SP Newsletter No.289
Climate change and drought are big issues for most Australians. Many are concerned about global warming and are looking for solutions. Unfortunately, instead of pinning the blame on big business, some people are blaming environmental problems on immigration and population increase.

In an article recently released by the Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) titled Population boom will bust environment and quality of life, it is argued that increases in carbon emissions are linked to population growth.

According to the ACF’s Charles Berger “The higher our population goes, the harder it will be for us to reduce greenhouse pollution, restore our rivers to health and ensure a good quality of life for all Australians. With urban infrastructure already groaning under the pressure of growth in our cities, we need a more sensible long-term strategy.” He continues, stating that “An increase in population to 35 million by 2050 would mean 325 million tonnes of additional pollution, costing us at least $10 billion a year in extra carbon pollution costs alone.”

This position implies that instead of changing production methods and energy generation techniques, we should instead accept that per capita emissions can never be drastically reduced.

The reality is that even if Australia’s population stayed at its current level for the next 20 years, unless steps were taken to make society as a whole more sustainable by dramatically increasing the use of renewable energy, reducing the use of petrol by increasing public transport and increasing the efficiency of production, carbon emissions would remain at today’s unacceptably high levels.

While it cannot be denied that a higher population means increased consumption, it is not population growth that has locked the world economy into destructive practices and a reliance on fossil fuels. Organisations such as the ACF should focus on placing the blame on those who deserve it, big business and the governments who pander to them.

Kevin Rudd, who’s pre election promises included reducing Australia’s Co2 emissions by 20% by 2020 has used the recent financial crisis as an excuse for cutting this already inadequate goal down to 5% by 2020. He has also continued the long standing tradition of subsidising the coal industry whilst giving the renewable energy industry only a small portion of what it needs to get off the ground. The sort of drastic cut backs in emissions that scientists say are required to prevent catastrophic climate change can only be achieved by a large scale switch to non polluting renewable energy.

From its early days capitalism has functioned by turning natural resources into commodities which are sold for profit. It is the drive for profit, not human need, that determines the way in which commodities are produced. The solution to addressing climate change is not to blame the victims but to take the profit motive out of the equation. In this way will we be able to move towards a sustainable economy that can provide for all.

Young Unionists Network National Day of Action: Youth Rates Suck!

Saturday, November 21st
1:00pm State Library, Melbourne

Speakers for the Melbourne event are confirmed!
Mel Gregson - UNITE Union for fast food and retail workers
Jacinta Chavulak- rank and file UNITE activist and retail worker
Jake Wishart- Victorian Young Unionists’ Network.

The concept of youth rates is nothing more than discrimination on the basis of age. The simple reason that bosses pay young workers such low wages is to cut costs in order to boost profits.

The arguments used by bosses to pay young people less than a full wage are the same as the arguments used by bosses in the past in favour of paying women less than men. It was only through organising women into unions and fighting that we achieved equal pay for women. A similar fight needs to be waged today by young people.

In the past (and in some cases still today) many migrant and indigenous workers were only paid one third of the wage of their white co-workers. This was changed by both white workers, migrant workers and indigenous workers sticking together and fighting for decent pay. Workers unity is the key to ending wage discrimination.

Youth rates hurt all workers because the lowest wage in a labour market determines all other wages. This means that adults are more likely to be forced into accepting lower wages if they know that the boss could employ a young worker for less. The long-term end result is lower wages for all workers.

If we stick together we can win the abolition of youth rates. A win for young workers is a win for all workers!

For more information on the National Day of Action visit:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=148179562671

For more information of youth wages visit:
http://www.unite.org.au/2008/03/30/students-rights-at-work-youth-wages/

Upcoming SP meetings

The Melbourne Branch of the Socialist Party meets every Wednesday 7pm at Trades Hall on the corner of Lygon & Victoria Streets Carlton South. Upcoming meetings include:

25/11/09 – What do socialists say about immigration and refugees?
2/12/09 – 155th anniversary of the Eureka Stockade
9/12/09 – Can Capitalism achieve environmental sustainability?
16/12/09 – End of year debrief /drinks – All welcome!

For more information or for details of meetings in other parts of Australia contact our National Office on 03 9639 9111.

News links:

Hong Kong: Huge clash looming over universal suffrage
http://socialistworld.net/eng/2009/11/1902.html

Soviet Union: Revolutionary ferment of twenty years ago
http://socialistworld.net/eng/2009/11/1802.html

Climate change: More evidence….
http://socialistworld.net/eng/2009/11/1901.html

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, the system that is at the root of all of these problems. We fight for socialism - a system that will bring an end to wars, poverty and environmental destruction. To join SP contact our National Office on 03 9639 9111 and we will send you a membership application form.

Subscribe to ‘The Socialist’ newspaper!

Support the Socialist Party by subscribing to our monthly newspaper ‘The Socialist’. Subscription rates are only $10 per year or $20 solidarity price. You will receive 11 copies per year 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 to ‘The Socialist’ contact our National Office on 03 9639 9111 and we will send you a subscription form.

Socialist Party contact details

Melbourne: Phone Anthony on 0396399111.
Sydney: Phone Gary on 0297287727.
Newcastle: Phone Samantha on 0249681545.
Perth: Phone John on 0894020728.
Rest of Australia: Phone our National Office on 0396399111.
Rest of the world: Phone our International Office on ++ 44 20 8988 8760.

The Socialist Party is the Australian section of the Committee for a Workers’ International (CWI). The CWI is organised in over 40 countries across the world.

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