Language: English

An interview with David Graeber, who was in Brussels last October at the invitation of the Committee for the Cancellation of Third World Debt to present the translation of his latest book: Debt, The First 5,000 Years.

In the dismal reality of the deepening financial crisis in the European Union, exploiting the natural environment is seen by troubled member states as a quick-fix solution for rapid economic recovery. Following decades of massive spending on an unsustainable economic and development model, the EU’s policy response is essentially a recipe for a much deeper and longer-term environmental crisis.

Over the past decades, markets have invested in damaging industries such as fossil fuels and financial speculation. This has contributed to unsustainable development, and may well be creating an enormous ‘carbon bubble’. However, there are steps we can take to stop this bubble turning into another subprime-style crisis.

The topic of greening the economic and financial system is broad and daunting. However breaking it down into a few key questions can highlight the steps that we as Greens must urgently take to reign in the financial industry.

The lessons of the last crisis always seem to be forgotten, and the financial world continues to grow and pose a risk to economy and planet. We Greens must marshal all our energy and ideas to reign it in.

Nelson Mandela personified the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa and became a worldwide symbol of hope in the face of discrimination. Although apartheid was ended, racism and discrimination still remain present in our society, and that needs to be remembered.

Despite being only a small part of their manifesto, the German Greens’ policy of ‘veggie days’ gave them the unfortunate appearance of being the party that ‘wants to ban things’.

The idea of degrowth has always been a strain Green thought, but what exactly would degrowth mean for our economy, society and relationship with the planet? Does degrowth provide the answer to the social and ecological crisis?

The Warsaw climate conference (COP19) succeeded in setting a pathway towards the Paris COP21 in 2015, where states should strike a new global climate deal. Yet it showed how long and difficult the road will be and fundamental questions remain unanswered, requiring high level political engagement.

The ongoing Climate Summit in Warsaw has been relegated to the sidelines by the Polish media – the social and political debate in Poland definitely doesn’t tend to question a coal, shale gas and nuclear future for the country.