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FEATURES REGULARS
3 Editorial
10 Pitiful Copenhagen
Given the competitive nature of capitalism any agreement on trying to 4 Pathfinders
deal with climate change was bound to be feeble and inadequate. Top of the pop charts
22 Meetings
22 50 Years Ago
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I
f we were seeking to make a profit by supplying some market or
living in other. Certainly, the United Nations exists but it is only
a ration- the arena in which these vested interests jockey for
ally organised position and advantage, as was too plainly evident at
world, and a problem such as the threat of a too rapid the UN conference in Copenhagen last month on climate
global warming arose, a coordinated global response change.
would be organised as a matter of course. If it was gener- The media concentrated on the differences there
ally agreed amongst scientists specialising in the field between the developed capitalist countries (misleadingly
that the problem had been caused mainly by the burning called “the rich”, as if everybody there was rich) and the
of fossil fuels, then steps would be taken to cut this back developing capitalist countries (cynically, but accurately,
and to phase in alternative sources of energy. The prob- called “emerging markets”). The representatives of the
lems encountered in doing this would only be technologi- newer capitalist countries argued that as the long-
cal, not political or economic, as there would be no vested established capitalist countries had been responsible for
interests manoeuvring and lobbying to prevent or delay the past emissions of CO2 that scientists say is causing
what needed to be done from being done. global warming, they should pay the cost of putting this
But of course we are not living in a rationally organised right.
world. We are living under capitalism where there are This is what the arguments there were all about – who
vested interests galore – of the states into which the is to bear the burden of cutting back on CO2 emissions?
world is artificially divided, of the capitalist corporations It wasn’t just a North-South clash. Each capitalist state
of the world’s elites if it wasn’t to some sounded like a move forward. However cutting their
emissions from 2005 levels (which was the proposal) by 17
this? percent would return them only to their 1990 levels, the year
that was to be the benchmark from which we were all to reduce
according to Kyoto. Further BBC commentary said that the US
A
uthorities against protesters seeking to have their was “grappling with domestic difficulties and can’t offer more.”
views heard. Police in force wrecking the long-made A 19-page UK Draft Options Paper on Renewable Targets
plans of people to shut down the port of Copenhagen reveals much about the aims of the UK delegation. “The costs
for a day to draw attention to their agenda. Police employed of increasing renewable technology use to reduce greenhouse
by authorities to silence the voice of a mass of individuals gas emissions is around three times higher than allowing
trying to express the views of millions worldwide who flexibility in reduction options through emissions trading.” (Note
recognise that their chosen so-called representatives do – don’t reduce your own emissions but pay for other emissions
little, if anything, to represent those views. elsewhere where it’s cheaper).
The voice of protesters had to be kept within certain “Full flexibility to invest in renewable energy in other parts
bounds. There were no invitations to send in their elected of the EU and, even more helpfully,(my emphasis) in the
representatives to address any part of the summit and what developing world would deliver us the least cost outcome to
did the former Danish minister and president (of the greater meet the 2020 target” (e.g. invest in solar energy projects in
part) of the climate summit, Connie Hedegaard, mean when North Africa rather than transferring to renewable energy at
she said that the minority of protesters home). From this and plenty more in the
who were using violence were still too “It’s impossible to document, “flexible options, maximum
flexibility, ‘flexibility-based’ options” etc., it
many and that they should have acted
using their democratic channels? Surely make any distinction is clear that the priority is about costs to
business not to the environment and ‘helping
if the ‘democratic channels’ brought forth
democratic results then all those folk on the
between fraud and developing nations’ is just a way of keeping
streets around the world would have stayed non-fraud rendering costs down.
