Part of the Series
Planet or Profit
I’ve read my fair share of articles on climate change, and many writers suggest fixes to avert the tipping point where our planetary conditions become hostile to not only human life, but also all ecosystems that support our environment.
And then I read Richard Smith’s article on Truthout.
Richard is an economic historian with really impressive bona fides, and his writing on the way in which global capitalism is leading to our destruction is very powerful. Smith examines in great detail why the capitalist system we’re locked into is one that will lead to the depletion of all resources that we depend on to live. It’s a sobering piece, but it’s also hopeful. Our conversation expanded on some of what Smith writes in his piece, and centers on the unsustainable growth imperative that underlies the logic of multinational corporations, why President Obama’s efforts to curb carbon emissions in vehicles won’t decrease the amount of carbon in the atmosphere, hyper-consumerism exemplified in IKEA and iPhones, and finally a way to break from global capitalism through a kind of social-democratic environmentalism.
Briefly, we wanted to update you on where Truthout stands this month.
To be brutally honest, Truthout is behind on our fundraising goals for the year. There are a lot of reasons why. We’re dealing with broad trends in our industry, trends that have led publications like Vice, BuzzFeed, and National Geographic to make painful cuts. Everyone is feeling the squeeze of inflation. And despite its lasting importance, news readership is declining.
To ensure we stay out of the red by the end of the year, we have a long way to go. Our future is threatened.
We’ve stayed online over two decades thanks to the support of our readers. Because you believe in the power of our work, share our transformative stories, and give to keep us going strong, we know we can make it through this tough moment.
At this moment, we have 72 hours left in our important fundraising campaign, and we still must raise $31,000. Please consider making a donation today.