World Bank memos

[pms]

>For example, in 1966 less than 10 ice bergs drifted
>south as far as northern Scotland; last year over 1000 did. This is because
>the polar ice sheets (both of them) are breaking up. This stepwise change
>which may indeed produce a net loss for humankind, is the result of 
>anthropogenic climate change, ie capitalism. And a left which does not 
>begin its politics with these issues is just not worthy of the name. 
>
>Mark
>

Mark, 

While I'm feeling particularily abused by capitalism today, I don't think
you can assume any socialism put together by this race so far, would have
been kinder to the planet.
Capitalism may encourage and stimulate our short-sightedness, arrogance,
the whole "school of the better-than-thou" that tells us that nothing is
ever enough, but I think perhaps those traits are not caused by capitalism.
Maybe it's the other way around.  Maybe it's circular.  Maybe it's  <=>.
However it shakes out, I don't think it's so simple or apparent.  Oh, man.
I think I'm getting depressed.

Off to the coalmine
Paula