I thought this final chapter was by far the best in the whole book. Malm uses the chapter to address the fatalism and pessimism that all too often paralyses so many who recognise anthropogenic climate change, or even just in the left generally really. He takes some of arguments that you commonly see surrounding the impossibility of averting climate apocalypse - "we're already doomed anyway, even if we did take action", "We might have a chance to prevent it but it's never going to happen anyway", you know, all the usual "its easier to imagine the end of the world, than the end of (fossil) capitalism" stuff - and he smashes them to the ground. In case that isn't enough, he also uses examples such as the Nat Turner rebellion and the Warsaw Ghetto uprising and makes a convincing call for action even if it really was too late - which it isn't anyway. Then he finishes the chapter with a warning against deep ecology, which I think he could've developed a lot more but I guess he didn't have the time in this short piece.

I highly recommend others to give this chapter a read, even on its own if you haven't read the preceding chapters. We too often see misery and despair in leftist spaces when it comes to topics like this (and admittedly, I like a climate-induced dystopian hellscape joke as much as the next leftist) but despair will get us nowhere, so - to paraphrase Tony Benn - "toughen up, bloody toughen up".

“Climate fatalism is for those on top; its sole contribution is spoilage. The most religiously Gandhian climate activist, the most starry-eyed renewable energy entrepreneur, the most self-righteous believer in veganism as panacea, the most compromise-prone parliamentarian is infinitely preferable to the white man of the North who says, ‘We’re doomed – fall in peace.’ Within the range of positions this side of climate denial, none is more despicable.”

So many greats have called out the endorsement of nonviolence by the ruling class because of the way it so greatly benefits them - see James Baldwin here

We will aim to have the vote for the September reading in the middle of next week, please reply here if there's any books you'd like to recommend.

"Courage my friends, 'tis not too late to make the world a better place"

-Tommy Douglas, Canada's best "socialist"(just don't ask about his opinions on eugenics)

That book on nonviolence written from inside the American Embassy in Kabul is so fucking funny. The way nonviolence works is to teach you courage. That in the mass work of a community not one person suffers all the injustices. But once you learn courage things take a turn for the unpredictable and that's why it is frowned upon, even if the powers that be encourage nonviolence - they encourage nonviolent individual resistance.

I did appreciate the climate fatalism takedown because I find myself wallowing in that sometimes - although I'm like the only person eating vegetarian in my house and I'm thinking of going back to taking the bus. Nonetheless it was appreciated.

@panopticon @LibsEatPoop @Nagarjuna @MasterCombine @notthenameiwant @glimmer_twin @Snackuleata @Invidiarum @Sandinband @Lerios @nanoplague @Maldandlonely @pooh @Kestrel @Bunhead @Helmic @Nagarjuna @Blinkoblanko @Phillipkdink @aaro @Azarova @Bioho @D61 @JohnBrownsBussy @inspirationlessjesus @_metamythical @HumanBehaviorByBjork @Commander_Data @TraschcanOfIdeology @CIYe @thornsj @Orannis62 @JoeByeThen @HumanBehaviorByBjork @HoChiMaxh @Wheaties @Hewaoijsdb

Thinking of EU, I'm really torn between the just (let the nuclear flames wash away all of those murderous thieves!) and the pragmatical (...but then the salmon prices might go up!?) :thinkin-lenin:...?

@CARCOSA

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