this post was submitted on 09 Apr 2024
1655 points (96.0% liked)

Solarpunk

5430 readers
10 users here now

The space to discuss Solarpunk itself and Solarpunk related stuff that doesn't fit elsewhere.

What is Solarpunk?

Join our chat: Movim or XMPP client.

founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
 
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[โ€“] [email protected] 10 points 7 months ago (1 children)

The first factories were powered by waterwheels. Those were subjected to seasonal variations and limited geographic possibilities, what gave negotiating power to labor. Therefore the industry switched to fossil fuels, so they could run when and where they wanted, preferably near a city with excess labor force. It made it more expensive to run, but it was easier to exploit labor so more profit.

[โ€“] [email protected] 1 points 7 months ago

If there was room they'd put the factories as close to the coal fields as possible, and let the workers live in shanty towns.