A new super reservoir approved in Oxfordshire
I grew up in Abingdon near Oxford, spent over 20 years in the Cowley car industry as a shop steward, and lived in London for many years,
Edited by Alan Thornett
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Solar power – the key to the future of the planet
The Tories have been routed — which is excellent news for the whole of humanity. The new Keir Starmer government, however, is not only wracked by sleaze
Green Left meeting on population April 22nd
I have been unable to maintain my usual pattern of website activity for the past seven or eight weeks because I suffered a small stroke. I have
British farmers want a universal basic income
British farmers want basic income to cope with post-Brexit struggles Schemes to replace EU subsidies will not plug gap left by loss of EU subsidies for most
Sunak’s report finds low-traffic neighbourhoods work and are popular
This article was first published in the Guardian of March 8th. Exclusive: Downing Street initially buried study, which Tories had hoped would strengthen arguments against traffic-reducing
Agriculture is killing the planet
This is a revised version of chapter 16 of my book Facing the Apocalypse–Arguments for Ecosocialism, published in 2019, which might be useful today in the current
Starmer’s miserable betrayal—a gift to the crisis-ridden Tories and a disaster for the planet
The first item on the early morning news of Thursday 8 February was that, according to the EU climate agency, the global average temperatures was continuing to
COP28: Trashing the UN is easy, but where is the alternative?
Despite being held in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) – the sixth biggest oil producer in the world, and presided over by a top oil
The myths and realities of hydrogen power – by Sean Thompson
This important article was first published the Red Green Labour website. Over the past few years, much has been made (particularly by fossil fuel industry lobbyists)
Paul Burkett: 1956-2020 – by Ian Angus
This obituary was first published on Climate and Capitalism in January 20220. “I would never see Marxism as an alternative to environmentalism, but as a particular
The Guardian: “Sir Keir is mistaken if he thinks he can avoid a fight (around his £28bn a year eco-pledge) by not turning up”
Ever since Kier Starmer launched his green investment plan last year including a pledge to spend £28bn a year on the transition to renewables and make the
COP28: what is at stake?
COP28 (along with planet Earth itself) is faced with “an absolutely gobsmackingly bananas increase in the global temperature” COP28 – the annual UN global summit on global warming –
Thames Water has discharged 72bn litres of raw sewage into the Thames since 2020
Thames Water is filling the Thames with sewage. I have been a big fan of the Thames all my life. I was born in Oxford which
I could not agree more with George Monbiot
I have reproduced George Monbiot’s article (below) from the Guardian of October 2023, not just because I agree with it – though I very strongly do –
Degrowth ¬ facing up to harsh reality
This article is based on the introduction I gave on degrowth at a meeting of the West Midlands Climate Coalition on October 10th. It was an excellent
Useful links
Facing the Apocalypse - Arguments for Ecosocialism
The book insists that we are facing amultifaceted threat to life the planet. Crucial resources are running out. Pollution is choking the ecosystems. The oceans are now 30 per cent more acidic than in pre-industrial times, coral reefs are dying at an unprecedented rate.
From a defence of the remarkable ecological content of classical Marxism – lost during the 20th century to the rise of productivism – the book is an appeal to the socialist left to take the ecological crisis far more seriously. It uncovers some fascinating stories of their lives and struggles.
Thornett engages directly with major debates such as the rising human population and carbon pricing that remain unresolved on the socialist left. His approach is to promote a transitional approach, which separates him both from both those that think capitalism will find a solution and those who think revolutionary propaganda is enough.