January 27, 2004
ECO-IMPERIALISM:
Green movement is morally bankrupt (Roger Bate, Jan 27 2004, Business Day)
THE view most people have of colonialism and imperialism is largely negative. So any charge that a group, individual or government is guilty of them is bound to be resisted strongly by the recipient.Recently, in New York City, a broad charge of eco-imperialism was laid at the feet of the environmental movement. The Congress of Racial Equality (Core ) blames government officials, aid agency bureaucrats as well as sandal-wearing greens for mass disease and death in the poorest countries of the world because they export their most vile regulatory policies.
According to Greenpeace co-founder Patrick Moore: "The environmental movement has lost its objectivity, morality and humanity". Last week he said: "The pain and suffering it inflicts on families in developing countries can no longer be tolerated." So far the green movement has ignored the criticism, but it will soon have to respond, since "eco-imperialism" is becoming a more widely heard, if not yet fully appreciated, term. [...]
Paul Driessen, author of Eco-Imperialism: Green Power Black Death, hopes, like Innes, that eco-imperialism becomes a household word. Driessen says: "It's time to hold these groups accountable and compel organisations, foundations, courts and policymakers to understand the consequences of the policies they are imposing on our Earth's poorest citizens."
Mr. Driessen's book is terrific. Posted by Orrin Judd at January 27, 2004 9:22 AM
Wow. This could be huge.
If “eco-imperialism” becomes a generally accepted meme out in the world, it could be a huge foot in the door.
Basically, it’s a short step from acknowledging eco-imperialism to acknowledging transnational imperialism. Currently, the tranzis are off the hook because imperialism as a concept is still seen in 20th century terms, namely a product of (Western) nation-states, and also corporations, and that’s about it.
To apply it to NGO’s, international activist groups, even the UN….. is not necessarily any more true than the willy-nilly charges of imperialism against the US and Microsoft…. But it levels the moral playing field, and reduces such followers to the moral equivalent of governments and businessmen…. without the assets.
The term “eco-imperialism” could pose enormous danger to the Tranzis. It will be interesting to see if the pick up on fast enough, and how loudly they scream when it is used.
This is a new age religion (belief system) with pseudo-scientism as its creed. People are not part of the equation; they are the damned. As Joan Baez purportedly stated during an interview -- I'm in love with the [proletariat] but not one at a time.
Posted by: genecis at January 27, 2004 11:23 AMBig, coordinated push on this issue last week. Not only obscure places like Biz Day.
I don't see this issue catching fire, though, based on the rather wonkish pieces I read in the Sun, Post etc. It needs a poster child. Maybe Free Willy.
I think it would be helpful to go back to calling all pressure groups pressure groups, instead of lobbies, consumer groups, watchdogs etc.
I don't see this issue catching fire, as
Posted by: Harry Eagar at January 27, 2004 1:49 PMA core constituency of our beloved Democratic Party. Junk science and coercion are a dangerous combination. "Reason" run amok.
Posted by: Tom C., Stamford,Ct. at January 27, 2004 1:49 PM