accurate characterization, it does reflect a prevalent attitude of those who rely on Rush Limbaugh and friends for their news.

It would seem that Valley Watch has to expand their reach if they desire to reach out to more people. Why should people feel the same sense of outrage to “global warming” when their may have other pressing needs and interest. For example I saw no linkage to wasteful energy use and the huge military budget. Ending the Iraq War and cutting the military budget would go a long way to reduce energy consumption. There was no mention in the article of reducing military spending. There was no outrage from the author regarding this issue.

Unless equality is addressed I don’t think there will be much interest by the public on this issue. Perhaps “middle class” activist may have the time and money to be interested in global warming but for most workers who are tying to survive day to day they are not going to be as interested in an issue whose effects are not immediate.

Finally the author assumes that “we” are equal actors and “equally” responsible for the environmental deprivation resulting from Capitalism. We can only become “equal” actors when we have equality.

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