at home? Property owners may have been
afraid of damage to buildings and vehicles any attempt at offset Carbon emissions as a commodity
Friends of the Earth, in a document,
but how does that compare with the fear
of the tens of thousands outside the venue
regulation ultimately A dangerous obsession, offer detailed
and the other multitudes in demonstrations pointless.” explanations of all aspects of the climate
around the world – the fear that those change debate. According to them offsetting
inside would continue their damage to the “institutionalises the idea that cuts can be
world and all its inhabitants through lack made in the developing world in place of cuts
of appropriate action? A fear compounded in the developed world when the science
by a document leaked on the second day which revealed that demands cuts in both.” And, “At the current rate taking a per
Denmark, US and UK proposed to transfer oversight of any capita basis an 80% reduction in developed country emissions
future treaty from the UN to the World Bank, the very institution by 2050 with no offsetting would still not ensure the levelling off
already loathed by the majority of protestors for its dire and of per capita emissions by 2050. Offsetting only exacerbates
damaging policies. the situation increasing inequalities in the production of carbon
emissions further.” (www.foe.co.uk/resource/reports/dangerous_
Costs vs Opportunities obsession.pdf)
For any who hold on to hopes of capitalism discovering As to the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) which
a new method of delivery, a kinder, more equitable, better is an integral part of offsetting, it is supposed to reward new,
regulated version of itself, let’s look at a few examples of what previously unplanned projects but a number of studies have
Copenhagen and the climate change debate is all about. If you shown it to be virtually impossible to know when a project
thought it might be about reducing those nasty emissions think really is additional and to prove it. According to Larry Lohmann,
again. It’s about markets – carbon markets, and specifically carbon trading specialist, of www.cornerhouse.org.uk, “This
about the buying and selling of the right to pollute. Carbon makes impossible any distinction between fraud and non-fraud
trading lies at the heart of global climate policy and is projected rendering any attempt at offset regulation ultimately pointless.”
to become one of the world’s largest commodity markets, an He has also written about carbon being “a magnet for hedge
approach which attempts to tackle climate change via the route funds, energy traders, private equity funds and large global
of business as usual (see Oscar Reyes at Carbon Trade Watch investment banks – Barclays, Citi-Group, Goldman Sachs,
and Transnational Institute). Credit Suisse, BNP Paribas and Merrill Lynch.....”
Early on at Copenhagen US State envoy Todd Stern said Friends of the Earth report that carbon trading had reached
that Obama had no plans to sign up to Kyoto, except possibly $126 billion by 2008 of which $92 billion was made up of
for offsets and a market-based trading system, ‘We’re not going transactions of allowances and derivatives under the EU ETS
to do Kyoto, and we’re not going to do something that’s Kyoto (emissions trading scheme), UK being one of the leading
T
he US occupation forces in of chieftains or as balances of power and it works something like this . .
Afghanistan have learned a dictate. In order for US and NATO Take a gaggle of well connected,
particular lesson from the forces to function, in what they like powerful and non-too-scrupulous
disaster that is Iraq, and they have to call the ‘Battlespace’, they have to ‘business men’ and award them six
learned it big time. In the first, factor these tribal leaders and their trucking contracts currently worth
largely contracted out war in history, shifting alliances into their planning. $2.2 billion. People like the Popal
US and other foreign civilians were The logistics for any invader/occu- brothers, owners of the huge Watan
brought in to carry out just about pier of this land are daunting in the Group, both convicted whilst in the
every task, from the mundane to extreme. It is a wild, unforgiving US of dealing in heroin and cousins
those viewed as ‘front-line’. A direct place peopled by proud, largely of Afghan president Hamid Karzai. Or
consequence of this strategy was unconquered tribes with very long Hamed Wardek, owner of NCL
millions of unemployed and very memories who do not take kindly to Holdings and son of current Afghan
disgruntled Iraqis, a large percentage uninvited foreigners trying to lord it defence minister, General Abdul
of whom became active or passive over them. Ameliorating some of that Wardek. NCL includes such luminar-
supporters of the forces of insurgen- hostility would enable more focus on ies as ‘legendary former CIA case
cy/resistance against the perceived the ‘flagged-up’ enemy, al-Qa’ida and officer and clear-headed thinker and
injustices of the occupation. In the their Taliban associates. writer’ (says Senator John Kerry,
corporate boardrooms of US War As the conflict dragged on and soon Senate Foreign Relations Committee,
Machine Inc. the alarm bells were to be president of US War Machine October 2009) Milton Beardon on its
ringing; costs (dead bodies and Inc. Senator Obama announced that, advisory board. Or Asia Security
bodies with bits missing) were eating in his opinion, it was a ‘war of Group, owned by Hashmat Karzai,
into public opinion and support for necessity’, the strategic planners another relative of the president.
the corporations’ products (perpetual came up with an ingenious ploy that (Aram Roston, ‘How the US Funds
war and war materials/services) was would give gainful employment to the Taliban’, The Nation, 30 Novem-
declining and, potentially, could Afghans, put money into their ber) These companies already have a
severely impact their bottom lines. A pockets and just might persuade well oiled model for doing business
slight shift in strategy was called for. them to view the occupiers of their along the ancient trading routes and
Afghanistan, in recent times, has lands in a sufficiently different light in the minefield that is present day
never really been a nation state; it is that they would stop shooting at or Afghanistan – each has an armed
an area of the world that is a patch- blowing up corporate assets and ‘private security division’ and field
work of tribal fiefdoms that shift in personnel. The name of this new agents who buy-off attacks by
and out of local alliances at the whim strategy – ‘Host Nation Trucking’, fractious warlords along any route. In
E
veryday taxicab rides may Your life is influenced by ‘social ladder’, it is only usually to a
appear to be lacklustre experi- where you are born less badly paid section of the same
ences that are quickly forgot- Your life is partly determined by subservient class.
