3 September 2005

Katrina has smashed New Orleans.

New Orleans is the first western city to be destroyed by global warming.

I thought the planet would slowly sink into the sea (over many years maybe), instead global warming fuels the hurricanes, and their power is beyond us.

Katrina was the first. It will not be the last.

I thought we could slowly keep organising against the capitalists and their governments.

I thought having 100 thousand small organisations instead of one big international organisation was just the way it is now, and slowly we march forward.

But when capitalist society collapses and when government is exposed as an uncaring bunch of thieves and murderers, having 100 thousand small organisations is just inadequate.

In the middle of crisis, when all workers together ask for an answer, when the electricity goes out and the internet is silent, we see the limits of our global movement with 100 thousand small organisations.

We can't make a unified statement, we can't explain to workers how to mobilise, we can't concentrate our resources and can't send organising teams into the area.

We have many people knowledgeable, willing and able to do all these necessary things, we just don't have the organisation. And we can't build it overnight.

In the middle of crisis, control is left to the military, the corporate media, and a few thugs with guns.

All our organisations, unions, parties, collectives, ngos just continue their activities, or even increase them a bit. Each organisation makes its own statement - which can't be heard very far. We watch tv, horrified, as our brothers and sisters die, and another critical day passes.

This is the situation.

Soon the power of the hurricanes will be joined by the crisis of global epidemics and by the disintegration of economic collapse.

Yes I know - third world everywhere.

But I am not here moralising about having just understood what is obvious.

And I am not complaining about those who have not understood what is obvious.

We have power to change the system while we are the wage slaves working for the system... While we are still working.

When we stand in the swamp or sit on the sand and our workplaces are burned or bankrupt and lost, when we are just crowds, depressed hungry and sick, we have no power.

We can change things if we act together while we have power.

We are workers. We are workers who can build things, smash things, start things, stop things, change things.

We can refuse to be spectators.

We can discuss collectively and act collectively.

We can change our work processes so that we help our brothers and sisters who need help.

We can refuse the request from capitalists to just work to make more profits and change our work to deal with the emergency in front of us.

Of course that is not legal - according to the capitalists, according to their governments, according to their laws.

But we are talking about our brothers and sisters. What is more important?

Are we prepared to stand up and do what is right?

We are prepared to walk into danger and make sacrifices to save one child.

Are we prepared to change our work processes to save millions?

Yes I know, why did I not say this before, about Niger, Mumbai and Colombia?

Because I did not see it then. Because I am like you.

Will this work?

Is there a realistic alternative? Vote? Pray? Pretend?

A new economic and political system will not arise spontaneously.

Chaos fear and famine do not turn people into activists overnight.

We will change the economic and political system where we work, during these times and while these events are happening or we will fail, millions will die and stability will be reimposed on the ruins of the planet.

How would we organise if time was really running out?

We organise or we perish.