The fictional but very popular memes that environmentalists hate humans, humanity and capitalism wouldn’t bother me so much if they didn’t blind their believers to larger truths and sensible policies on environmental protection.
One may argue the history of the environmental movement, how most of the originators were great capitalists and humanitarians — think Carnegie, Laurance Rockefeller, Theodore Roosevelt, Gifford Pinchot, and all the early medical doctors who warned of the dangers of pollution-caused diseases — but it falls on deaf ears on the other sides.
Here’s the 30-second response, from Humon, in cartoon form:
Facts of life and environmental protection – from Humon at Deviant Art
Facts of life and environmental protection – from Humon at Deviant Art
Tip of the old scrub brush to P. Z. Myers, and Mia, whoever she is. Myers noted, “Environmentalism is actually an act of self defense.”
Millard Fillmore's Bathtub 
[…] No Earth, no humans; but at the same time, no habitable Earth, no humans. In the long run, Earth doesn’t care. It’ll do fine — without humans. […]
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[…] No Earth, no humans; but at the same time, no habitable Earth, no humans. In the long run, Earth doesn’t care. It’ll do fine — without humans. […]
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[…] extinction? Nature doesn’t care Some of the cartoonists get it. Mother Earth will survive human extinction; it’s humans who will suffer if we don’t work to save […]
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Voluntary human extinction; now available at gas stations in your neighborhood.
Yes, I have a effing car too. Mostly it sits in the parking space with the solar panel trying to keep the starter battery charged. No, I don’t know how you’re supposed to get to work or groceries if you live more than a 30 minute bike ride from where you need to go. I use an Xtracycle but I do understand that it represents an extreme challenge for almost everybody.
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James,
When did I say that?
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Oh look, there’s Morgan…another fool who thinks you can put whatever you want into the environment and there is no cost to pay….
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Paul, I know several preachers in the liberal tradition — few of whom blog, however. Alas.
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Morgan, at least you have, or recognize, a sense of humor about it. [Video gone? Go to Youtube, search for “Carlin” and “environment,” you’ll probably find it.]
That goes beyond the usual science deniers, the creationists and “don’t-call-me-warming-denialists” who came unglued when a real scientist, Eric Pianka, made the same lecture Carlin gives, but with a lot more scientific references.
Euripides said those whom the gods destroy, the gods first make mad. Loss of sense of humor is one of the symptoms.
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I should add, the author of Dover Beach is a traditionalist. But he’s a traditionalist in the old fashioned liberal sense. Much like the capitalists you refer to were at once capitalists and activists for decent causes.
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Great cartoon! And I got a chuckle out of your post title.
Your reference to “pollution borne diseases”, Ed, puts me in mind of the progressive clergy who were activists during the later 1800s for sewer systems. Where have they all gone?
I’ve only found one on the net so far. There’s a very good blog, called “Dover Beach” by an Episcopalian priest who seems to be carrying on the liberal tradition in Christianity. But I have yet to run across anyone else, and I have been searching now and then for some time now. I’m sure they’re out there, but they must be rare these days. If you know of any other liberal Christian clergy with active blogs, please let me know.
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So the attitude of environmentalists is indistinguishable from that of George Carlin. Okay then.
PLASTIC…
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