This Changes Everything: Capitalism vs. The Climate
Exploited workers and an exploited planet are a packaged deal. In This Changes Everything: Capitalism vs. the Climate, Naomi Klein argues that climate change is an alarm that calls us to change an economic system that is already failing us in many ways. Klein argues that massively reducing our greenhouse emissions is our best chance to simultaneously reduce gaping inequalities, re-imagine our broken democracies, and rebuild our gutted local economies.
The tech industry is no exception, with exploitative practices harming people and the planet. We can see the tech industry's impact in data centers being powered by coal, bitcoin driving massive amounts of dirty energy investments, devices and gadgets designed for shorter life-cycles without responsible take back programs, and e-commerce running on diesel trucks.
These products that rely on pollution not only harm our chance at a stable climate, they harm the health of communities - most often poor neighborhoods and communities of color that are situated near power plants, refineries, trucking routes and ports. These communities are most vulnerable to health harms like asthma and cancer. For example, in Seattle the South Park neighborhood, which is sandwiched between trucking routes and the port, has a life expectancy of 13 years fewer than affluent North Seattle neighborhoods due to increased air pollution. Meanwhile, Amazon relies on diesel delivery vehicles and spews an estimated 19.1 million metric tons of carbon annually into the atmosphere.
Readings
- This Changes EverythingL Capitalism vs. The Climate by Naomi Klein
- If you don't have time to read the full book, check out the introduction here.
Discussion Questions
- How do the same systems that exploit workers also exploit the environment and climate in the tech industry?
- How does the tech industry’s mantra of innovation and ‘moving fast and breaking things’ contribute to an economic system that destroys our stable climate?
- How can we envision an economic system in the tech industry that centers the needs of workers, communities, and the planet?
Additional Resources
- Beyond Zero Emissions podcast interview with Klein
- Article: Climate Changes Is a People's Shock (The Nation)
- Book trailer: This Changes Everything: Capitalism vs. The Climate
Saturday, November 3, 2018, 3:00 - 5:00 PM
Douglas-Truth Library Meeting Room — 2300 E Yesler Way, Seattle, WA 98122