ten. However, this might not always where you are born. For example, if Finding and maintaining a job is
be the case. Sometimes our views of you are born in Ethiopia then your difficult enough for people in poor
events may become clouded and we life will be determined by Ethiopian countries and therefore receiving an
cannot see things for what they re- standards and culture. In the United education is but a luxury. In fact,
ally are. However, after taking many States, Canada or the UK your life the cab driver I spoke to said that
cab-rides in an urban city, I began to is determined by a more developed he was working to make sure that
see things in a different way. On one capitalist system. Someone may his daughter would be able to go
of my jaunts in a taxicab I decided come from Ethiopia to experience to university. He has to spend his
to investigate what it is that made the “freedoms” countries like these years driving a car all day long so
people come to developed capitalist employ, but there is another factor that his daughter will not have to do
countries from less developed parts at work here: class. It is easy to the same job and will have a better
of the world. show that the system boasts of future. If someone cannot improve
In speaking to a cab driver, who false promises: Sally wishes to go their station in life because they
left Ethiopia to come to Canada, I to university, but Sally’s parents have no money to begin with, they
found my answer. I asked, “do people cannot afford to pay for it because also cannot afford to improve their
tend to be more happy in Western in the capitalist system one must station through higher education.
societies than in Ethiopia?” He pay for everything. Sally’s life path This means that they are left work
answered that, “Ethiopia was a poor has now been influenced by what for the class that owns and controls
country.” In his words I could see the class she was born into. Therefore, society. This is because capitalism
influence capitalism now had on his what the Ethiopian will notice is is not really based on merit, but on
life: he equated how much money that “freedoms” have a price and are how much money one has. This is
one has to how happy they are in largely determined by what class one irrational as merit should never have
life. This is reminiscent of one of the is born into. a price, it should be free and depend
trademark idioms of capitalism that Along the same lines, immigrants on nothing but itself.
money can buy happiness. This is often receive low paying work in the The capitalist system is marketed
now disputed even by some who are service industry once they enter the on its promises of equality and
otherwise supporters of capitalism, developed capitalist system and they freedoms through purchasing power.
but if it were wholly refuted then this can never afford the education to Prospective immigrants are given
could undermine the entire capitalist gain higher paying jobs. As a result rhetoric about how capitalism makes
system. Unfortunately, many they stay in the service industry their anything possible – if one has money.
people do believe that money can entire lives, being some of the most However, nothing appears possible,
buy happiness in the owning class lowly-paid members of the working let alone free and equal about the
and force those who do not make class of wage and salary earners. It owning class being served daily by
as much money into the service is education and money that allows an exploited working class, who are
industry, which in its very nature one to move up in a capitalist society actually the majority and whose
seeks to serve the owning class. but even if one is to move up the freedom is rationed and limited
If your birthday is in –
January February March April
You will contribute to You will believe that You will be appalled Having read about
the profits of the company the present recession was to read about “terrorists” global warming, you will
running the National caused simply by a few who deliberately explode try to recycle most of your
Lottery, since you haven’t bankers thinking more a bomb in a Western city rubbish, and use fewer
worked out that the odds of their own profits than and kill innocent people. plastic bags, and even
against you getting a big what was good for the rest You will not be appalled install solar panels on your
prize are about 14,000,000 of us. You will forget (a) by Western governments roof – ignoring the fact that
to one. In fact you’d have that all capitalists work exploding many bombs many capitalist companies
more chance of getting on the slogan “Stuff you, in Asian countries, killing make large profits running
rich if you took a spade Jack, I’m all right”, and vast numbers – equally operations which help to
and started digging for (b) capitalism has always innocent. You will think ruin the environment, and
buried treasure on had booms and slumps, it’s worth slaughtering half will go on doing so until a
the nearest field – and will go on having them a million foreigners to bring socialist society puts the
if you can square even if bankers give up in a new group to exploit interests
the landowner. their bonuses. a whole country. of all the
people first.
