The environmental problem is not new at all, although the strengthening of ecological concern has been a recent tendency. The destruction of the environment is inherent in the capitalist system, although the environmentalist rhetoric can be exploited for pro-capitalist causes as well.

The draft and principles of the new constitution are contradictory to various values shared by the people at the beginning of the transition. The draft is a step backwards on the availability of democratic institutions as well.

Marx did not forget about the environmental impact of capitalist production, although he did not elaborate on the issue since much of the evidence was then missing. Nevertheless, his value and rent theories represent a solid ground for the theory of Marxist ecology.

China has produced the most remarkable economic growth in the past fifteen years. The question is whether she produced a model to be followed as well or not. If that is the case, much of the suffering following the East European shock therapies could have been avoided.

A Manchester economist, previously in the CPGB, now convenor of the Red-Green Study Group, which published the pamphlet "What on Earth is to be Done?"