GAF Lockdown Reading Group discusses: ecofascism

Our aim with these meetings is to discuss different subjects each time so it is not necessary to have joined a previous session to participate. Before each meeting we will share a variety of readings of different lengths and types to give some background information on the subject to be discussed. Participants are invited to pick and choose what they would like to read in preparation. No prior knowledge of any of the subjects is necessary as our aim is to make these events as inclusive and broad as possible.

In this reading group session we will be discussing ecofascism. Fascism is on the rise all around the world. At the same time, the climate crisis is an imminent danger to the continued survival of our ecosystems. This has brought back an old enemy that combines these two threats: ecofascism.

Join us as we discuss the questions:

• What is Eco-fascism? How greatly does it differ from other forms of Fascism?
• What experiences have we had with Eco-fascism? How big of a problem is it in our movements?
• What are the threats posed by Eco-fascism? Is it likely to become more of a threat in the future?
• What can we do to combat Eco-fascism, both inside and outside of our movements?
• Are there positive alternatives to Eco-fascism? How can we spread these alternatives

We would like to remind you that you don’t need to do all the readings (especially since the list is so large this time), just pick and choose the ones you want to do. We would highly recommend doing as much of the reading as you are up to in preparation. We would also recommend picking from both the basic readings and the advanced readings sections.

Readings:

Basic reading list

• VIDEO – ‘Nature is returning…Was Humanity The REAL Virus?’ by Ash Sakar. Invidious
  • A quick explanation of Eco-fascism and its history (3 minutes.).
• VIDEO – ‘Climate Barbarism and Eco-fascism’ by Mexie. YouTube
  • A video explaining how Capitalism drives ecological crises, and how eco-fascism is used to distract from, and to exploit, this reality (24 minutes.).
• TEXT – ‘Ur-Fascism’ by Umberto Eco. (Text, Audio)
  • An essay detailing fourteen characteristics that can be used to identify Fascism.
• VIDEO – ‘Ecofascism: Naomi Klein Warns the Far Right’s Embrace of White Supremacy Is Tied to Climate Crisis’ by Democracy Now! Invidious
  • An interview with Naomi Klein explaining eco-fascism and its modern prevalence (12 minutes).
• TEXT – ‘The Undying Appeal of White Nationalism’ by Candles and Torches. (Text, Audio)
  • This text explains how Fascism influenced the early Ecology movement and how it continues to influence it today.
• TEXT – ‘Eco-Fascism’ (Text)
  • A brief explanation of Fascism, Eco-Fascism and the Overpopulation Narrative, with lots of links to additional resources.

Further reading list

• TEXT – ‘Ecofascism’ by Janet Biehl and Peter Staudenmaier. (Text)
  • A collection of two essays discussing eco-fascism and its presence and development in Nazi ideology.
• VIDEO – ‘Ecofascism: How Benign Ideas Can Go Wrong’ by Political Philosophy. Invidious
  • A discussion of an essay by Peter Staudenmaier about Eco-fascism (29 minutes).
• VIDEO – ‘Overpopulation, Eugenics + Capitalism’ by Peter Coffin. Invidious
  • A video explaining why Overpopulation should not be a major concern, and how positing it as a major concern is an act that is historically interconnected with eugenics and racism (51 minutes).
• TEXT – ‘The Population Myth’ by Murray Bookchin. (Text)
  • An essay by Murray Bookchin explaining the problems and flaws of the idea of a ‘population problem’.
• VIDEO – ‘Thanos Was Wrong – Eugenics and Overpopulation’ by Renegade Cut. Invidious
  • A video exploring the problems of eugenics and the overpopulation narrative by analysing the ‘Avengers’ movies (22 minutes).
• TEXT – ‘Rojava: Frontline of Capital’s War on the Environment’ by Matt Broomfield
  • An introduction of Social Ecology as a positive alternative to Eco-Fascism, and an explanation of how it has successfully been applied in Rojava.

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