May June July
You will turn As you endure a dull, Some capitalists
out on a rainy boring job, which still support the E.U. (bigger
night and vote leaves you short of money, area of operations,
for a party which claims you will concentrate your bigger profits), some
it will run capitalism for dislike on your fellow- capitalists support
August
You will get annoyed
your benefit, and when worker who’s just been withdrawing from the E.U.
about the foreign origins
you find (unsurprisingly) made foreman, or has (smaller area, more chance
of some of the other
it continues to run got some other minor of controlling events); you
workers brought in by
capitalism for the benefit promotion, while at will get involved in heated
the capitalists to work for
of the capitalists you will the same time you will arguments to prop up
them; despite the fact that
vote for a different party continue to ignore all the one group of capitalists
workers divided among
which claims it will run members of the owning or the other. Why not
themselves – by things that
capitalism for your benefit. class, who live well without leave capitalists to support
don’t matter, like skin-
Then you will go back to any work at all on what themselves (they always
colour – will not even be
supporting the first party, you help to produce. do), and instead support
able to defend their wages
and so on endlessly. yourself and your own
and conditions within the
interests?
present system, much less
create a better society.
September October November December
You will never see Having You will contribute Next Christmas you
the significance of the fact voted for the all your loose change to a will listen to arguments
that everywhere, whatever continuation charity which gives a hot from religious people
the form of government, of capitalism, dinner on Christmas day who say secularists have
new people always come to a system in to a few homeless people. stolen their holy day, and
power offering to “change” which strife and You won’t give any money, from secularists who say
things – Barack Obama wars are inevitable, you or effort, to your fellow- religious people have stolen
is just the latest example; will be astounded when workers who struggle the age-old midwinter
but if this is already such British soldiers, going to all their lives trying to festival, without realizing
a marvellous system, as war overseas, are killed bring about a society in that the owners of the big
the press, T.V. and all and injured, and you will which there won’t be any stores and shops, their
the rest of the media are go on marches which homeless people, or any cash registers merrily
always saying, why should demand: “bring our boys need for degrading charity. ringing, have stolen it from
“change” be so attractive? home”. Then you will both of them.
continue voting for parties
supporting capitalism –
and therefore supporting
violence.
ALWYN EDGAR
18 Socialist Standard January 2010
Declaration of Principles
This declaration is the basis of by the capitalist or master class, the emancipation of the working 7.That as all political parties
our organisation and, because and the consequent enslavement class wil involve the emancipation are but the expression of class
it is also an important historical of the working class, by whose of all mankind, without distinction interests, and as the interest of
document dating from the labour alone wealth is produced. of race or sex. the working class is diametrically
formation of the party in 1904, opposed to the interests of all
its original language has been 2.That in society, therefore, there 5. That this emancipation must sections of the master class,
retained. is an antagonism of interests, be the work of the working class the party seeking working class
manifesting itself as a class itself. emancipation must be hostile to
Object struggle between those who every other party.
The establishment of a system possess but do not produce and 6.That as the machinery of
of society based upon the those who produce but do not government, including the armed 8.The Socialist Party of Great
common ownership and possess. forces of the nation, exists only Britain, therefore, enters the field
democratic control of the to conserve the monopoly by the of political action determined
means and instruments for 3.That this antagonism can capitalist class of the wealth taken to wage war against all other
producing and distributing be abolished only by the from the workers, the working political parties, whether alleged
wealth by and in the interest of emancipation of the working class class must organize consciously labour or avowedly capitalist,
the whole community. from the domination of the master and politically for the conquest and calls upon the members of
class, by the conversion into the of the powers of government, the working class of this country
Declaration of Principles common property of society of national and local, in order that to muster under its banner to the
The Socialist Party of Great the means of production and this machinery, including these end that a speedy termination
Britain holds distribution, and their democratic forces, may be converted from an may be wrought to the system
control by the whole people. instrument of oppression into the which deprives them of the fruits
1.That society as at present agent of emancipation and the of their labour, and that poverty
constituted is based upon the 4.That as in the order of social overthrow of privilege, aristocratic may give place to comfort,
ownership of the means of living evolution the working class is the and plutocratic. privilege to equality, and slavery
(i.e., land, factories, railways, etc.) last class to achieve its freedom, to freedom.
ISSN 0037 8259Produced and published by the Socialist Party of Great Britain, 52 Clapham Socialist
24 High Street,Standard
London SW4 January
7UN 2010
Produced and published by the Socialist Party of Great Britain, 52 Clapham High Street, London SW4 7UN