SP Newsletter No.302

Scandals over the past few months have given rise to people’s concerns about the reliability of scientific evidence on climate change. Recent polls have also suggested that concern about the threat of global warming is weakening in Australia.

In November it was alleged that a series of hacked emails from the Climate Research Unit at the University of East Anglia showed the manipulation and distortion of data. Then in January it was revealed that a report issued by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) included errors regarding the speed at which the Himalayan glaciers are melting.

Sections of the mass media and big business jumped on the scandals claiming they were proof that evidence confirming global warming is still inconclusive. It is true that some minor errors were uncovered in the IPCC document but they do not in any way disprove the research that shows climate change is real and that it needs to be urgently addressed.

As for the email leak dubbed ‘climategate’, while it may have shown up some less than perfect practices, absolutely nothing of substance was revealed to challenge the majority view of climate scientists. While skeptics claim that the scandals bring into question the entire premise of the science of climate change, they refuse to apply such stringent methods of scrutiny to their own research.

While socialists are not climate change skeptics we are skeptical about all research that is conducted within the framework of a profit driven system. Under capitalism scientific research is not purely conducted for the betterment of humankind. Most research is funded in some way by big business and always reflects a certain political motive.

If a direct funding option is not available big business will often lobby governments to place scientists of their choice in charge of a project. Evidence of this was uncovered in the ‘climategate’ scandal where it was shown that big oil companies like Exxon Mobil were involved in ‘intense lobbying’ of the US government – especially in regards to positions within the IPCC. Not surprisingly this was largely ignored by the mass media.

When it comes to environmental research there is a section of big business that funds the climate change deniers. This wing, led by the big energy companies, is concerned about losing profits if there is a turn away from investment into fossil fuels.

At the same time we have another group of corporations who are set to make a lot of money from the introduction renewable technology. These companies are happy to fund research that proves climate change is real as long as it increases their capacity to make profits from selling ‘green’ products.

When people see scandals like ‘climategate’ and the errors in the IPCC report side by side with ineffective Emissions Trading Schemes (ETS), you can understand why they would think claims about climate change might be exaggerated.

For ordinary people an ETS just looks like another tax. It is a pathetic response to climate change that will mean increased costs and an increase in government debt. An ETS will also create a carbon market where the big polluters can make profits without even reducing their emissions! With working people set to pay and bosses set to profit is it any wonder that skepticism has increased?

The main lesson to be drawn from the climate scandals is that environmental research and action is too important to be left in the hands of big business and the governments that represent them.

The only way forward for the environmental movement is to reject the profit driven market system and to campaign for a system that puts people and the environment first. A democratically planned and publicly owned economy would be owned and controlled by the majority not just a rich few. This would mean that research would be reliable and a proper plan could be put in place to address climate change and environmental destruction.

Introduction to Marxism day school in Melbourne

This day school will be of interest to anyone who is interested in the ideas of Marxism.
It will be held from 1pm – 5pm on Saturday March 27 @ Trades Hall, corner of Lygon & Victoria Streets Carlton South. The agenda for the school is as follows:

Session 1: 1.00pm – 2.00pm
The method of Marxism – An introduction to dialectics and historical materialism
Session 2: 2.30pm – 3.30pm
What would socialism look like? What is democratic socialism and how would it work?
Session 3: 4.00pm – 5.00pm
How could a revolution happen in Australia? How mass movements can effect change

For more information or to request the prior reading contact 96399111.

Other 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:

24/3 – Sri Lanka after the Presidential election
31/3 – Indonesia: Lessons from the 1998 uprising
7/4 – Direct action: Theory and practice
14/4 –Young people under capitalism – The issues and the fight back
21/4 – The 1949 Chinese revolution

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

News links:

Kazakhastan: 10,000 oil workers on strike in Zhanaozen city

Britain: General Election prospects - Hanging in the balance

Chile: The earthquake aftermath

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.

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Socialist Party contact details

Melbourne: Phone Anthony on 0396399111.
Sydney: Phone Gary on 0297287727.
Newcastle: Phone Samantha on 0249681545.
Adelaide: Phone David on 0883441474.
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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