Ecology as Politics: The Origins of Ecosocialism
April 13, 2014
When: Sunday, April 13th, 1:30pm
Where: CSI Annex, 720 Bathurst Street (Room #1), Toronto
The sources for eco-socialism are many but Andre Gorz’s Ecology as Politics remains one of the most important texts. It first connected the ecological movement to larger struggles of the labour and socialist movements. He began to develop these themes in his strategic interventions for ‘Reform and Revolution’ where he made the case for ‘structural reforms’ that would win gains within capitalism but also carry an anti-capitalist logic.
Gorz also connected ecological struggles to his ‘strategy for labour’ where he had re-asserted and re-thought workers’ control and self-management. His later writings on Capitalism, Socialism, Ecology more directly linked ecology to some of the traditional demands of the socialist movement – reduced work-time, living better with less through collective consumption, the social ideology of the car in opposition to public transportation, the rationality of the market and endless consumption, and many others.
Gorz’s was a radical position against productivism and market ecology. His ideas provide a critique of current green politics, and provide a link to what many identify as 21st century socialism.
Presenters:
* Umair Muhammad, York University, author of Confronting Injustice
* Greg Albo, York University
Gorz’s Ecology as Politics can be downloaded here.
This discussion will kickstart a Workshop on Ecosocialism. We will also use this meeting to discuss further readings, topics, speakers and so forth.
Sponsors: Centre for Social Justice, Greater Toronto Workers’ Assembly, Socialist Project | Facebook event
