We've Only Just Begun: The Anti-Capitalist Climate Justice Movement

[marmar]

from FreedomRoad:



We've Only Just Begun: The Anti-Capitalist Climate Justice Movement
Written by By Sarah Jarmon and the Freedom Road Ecology Work Team

Saturday, 29 May 2010 03:13


The World People's Conference on Climate Change and Rights of Mother Earth convened in Cochabamba, Bolivia from April 19th-22nd, 2010. Evo Morales and others called for this conference after the failure of the UN-sponsored climate conference in Copenhagen this past December where only 27 of the 192 countries represented in the United Nations, signed on to a "Copenhagen Accord." This "Accord" has been highly criticized. It was drafted in secret by the US and their imperialist allies, is not legally binding, sets emissions reduction targets too low to halt catastrophic climate change, and attempts to roll back measures in the Kyoto Protocol that call for industrialized countries to pay climate reparations to the Global South. In contrast, in Cochabamba, 140 countries signed on to a People's Agreement. which reflects the perspectives of the worldwide social movements and progressive governments present. The conference focused on educating people on the topics related to climate change, networking and organizing across sectors and geography, and completing the People's Agreement that will be presented to the United Nations in Cancun, Mexico this December.

Two of us flew in on a red eye from Miami with a hundred others coming for the conference, barely sleeping from so much anticipation. Arriving in Cochabamba at daybreak, there was a buzz in the air. Welcome signs hung in the airport and the media greeted us. Networking started immediately at the airport where we discussed which working group to attend, and what kind of work we do at home. Participants were taking this gathering seriously.

Twice as many people came than were expected-about 30,000 instead of 15,000-a true sign of the crucial nature of the gathering.

On the way to the inauguration, the Ecuadorean delegation could be heard chanting, "Alerta, Alerta, Alerta que camina, la espada de Bolivar por America Latina" ("Attention, Attention, Attention to those walking, the shield of Bolivar is around Latin America"). This Latin-American solidarity chant is very popular in Venezuela. It signifies to haters that they best beware because the presence of Simon Bolivar, the liberator of South America, is felt everywhere. This chant was a reminder that this conference was being held in Bolivia, where Evo Morales, the first indigenous president in the Americas, and a revolutionary, called for the conference.

The last decade in Bolivia was marked by a strong resurgence of the social movements, especially among the indigenous groups that make up 60% of the population. The main struggles have been the successful anti-privatization Water Wars and Gas War, the decriminalization of coca and of course Evo's election and reelection from the Movement Towards Socialism party (Movimiento Al Socialismo- - MAS). While change is slow, the process of change is in effect. Of course there has been a strong backlash from the right and ruling class, most notably the attempts at secession by the Santa Cruz region due to their fear of losing economic and political power within the framework of "communitarian socialism."

It is different from other places because of the indigenous concept, now commonly referenced as "Live Well" ("Vivir Bien"), meaning we can live well without having to strive to live better. They say to live better is to exploit, to plunder, and to rob. In contrast, living in concert with the natural world is inherent in the "Vivir Bien" philosophy which runs counter to the capitalist notion of using up natural resources in the interests of accumulation and unfettered growth. It is in this context that the conference took place. ...........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.freedomroad.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=708%3Aweve-only-just-begun-the-anti-capitalist-climate-justice-movement&catid=179%3Aecological-crisis&Itemid=232&lang=en

[FreakinDJ]

1. "drafted in secret by the US and their imperialist allies"

Pretty Funny LOL

[amyrose2712]

2. K&R

[Admiral Loinpresser]

3. A government willing to stand up to Obama?

Right-fucking-on!!!

Thank you so much. This sounds like the real deal.