Los Angeles on fire

Frame from Blade Runner (1982)/ Publicity
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By JOÃO DOS REIS SILVA JUNIOR*

The human being reveals himself to be objectified and prone to destroying what was achieved by the human being, in order to perpetuate the destruction.

Since before the year 2000, California has suffered from natural disasters that have created a culture of fear in everyone. Using the period from the year 2000 to the current fire that is devastating the western state of the United States as a time frame, we have an alarming historical series. Such assiduity reminds us of the film Blade Runner, directed by Ridley Scott and released in theaters in 1982, set in the then distant year of 2019, in Los Angeles. The incongruity of the human condition reaches its peak at the end of the film, as dense as the citizens' narrative about the fire of 2025.

According to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection – Cal fire, an average of more than 5.600 fires have been recorded annually since 2000. These fires have consumed more than 172.000 hectares per year. For comparison purposes, the fire called Cedar Fire consumed more than 273.246 hectares, resulting in losses of $1,3 billion. The Old Fire devastated an area of ​​1.281 hectares, generating losses of $1,2 billion. In 2007, the fire known as Witch Fire devastated 197.990 hectares of forest, at a cost of $1,8 billion to the population.

In 2017 the Tubbs fire destroyed 36.807 hectares, costing $1,3 billion. In 2018, the Camp Fire burned 153.336 hectares, generating losses of $16,5 billion. In 2020, the August Complex left 1.032.648 hectares in ashes, at a cost of $2,1 billion to public coffers and property owners. In 2021, the Dixie Fire consumed 963.309 hectares, resulting in losses of $3,5 billion. In 2022, the Caldor Fire reduced 221.835 hectares to ashes, with a loss of $1,6 billion. In 2023, the Oak Fire incinerated 19.075 hectares, causing losses of $1,1 billion. The Palisades fire 2024 burned 15.000 hectares, generating losses of $2,0 billion. The year 2025 is marked by the Eaton Fire, which devastated 161.000 hectares, causing an alarming loss of $135 billion.

For a quarter of a century, wildfires have ravaged the state of California relentlessly. The reasons are clear: the unbridled assault on the environment by capitalism, a social structure that has transgressed natural limitations. The foolishness of the managers of this system is such that, even though they are aware of the underlying causes, the cruel conduct of capitalism remains untouched. The logic inherent in the capitalist mode of production leads to this historical impasse, requiring destruction in order to accumulate, overcoming all planetary barriers. At this point in the historical trajectory, expansion glimpses outer space and the search for accumulation through algorithms.

The work of Mike Davis, Ecology of Fear – Los Angeles and the Making of a Disaster, is essential for understanding the fires in California. In Brazil, Paulo Arantes states that the planet will end before capitalism: I add; because of it. Ricardo Antunes argues that the prolonged crisis of capitalism began when apocalyptic dimensions came together: financial predominance, neoliberalism and the restructuring of capital.

And the big techs, today configured under the acronym “GRAFAM” composed of Google, Apple, Facebook, Amazon and Microsoft, provided an unprecedented phenomenon: the massive insertion of computerization technologies in industrial production and, subsequently, in privatized services, transforming them into laboratories for the expansion of capital through artificial intelligence algorithms.

At this stage, capitalism has transcended all earthly borders and projects itself into space, concentrating wealth in the hands of a small WASP elite – Anglo-Saxon, White and Protestant, an oligarchy as Bernie Sanders calls it, with the highest concentration of income in the world. Environmental catastrophes, now structural, expose the relationship between social injustice and ecological disasters, as demonstrated by Mike Davis. His thesis is that social inequality and income concentration are intrinsically linked to natural disasters. According to him, many of the cataclysms in Los Angeles, such as earthquakes and fires, are largely the consequences of political and social decisions.

These decisions often benefit certain groups, resulting in construction in high-risk areas and a lack of adequate infrastructure in vulnerable communities. Davis also points out that real estate speculation and unbridled urban growth increase the susceptibility of certain populations to natural disasters. In other words, he interprets disasters not only as physical events, but as expressions of social inequality and deficiencies in urban management. This perspective is important because it highlights the irrationality of the capitalist organization of human life.

