In a piece for Local Call, I discuss the economic concept of “market failures” and specifically the type called “externalities” — in which effects such as environmental degredation are ignored by market forces, and often exacerbated, because they do not come with an attached financial cost to businesses nor consumers.
Abandon All Hope for Fun and Profit
I’ve recently gone through a weird and remarkable shift in perspective. One way to put it would be that I’ve given up all hope for the future of the world – and it was the best thing that could happen to me.
For Israel's Sake and the World's, Leave the Gas in the Ground [Hebrew]
In this piece for Local Call, I review the strong evidence for the seemingly outlandish argument that Israel should not extract the massive gas reserves discovered off of its shores, but leave them in the ground. Although burning the gas is less damaging immediately around the power plant than burning coal or oil, when its full life-cycle is taken into account its greenhouse gas emissions are actually worse than oil or even coal. Now that the cost of renewable energies from new installations has sunk below even that of continuing to operate existing fossil-fuel plants, continuing to invest in fossil gas is not only environmentally suicidal, but economically backwards — but it does massively benefit the major players who own the extraction rights.
Anti-parliamentarism has failed — and needs to be reinvented
The radical attitude of “ignore electoral politics until they lose power over us” has been a resounding failure — and a boon for forces of capital and reaction alike. But neither has far-left parliamentarism proven much use. I propose we instead focus on organizing outside of parliamentary politics — while actively engaging with it.
The Green Case for Fare-Free Public Transport [Hebrew]
In this piece for Local Call, I argue for universal fare-free public transport (FFPT) as part of the transition to a sustainable economy. Public transport is the only practical way to enable mobility without continuing the environmental destruction associated with oil-powered vehicles on a scale and schedule relevant for reducing climate degradation. Turning it into a universal, free service for all will end the destructive competition between public and private transit, and pave the way politically for expanding, renewing, and improving public transport as a viable alternative for all.
Zionism: The Right's (Wrong) Answer to Antisemitism
Despite some streams’ progressive leanings, Zionism as a whole is a right-wing position, and must be rejected by Jewish people in favor of a Leftist vision of equality
Green Consumerism is Impossible – and Anti-Democratic [Hebrew]
In this piece for Local Call I tackle conscious consumption — the most prominent approach to combating climate change in recent years. I highlight its severe limitations as well as the anti-democratic nature of allowing influence only to those with money to spare.
Eco-fascism – how the Right Wing Takes Advantage of the Climate Crisis [Hebrew]
In this piece for Local Call, I review “green” tendencies in the far-right and other right-wing responses to the climate crisis. However, I argue, the right is already profiting from the destabilization of the climate in the global south by spreading fear of migrants and implementing essentially eco-fascist policies intended to keep the climate crisis from crossing borders in the global north. Meanwhile, the only realistic path to avert total climate catastrophe is the Left’s “Green New Deal” approach, unfairly maligned as “extreme” by the mega-rich who would apparently prefer eco-fascism to such equalizing measures.
The Climate Crisis Causes Despair, But There is Hope Yet [Hebrew]
In this piece for Local Call, I argue that while despair is quite a reasonable response to the current climate crisis impasse, the future is yet unwritten and the incredible climate movements rising rapidly in the past year give good reason for hope – and practical ways to help make change.
Those who denounce Antifa tactics ignore Antifa’s warnings
It is only by ignoring the information collected and disseminated by antifascists that liberals and conservatives can so readily dismiss Antifa’s confrontational tactics and activities.