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A review by helenecats
Burnt: Fighting for Climate Justice by Chris Saltmarsh
challenging
informative
reflective
medium-paced
3.75
Burnt: Fighting for Climate Justice was full of fascinating facts and statistics about the climate crisis. I had already read similar books before, but they were either a lot longer or shorter (eg articles, graphic novels, or very short essays). This 160-page non-fiction book fell nicely in the middle. If you don't know about Pluto Press and their Outspoken series, I urge you to go check them out. Every time I read one of their books, I feel like I've attended a conference about that topic.
Saltmarsh starts with his credentials. Climate activist since his teens, he has gotten involved in many demonstrations (or "demos") and direct action. He clearly cares a great deal about the planet, but also about people who live on it - and not just those in his immediate environment.
When I started reading this book, we were in the middle of a severe heatwave in the UK. I am writing my review in the aftermath of the deadly floods in Pakistan which affected 33 million people and have already killed thousands.
Pick up this book to understand better what is awaiting us if we remain passive. I know a lot of you (me included) think that you are already doing your "bit" by recycling, choosing more eco-friendly products, perhaps changing your diet. But here Saltmarsh tells us that we won't get where we need to be within the current capitalist system. An economy which had growth and profit at its core simply cannot be sustainable. Period.
Where the author lost me a bit is when he started offering possible solutions, relying heavily on governments to take the reins, renationalising transport, heavily regulating food, and ensuring that staff currently working in polluting industries get offered green jobs. Some of the passages sounded so idealistic and utopian, I really could not see how today's citizens would buy into it. For instance, travelling by train across continents instead of flying. Maybe I've become extremely cynical after living in London… But when I see the littering, the waste of resources, the number of people being paid double or triple than me for working in jobs making the world even more unequal - I simply don't believe the people in charge will have enough power to force them to give up their privileges.
In summary - I found the first half of the book extremely clear, well-researched and informative. The second half was more political and far-left leaning; criticising many movements such as the unions and XR, whilst offering a way out which I don't ever foresee happening: governments working together on a global scale and nationalising most industries. The experts quoted/interviewed don't seem to have enough weight, and in the end I was left a bit disheartened and helpless. Still, it is well worth a read.
Saltmarsh starts with his credentials. Climate activist since his teens, he has gotten involved in many demonstrations (or "demos") and direct action. He clearly cares a great deal about the planet, but also about people who live on it - and not just those in his immediate environment.
When I started reading this book, we were in the middle of a severe heatwave in the UK. I am writing my review in the aftermath of the deadly floods in Pakistan which affected 33 million people and have already killed thousands.
Pick up this book to understand better what is awaiting us if we remain passive. I know a lot of you (me included) think that you are already doing your "bit" by recycling, choosing more eco-friendly products, perhaps changing your diet. But here Saltmarsh tells us that we won't get where we need to be within the current capitalist system. An economy which had growth and profit at its core simply cannot be sustainable. Period.
Where the author lost me a bit is when he started offering possible solutions, relying heavily on governments to take the reins, renationalising transport, heavily regulating food, and ensuring that staff currently working in polluting industries get offered green jobs. Some of the passages sounded so idealistic and utopian, I really could not see how today's citizens would buy into it. For instance, travelling by train across continents instead of flying. Maybe I've become extremely cynical after living in London… But when I see the littering, the waste of resources, the number of people being paid double or triple than me for working in jobs making the world even more unequal - I simply don't believe the people in charge will have enough power to force them to give up their privileges.
In summary - I found the first half of the book extremely clear, well-researched and informative. The second half was more political and far-left leaning; criticising many movements such as the unions and XR, whilst offering a way out which I don't ever foresee happening: governments working together on a global scale and nationalising most industries. The experts quoted/interviewed don't seem to have enough weight, and in the end I was left a bit disheartened and helpless. Still, it is well worth a read.