The following review is by Joe Toscano in the Anarchist Age Weekly Review Number 516 16th September ­ 22nd September, 2002, Melbourne.

STORMY WEATHER

101 Solutions to Global Climate Change ­ Guy Dauncey with Patrick Mazza, Foreward by Ross Gelbspan, New Society Publishers ISBN 0-86571-421-5, www.newsociety.com

When faced with the problem of climate change, most people bury their heads in the sand because the problem is so overwhelming it seems insoluble. Climate change is undoubtedly the single greatest threat facing human beings on this planet in their short evolutionary history. The fate of the dinosaurs, a species with an evolutionary track record that dwarfs the evolutionary record of human beings is a salutary reminder of the catastrophic consequences of climate change. The difference between the dinosaur and us is that we as a species are directly responsible for the looking disaster and as a species we can still avert our own extinction. "Stormy Weather" is an important contribution to the social and political struggle that needs to be waged to ensure the continued survival of human beings on this planet.

Dauncey and Mazza have in this 270 page well designed and easy to read book raised a 101 solutions to this looming crisis. They have moved beyond the scientific debate about whether climate change is occurring, to tackling the misinformation that is being peddled by the heavily subsidised fossil fuel industry and the western military industrial complex that the economic change that is necessary, is both undesirable and impossible to achieve.

After a 52 page introduction, 'Moving Toward A World Without Fossil Fuels' which examines how a 80% reduction in greenhouse emissions can occur by 2025, the authors outline what they believe are a 101 ways that climate change can be achieved. Their proposed solutions are divided into solutions for individuals, citizenšs organisations, cities and towns, business and organisations, energy companies, auto companies, States and provinces, national governments, developing nations and the world as a whole.

Examining Daucey and Mazzašs solutions, they still believe that the fundamental changes that need to be made can be made by reforming capitalism. Unfortunately I donšt share their faith in the ability of capitalism to change its spots. "Stormy Weather" is an important contribution to the struggle to undo the damage caused by the globalisation of an economic system that is based on profit and growth. It shatters the illusion that has paralysed governments, corporations and individuals from taking action to initially modify and eventually halt climate change the single greatest threat facing us today.