Violence and the environment

The case of 'earth first

Bibliographic Data

ID4087228
AuthorsMartha F Lee (0000-0001-7531-5312, University of Windsor, corresponding author)
Year1995
Volume7
Issue3
Pages109-127
Publication date1995-09-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueTerrorism and Political Violence (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0954-6553 • E-ISSN: 1556-1836
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/09546559508427308
OpenAlexW2080665704
LanguageEN
Citations received8
References cited4

The radical environmental movement ‘Earth First!’ began in 1980. Its adherents predicted an imminent biological meltdown that would cause the destruction of one‐half to one‐third of the earth's species, and significant areas of habitat. In response, they adopted a doctrine that emphasized both biodiversity and biocentric equality, and determined to protect the environment through both non‐violent direct action, and ‘monkeywrenching’, the destruction of private property. Over time, the movement split into two factions, one that focused on the relationship of environmental issues and social justice; its goal was public education, and it stressed the use of non‐violent direct action. The second faction argued that protecting the planet's biodiversity was the most critical goal; it continued to stress that the planet's biodiversity should be protected ‘by any means necessary’. Earth First!'s doctrine and evolution illustrate in concentrated form the tendency of all environmental ideologies to incorporate millenarian themes

Biodiversity · Biology · Doctrine · Environmental ethics · Environmental justice · Ideology · Millenarianism · Political science · Politics · Private property · Environmental Philosophy and Ethics · Innovation, Sustainability, Human-Machine Systems · Law · Religion, Ecology, and Ethics · Ecology

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