• Raphaël A. Costeau
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    1 month ago

    Even exposure to low levels of uranium causes serious health issues

    As well as a huge amount of chemicals that are refined and used in industry on a daily basis. Still, I understand the concern: I am completely against the use of nuclear energy in capitalism, as well as the chemical industry in general. Not only are safety standards poor, especially in third world countries, but it is also common for companies to disregard standards if they get in the way of making a quick profit. For these things to work, in a future socialist society, we need very good standards and oversight: I don’t want to repeat Chernobyl.

    It’s also heavily on my mind as well that MAD isn’t any sort of deterrent and it’s mind-boggling how sociopathic the human species have largely become.

    It’s not that “largely”: the vast majority of humanity has no agency whatsoever in this madness, since this is done precisely to try to control us.

    And how can we ensure the whole world gets on board and complies?

    We don’t. The only way we can safely abandon weapons of mass destruction is when imperialism is completely extinct. Until then, the fact that both sides have WMDs has prevented them from being used (for now).

    • Maeve@lemmygrad.ml
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      1 month ago

      As well as a huge amount of chemicals that are refined and used in industry on a daily basis.

      From what little I’ve read, lithium mining isn’t great, either, but I’m pretty vague in my limited understanding, so that’s just an aside. A pretty significant one considering transportation and logistics, but I’m not informed enough to speak much about it, and haven’t been made aware of other options. If you know of any, please pass them my way.

      It’s not that “largely”: the vast majority of humanity has no agency whatsoever in this madness, since this is done precisely to try to control us.

      Well, it’s learned and seems contagious. It’s so odd to me how people on the lower layers of the capitalist pyramid so easily begrudge those who have even less, but when shown articles about E**n making approximately $656/second, the typical reply isn’t, “why should anyone make that absurd amount when neither themselves, all their children and children’s mother’s couldn’t possibly spend it all in a hundred generations, when it could easily be more equitably distributed and no one need be hungry, homeless, or dying from easily treatable or easily healed diseases?” and is usually met with, “wish I made that much, my taxes support the rich and poor alike (which is problematic far beyond the psychological implications).” The only way I can explain it is that we struggle so hard for the crumbs, and been beaten physically and mentally into submission so often, it never occurs to us to come together and take from the scraps, let alone the table, of the master who keeps us around solely because he perceives there may be more value which he can wring from us, rather than fighting our economic equals or those still less privileged than ourselves. All this to say, serious reimagined, reworked and lengthy reeducation (and my understanding of that is admittedly seriously lacking and heavily informed by Western-centric narrative, so any educational material not on YouTube will be also greatly appreciated).

      We don’t. The only way we can safely abandon weapons of mass destruction is when imperialism is completely extinct…

      Do we have time to accomplish that? I’m willing to do what I can anyway, but my resources and ability are quickly diminishing, as are my years, barring some wild fluke.

      • Raphaël A. Costeau
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        1 month ago

        Do we have time to accomplish that?

        I don’t know, but is our only chance. Revolution or Barbarism, or even extinction.

        • Maeve@lemmygrad.ml
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          1 month ago

          I’m inclined to agreement. I’m also not comfortable with terms like “barbarism,” and “savage” after having seen a cooking show doco, of all things. I don’t know what better terms to suggest. Cruel, bloodlust seem to fall short. I’m not faulting you, because I use those terms; it’s just recently come to my awareness, and I usually don’t say anything. I would just feel more comfortable raising the topic here, among those who would be less inclined to reactionary response.

          • Raphaël A. Costeau
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            1 month ago

            I am paraphrasing a phrase that was attributed to Engels: “Socialism or Barbarism”. I do not think there is a problem in using barbarism for the likely return to tribalism in the case of capitalism falls for itself, it has a problematic etymology, (like vandalism, for example) and it was widely used in a racist way, but I do not believe that using it, with the meaning defined in Origin of the Family, has any impact on the permanence or absence of racism.

            • Maeve@lemmygrad.ml
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              1 month ago

              I understand. I’m not faulting you. It was just brought to my consciousness in the last month of two. I didn’t have a word to suggest, other than vile, heinous, abhorrent, etc but they fall short.