A synopsis of a very pertinent existential issue…Climate warming
BRIEF HIGHLIGHTS OF HOT MONEY BY NAOMI KLEIN
FREE MARKET FUNDAMENTALISM HELPED OVERHEAT THE PLANET
Basic insights about how carbon heats up planet were known in 1950s,
but publicly declared in 1988 by NASA at a congressional hearing.
An Increase in International Trade agreements CORRELATES with the increase of carbon ejected into the atmosphere. Klein identifies the globalization of agriculture systems as one of the largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions (p.9). She argues that subsidies helped expand industrial agro corporations, eg Monsanto, compared to family farming methods.
Another main argument is how international trade agreements, especially since China joined the WTO in 1989, catapulted the “fast and dirty” export led economies. There is a strong correlation among export led economies, low wages, AND INCREASED CARBON EMISSIONS, due to increases in carbon fueled industries, along with greater consumption (p.17).
She contrasts the Fetishized “GDP growth” syndrome vs.The Great Transition to global sustainability coined by the Telos Institute in Sweden.
PUBLIC AND PAID FOR
She argues that we need a change of how we envision our world —small electric grids, building retrofits, better designs of cities, sea walls, storage of food, meds, housing systems for disaster reliefs,
She argues that polluters need to be taxed and pay for their direct environmental degradation, as oppose to dumping the cost of cleaning up corporations’ environmental messes on the tax payers (p.55). She calls for phasing out fossil fuel subsidies.Major point: our political class, bought by corporate powerbrokers, and our Corporate “free market” ideologues do not have the will, to change, let alone, pay their share (p.70.)
THE LEAP YEARS
Radical changes in our economy occurred in past. Public education, Social Security, Unemployment Compensation, ending the Slave-system of the southern plantation economy, Civil Rights, Women’s Rights, LGBTQI+ rights, people with disabilities rights.
She calls for MARSHAL PLAN FOR THE EARTH
Art by Kate W 