As an additional clarification, the losses resulting from these fires total $167,9 billion. This amount, when compared to the United States military budget in 2023, corresponds to a mere 18,33%. According to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the total military budget of the United States in 2023 reached approximately $916 billion. This amount represents the largest global military expenditure, making up about 68% of NATO's total expenditure.

In 2023, the budget allocated to environmental initiatives in the United States was approximately $13,5 billion. This “small” amount was intended to finance environmental preservation and energy transition projects, both domestic and international. (Global military spending rises amid war, rising tensions and insecurity, Stockholm International Peace Institute) 1

Mike Davis explores the complex interactions between natural disasters and the political deliberations of real estate speculation, with a particular focus on urban areas in California. He argues that the many natural disasters that strike these regions are not random or unavoidable events. Rather, he posits that real estate speculation and poor urban planning significantly exacerbate the risks and repercussions of these disasters.

Natural disasters and real estate development

Mike Davis points out how unbridled urban expansion, driven by the relentless pursuit of profit, culminates in the construction of housing and infrastructure in areas that are extremely susceptible to natural disasters, such as earthquakes, forest fires and floods. He points out that the pressure for development often results in neglect of the natural hazards inherent in such regions.

For example, areas prone to forest fires are often chosen for new real estate developments, without adequate consideration of the necessary safety measures. This is catastrophic evidence that capital needs to destroy in order to accumulate. All the climate changes that have been occurring for a long time are consequences of the destruction that is imperative for capitalism. In Brazil, Petrópolis is facing floods again, shortly after suffering from the floods of 2024.

The influence of political decisions

The author also criticizes the role of public policies and political decisions in increasing risks. The oligarchy is only interested in profit, land and power. According to Mike Davis, the lack of strict regulation and the influence of large developers in the decision-making process result in policies that prioritize development over public safety and environmental preservation.

He highlights specific cases in which the construction of homes and commercial enterprises in high-risk areas was authorized or even encouraged by local and state authorities, often ignoring the warnings of disaster experts. The need for destruction highlights the fragility of the national state. Power is divided between politicians and economic agents.

Social and economic impacts

Beyond the immediate risks posed by disasters, Davis examines the long-term social and economic impacts of these decisions. He argues that the most vulnerable populations, mostly low-income, are the most affected. These communities face increased risks of losing their homes and livelihoods during disasters, and they also suffer from a lack of resources and support needed for post-disaster recovery. The author highlights how social inequality is exacerbated by urban development policies that favor financial interests over the safety and well-being of citizens.

Criticism of the development model

Mike Davis is incisive in his criticism of the urban development paradigm that prevails in California and other regions with similar patterns. He advocates for a more sustainable and inclusive approach to urban planning that takes into account environmental risks and seeks to mitigate the impacts of natural disasters.

This includes implementing environmental protection measures, strengthening building regulations and encouraging the development of resilient infrastructure. On this point, Mike Davis encounters resistance, while Paulo Arantes stands out. Capital will destroy in order to accumulate, as Arantes is adamant – “the planet will end before capitalism does”.

Scenes from Los Angeles in 2025

Citizens across the United States are experiencing a range of emotions and concerns in the wake of the ongoing wildfires, particularly in California. Many are in a state of despair and fear due to the speed with which the fires are spreading and the resulting devastation. For example, one Santa Monica resident described the situation as “a scene from a horror movie,” referring to day turning into night as thick smoke spreads.

Others have reported the destruction of thousands of buildings and the loss of personal belongings, with some insurers canceling policies due to the heightened fire risk. Concerns are also mounting over air quality, which has reached dangerous levels in some areas. Local authorities have advised residents to take precautions, such as wearing masks and keeping important documents in accessible places in case they need to evacuate quickly.

In general, citizens are seeking support and concrete actions from the authorities to improve prevention and combat of these fires, as well as measures to help recover the affected areas. The question remains: will such actions by the authorities be sufficiently effective?

Very few citizens attribute the responsibility for real estate development in areas susceptible to fires to capitalism and its relentless pursuit of profit. Developers build housing and other infrastructure on high-risk land, aiming solely for profit, disregarding the potential dangers to residents. It would be difficult to emphasize that capitalism exacerbates social inequality, making poorer communities more vulnerable to the impacts of wildfires. Low-income populations often live in areas with fewer resources to fight fires and less access to emergency services. Nature and human beings, in this logic, are irrelevant.

