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Green syndicalism or eco-syndicalism is a form of anarcho-syndicalism that
focuses on the abolition of capitalism and the establishment of a democratic
regime of workers' control as a means of effectively resolving issues
surrounding climate change and the destruction of the natural environment,
which advocates understand to be the logical consequences of free market
capitalism and the regime of production for private profit rather than for the
satisfaction of human needs.
Background
It is related to anarcho-syndicalism and eco-anarchism methodologically, but
lacks specifically anarchism and Marxism as ideologies. (However, the term has
also been used by those embracing both anarchism and syndicalism, such as
authors Graham Purchase and Jeff Shantz).
Its methods are a fusion of the trade union, more robust methods from formal
syndicalism, and the direct action and workplace democracy movements (some
members of the Environmental Unionist Caucus of the IWW identify as green
syndicalists). It may work closely with green movement and fair trade groups.
However, it does not usually adopt the larger political goals of these
movements. It is more likely to be an outgrowth of craft and heritage worker
movements, e.g. to preserve wooden ship building, or traditional organic
ranching methods.
The links to eco-anarchism and that movement's Walden-esque philosophy has
led to a belief that green syndicalists are closely related to the back-to-the-land,
survivalist, or hippie movements, or to ethical traditions that resemble those
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movements such as Mennonites and the Amish, especially for their focus on
appropriate technology. Green syndicalists are, however, often willing to adopt
new technologies, and to work with other, similar groups worldwide.
Although Judi Bari, Darryl Cherney, and the other participants in Redwood
Summer never actually used the term, the work they did of forging alliances
between radical environmentalists and timber workers to oppose corporate
clearcut logging of northwestern California's old growth redwood forests has
since been described (by Shantz, et al.) as one of the most developed examples
of "green syndicalism" in practice.