Articles
Thursday, January 23, 2020
Labour went into the 2019 general election with an ambitious programme to tackle climate change. If Labour had won there would have been challenges delivering the Green New Deal, however Labour lost so the task facing the movement is even greater. Market forces left to their own devices have failed to respond to climate change in any meaningful way The issue is pressing and we cannot afford to wait till the next election to get change. We need to promote the technologies which will mitigate climate change and use the leverage that we have in local government, through community groups, trade unions and other bodies to begin to make change happen now.
Wednesday, January 22, 2020
The Conservative victory at the 2019 general election was a negative blow in the battle to save our planet from the effects of global warming and climate change. Given the urgency of the issue activists cannot afford to give up. We can learn from other successful grassroots campaigns in the past in winning commitment and forcing action
Tuesday, January 21, 2020
Book review. The book considers the significance of groups and individuals who have acted "disloyally" out of deeply held principles, against the regime in their countries.
Wednesday, October 9, 2019
The Brexit crisis has come to a head with Prime Minister Johnson's confrontational tactics, which have served to unite the Remainer majority in Parliament. It is now intent on stopping a No Deal Brexit. Johnson has turned on his own MPs who dare to dissent, expelling recent former ministers and Tory grandees. A general election is now inevitable, but Labour would find one fought solely on Brexit difficult as it has shifted further in the direction of Remain, but still needs the support of Leave voters. It will need once again to focus on policies beyond Brexit, unifying people round an anti-austerity platform and its positive vision for Britain.
Tuesday, October 8, 2019
Socialism has the interests of humanity at its core and can plan economic activity to serve those interests. However, we are in a world dominated by capitalist self-interest. In these circumstances, how can we campaign to prevent climate catastrophe? Labour's Green New Deal is a good start.
Tuesday, October 8, 2019
The United States failure to achieve regime change in Syria has led to a shifting power dynamic in the Middle East. Russia, Iran, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates have become more assertive and alliances between them have changed in ways which do not serve US interests. The US sees Iran's emergence as regional power as a particular threat to its own position as well as to Israel and Saudi Arabia.
Sunday, October 6, 2019
To combat the climate crisis we need state intervention and planning. this is an opportunity for the left to argue for collective solutions to the planet's problems. Change must not be at the expense of individuals and the working class. Labour's Green Industrial Revolution policies, with their focus on climate justice, can unify all those who are interested in and affected by climate change, creating a broad movement.
Saturday, October 5, 2019
Review of Andreas Malm's book, Fossil Capital. Malm traces the origins of global warming and shows how it is a product of capitalist industrial development. He also addresses contemporary issues: the urgency of the challenge to reduce carbon emissions and how this challenge can be met.