Y'all were interested in eco-fascism yesterday, so let's talk about the ways in which US society is already creeping towards eco-fascism. Underlying philosophies that could someday rationalize climate-motivated human rights abuses & even genocide are already mainstream here 1/
In an eco-fascist society, the most marginalized people will bear the heaviest sacrifices for the climate. Any time you see the government or polluting corporations sending a message that "it's all up to you" as an individual to address climate change, that's a red flag 2/
We can only halt climate change by drastically curtailing carbon emissions by major industrial polluters. When the people in power, who are supposed to represent you, fail in this duty & blame you instead? That's gaslighting, paving the way for eco-fascism. 3/
I'll clarify, it's GREAT if you're vegan or zero-waste or zero-carbon. I try too. But any environmentalism that focuses on blaming & shaming other individuals, rather than focusing the vast bulk of our energy on pressuring government & industry, is counter-productive. 4/
Another way that we are already laying foundations for eco-fascism is through a lack of empathy for climate refugees. And I've seen these attitudes from the right and the left. Of course you can see many obvious, noxious examples from the Trump administration. 5/
The Trump administration has dehumanized refugees from Central America arriving at our border, many of whom are climate refugees. He's blamed the victims of California wildfires for "mismanaging forests." Both of these tactics reduce empathy for victims of climate change. 6/
But like I said, I've seen this from the left--after Hurricane Harvey. Because Houston is a petrochemical center, certain liberals thought we'd "got what we deserved." Never mind that the people whose lives were devastated were mostly poor, Black & brown folks. Exxon was fine. 7/
What we currently have--Climate Disaster Capitalism--says "Who cares if the climate kills you." It's a terrifyingly short, slippery slope from there to ecofascism, which would say, "You must be killed for the climate." 8/
Finally, we must staunchly reject any narrative that there are "too many people" on earth. Overpopulation is NOT to blame for climate change, considering the wealthiest 1% of humans emit DOUBLE the carbon emissions of the poorest 50% of humans. 9/ theguardian.com/environment/20…
A huge majority of those emissions? Leisure air travel. And yet I bet if you polled a majority of people, they'd rank overpopulation as a much greater threat to climate than rich peoples' vacations and business travel, but that's Just. Not. Facts. 10/
Eco-fascists will try to convince you otherwise. They will enact genocide (de-facto or explicit) before they quit driving luxury SUV's, eating an animal with every meal, and flying off to Cabo whenever they're feeling stressed. And they'll convince you there's no other way. 11/
So we cannot accept any of these mindsets. Reject messages that
-individual choices can solve climate change
-dehumanize climate refugees
-blames poor people, poor countries or overpopulation for climate change
And be vary wary of anyone pushing these messages. 12/
-individual choices can solve climate change
-dehumanize climate refugees
-blames poor people, poor countries or overpopulation for climate change
And be vary wary of anyone pushing these messages. 12/
Climate change is being driven by capitalism and overconsumption by the wealthiest people on earth. Any climate solutions that don't weaken capitalism and restrict the consumption of the wealthy WILL FAIL and will lead us into eco-fascism. Keep that at the heart of your praxis.
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