Big Oil, Rising Authoritarianism and worsening climate. By Eve Darian-Smith

Around the world, many countries are becoming less democratic. This backsliding on democracy and “creeping authoritarianism,” as the U.S. State Department puts it, is often supported by the same industries that are escalating climate change. In my new book, “Global Burning: Rising Antidemocracy and the Climate Crisis,” I lay out connections between these industries and the politicians who are both stalling action on climate change and diminishing democracy. It’s a dangerous shift, both for representative government and for the future climate.

Corporate capture of environmental politics: In democratic systems, elected leaders are expected to protect the public’s interests, including from exploitation by corporations. They do this primarily through policies designed to secure public goods, such as clean air and unpolluted water, or to protect human welfare, such as good working conditions and minimum wages. But in recent decades, this core democratic principle that prioritizes citizens over corporate profits has been aggressively undermined.

Today, it’s easy to find political leaders, on both the political right and left –working on behalf of corporations in energy, finance, agribusiness, technology, military and pharmaceutical sectors, and not always in the public interest. These multinational companies help fund their political careers and election campaigns to keep them in office…

https://www.juancole.com/2022/04/authoritarianism-worsening-climate.html

George Monbiot: Dead Line – Future corporate profits are officially more important than life on Earth

Global warming risks most cataclysmic extinction of marine life in 250 million years

Thawing permafrost is roiling the Arctic landscape, driven by a hidden world of changes / Researchers identified over 5,500 new viruses in the ocean

JOSH DZIEZA – Save the Honeybee, Sterilize the Earth

Mass starvation is humanity’s fate if we keep flogging the land to death. By George Monbiot

Climate crisis: economists ‘grossly undervalue young lives’

Hundreds of global civil society representatives walk out of Cop26 in protest

CODE RED for Humanity – The IPCC report is clear: nothing short of transforming society will avert catastrophe

Murtaza Hussain: Industrialized Militaries & Climate Emergency // Rajan Menon: Hypersonic Weapons and National (In)security Why Arms Races Never End

ALFRED MCCOY: China Is Digging Its Own Grave (and Ours as Well)

Book review: The Mushroom at the End of the World review – life in capitalist ruins