This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Money and growth are as close to global deities as we have. Challenge either, and you'll be treated as sinful or unpatriotic. Wearing a scarlet letter "A" is not comfortable, especially in Utah, but I hear people quietly questioning capitalism.
I ate at Costa Vida before seeing the movie "This Changes Everything: Capitalism vs. The Climate." I normally avoid fast-food chains because I'm skeptical about how employees are treated by executives. I assuaged my concerns by filling out a Costa Vida survey: "Employees deserve a raise and I hope Costa Vida supports the 'Fight for Fifteen.'" I got two responses: "Whoa if they give us a raise to $15 an hour we're out jobs," and "It'll happen, someday soon." I assumed the manager would squash the sentiment, citing the common argument that if fast-food chains are forced to raise wages they'll employ fewer workers. Wrong. This manager was quietly hopeful for a shift.
If a mandate for a living wage passes, one corporate response is to maintain profit margin for the executives and cut jobs. The other is for the CEOs to reduce profit margins and keep the same jobs. We know in our hearts what is socially just, but making laws to curb greed and growth feels sacrilegious.
Sadly, the #FightFor15 in Salt Lake City seems to have fizzled out two years ago after an event organized by SOL de Utah. Similarly, the Salt Lake City Council killed an ordinance that would have banned corporate contributions to City Council elections. It is quite challenging to maintain momentum against anti-union laws and loopholes allowing PACs to invisibly control the lawmaking process.
Fortunately, the critique is emerging in other sectors. Matt Pacenza, executive director of HEAL Utah, is spot on in assessing Rocky Mountain Power. He asks the right question about why Rocky Mountain Power opposes clean energy sources despite consumer demand. He cites the root cause in the Brown Sky report: RMP is solely concerned about profit margins. Like CEOs of fast-food chains unwilling to forgo some profits, RMP is unwilling to make a power shift despite strong demand.
Momentum is also building in the global climate justice movement. We at 350.org and allied activists worldwide will form red lines on Saturday (Dec. 12) at the end of the #COP21 climate negotiations. Science shows us we can't cross these lines and also keep warming to an agreed upon two degree Celsius rise. Two degrees means 100 percent renewables by 2050 and leaving 80 percent of the fossil fuels in the ground.
This #ClimateRedLine fight might seem as disparate from the #FightFor15 as working to end homelessness. However, the #redline on #D12 shows people addressing the root causes: an inequitable and non-redistributive economic system with laws enshrining corporations. We support #FightForFifteen workers and we recognize the housing crisis and ensuing homelessness is created by an economic system that accepts inequity and pollution as a byproduct of profits. Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders also understands the connection. The mainstream conversation around his candidacy indicates a power shift is brewing.
Avaaz.org showed it on Nov. 28-29, when 785,000 people shook the ground at Global Climate Marches in more than 2,300 events in 175 countries. Global Fossil Free Campaigns record 500 institutions totaling $3.4 trillion in assets divesting from fossil fuel corporations. Saturday at 9 a.m. we will gather at the Salt Lake City Main Library to draw #redlines around Exxon, which obfuscated climate science for 27 years to protect profits. It's not a reference to the communist party. It's an acceptance of science. We are showing with our bodies: This is capitalism vs. the climate.
Ryan Pleune is 350.org Salt Lake City group leader and co-founder of Fossil Free Natural History Museum campaign. He is a science teacher, bus driver and community organizer.