Environmentalism is easily one of the most significant movements that developed in the 20th century (alongside the feminist and civil rights movements). In theory, since we all live on the same planet (well, except for a certain former governor of Alaska) we should all be unanimous in our support for protecting the environment. In reality, nothing could be more divisive. In a recent article by Joel Garreau in The New Atlantis, environmentalism is cast as a new faith, a new religion that has inspired and provoked many people. This has nothing to do about global warming or climate change, but how people advocate their support for a movement more on faith than on empirical data. Garreau quotes noted physics professor and climate change denier Freeman Dyson as describing environmentalism as a movement that, "has replaced socialism as the leading secular religion."
It seems that Karl Marx's famous quote "Die Religion ... ist das Opium des Volkes" (Religion is the opium of the people) has found a worthy successor in environmentalism.
For the record, I am an avowed environmentalist but not a carbon calvinist, as depicted in this article. Whatever your stance may be (liberal, Democrat, conservative or Republican), you should read this very interesting article.
Image by aldoaldoz via Flickr
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