Socialist Appeal
The Marxist voice of Labour and youth
Centuries of scientific research and investigation have helped to propel society forwards and improve the lives of millions. But, as with all other areas of society, the senility and decay of capitalism is now being reflected in the question of science also, and many are starting to worry about the reliability of research.
The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) recently released a report that came up with a novel idea: convince the world population to eat insects in order to avert mass hunger. In reality it is already possible to feed everyone without the need to eat bugs. What stands in the way is the “market”, i.e. capitalism.
The development of genetically-modified organisms (GMOs) has opened up whole new possibilities for improving the nutrition of humanity. However, under capitalism, GMOs are being abused by large agro-corporations to maximize shareholders’ profits at the expense of ordinary people around the world. What is a working-class approach to confronting the problems of GMOs and food security?
Capitalism is damaging the very planet we live on. But those affected most by climate change are not those who cause it. The working class and poor across the world once again are forced to pay for the crises that capitalism causes. Rob Dransfield of the Edinburgh Marxists discusses the impacts of capitalism on the environment and the lives of those effected by these changes.
The serious bourgeoisie are worried by evidence of a long term inability for capitalism to provide growth, jobs, and a decent standard of living – i.e. to develop the productive forces. An increasing number of mainstream commentators are now seriously questioning whether our ability to innovate – to develop science and new technologies – has fundamentally slowed down. Adam Booth looks at the question of technology and innovation under capitalism.