Workers Solidarity Movement

In response to growing discussion of ‘zero growth’ ideas among some environmentalists, Alan MacSimoin asks Is non-extraction the answer?

In recent years, with climate change dominating headlines regularly, it has become popular among some environmentalists to propose non-extraction of fossil fuels as a viable way to reduce the effects climate change. But if this idea was taken up what would be the result? Less oil & gas being processed means what is available will rise in price. That’s the logic of capitalism. And having to pay even more for home heating and cooking is not going to change the habits of the wealthy but would have a big impact on most of our pockets. Making things even more expensive than they are at present will not exactly endear environmentalists to most people.

With women’s control over their own fertility still denied in Ireland North and South, Ciaran Murray drags up a story from the not so distant past, where direct action, literally got the goods.

Christmas has increasingly become a matter of spending money on presents, rather than spending time with your loved ones. Where this might be hard for some, it can be financially unbearable for others. In order to meet the expectations from the society and avoid humiliation, we take up loans to get through family events such as Christmas.

Anarchists believe in equality between all people regardless of where their ancestors may be from, what colour their skin is, or where they were born, as we are all immigrants in one way or the other. Racism is often used by bosses as a tool in dividing the working class and weakening class unity, collective action and class struggle, because this threatens their privilege and authority.

Union leaders, employers and the government will soon be sitting down to negotiate a new pay round as part of the Towards 2016 ‘partnership’ agreement. It doesn’t take a crystal ball to see that the bosses will be insisting on wage increases of no more than a few percent. They will troop into TV studios to tell us that anything better is – take your pick - impossible, irresponsible or unaffordable.

In het laatste nummer van Workers Solidarity (
http://wsm.ie/story/2829) keken we
naar hoe de oorzaken van klimaatverandering diep ingebed zijn in de economische
en sociale structuren die door de weinige rijken worden gecontroleerd. De
toenemende niveaus van kooldioxide en andere opwarmende gassen die in onze
atmosfeer worden gepompt worden in de eerste plaats veroorzaakt door het
kapitalistische model van 'economische groei' en diens begeleidende vormen van
ellende voor miljoenen op de planeet.

Μπορούν οι αναρχικοί να υποστηρίξουν τις εθνικοποιήσεις; Τι πρέπει να γίνει με τις εγκαταστάσεις φυσικού αερίου στο Rossport; (σ.τ.μ.: τοποθεσία με εγκαταστάσεις αερίου στην Ιρλανδία). Θα την αφήσουμε στα χέρια της Shell και οι παχιές γάτες (σ.τ.μ.: εννοεί τα αφεντικά) θα γίνονται παχύτερες; Θα προσπαθήσουμε να πείσουμε την κυβέρνηση Bertie να τις εθνικοποιήσει για να χρησιμοποιήσει τα κέρδη της προς όφελός μας;

In early December classroom assistants in the North returned to work after a series of strike actions which had gone on since September. This action by the classroom assistants showed in stark form the two faces of the trade union movement.

In the last issue of Workers Solidarity we looked at how the causes of climate changes are deeply embedded in the economic and social structures controlled by the rich few. The increasing levels of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases being pumped into our atmosphere are primarily caused by the capitalist model of 'economic growth' and its accompanying miseries for millions around the planet.

The self congratulatory waffle of business men, the press and politicians continues even though we are hearing a lot less about the “Celtic Tiger”. After almost fifteen years of economic boom we are able to look around and think about what we are left with. Access to decent and affordable housing, one of the most fundamental issues effecting working class people, is an impossibility for many of us. For most young people growing up in Ireland today the possibility of owning a house is outside our reach and keeps us at the mercy of rack renting landlords.