General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsOur economic model is at war with life on Earth. Naomi Klien's new book
The book's title is not elusive: 'This Changes Everything: Capitalism vs. the Climate'
Due for release in September, the anticipated new work by Canadian journalist, activist and public intellectual Naomi Klein has now been previewed in a video trailer that appears to lay out its main themes and central argument.
"In December of 2012, a complex systems scientists walked up to the podium at the American Geophysics Union to present a paper," the narrator of the videoKlein herselfsays as footage begins of urban high rise developments and burnt out croplands.
And the voice-over continues:
The paper was titled, "Is the Earth Fucked?" His answer was: "Yeah. Pretty much."
That's where the road we're on is taking us, but that has less to do with carbon than with capitalism.
Our economic model is at war with life on Earth.
We can't change the laws of nature, but we can change our broken economy.
And that's why climate change isn't just a disaster. It's also our best chance to demandand builda better world.
Change or be changed. But make no mistake... this changes everything.
Watch:
This Changes Everything is a "brilliant explanation of why the climate crisis challenges us to abandon the core 'free market' ideology of our time, restructure the global economy, and remake our political systems."
Described as more important and further-reaching than her previous best-seller, The Shock Doctrine, Klein's new book will argue
that climate change isnt just another issue to be neatly filed between taxes and health care.
Its an alarm that calls us to fix an economic system that is already failing us in many ways.
Klein meticulously builds the case for how massively reducing our greenhouse emissions is our best chance to simultaneously reduce gaping inequalities, re-imagine our broken democracies, and rebuild our gutted local economies.
She exposes the ideological desperation of the climate-change deniers, the messianic delusions of the would-be geoengineers, and the tragic defeatism of too many mainstream green initiatives.
Those arguments won't be new to those who have followed Klein's workand the similar arguments of many others in recent yearsbut the expectation is that as with her previous exploration of modern capitalism in the Shock Doctrine, Klein will present her most rounded and complete vision for the predicament of the moment and her vision for the future.
In a speech to one of Canada's largest labor unions last year, Klein told the members of UNIFOR that it was well past time that working people and industrial interests get their minds around what the climate science is dictating to humanity about the current economic model of corporate-dominated global capitalism.
She also discussed her idea that climate change should not be framed as a disaster, but as an enormous opportunity to reshape the political paradigm and the fight for global justice. She told the crowd of workers:
http://www.commondreams.org/news/2014/08/08/naomi-klein-our-economic-model-war-life-earth
PowerToThePeople
(9,610 posts)socialist_n_TN
(11,481 posts)exponential, but unlimited growth is also a function of cancer cells.
PowerToThePeople
(9,610 posts)depending how fast they die off. In a stable system you have 1:1 replacement.
volstork
(5,403 posts)N/T
malaise
(269,188 posts)Will order my copy
BelgianMadCow
(5,379 posts)malaise
(269,188 posts)Was wondering where you were a few days ago
NJCher
(35,748 posts)Thanks for alerting us that it's out.
Cher
littlemissmartypants
(22,822 posts)mckara
(1,708 posts)I'm so happy more people are becoming aware of the problem's source: unfettered capitalism.
Let's hope it's not too late.
cilla4progress
(24,777 posts)I questioned why bigger and more was always better. I always felt out of step.
I questioned the entire economic model, and have lived my life as an adult in part as an expression of that objection to the mainstream ethic...thought not in whole.
Very gratifying to know I'm not alone!
mckara
(1,708 posts)It seems that people have little understanding of how economic policies effect politics and our lives. It's really sad to realize how intellectually shallow our public discourse is in this country. It's very frustrating!
lovemydog
(11,833 posts)No Logo and The Shock Doctrine greatly influenced me.
arcane1
(38,613 posts)I've read Shock Doctrine four times already, and nearly every page is dog-eared at this point
lovemydog
(11,833 posts)I take black magic marker and blot out logos on my stuff, ever since reading No Logo. It's fun, and reduces clutter in my brain. Agree with you that they were both among the most profound books of their time. I'm so glad that here at DU I find others like you across the world, arcane1. It's also amazing when I find and befriend folks like that here in my little community in the southwest. We all learn from each other in person and on the web! After reading here and other places on the web about solar panels, I'm scheduling a visit with some friends who have done it and have gotten away from being tied to a monopolistic power company. I feel like Naomi Klein truly influenced all our thinking and acting in that regard. Her books really make you feel less powerless. Toward taking small steps that make you feel better about your relationship with our world. That's probably the most profound aspect of her writing. Encouraging the reader to act in a way that makes your life richer & more meaningful & enjoyable. This new one looks sure to do the same! Thank you for your posts!
arcane1
(38,613 posts)I was 10 years late in reading No Logo but that didn't change the effect at all
I still love this place!
arcane1
(38,613 posts)Auggie
(31,194 posts)littlemissmartypants
(22,822 posts)She should get a freedom medal.
Jefferson23
(30,099 posts)whatchamacallit
(15,558 posts)DeSwiss
(27,137 posts)littlemissmartypants
(22,822 posts)JEB
(4,748 posts)littlemissmartypants
(22,822 posts)Amazon says pre-order.
lovemydog
(11,833 posts)The hardcover version is 22 bucks. The kindle version is 10 bucks. I'm looking into buying a kindle and this might be what spurs me to get one. I figure over the long run I might save money, particularly if I can stream movies from it.
littlemissmartypants
(22,822 posts)lovemydog
(11,833 posts)littlemisssmartypants!
redqueen
(115,103 posts)It is anticapitalist by definition.
littlemissmartypants
(22,822 posts)lovemydog
(11,833 posts)Great title!
It's sure to join the ranks of No Logo and The Shock Doctrine. Game-changing.
ReRe
(10,597 posts)Thank you, Ich!
Uncle Joe
(58,426 posts)Thanks for the thread, Ichingcarpenter.
RufusTFirefly
(8,812 posts)I'm a big Naomi Klein fan.
Thanks for posting, Ichingcarpenter!
JackRiddler
(24,979 posts)woo me with science
(32,139 posts)socialist_n_TN
(11,481 posts)It seems it rapidly approaching "socialism or extinction".
Martin Eden
(12,875 posts)Octafish
(55,745 posts)http://www.alternet.org/story/147058/the_really_creepy_people_behind_the_libertarian-inspired_billionaire_sea_castles
Enthusiast
(50,983 posts)2naSalit
(86,804 posts)truth-telling authors of our time!!
Can't wait to read it for ideas on making change in a more positive direction.
Thanks for the announcement.
2na.
TRoN33
(769 posts)Are able to afford solar panels, wind turbines, and hydro energies that would radically alter the economy power tilt toward middle class??