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I have been puzzling why my postings about the environmental crisis get so litte response at the marxism list (also pen-l or the critical realism list). I get occasional positive off-list emails, but little response or discussion on the lists themselves. Perhaps this is due to the climate change denial by the activists and scientists reading these list. Climate denial is a pervasive cultural fact and activists or scientists are not exempt from it. If you are not yourself alarmed about the speed at which the climate is changing, and furious about the irresponsibility of those in power only to undertake symbolic baby steps where radical measure are necessary, then you probably also underestimate the likelihood that at some point many others wake up to the dangerous situation and urgently want to do whatever is necessary to prevent their lives from sliding into a chaotic and precarious struggle for survival. Another reason is perhaps that the kind of revolutionary action which I think is possible and necessary is not the action of a vanguard but the broad mass action of almost everybody. There are several social issues where almost everybody is on the same side. For instance nobody today will openly promote slavery. If almost everybody is conscious of and alarmed about the climate crisis (which will undoubtedly happen when the climate crisis really hits, but then it will be too late to do something about it), then actions which are reformist if carried by a minority, will be revolutionary and will indeed be able to change social structures. You probably have your own reasons why you don't respond. It would be useful for me to hear them. Hans G Ehrbar _________________________________________________________ Full posting guidelines at: http://www.marxmail.org/sub.htm Set your options at: http://lists.csbs.utah.edu/options/marxism/archive%40mail-archive.com
