SP Newsletter No.209
Without rapid and significant reductions in green house gas emissions we will face a near-apocalyptic situation very soon. It is well and truly time for working people to take radical action to defend our futures from the profits of the big business polluters.

There is no serious dispute now that human behaviour and in particular big business behavior is contributing to climate change. Pollution that is spewed into the atmosphere causes global temperatures to rise resulting in freak weather conditions including mass flooding and droughts.

With the rising costs of food and petrol the issue of climate change has now become a big issue for ordinary people. Recent polls have shown that the Australian public wants radical action taken on this issue and understand the devastating effects that climate change is having and will have here.

This is because Australia’s economy still relies heavily on agriculture that will not only be affected by extreme temperature increases but also much less rainfall. Some people are even raising the possibility that some major cities like Adelaide may become depopulated due to the lack of rain!

The Labor Party’s position when it comes to climate change is totally inadequate. It is based on being seen to be doing something, without actually making the required changes. In the run up to last year’s federal election the ALP made a commitment to reducing carbon emissions by 60%, on 2000 levels, before 2050. While this sounds like a radical and decisive action in comparison to the Liberals years of denial and inaction, the truth is this target is totally inadequate. If the target is achieved it will still result in many of the terrible consequences of global warming.

The most advanced science, as well as the Labor Governments own Garnaut report, is calling for reductions of 90% by 2050, with interim targets to be set for either 2020 or 2030. Labor refuses to do this before they check it with their big business mates. The signing of Kyoto, while a useful step to putting pressure on countries like the US, is not significant on its own. In fact, Kyoto allows Australia to INCREASE it’s emissions by 8%! Labor is tied by a thousand strings to the interests of the heavily polluting, profiteering bosses. This prevents them from taking the real action needed to avert climate change.

Even the Greens are behind the times in this area as their targets don’t go far enough. They call for an 80% emissions reduction by 2050. Their methods for tackling global warming fail to understand the nature of this threat to humanity as linked to a system where profit is the sole motivating force. Simply calling for a ‘vote for the greens’ every four years is not enough to solve the problem of global warming.

The Socialist Party calls for a 90% reduction in emissions by 2030 to avert as much climate catastrophe as possible and ensure a sustainable future for our planet. This will not be achieved by parliamentary action alone. In fact big business will resist any measures to implement this target. To achieve this the Socialist Party believes that we need to wage a mass campaign of young people and workers to put direct pressure on big business through action.

While the Socialist Party acknowledges and supports the need for individuals to make life-style changes, we also point to the fact that at best these efforts can only account for about 20% of the change required. The rest must come from big business. The environmental problems that big business has created are a direct result of the capitalist system - a system that puts profits before the needs of people and the planet. The Socialist Party says that we should destroy capitalism before it destroys our planet.

Picket BHP Billiton!

As part of our campaigning in Melbourne the Socialist Party has decided to target one of Australia’ biggest environmental criminals – BHP Billiton.

The details of our first action are:
Picket BHP Billiton - Protest against the climate criminals!
Meet at BHP Billiton HQ, 4 - 6pm Friday May 2nd, 180 Lonsdale St City

On top of the Friday May 2nd action we also plan to picket their HQ on Friday May 30th and Friday June 27th which is the last day of school term. On this day we hope to hold the action for a bit longer from 2-6pm.

We are building for these actions through our high school and university connections but we are also calling on other environment and labour movement groups to join us with this protest.

Stay tuned to our website as we will publish the text of our new leaflet soon.
Contact our National Office if you would like to participate in the action or sponsor the protest.

Join the Socialist Party

If you agree with what you have read in our newsletter or on our website you should consider joining SP. The Socialist Party has branches in Melbourne, Sydney, Newcastle and Perth as well as members and supporters in all other states.

We are involved in trade union work and student work. We also run community, anti-war and environmental campaigns. But most of all we want to build a party that will fight to get rid of the capitalist system. We fight for socialism - a system that will bring an end to wars, poverty and environmental destruction. For more info contact our National Office on 03 9639 9111.

Subscribe to ‘The Socialist’ newspaper!

Become a supporter of SP by subscribing to our monthly newspaper ‘The Socialist’. It only costs $20 per year or $10 concession and you will receive our paper delivered to your door every month. You will also receive our email newsletter every week and you will know that you are supporting an organisation that is at the fore of fighting against the capitalist system. To subscribe phone 03 9639 9111 or email our National Office.

The April edition is out now! Pick it up from one of our street stalls!

Socialist Party regional activity-

Victoria

To find out more about SP in Melbourne contact Anthony on 0396399111.

New South Wales

To find out more about SP in Sydney contact Gary on 0297287727.

To find out more about SP in Newcastle contact Samantha on 0249681545.

Western Australia

To find out more about SP in Perth contact John on 0894020728.

Rest of Australia

To find out more about SP anywhere else in Australia contact our National Office on 0396399111.

News links just a click away –

Ireland: Prime Minister Bertie Ahern finally goes
http://www.socialistworld.net/eng/2008/04/04irelaa.html

France: Local elections - a snub for Sarkozy’s policies
http://www.socialistworld.net/eng/2008/04/04franca.html

Economy: Bear Stearns bail-out
http://www.socialistworld.net/eng/2008/04/03worlda.html

Get Active - Join the fight back, Get Militant - Join the Socialist Party.

The Socialist Party is the Australian section of the Committee for a Workers’ International (CWI). To contact or join the SP or the CWI anywhere in Australia, or the world, call +61 3 9639 9111 or email our National Office.

‘Workers of the world unite – you’ve got nothing to lose but your chains’

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