WE HAVE TO FIGHT THE STATE TO

SAVE THE ENVIRONMENT

Environmentalism without class struggle is just gardening.
- Chico Mendes
Every year in Delhi, we see a thick layer of smog covering over environment, haunting us,
leading us to slow death every day. According to the report of 2017 CNN and 2019 Economic
Times, people in month of October and November smoke nearly about 40-50 cigarettes just
by breathing in the air of Delhi. In the year of 2019, according to the report of an international
news agency, there were 17,500 deaths due to the pollution of Delhi, it becomes more severe
when we see an average data of deaths every year i.e., nearly 30,000. Death tolls are increasing
but the killing mechanism is same. The fake cries in CoP (conference of parties) summits,
which is the decision-making body of Earth summit, 1992, distracts us to realise the real
propounder of calamity. Global summits and conventions in between imperialist forces and
their lackies (like India, Pakistan, South Africa etc.), are just the showcase for the vast toiling
masses of the world who are facing the consequences of imperialist-capitalist sin.
INDIAN SITUATION
What capitalism does? It alienates the working class from the production process. This severe
alienation we can realise through the modern-day activities which are largely governed by the
dominating consumeristic idea of imperialism. Where we do not think about the water use in
Delhi which comes from Himachal Pradesh, Haryana and Punjab area. This delocalisation of
resources is still unquestioned because the whole state mechanism wants to train us as a
consumer, whose imagination just limits at the end use and cut the masses from consequences.
Indian state is doing the same thing and proposed general and subjective analysis in front of
people. Like we will achieve SDG by 2030, will achieve carbon neutrality by 2070 and all.
We have to connects the dots between dynamite use for mining in Uttarakhand and seismic
consequences in Delhi, but we use medicinal plants in Delhi which grows in Uttarakhand. So,
this alienation from whole production process is directly against the majority of people, whom
they want to become followers of the state idea of mass consumerism. Yamuna is not the
environmental or natural aesthetic issue for the state, but instead of that, it is the political issue
for them to extract the people’s hard earning money through budget in the interest of ruling
elites.
MYTHS CREATED BY THE STATE
In the case of environment and related issues, we are largely directed by the UNFCCC and
other imperialist propaganda programs. But we have to watch their activities and functioning
for the environment. Greta was protesting in front of CoP summit office against the imperialist
ignorance of environmental issue, this whole episode of 30 years environmentalism under big
question mark.
According to Delhi government and Indian state as whole the problem of pollution inside Delhi
NCR is because of stubble burning in November month and Deepawali crackers. Recent data
of CPCB (Central Pollution Control Board) shows that only 4% of pollution in Delhi is because
of parali (Stubble Burning) and more than 70% of pollution contributes through vehicular
pollution, electricity production pollution and factory pollution. India state is constantly crying
for the financial support for the environment development, to reduce carbon emission and
green area cover. Every time our text books coating the Indian state narrative that the current
environmental problem has been generated by anthropogenic intervention.
BURST THE INDIAN STATE’S MYTH
The whole issue of Environmentalism for the Indian state is not to solve the problem but to
give a free space for the imperialist capital through technology, financial aid, market
propagation and designing etc. But why are we Opposing this unhindered financial capital
(FDI, FII, SEZ) penetration in India in the name of Development? Because this whole
development mechanism excludes the majority of working-class people. Displacement,
poverty, unemployment, malnutrition are the by-products of this development process.
Questioning the will of people and consciousness of masses regarding the environment are
shameful acts of state structure. When the Supreme Court and special investigating committee
unanimously gave their nod for the road project through eco-sensitive zones of south ridge in
the name of “National Interest”. And on the other side, the Supreme Court orders to destroy
the whole Khori Gaon Basti in the name of environmentalism. So, “National interest” and
“Environmentalism” cannot go hand in hand. There is nothing like national interest but it's just
the class interest of the state which does exist inside the larger narrative of National Interest.

“Environmentalism without class struggle is just Gardening”

SO WHERE DO WE NEED TO LEAD?

What would be the next step for environmental issues? First of all, Environment is not a
separate problem like the Indian state wants to present in front of us. The Issue is directly
related to the current over-consumptive socio-political-economic structure. The state's fascist
nature is directly against the right of the Indian people over their resources. exploitation of
resources through mining, plantation, and big dams. To displace the Indian indigenous people
from their forest and to give a free space for corporate expansion, the Indian state launched
OPERATION PRAHAR and SAMADHAN. The whole operation is led by the Indian state
against the will of native people to leave their jal, jangal and zameen for the sake of the
Imperial capital. We have to question the whole structure of the Development Model of the
state. Consciousness about Environmental concern needs a strong mass-based movement on
the correct theorization of problems. Because, majorly, those who are creating a fake notion
to work for the environment like NGOs, SHGs (self-help groups), Ministries are just making
us fool and serving the interest of the state. They are not just creating a fake notion but also
destroying the people’s potential under the premise of their fake “social work”. Correct social
work is the class struggle against the ruling elites for the sake of toiling people.