The Danish Marxists of Socialistisk Standpunkt
produced this leaflet for the climate change demonstration on Saturday
in Copenhagen, in which they explain the need to combine the struggle
with the need for the socialist transformation of society, for
democratic planning of production according to the needs of working
people and not profit.
All
politicians and heads of society are talking about saving the climate.
But it all remains just words. When it comes to action, things are
moving in the opposite direction. We have seen how one big workplace
after another with climate friendly technology has announced mass
sackings or closures. We only have to mention Vestas, Siemens or the
Danish shipyard at Lindø.
A question of class
Some people argue that in questions about climate and environment
“we are all in the same boat”. This is not true. This question – as all
other important questions – is a question of class interests. It is the
ruling class who benefits from pollution as long as it provides a
profit. It is the working class and their families – the big majority
of society – who have an interest in making sure that production,
construction and transport is planned in a responsible manner.
Profit: a threat to the environment
It is sheer madness to shut down hi-tech and climate-friendly
production. In many cases, production is moved to countries in Asia,
where production is on a lower technological level and with greater
costs for the environment – but the wages are lower and the profits
somewhat bigger. In other cases, production of wind turbines is shut
down due to “lack of demand”, although they make handsome profits. In
all cases, profit is the determining element. Questions about the
entire planet’s climate are decided on the basis of a small group of
non-elected shareholders’ concern about how best to make a profit from
other people’s labour. This is not an accident – this is the way the
capitalist “market economy” works. As long as the economy is run this
way, things will never change. Under capitalism, profits come before
the environment.
Capitalism is the problem
It is a paradox that while humanity has never had better means at
its disposal to solve all its problems, we still face the biggest
crisis in the history of our species. Humanity has at its disposal
sufficient technology and means of production to eradicate hunger and
diseases such as malaria and tuberculosis, which every year kill
millions of people. Humanity has excellent technologies in the fields
of solar energy, wind energy, water power and a promising potential in
the field of fusion energy. The only thing hindering this potential
from becoming a reality in all fields is the fact that production and
research is managed for profit instead of what is best for society.
Capitalism is blocking the way for humanity to solve its problems.
Socialism is the solution
Politicians in the whole world can reach as many agreements as they
wish; they can write all the papers they want. This will never help
combat climate change. They don’t control production, and one cannot
control what one doesn’t own. The only thing that can make a difference
is if the biggest and most important companies in the world start
climate-friendly production under a democratic plan. This can never
happen as long as the economy works according to capitalist anarchy. It
can only happen if big business is taken over by the state and driven
by a democratic, socialist plan. A part of such a plan will include a
massive development of environment-friendly technology. This will not
happen by itself; it can only happen if we are active in the labour
movement to pressure the workers’ parties to take up the demand of
nationalization of big business.
Join the IMT!
We need an international organisation of struggle for socialism and
climate-friendly production. The International Marxist Tendency unites
class fighters from around 40 countries all over the world, including
Denmark, Sweden, Germany, Poland and Britain. Sign up for a
subscription to our paper and contact us to take part in our activities.
Click here to read this leaflet in the original Danish
See also….
Capitalism, Carbon Trading and Copenhagen
Capitalism, Socialism and the Environment
