Mathew Lawrence’s Planet on Fire argues that the current environmental breakdown is not an accidental tragedy but the direct result of extractive capitalism and colonial legacies. By re-examining the history of Easter Island, the text challenges the narrative of "human nature" being inherently self-destructive, instead blaming wealthy nations and large corporations for systemic exploitation.
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The author highlights how neoliberalism and the financialisation of the economy prioritise short-term profit over ecological stability, often leaving the Global South to face the harshest consequences. To combat this, the author advocates for a radical transformation of ownership through community wealth building and democratic control over essential resources.
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