Ordinarily I wouldn't reply to Chris Kromm, because he is so lacking in ordinary human graces.
However, I cannot share in the general expressions of terror at ice melting in the Antarctic. Climate changes, whether we do anything or not. Anyone who wants to avoid climate change should go and live on the moon.
Kromm takes exception to the idea that capitalist elites might promote the interpretation that industrial emissions are endangering the planet. But he takes a narrowly American view. In Europe, governments that are committed to capitalism are also demanding America reduce its CO2 emissions.
More to the point, the ostentatious expressions of outrage at pollution we hear from Kromm and others are entirely insincere.
If anyone really believed that industry was going to destroy the environment, wouldn't they do something about it? As far as I can see, no significant section of society is voluntarily reducing its consumption.
I am interested to hear what Kromm will give up to save the planet, or what actions he is involved in to change policy?
More likely is that this environmental shock-horror story will drift out of people's minds within a few days, along with all the other panics that come along from time to time. The reason for that indifference is not apathy, but an intuitive sense that the sky is probably not falling down.
From: Chris Kromm <ckromm at mindspring.com> Date: Tue, 19 Mar 2002 23:08:31 -0500
This is a multi-part message in MIME format.
- ------=_NextPart_000_0471_01C1CF9A.FC8B8600 Content-Type: text/plain;
charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
> [Just had James Heartfield on the radio, and he told us global=20
> warming was no big deal. James?]
Yes, global warming is a conspiracy propagated by the capitalists to = keep down the workers. Even though climate control measures are = vociferously opposed by the capitalists. But that's just false = consciousness on their part. Or something.
Why you had James "pollution is good because it's oh so proletarian, or = at least in my flimsy analysis" Heartfield on your show is the real = mystery...
-- James Heartfield Sustaining Architecture in the Anti-Machine Age is available at GBP19.99, plus GBP5.01 p&p from Publications, audacity.org, 8 College Close, Hackney, London, E9 6ER. Make cheques payable to 'Audacity Ltd'. www.audacity.org