Building Ecosocialism

The world-wide destabilization of nature called the “ecological crisis” is the defining question of our time. There are innumerable effects of this planetary disease, and one overarching cause: the relentless and chaotic growth of the capitalist system. It follows that organizing, say, against climate change also requires organizing against capitalism—or that, from the other end, to take an anti-capitalist stance requires a commitment to healing the wounds that society has inflicted on nature.

Our workshop will try to develop the linkage between capitalism and ecological damage, as well as bringing “ecological integrity” into the vision of a post-capitalist society. The goal is “Ecosocialism,” a globally transformed society in which overcoming the exploitation of humanity and of nature are each seen as necessary for the other. An organization called the Ecosocialist International Network has been in existence for three years and now includes chapters in Britain, France, Turkey, Greece, Brazil and elsewhere. It has not yet happened in the United States, but it is ready to do so. We hope that the US Social Forum of 2010 will be the birthplace of the US Chapter of the Ecosocialist International Network.