Comments on: Capitalism and an Impending Wild Salmon Apocalypse http://dissidentvoice.org/2007/12/capitalism-and-an-impending-wild-salmon-apocalypse/ a radical newsletter in the struggle for peace and social justice Sun, 22 Nov 2009 19:12:24 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Siamdave http://dissidentvoice.org/2007/12/capitalism-and-an-impending-wild-salmon-apocalypse/#comment-11775 Siamdave Fri, 28 Dec 2007 15:00:44 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2007/12/capitalism-and-an-impending-wild-salmon-apocalypse/#comment-11775 It's not only salmon that capitalism is threatening - They're Building a Box - and You're In It - http://www.rudemacedon.ca/dlp/box/box-intro.html It’s not only salmon that capitalism is threatening – They’re Building a Box – and You’re In It – http://www.rudemacedon.ca/dlp/box/box-intro.html

]]> By: Kim Petersen http://dissidentvoice.org/2007/12/capitalism-and-an-impending-wild-salmon-apocalypse/#comment-11621 Kim Petersen Wed, 26 Dec 2007 02:28:51 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2007/12/capitalism-and-an-impending-wild-salmon-apocalypse/#comment-11621 I recommend the excellent link provided by Neil Frazer above. I recommend the excellent link provided by Neil Frazer above.

]]> By: Mulga Mumblebrain http://dissidentvoice.org/2007/12/capitalism-and-an-impending-wild-salmon-apocalypse/#comment-11555 Mulga Mumblebrain Mon, 24 Dec 2007 23:01:07 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2007/12/capitalism-and-an-impending-wild-salmon-apocalypse/#comment-11555 This dreadful tragedy is not merely typical-its ubiquitous. The EU authorities are allowing increased catches in the North Sea despite all the scientific evidence that cod stocks have not recovered. Blue-fin tuna are near extinction, Japan having been discovered to have been cheating on its 'quotas' for years. The Japanese are slaughtering more and more whales every year, with this allegedly 'culturally significant' catch often ending up as dog food. Over and over, in every biosphere, we see the same incessant, daemonic, drive to destroy the natural world and turn it into money. Accompanied, always, by lying, bullying, threats and bribes. The salmon campaigners are lucky they live in Canada. If it were Colombia or the Philippines or scores of other countries, their activism could easily be a death sentence. It appears to me that our doom is certain. The destroyers, the pillagers and the looters are driven by insatiable greed, and total indifference to everything but their appetites. The whole Universe outside their self-interest is a gigantic Externality, not only spatially but temporally as well. The future is of no concern, as they will be dead. Indeed I feel it is a characteristic of the greedy, capitalistic, psychopathology that there exists a real antipathy to these 'externalities'. Other people are competitors, or enemies, to be outwitted at best, or eliminated if required. The natural world is fearsome and alien, unresponsive to the exploiters' demands, unless devastated. Future generations, enjoying the pleasures of existence when we are dust, are, I feel, a particular enemy. How do you explain the ecocidal destructiveness of people with children and grandchildren if not in terms of psychological sickness or spiritual death? We destroy our home, foul our one nest, to satisfy the avarice of a tiny, parasitic elite. It's not as if our destruction is bringing comfort to the world's teeming billions. All our 'wealth', purchased through centuries of obliteration of indigenous peoples, clear-felling vast forests, degrading productive soils and mining billions of tons of ores, has ended up in the hands of the smallest fraction of the planet's population in history. As these leeches control everything through their money power, politics, the media, the academy and armed force, we are at their mercy. Even if we could rise up in our billions to demand that our grandchildren could live free of the terror of planetary collapse, do you doubt for an instant that the Masters would unleash a whirlwind of destruction on our heads? I think they are just looking for an excuse to eliminate billions. The cruelty and carnage of Iraq, Somalia, Afghanistan, the Congo and Lebanon must surely indicate a complete absence of remorse or humanity in our rulers. I fear the prospects are dreadful indeed, barring some sort of miracle. This dreadful tragedy is not merely typical-its ubiquitous. The EU authorities are allowing increased catches in the North Sea despite all the scientific evidence that cod stocks have not recovered. Blue-fin tuna are near extinction, Japan having been discovered to have been cheating on its ‘quotas’ for years. The Japanese are slaughtering more and more whales every year, with this allegedly ‘culturally significant’ catch often ending up as dog food. Over and over, in every biosphere, we see the same incessant, daemonic, drive to destroy the natural world and turn it into money. Accompanied, always, by lying, bullying, threats and bribes. The salmon campaigners are lucky they live in Canada. If it were Colombia or the Philippines or scores of other countries, their activism could easily be a death sentence. It appears to me that our doom is certain. The destroyers, the pillagers and the looters are driven by insatiable greed, and total indifference to everything but their appetites. The whole Universe outside their self-interest is a gigantic Externality, not only spatially but temporally as well. The future is of no concern, as they will be dead. Indeed I feel it is a characteristic of the greedy, capitalistic, psychopathology that there exists a real antipathy to these ‘externalities’. Other people are competitors, or enemies, to be outwitted at best, or eliminated if required. The natural world is fearsome and alien, unresponsive to the exploiters’ demands, unless devastated. Future generations, enjoying the pleasures of existence when we are dust, are, I feel, a particular enemy. How do you explain the ecocidal destructiveness of people with children and grandchildren if not in terms of psychological sickness or spiritual death? We destroy our home, foul our one nest, to satisfy the avarice of a tiny, parasitic elite. It’s not as if our destruction is bringing comfort to the world’s teeming billions. All our ‘wealth’, purchased through centuries of obliteration of indigenous peoples, clear-felling vast forests, degrading productive soils and mining billions of tons of ores, has ended up in the hands of the smallest fraction of the planet’s population in history. As these leeches control everything through their money power, politics, the media, the academy and armed force, we are at their mercy. Even if we could rise up in our billions to demand that our grandchildren could live free of the terror of planetary collapse, do you doubt for an instant that the Masters would unleash a whirlwind of destruction on our heads? I think they are just looking for an excuse to eliminate billions. The cruelty and carnage of Iraq, Somalia, Afghanistan, the Congo and Lebanon must surely indicate a complete absence of remorse or humanity in our rulers. I fear the prospects are dreadful indeed, barring some sort of miracle.

