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Anti-environmentalism

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Anti-environmentalism is a backlash against the environmental movement.The Anti-environmentalism movement oppresses the environmental movement. Anti-environmentalism disregards the current “environmental crisis" due to specific scientific and economical reasoning. Anti-environmentalists believe that the Earth is not as fragile as environmentalists maintain. It focuses on job-creation, wage enhancement and industry. Generally, chemical manufacturers, oil producers, mining producers, timber companies, real estate developers, nuclear power industries, and electric utilities have anti-environmental motives. Anti-environmentalists are generally right-winged with Conservative views, however there may be exceptions. Anti-environmentalism labels environmentalism as an extreme, false and exaggerated reaction to the human contribution of climate change. Anti-environmentalism often seeks to portray environmentalism as an anti-human advancement.[1]

History of Anti-Environmentalism in North America

Anti-environmentalism is a movement against the environmentalism movement. It's origination in North America can be marked by an infamous speech delivered by Lewis Powell to the US Chamber of Commerce in 1971.[2] Several acts had been passed in years prior to Powell’s speech in favor of environmentalism, such the Wilderness Act 1964, Federal Wild and Scenic Rivers Act 1968, National Environmental Policy Act 1969. Powell directed his audience against the environmental movement and promoted a pro-industry and anti-environmental view. James Watt was initially the most well-known Anti-environmentalist.[3] He advocated free for all mining, ranching, and drilling.

In 1988 a Wise Use Campaign was introduced by republican senator, Mark Hatfield.[4] The Wise Use Campaign supported unrestricted access to timber and other resources. Wise Use activists exploited the population’s fear of job and property security loss. The Campaign placed a barrier between workers and environmentalists. The Wise Use Campaign used bumper stickers, phone-ins and faxes to promote their views. Wise Use and Republicans kicked off anti-environmentalism.

The recession that began in 1990 enhanced anti-green and pro-industry views. A group called Alliance for America was created with 125 anti-environment and pro-industry groups.[5] In 1994, the US did not pass a Biodiversity Treaty.[6] Another group that was created in the 90’s was called Earth Day Alternatives. They were also counter-environmentalists. This group labelled environmentalists as “anti-human” and extremists.[7] The Earth Day Alternative group promoted three things. They aimed to privatise resources for exploitation, advocate pollution to be permitted as trade between companies, to discredit environmental science. Heritage was a group that was also created with a laissez-faire approach toward the environment.[8] Anti-environmentalists were motivated by the fact that the ICI created deceptive green advertising.[9]

Anti-environmentalism Quotes

“Environmental acts are mindless proposals that would sacrifice the people of the US on the altar of nature” [10]

“Our goal is to destroy and eradicate environmental movement” – [11]

“The environmental community has only itself to blame for the rise of Wise Use sentiments” – Philip Brick

“Strangle the environmental movement. It’s the greatest single threat to American economy. It doesn’t just include a few extremists. It is extremist.” – Heritage Foundation Policy Review 1990

"Scepticism is a tactic of an elite-driven counter-movement designed to combat environmentalism, and that the successful use of this tactic has contributed to the weakening of US commitment to environmental protection."[12]

Policies to combat global warming were actually an attack on middle-class American capitalism.- Richard Rothschild. [13]

See also

Further reading

  • John Stauber and Sheldon Rampton (2002). Toxic Sludge is Good For You. Common Courage Press. ISBN 978-1-56751-060-7
  • Matthew Watkinson (2009). On the Destiny of Species by Means of Natural Selection, or the Elimination of Unfavoured Races in the Struggle for Life (free pdf). Troubador Publishing Ltd. ISBN 1-84876-306-9.
  • Rowell, Andrew (1996). Green Backlash. Routledge.

References

  1. ^ Rowell, Andrew (1996). Green Backlash. Routledge. ISBN 978-0415128285.
  2. ^ Rowell, Andrew (1996). Green Backlash. Routledge. ISBN 978-0415128285.
  3. ^ Rowell, Andrew (1996). Green Backlash. Routledge. ISBN 978-0415128285.
  4. ^ Rowell, Andrew (1996). Green Backlash. Routledge. ISBN 978-0415128285.
  5. ^ Rowell, Andrew (1996). Green Backlash. Routledge. ISBN 978-0415128285.
  6. ^ Rowell, Andrew (1996). Green Backlash. Routledge. ISBN 978-0415128285.
  7. ^ Rowell, Andrew (1996). Green Backlash. Routledge. ISBN 978-0415128285.
  8. ^ Rowell, Andrew (1996). Green Backlash. Routledge. ISBN 978-0415128285.
  9. ^ Rowell, Andrew (1996). Green Backlash. Routledge. ISBN 978-0415128285.
  10. ^ Rowell, Andrew (1996). Green Backlash. Routledge.
  11. ^ Powell, Andrew (1996). Green Backlash. Routledge.
  12. ^ Jacques, Dunlap & Freeman (2008). The organisation of denial: Conservative think tanks and environmental scepticism". Environmental Politics. pp. 349–385.
  13. ^ Klein, Naomi. "Capitalism vs. The Climate".


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