Eco terrorism

[Barb Dwyer]

After listening to various news stories over the weekend and seeing a trend developing over the last few years, I ran across this item from the NY Times which describes in great detail the new 'enemy.'

Apparently scientists, research, technology is the new whipping boy in town. I realize that change is scary for many people - but it frightens me that groups are popping up all over the place to halt progress in many areas that can improve quality of life.

It started off with the PETA people years ago and their infamous modus operandi of throwing blood or paint onto women wearing fur coats. This was assault, plain and simple. They graduated (?) to more underhanded behavior by sneaking into shareholder meetings and tossing creme pies at business executives. They were also famous for breaking into laboratories and vandalizing property and setting animals loose. They do know how to garner attention don't they? (I must admit that their latest methods seem the most tame and still attract lots of attention - naked people posing in public squares)

But this aggressive behavior has now progressed to many other areas besides animal research as the article addresses-logging camps, food manufacturers, car dealerships, college campuses. While neither disputing nor endorsing their point of view, I have to take umbrage with their methods, I cannot take seriously anyone that would use violence or any other criminal activity to demonstrate their position. When will these people learn that this not only undermines their credibility but also damages their 'cause' as well?

Agree? Disagree? Thoughts?

SUVs, Golf and even Peas Join Eco-Vandals Hit List

 

[Andra_Jenny]

Agree

somewhat strongly.

 

[bluntforcemama]

It's at the top of my Eco shitlist. SUVs, timber plants, logging, mining, poluting the water with residue, fuck.... might as well just blow up the planet; same effect, hell of a lot faster and less painful. In 5 years, there won't be enough water in India for all who live there. Global warming from poluted air has increased so drastically that the wheat belt is moving north, and diseases are emerging in once cold climates that are now adapting to tropical infections. The hole in the ozone layer has caused a 35% increase in cataracts and eye-related ilnesses as well as various skin cancer anomalies in the northern hemisphere. Plants are being killed by UV rays, the ice caps are melting, what more proof do we need? It's too late now, this planet is just going to have to die under our hands. Time for another species to inheret the wasteland that we have created. Don't have children, because you don't want to know what it will be like for them. I've heard all the arguments, I've been to all the rallies, I've studied it until I fall asleep with visions of the dying planet reigning in my dreams. It's real, ignorace IS bliss. Go on believing what you want. No can can persuade you, you have to learn for yourself. Some lessons are more deadly than others.

 

[Barb Dwyer]

Myst, I agree that we are killing ourselves slowly. Manufacturing processes and burning of fossil fuels contribute to the poisoning of our air, water and food supplies.

I went to town a few weeks ago on Starfish's thread about genetically modified foods and their potential for doing more harm than good. (Not that I object, btw to improving our food supply and making it more plentiful to ease the worldwide hunger situation on every continent)

But for every step forward we make in scientific progress, we seem to take a couple of steps back in humanity. There is always a price to pay. Whether it is higher financial costs, destruction of natural resources or loss of life, we seem to be cutting off our noses to spite our faces. Your examples of deforestation, holes in the ozone layer and global warming are all good examples of the painful consequences we are now paying for our lack of forethought decades ago. You'll get no argument from me on this subject.

By the way, speaking of running out of potable water, did you ever watch a show called "V"? It was a great sci-fi show that dealt with Visitors from another planet whose secret agenda was to steal all of Earth's water supply since their planet had run out. I recall thinking then that this was a very scary proposition - after all, you cannot survive more than a few days without fresh water.

My point here, however, was that protesters of any of these issues are no longer content to simply debate or present alternatives. They seem willing - no, eager - to engage in physical confrontations to argue their point. They see nothing wrong with damaging property or doing bodily harm to their opponents. The point I was trying to make was that this behavior is improper. They need to recognize this and engage in more passive, peaceful and law abiding methods in their fight.

 

[Andra_Jenny]

How can you blame the eco-terrorists?

Their leaders lie to them before winding them up to go out and do battle. Especially this one topic:

Fake Consensus on Global Warming

http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2001/7/2/185108.shtml

Yes, say meteorological physicist

http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2001/7/2/185108.shtml

 

[registered "^^"]

india, no water?

that's why all their doctors moved to the usa