Ecosocialism 2020 - From Rebellion to Revolution

Conferences & public forums
Boorloo/Perth & Walyalup/Fremantle

Where

Boorloo Activist Centre
15/5 Aberdeen St
Perth WA 6000
Australia

Why

Capitalism is sending humanity and the planet on a collision course towards ecocide.

The COVID-19 pandemic is highlighting just how deadly agribusiness, deforestation and the unending pursuit of private profit really is.

It has also shown that governments can move fast when they need to: social safety nets have been put in place — albeit temporary ones — including those we were always told “we” could not afford.

Meanwhile climate change continues to wreak havoc, with out-of-control fires on the west coast of the United States, and devastating bushfires in the Amazon, India, Africa, and again, in Australia.

The Coalition federal government’s handpicked COVID-19 commission is pushing a dangerous gas-fired COVID-19 economic recovery, at the urging of the fossil fuel lobby and in spite of a global glut. It makes the fight for the necessary transition to sustainable energy and jobs a lot harder — despite overwhelming public opinion in its favour.

Capitalism has broken what existed for millenia: the equilibrium between humans and nature. Now, we face a growing and dangerous metabolic rift between humanity and the ecosystem.

As high school climate campaigner Greta Thunberg said, “Our current system is not ‘broken’ – the system is doing exactly what it’s supposed and designed to be doing. It can no longer be ‘fixed’. We need a new system.”

Ecosocialism 2020 will look at capitalist globalisation, how the Global South has been robbed and the ecological crisis. It will look at how we can campaign for an alternative ecosocialist future — a return to a collectivist society based on the global Indigenous values of egalitarianism, cooperation and co-existing with nature.

Sunday tickets: https://www.trybooking.com/BLQVR

Fighting for ecological and social justice in the fossil fuel heartland
12pm-2pm (3pm-5pm AEST)

The fossil fuel corporations hold a vice like grip over Australian politics, especially in WA. Despite the urgent need to pull back from the brink, there is a bipartisan charge to push the planet over the cliff of climate catastrophe. WA is being opened up to fracking and the new offshore gas projects if they proceed would be the most damaging in the country’s history. How do we convince working people in a country ruled by fossil fuel capitalists that there is a better future for all without oil and gas, how do we get there?

Marianne Mackay
Marianne is long-time Noongar activist who has been involved in campaigns against police violence and for Aboriginal sovereignty.

Dirk Kelly
Dirk is a member of Socialist Alliance and antifascist activist and technologist who lived in the US from 2011 until 2019.

Caleb Houseman

Caleb is involved in Extinction Rebellion and the movement to stop runaway climate change and passionate about putting a vision for human liberation at the heart of the environment movement.

Confronting imperialism and building people power in the Global South
2:30pm-4:30pm (5:30pm-7:30pm AEST)

The majority of humanity lives in what Donald Trump called “Shithole Countries”. Earlier phases of imperialism took the form of colonialism, then neo-colonialism with US military force hegemonic. Now it combines neo-colonialism with a battle for resources and the Global South will bear the brunt of ecological destruction.The struggle against imperialism has climate justice at its heart. Yet it is in the grip of this battle for survival that experiments in people’s power are most advanced providing an example to the world.

Gauri Gandbhir
Gauri writes for Green Left with particular focus on the struggle against the far-right Modi government in India.

Pedro Alvarez
Originally from Chile, Pedro is a musician and educator with an interest in aesthetics and politics, social change, and mental health. He has been active writing about the recent social processes in Latin America.

Sam Wainwright
Sam is a councillor at the City of Fremantle and long-time refugee rights activists. More recently he has been involved in the campaign in solidarity with Rojava and the Kurdish people.

Film screening: People power vs Adani - The Fight of Our Times
5:00-5:30pm

Songs of struggle
6-8pm

Hosted by Green Left with the support of Socialist Alliance.

You need Green Left, and we need you!

Green Left is funded by contributions from readers and supporters. Help us reach our funding target.

Make a One-off Donation or choose from one of our Monthly Donation options.

Become a supporter to get the digital edition for $5 per month or the print edition for $10 per month. One-time payment options are available.

You can also call 1800 634 206 to make a donation or to become a supporter. Thank you.