Thank you, Naomi Klein, for your willingness to confront the toxicity of the capitalistic dream.
This post is a commentary piece on the following article/interview: https://truthout.org/articles/naomi-klein-the-struggles-against-climate-change-and-racism-are-inseparable/
Thank you, Naomi Klein, for being an inspiration in climate activism for decades and for continuing to talk about and challenge us to consider ALL aspects of this crisis. I cannot wait to read this book. This interview is a great sneak-peak and highlights two critical points: 1) the link between the climate crisis and white supremacy; and 2) the resistance to addressing climate change from the political left. First, Naomi points out how the climate crisis has been too siloed from our other crises. She argues that highlighting the connection between the climate crisis and white supremacy is critical within the climate movement. I agree. Throughout history, when humans are faced with conflict, hierarchies were created to justify terrible acts. The climate crisis will be no different. Indeed, this is already evident. For example, when refugees displaced by Hurricane Dorian fled the Bahamas earlier this month, Trump’s policymaking refused entry for many desperate for help. If we follow this course, borders will continue to be closed off to those who most need help and racist rhetoric will be used to justify such actions. It is truly heartbreaking. Can we do better? Absolutely. But first, let’s acknowledge that for some of us the climate crisis will be uncomfortable, while for others, it will be devastating, and much of this will be determined by the color of our skin.
Secondly, Naomi points out how this is not as black and white as right versus left. She notes ‘this is also a challenge to a left worldview that is essentially only interested in redistributing the spoils of extractivism and not reckoning with the limits of endless consumption.’ This is absolutely accurate. Yes, the political left is more willing to address the climate crisis, some more than others, but this crisis and its solutions are a challenge to the capitalistic dream. Challenging this dream will make so many uncomfortable, and this will be more pronounced in the U.S. where it is taboo to suggest we need to give up choice and individuality, i.e. our aspirations of the American dream/capitalistic dream. Individuality is fundamental to a strong neoliberal capitalistic machine whereby a productive and self-driven population means less reliance on the state and more wealth for those at the top. The fear of this machine failing stagnates political action on all sides. We need big structural change and this may mean changes to your ‘dream’ life. This will happen as a result of the climate crisis or from policymaking required to address this crisis. The latter allows for a bit more agency while the former is forced upon us. Which would you rather?
