Saving the planet or capitalism?

In November 2008, the president of Bolivia, Evo Morales, wrote an open letter entitled "Climate change: it is necessary to save the planet from capitalism". In said letter, Morales expresses the demands and concerns of many peoples, movements and organisations around the climate crisis and the decisions that are being made by those who are suppposed to be "our leaders". When one of the main solutions pointed out is to strengthen the role of Multilateral Financial Institutions (MFIs) – such as the World Bank – which played a key role in the elaboration and implementation of the same policies that are responsible for the crisis, it is impossible not to wonder whether the goal is to save the planet or capitalism.

This article was first published in Portugues language on the Magazine Contra Corriente: "Who wins with the destruction of the Amazon?", edited by Rede Brazil on Multilateral Financial Institutions and launched at the World Social Forum 2009.