What do people think of "the wave" climate change protests?

[Irish commie]

I'm very cynical of anything the church is involved. Also i can't see the prevention of climate change while big business calls the shots.

What do you think?

[Spawn of Stalin]

There is no such thing as green capitalism, overproduction causes climate change, my Mum has done a fair amount of studying on this issue, I personally don't know much about it but she seems to think that under socialism we could still pump out quite a lot of toxic gasses and the planet would be fine. Climate Camp, Greenpeace, it's all liberal bullshit as far as I'm concerned, fix the economy and the environment will fix itself, a stable society makes for a stable planet, but you can not stop climate change while capitalism still exists, at least not with the limited time we supposedly have until the atmosphere pops and we all suffocate.

[bricolage]

Why do I get the feeling the argument over the wave will end up the same as every other debate on climate change here?

Points are;

1. Climate change is a real threat congruent with all other struggles engaged with by the revolutionary left.
2. Like other struggles it involves a problem that those causing it like to claim they are challenging.
3. Some buy into 2 and support liberal environmentalist measures/collaborate with groups like, as you mention, the church.
4. Others present genuine grassroots solutions.

We should support 4, not 3.
The vast majority of people on the wave were 3, a small minority were 4.

However marches/demos are of course different to other types of political action. For example people march with people/groups on national anti-war marches that they wouldn't do, for example, community actions with. Such is activism.

EDIT: That being said marching alongside Mandelson might be a step too far...

In any case the wave was not the only action today, check what is happening in Trafalgar square, recent turn in the politics of climate camp in an issue yes but hey when was the last time we saw a 'capitalism is crisis' banner across the centre of London? :)

[RadioRaheem84]

The climate change stuff is real and needs attention but it's not anything that can be resolved with the present system in place. Most of the liberal groups out there (everything from the environment to human rights) form because of externalities; the stuff economists count as problems resulting from the capitalist system.

I just do not get how these stupid, stupid, utterly repulsive liberal groups do not see how global capitalism has made things worse, yet many of them are proponents of free markets but wish for a little regulation here or a few new charity groups over here. How these groups gain so much legitimacy is beyond me! A lot of these groups are chaired by rich pompous inheritors of wealth, WASPy types who hate humans but love animals and the Earth, and are looking for a pet project. They don't see the connection with their father's industry and the environment.