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Salient. Victoria University Student Newspaper. Volume. 34, Number 2. 1971

Hugh Fyson

page break

Hugh Fyson

Photo of two police officers arresting a protestor

I wasn't permitted to leave the States without some experience of pollution. While I was in San Fransisco two oil tankers, the property of Standard Oil, collided under the Golden Gate bridge spilling nearly two million gallons of oil into the Bay and out into the ocean. It was one of the worst ecological disasters in recent history. A thick fog that morning had kept other shipping tied up, but not Standard Oil.

In the aftermath of the collision thousands of young people rushed to the beaches to try and stop the oil rolling in and to rescue dying sea-birds. The company did little to offset the immense damage, despite its net tax-paid profit for 1969 of $453,780,000.

Sunny Southern California was no better. I found Los Angeles in the midst of a carbon monoxide pollution warning; visibility was right down and the whole city stank worse than the inside of the Mount Victoria Tunnel. City officials advised people to keep use of motor cars to a minimum until the danger had passed, but this was quite unrealistic in view of the fact that public transport is virtually non-existent. The obvious solution to this situation in the long term is an efficient and widespread system of electrically operated public transport; but think how this would damage the profits of the oil companies and the auto industry.

Each of these movements is challenging one manifestation or another of the oppression upon which American capitalism is based. A whole generation of radical youth is emerging in the process, and increasing numbers of them are recognising the need to make fundamental changes that go far beyond the framework of capitalism if this oppression is to be ended. More young people are looking for an alternative that has the programme, the strategy and the political ability to promote and provide leadership to this end. Already, in the shape of the Young Socialist Alliance, such a revolutionary movement has taken root and begun to grow.