“Is green growth possible?” debated


Neil Cafferky

Over 40 people crammed into Housmans Bookshop in north London on 27 March to hear a debate between the Socialist Party’s Pete Dickenson and Derek Wall from the Green Party. The question was: ‘Is Green growth possible and do we really need it?’

Pete Dickenson explained that a strategy for growth as part of a democratic global plan of production was essential in the fight to halt environmental destruction, particularly in underdeveloped countries.

Only by providing a basic minimum standard of living for all human beings on the planet could we begin to lay the basis for cooperation necessary to save the environment.

Derek Wall replied by emphasising that real change to save the environment involves change in property relations; however the ideas of the past, such as state planning may not be as useful in the modern era.

In the discussion from the floor many different ideas were raised such as how direct democracy and global planning could work together, the issue of “far-right environmentalism” and the role of feminism in the fight to protect the environment to name but a few.

The evening ended with several copies of Pete’s book ‘Planning for the Planet: How Socialism Could Save the Planet” being sold.


Planning for the Planet

How Socialism Could save the Planet by Pete Dickenson

Cover price: £10, Special offer to our readers: £8 including postage

Available from Socialist Books, PO Box 24697, London E11 1YD

020 8988 8789 www.socialistbooks.org.uk

[email protected]