add brum summer school
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from brum summer school would be able to produce what we need and want in the most reasonable, sustainable way – pretty vague analysis….
why don't we become more smarter and include the " low – carbon / Think global, act local '' in The Socialist Party of Great Britain and World Socialist Movement events / school / publications…..
Hmmm…?…maybe because many of the actions required to mitigate or to reverse climate change requires global action and coordination and cooperation, not simply local…Nor do we want to create a politics of nimbyism…"Think Globally… Act Planetary" might be a better slogan
What is Transition? The Transition movement is a community led initiative in a positive response to the increasing pressures of climate change on our lives. It aims to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels through:Greater connection with our neighbours building resilient local communities · Localised economy – buying local goods and services from local people · Greater self sufficiency – from growing your own food to generating your own electricity · Reducing the cost and environment impact of fuel bills and transport · Reducing our waste – through recycling and up-cycling · Re-using and sharing products and skills….The focus is on positive small steps we can take that will make our local communities stronger and less dependent on external supplies of goods and services brought in by fossil fuels….what do you agree…. / disagree with….
Quote:what do you agree…. / disagree with….Where we agree, I think the SPGB in various articles and pamphlets, have made the case that production for need involves also designing products sustainably by making them re-cyclable and repairable, that many items such as tools can be held in common and shared, just as hire companies do now, but operated more like free libraries, and public transport and car-pools as alternatives to the private car.Where we disagree is that self-sufficiency (autarky) and such as the local food movements are always ecologically sound practices. Research has shown that often the carbon-footprint is larger than transporting some produce from a distance but where they are grown under more appropriate natural conditions, requiring less input.What is so undesirable about a division of labour geographically? We have vast industrialised agricultural regions of the world in existence right now…the Prairies and the Steppes and the Pampas. Are these to be simply neglected.For sure, there will be great changes in farming and agriculture in socialism but these will be made in the context of feeding the world, and not just supplying the nearby towns and cities via farmers markets. Socialists aren't promoters of the idea that local capitalism is any better than global capitalism. You seem to assume the "small is beautiful and better" mom and pop capitalism can out-compete the corporations power. but under capitalism the local corner convenience store transforms into a Walmart (read the history of that transnational) or goes bust as we are witnessing with what is called "food deserts" in the High Street and Main Street. As for generating our own power, already numerous states in America impose taxes on such actions and just this week the CEO of Ireland's electricity board, warned that the bills of the poor who cannot afford solar panels will pay the subsidies to the wealthy who will invest in home-energy and add to the power-grid.All the being said…when socialism is established all manner of innovations will be possible. Africa cannot afford a vast power grid based on centralised energy from dams or whatever but as you suggest, every village and town can build its own alternative energy source for its own needs.
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