-----Original Message-----
From: Peter Grimes <p34d3611@jhu.edu>
To: WORLD SYSTEMS NETWORK <wsn@csf.colorado.edu>
Date: Friday, February 27, 1998 4:19 AM
Subject: Ecology, Catastrophe, Capitalism
>Friends;
>
> I'd like to add a few brief points to the questions around
>global capitalism and global catastrophe.
>
> 2. The supply of fossil fuels may yet last a while longer,
>thereby prolonging agricultural collapse (such fuels can be
>replaced as sources for electricity and transport, but NOT as
>sources for fertilizers, pesticides, etc).
Agreed, but agricultural productivity is so high that it might be possible
to offset the declines in productivity resulting from the use of less
fertilizers and pesticides with more labor. Of course, this might also
result in a decline in the standard of living in that society and further
contribute to what I see as the growing polarization of post-industrial
societies. Concretely, for example, it wouldn't surprise me if our sage
local governments decided that welfare recipeients should earn their way as
agriculutrual workers. In fact, that could even use children after after
school is dismissed.
However, the
>prolonged, delayed, and extremely powerful forces of global
>warming as diverted into thermal circulation via the oceans have
>already been set in motion, with unpredictable results. Once
>unleashed, these forces now are largely outside of our control,
>and no amount of green technology can undo what has already been
>set in motion.
Here is where I part company - I am not convinced that global warming is the
result of the increased emmision of greenhouse gases. I agree it is not a
good idea to release these into the atmosphere and everything possible
should be done to reduce these emissions but it is, in my mind, too great a
leap to attribute recent climatic changes to greenhouse gases. For
example, we know of significant shifts in the earth's climate well before
industrialization - the coming and going of the Ice ages - and even a major
shift as recently as (I think) the 17th c. - the so-called "Little Ice Age."
In fact, I just read an article this morning which reported that scientists
found a very strong (and surprisingly inverse) correlation between the
earth's average temperature and sunspots over the last 400 years - namely,
temperature increases with increased sunspot activity (the article is in
this week's ECONOMIST).
The belief is global warming due to industrial activity is, in my mind,
simialr to the belief that increased rates of cancer are due to increased
industrial activity. In my opinion, we have neither enough data nor
adequate control over all the variables to make these infereneces so they
have become "articles of faith." As I said, I think we should reduce the
emissions of green house gases and decrease the production of carcinogens
(although probably as many occur naturally as have been created).
As a final word about eco-catastrophe - I have always said that a society
that exploits and destroys human beings - capitalism - has no problem
exploiting and destroying nature. Moreover, the fact that the so-called
"socialist" countries wreaked even greater havoc on nature was damning
evidence that these were not socialist. End the exploitation of human
beings and we will have a foundation on which to end the exploitation of
nature. Hegel tell us in the Philosophy of History that history is the
process of Spirit overcoming its alienation from Nature, through human
activity and struggle, and discovering its identity with nature. The end of
history is absolute self-knowledge. Marx also spoke of the end of history -
as the end of struggle but I think implicit in Marx's end of history was
also a residue of Hegel's end of history. The end of history for Marx was
not simply the elimination of all classes and class struggle but the
realization of humanity, as specieis being, of its identity with nature and
the transformation of humanity's relation with nature from one of
exploitation to one of harmony. This, in a certain sense, is, if you will,
the historical mission of the development of green technologies. Capitalism
is not simply the womb of a yet-to-be-relaized better society but it may
also be the womb and midwife of a more harmonious relationship between
humans and nature.
I will be gone for a week and unable to reply to any messages until I
return.
Carl Dassbach