]]> By: Neil Frazer, PhD http://dissidentvoice.org/2007/12/capitalism-and-an-impending-wild-salmon-apocalypse/#comment-11496 Neil Frazer, PhD Sun, 23 Dec 2007 20:37:16 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2007/12/capitalism-and-an-impending-wild-salmon-apocalypse/#comment-11496 The US got into the mess in Iraq because experts like George Tenant told the politicians what they wanted to hear, and guys like Colin Powell rolled over and did what they were told. BC got into this mess (sea lice and salmon farms) in a similar way: "Scientists" who work for Canada's Department of Fisheries and Oceans told the politicians what the latter wanted to hear. Now the "scientists" and the politicians are too embarrassed to admit that they were wrong, so they continue to mislead the public. On Rafe Mair's radio show, in 2004, I stated clearly who should be fired and retired and I stand by those words . http://www.canadiansablefish.com/news35.htm Neil Frazer, PhD The US got into the mess in Iraq because experts like George Tenant told the politicians what they wanted to hear, and guys like Colin Powell rolled over and did what they were told. BC got into this mess (sea lice and salmon farms) in a similar way: “Scientists” who work for Canada’s Department of Fisheries and Oceans told the politicians what the latter wanted to hear. Now the “scientists” and the politicians are too embarrassed to admit that they were wrong, so they continue to mislead the public.

On Rafe Mair’s radio show, in 2004, I stated clearly who should be fired and retired and I stand by those words .
http://www.canadiansablefish.com/news35.htm

Neil Frazer, PhD

]]> By: gerald spezio http://dissidentvoice.org/2007/12/capitalism-and-an-impending-wild-salmon-apocalypse/#comment-11452 gerald spezio Sat, 22 Dec 2007 18:23:14 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2007/12/capitalism-and-an-impending-wild-salmon-apocalypse/#comment-11452 I am ashamed to admit it, but many years ago when farmed salmon was very new and "in;" I thought that it was a terrific concept and supported the entire scheme wholeheartedly. At the same time I was blindly spewing tons of carbon with a vengeance while playing Jack Kerouac and having a grand time. I am ashamed to admit it, but many years ago when farmed salmon was very new and “in;” I thought that it was a terrific concept and supported the entire scheme wholeheartedly.

At the same time I was blindly spewing tons of carbon with a vengeance while playing Jack Kerouac and having a grand time.

]]> By: Andrew Williams http://dissidentvoice.org/2007/12/capitalism-and-an-impending-wild-salmon-apocalypse/#comment-11446 Andrew Williams Sat, 22 Dec 2007 17:42:06 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2007/12/capitalism-and-an-impending-wild-salmon-apocalypse/#comment-11446 RE: Wild Salmon article Great article, Kim. I've been involved for three years in the fight to keep fish farms out of the coastal waters of northern British Columbia, and I've experienced all the frustrations of dealing with an industry in denial and with its government lackeys. Like Morton and Krkosek, I've been on the receiving end of inane ad hominem attacks from Roberts and Walling, and I've come to realize that the Pacific Salmon Forum is being used by the Liberal government as part of their delaying tactics. As long as Fraser continues to claim that the science is not clear, the Liberals will use his statements to justify their inaction. The Special Committee on Sustainable Aquaculture established by the Liberal government issued its report in May, 2007, calling for closed containment for existing farms and no fish farms in the North, after eighteen months of public hearings. We're still waiting for the Liberals' response. Andrew Williams RE: Wild Salmon article

Great article, Kim. I’ve been involved for three years in the fight to keep fish farms out of the coastal waters of northern British Columbia, and I’ve experienced all the frustrations of dealing with an industry in denial and with its government lackeys. Like Morton and Krkosek, I’ve been on the receiving end of inane ad hominem attacks from Roberts and Walling, and I’ve come to realize that the Pacific Salmon Forum is being used by the Liberal government as part of their delaying tactics. As long as Fraser continues to claim that the science is not clear, the Liberals will use his statements to justify their inaction. The Special Committee on Sustainable Aquaculture established by the Liberal government issued its report in May, 2007, calling for closed containment for existing farms and no fish farms in the North, after eighteen months of public hearings. We’re still waiting for the Liberals’ response.

Andrew Williams

]]> By: gerald spezio http://dissidentvoice.org/2007/12/capitalism-and-an-impending-wild-salmon-apocalypse/#comment-11417 gerald spezio Sat, 22 Dec 2007 13:34:41 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2007/12/capitalism-and-an-impending-wild-salmon-apocalypse/#comment-11417 As the wild salmon go, so goes the human experiment. As the wild salmon go, so goes the human experiment.

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