The plot of the film 'Highlander 2' revolves around the disappearance of the ozone layer, and the building of global shield to keep out ultra-violet radiation. It is fast becoming clear that the science fiction lies in the building of a shield, not the possibility of the destruction of the ozone layer.
Scientists have discovered a new emerging hole in the northern hemisphere to add to the one over the South Pole. The area affected covers the northernmost parts of the US, Europe, Canada and Russia.
Previous findings had shown ozone depletion of between four and eight per cent in this area. But the new studies predict a decline which by this spring will be 40 or 50 per centfar worse than anyone could have imagined in such a short time.
The causes of this catastrophe are not in dispute. It is the high concentrations of chlorine monoxide, a by-product of CFC chemicals, which are eating the ozone layer.
If the ozone hole emerges and remains in place, the effects will be catastrophic. A huge ombardment of ultra-violet (UV) radiation will hit the earth, causing a vast increase in cancers, damaging human immune systems, wrecking agriculture and harming marine life in the Atlantic. potential ozone will be reached.
What can be done? Only the banning of CFCs and the prevention of the emission of fossil fuels into the atmosphere could, over a long time, create the conditions for repairing the ozone layer. But little or nothing is being done.
In 1987 many governments world-wide met in Montreal to discuss action on CFCs. They decided to phase out these gases by the year 2000. Even this was too little, too late; and in any case, there is little evidence that this target To stave off ecological catastrophe, defending the ozone layer is just one, admittedly important, step. The other major task is stopping Kinnock and Smith - a disastrous duo Walworth Road expects. But the need to kick out the Tories could not be greater. On top of the damage they have inflicted on the working class nd oppressed over the last 13 hey have made it cleat that they have plenty more of the same in store for us. Further anti-union laws, the Bill, privatisation of British Rail and the post only some of the things they have told us about, let alone would introduce after the election.
that normal rain patterns return. above normal. permanent soil suffer first. tion and international planning. tion of the capitalist world order. havebetter policies on many issues (not Icast the right of the Scottish and Welsh people to determinetheir own futures) do ot have this independence This means hat socialistmust hold in their stomach nuscles and campaign for e abour vote, while being sharp ly critical of Labour's policies and putting forward demands in the interest of the working class.
These will need to be fought for, even against a Labour sovernment. Such a campaign will lay the basis for an opposition to a potential Labour "Socialists for Labour has been set up for this purpose. We need to campaign for CI.Psand union branches to comole d call for a Labour vote with a fight on the anti-Tory issues which the Labour Party leadership won't touch, such as antiracism and unshackling tae unions from the Tories' laws.
There is now a mountain of evidence about the shift in global weather patterns because of warming. The desert is spreading, rain belts are moving northwards. Agriculture in southern Africa is being devastated; in Zimbabwe it will take a generation to recover, even assuming This summer in South Africa temperatures of up to 45 degrees have been recorded, way Climatic changes are worsened by the methods of agro-industry, and the consequences of third world poverty. Rain forest destruc tion and intensive forms of cultivation causing erosion threaten new lustbowls. As the climate changes it will be the poor of Africa, Asia and Latin America who Defending the planet means international accapitalism will not and cannot take the neces sary action. The imperatives of short term profit are always too great. Which means that, whatever steps are taken to lessen the dangers of global catastrophe, until a more rational social system is created, the danger will remain.
The struggle to defend the environment can mobilise a huge coalition. Enabling it to conquer permanent victories means the destruc.
Links have to be made with struggles and campaigns, promoting them while arguing for a Labour vote - as well as fighting around their issues. Opposition has to be built amongst the labour movement where asciss such as the British National Party are putting up candidates to prevent their meetings taking place Socialists for Labour 1s phot ning rallies in several cities in advance of the election, and it is not to late for them to be built elsewhere. A cheap broadsheet which can be used in canvassing and campaigning is also planned, which will argue the Left's case for a Labour vote. Don't leave it too late, don't let Kinnock throw the election away! Socialists for Labour can be contacted clo 1 Gorefield House, Canterbury Road, London NWG STA.