However, the latter are matched by some of the big names in the environmental movement who are amazingly dishonest and misanthropic, and, moreover, have been startlingly open about it. A good summary of such candid statements can be found here
Michael, I've been staying out of this discussion, but following it with some curiosity because you were presenting a side of environmentalism -- a dark side -- I haven't much considered. So when I saw these quotes today -- some of them pretty damning -- I thought I'd follow up on one or two to see where they lead.
The first quote that struck me was this:
"If we don't overthrow capitalism, we don't have a chance of
saving the world ecologically. I think it is possible to have
an ecologically sound society under socialism.
I don't think it is possible under capitalism"
- Judi Bari,
principal organiser of Earth First!
So I looked up Judi Bari, and discovered, first of all, that she is NOT a founder of EarthFirst, though I'll bet anyone who reads that attribution would assume she was a charter member. (It was actually formed in 1979, and she joined in 1988.)
Secondly, though she may well have spoken those words, if you go to this page:
http://www.judibari.org/revolutionary-ecology.html
you'll see that her views are infinitely more nuanced than that quote suggests. One of the main headings on the page is:
"Biocentrism Contradicts Communism"
And she says:
"As you can probably tell, my background in revolutionary theory comes from Marxism, which I consider to be a brilliant critique of capitalism. But as to what should be implemented in capitalism's place, I don't think Marxism has shown us the answer. One of the reasons for this, I believe, is that communism, socialism, and all other left ideologies that I know of speak only about redistributing the spoils of raping the earth more evenly among classes of humans."
Understandably, that planted a seed of suspicion in my mind as to the even-handedness of the rest of the quotes. So I went right to your source:
http://www.green-agenda.com/
I gotta say, Michael, this site strikes me as WEIRD.
As listed on the page where you got your quotes, here are some of the "true beliefs of the influential leaders who are using genuine concerns about the environment to promote an agenda of fear and control."
Their list includes such sinister examples as this:
"By fostering a deep sense of connection to others and to the earth
in all its dimensions, holistic education encourages a sense of
responsibility to self to others and to the planet."
- Global Alliance for Transforming Education
Wow. Michael -- can you explain to me what might possibly be considered problematic in that? And that's really the whole quote. And lest anybody thinks I'm cherry-picking from limited options, here are some others:
"What an incredible planet in the universe this will be
when we will be one human family living in justice,
peace, love and harmony with our divine Earth,
with each other and with the heavens."-
Robert Muller,
UN Assistant Secretary General
"Nature is my god. To me, nature is sacred;
trees are my temples and forests are my cathedrals."
- Mikhail Gorbachev,
Green Cross International
"I pledge allegiance to the Earth and all its sacred parts.
Its water, land and living things and all its human hearts."
- Global Education Associates,
The Earth Pledge
"The earth is not dead matter. She is alive.
Now begin to speak to the earth as you walk.
You can speak out loud, or just talk to her in your mind.
Send your love into her with your exhalation. Feel your
heart touching upon the heart of the planet. Say to her
whatever words come to you: Mother Earth, I love you.
Mother Earth, I bless you. May you be healed. May all
your creatures be happy. Peace to you, Mother Earth.
On behalf of the human race, I ask forgiveness
for having injured you. Forgive us, Mother Earth"
- US Student Textbook,
"Prayer to the Earth"
So these are quotes that green-agenda.com finds so dangerous, and deems worthy of bringing to our attention on their home page. Personally, I find them inspiring.
Now it's true that some of the other quotes on the page seem eminently worthy of being debated. And some, I admit, seem disrespectful of the human race, even self-loathing. (Though the Judi Bari example makes me wonder if those comments might have been taken out of context.)
But for my money, any group that feels threatened by the quotes I've listed is protecting a
very limited point of view.
Once again:
"By fostering a deep sense of connection to others and to the earth
in all its dimensions, holistic education encourages a sense of
responsibility to self to others and to the planet."
That's promoting "an agenda of fear and control"? That's even
mildly controversial?
Michael, I'm not saying environmentalists are saints. But are you truly comfortable with a site like this?