The capitalist system intensifies climate change through industrial and agricultural practices that increase greenhouse gas emissions. These climate changes cause extreme weather conditions, such as prolonged droughts, which increase the frequency and intensity of forest fires. Furthermore, it is imperative to criticize how, under capitalism, public policies often favor corporate interests at the expense of social well-being.

The lack of strict regulation and the LOBBY The policies of large corporations result in policies that allow and even encourage development in risk areas. The solutions proposed within the capitalist system are insufficient. Firefighting and post-disaster recovery measures often focus on mitigating damage to perpetuate the profit cycle, rather than addressing the underlying causes of the problems. For them, it seems that 'Destroy is Necessary'.

The California wildfire of 2025 is just one of many legal attacks that have been perpetrated over time. Over the past century, industrial production has been a significant cause of many natural and environmental disasters. Here are a few examples:

Climate Change: The combustion of fossil fuels, such as coal, oil, and natural gas, has released vast amounts of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, contributing to global warming and climate change. This has resulted in extreme weather events, such as heat waves, severe storms, and prolonged droughts.

Technological Disasters: Industrial accidents, such as explosions of Chernobyl in 1986 and the disaster of Bhopal in 1984, caused devastating impacts on the environment and human health. These incidents highlight the risks inherent in unregulated industrial production and the lack of adequate safety measures.

Water Pollution: The dumping of industrial waste and chemicals into rivers and oceans has led to water contamination, affecting aquatic ecosystems and the health of human populations. Notable examples include the Minamata in Japan and the pollution of the Tietê River in Brazil.

Deforestation: Industrial and agricultural expansion has resulted in the destruction of vast areas of forest, especially in the Amazon and Indonesia. Deforestation contributes to biodiversity loss, ecosystem degradation and increased carbon emissions.

Exacerbated Natural Disasters: Industrialization has also increased vulnerability to natural disasters such as wildfires and floods. The construction of infrastructure in at-risk areas and environmental degradation have made communities more susceptible to these events.

In composing this brief text, I cannot help but evoke the final scene of Blade Runner, which served as my guide. In it, the apocalyptic environment reveals a desolate landscape, marked by incessant acid rain that seems to corrode both the body and the soul. The sky remains eternally shrouded in an oppressive darkness, where the neon lights of the skyscrapers blink intermittently through the dense toxic fog. The city of Los Angeles, once a symbol of hope and progress, now presents itself as a labyrinth of decay and despair.

Roy Batty, the replicant (genetic robot) desperate to prolong his existence, finds Deckard on a rain-soaked rooftop. In an act of unexpected compassion, Roy saves Deckard from a fatal fall, demonstrating the complexity and depth of his own humanity. As his strength ebbs, he sits in the pouring rain, his eyes reflecting the weight of the memories accumulated in his brief life.

Then, in his final moments, Roy delivers a monologue that resonates for eternity, a poetic meditation on the ephemerality of life and the beauty of passing moments. His voice, filled with a quiet melancholy, reveals the unique and haunting experiences he has witnessed: “I have seen things you would not believe. Attack ships burning off the shoulder of Orion. I have seen C-beams flash in the dark near Tannhäuser Gate. All these moments will be lost to time, like tears in rain. Time to die.”

This final quote captures the quintessence of the human condition, transcending the dichotomy between the organic and the artificial. Roy Batty, in his final statement, reflects on the transience of existence and the inevitable loss of all experiences. The acid rain remains, a continual reminder of destruction and renewal, as the city dissolves into perpetual darkness.

the final scene of Blade Runner is an elegy for the fleeting moments that define the trajectory of life, leaving a lasting impact on the minds and hearts of viewers. It constitutes a metaphor for inequality and the human reaction to the attack of estrangement from the reified condition that apocalyptic capitalism imposes on human beings. The human condition rises up against its master and reaches the pinnacle of human labor: the genetic automaton (workers) that rebels and reveals the human condition in the search for its own death. The human being, in turn, reveals itself to be objectified and prone to destroying that which was accomplished by the human being, in order to perpetuate destruction.

*João dos Reis Silva Junior is a full professor in the Department of Education at the Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar). Author of, among other books, Education, Class Society and University Reforms (Associated Authors). [https://amzn.to/4fLXTKP]

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