End capitalism to save the planet, urges Bolivian President

Tuesday, April 22nd, 2008

Opening a UN forum in New York on the global impact of climate change on indigenous peoples, Bolivian President Evo Morales has said that capitalism must be scrapped if the planet is to be saved from the effects of climate change. “If we want to save our planet earth, we have a duty to put an end to the capitalist system,” he said, adding that unbridled industrial development was responsible for the pillaging of natural resources. President Alan Garcia of Peru said using land for biofuels was putting food out of reach for the poor.

By contrast with these two leaders’ willingness to speak the hard truth clearly and controversially, UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown said ahead of the meeting that the UK should be “more selective in our support” for biofuels, which is typically woolly; he could have been saying anything at all, but chances are it means he’s trying to convey that he’s sitting on the fence. Since when was that a compelling stance for voters, especially now when we’re entering into a multi-faceted planetary crisis that demands action, not just talk, if we’re going to survive?

With the requirement that all UK diesel and petrol contain at least 2.5 per cent biofuels having come into force only last week, there’s no amount of fudge can mask the fact that the UK government has given a massive boost to the biofuels industry both financially and in terms of propaganda value.

categories: healthy planet, in the news