Hyper-environmentalists: The New Extremism?
by I have noticed in recent years environmentalism gaining steam, but there’s a fine line between respect and extremism.
While I understand the need to be good stewards of this planet, hyper-environmentalists scare me a bit. There are extremists in this camp just as there are extremists on a vast array of other things. Some people’s zeal for environmentalist causes makes it seem like they deify nature.
I am not sure how many other people have made this observation, but I do find it bizarre. I have heard of people who won’t even clip a flower to take home without “asking” the earth first. (Sara,if you read this, I am not singling you out here though I felt it was worth mentioning.)
While asking a flower if you can pick it may seem harmless, it does bring to mind a bigger group of people, environmental zealots, which is what birthed this article.
I make these notes just to say while I respect environmental protection efforts, earth worshipping is an entirely different matter. In environmentalists zeal to protect “mother earth” to what extremes are they willing to go? While the environment is important, it is not more important than life.
I just hope in their zeal, they don’t start resorting to green terrorism. What do I mean by green terrorism you might ask, well basically I am referring to those people who want to impose things which suppress and oppress life “for the sake of nature.”
As the old saying goes, “anything taken to extremes can turn around to bite you in the butt.” Environmentalism is no exception.
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Post CommentFreethinking
On December 21, 2010 at 12:41 pm
You raise some interesting points my friend. I agree that extremists are on the fringe of any movement and whatever the movement they usually are the deterrent for not being involved. However, I disagree with you regarding mother earth not being more important than life. Mother Earth is life and sustains and supports life. If we became complacent about our natural resources there would be no drinkable water and the soils and air would be unfit to breathe. “No” I don’t ask permission to cut a flower. On the contrary, I plant them and I cut them.
J.N.R Dutton
On December 21, 2010 at 12:55 pm
Hello Freethinking,
I think a bit of good stewardship on humanity’s part will help preserve air,water, and other resources, what bothers me is the hyper-environmentalists who see life (especially humanity) as a scourge. What I find strange is, if these hypers see humanity as such a plague, why aren’t the hypers taking the lead and offing themselves?
I am not ACTUALLY advocating suicide just saying that it logically follows that anyone who sees life as a scourge would be hypocritical not to practice what they preach and be the 1st to go.
I believe all life is equally valuable, and as such,everyone has a right to life, and despite what the hyper-environmentalists preach I know they value life as well (at least their own, as attested to by them still being around.)