From Libertarian Wiki

The neutrality of this article is disputed. Although edits from a distinctly libertarian point of view are welcome, according to the NPOV policy, "anything controversial among libertarians should adhere to NPOV." Please see the discussion below or on the talk page.

Environmentalism is an authoritarian movement to allegedly "protect" the natural environment from possible damage by humanity, both for the benefit of humanity and for the benifit of the natural world. Environmentalists try to achieve this by political action, education, and setting an example by living according to environmental principles. The movement is a part of the "protect people from themselves" mindset.

Contents 1 Motivations of environmentalists 1.1 Religious motivation 1.2 Humanitarian motivation 1.3 "Small Village" environmentalists

Motivations of environmentalists

Religious motivation

These environmentalists believe in a new age religion based around forcefully limiting human use of the planet's natural environment and resources. This belief system is considered to be the "religion of choice for urban atheists" and is one of the most powerful religions in the Western World.

The religion of Environmentalism is a perfect 21st century remapping of traditional Judeo-Christian beliefs and myths. There's an initial Eden, a paradise, a state of grace and unity with nature, there's a fall from grace into a state of pollution as a result of eating from the tree of knowledge, and as a result of our actions there is a judgment day coming for us all. We are all energy sinners, doomed to die, unless we seek salvation, which is now called sustainability. Sustainability is salvation in the church of the environment. Just as organic food is its communion, that pesticide-free wafer that the right people with the right beliefs, imbibe.

Eden, the fall of man, the loss of grace, the coming doomsday---these are deeply held mythic structures. They are profoundly conservative religious beliefs. These are not facts that can be argued. These are issues of faith. Facts aren't necessary, because the tenets of Environmentalism are all about belief. It's about whether you are going to be a sinner, or saved. Whether you are going to be one of the people on the side of salvation, or on the side of doom. Whether you are going to be one of us, or one of them.

As is typical with religious fundamentalists, Environmentalists have no perspective on themselves. They never recognize that their way of thinking is just one of many other possible ways of thinking, which may be equally useful or good. On the contrary, they believe their way is the right way, everyone else is wrong; they are in the business of salvation, and they want to help you to see things the right way. They want to help you be saved. They are totally rigid and totally uninterested in opposing points of view.

Humanitarian motivation

These environmentalists are motivated by the desire to preserve the natural world for the benefit of man including themselves and their families. Typical issues for them are preservation of open space for recreational activities, concern for the minimalization of the effects of mining and the rehabilitation of mined land, and preservation of species. Many are concerned with issues of sustainability.

"Small Village" environmentalists

These environmentalists desire to live with, and only be dependant on a community small enough to know everyone in it. The Dancing Rabbit is partially motivated by this concept, with the additional motivation of sustainability. A very old and well known category of "Small Village" environmentalist is the Amish. They are noted for their successful implementation of their philosophy, and their avoidance political involvement with the outside world.