This paper looks at how a certain organization in the United States of America could become a terrorist group. This paper is not stating that environmentalists are terrorists, or that they will become terrorists, but to show that its organization and its use are very similar to many terrorists groups. If we discount the act of terrorism itself, and its horrors, we can see a correlation between terrorist causes and environmentalist causes.
Symptoms for terrorist group formation and current environmental groups in the United States of America are strikingly similar. The first symptom is the need for an ‘Us Versus Them” mentality:
“Considering the diversity of causes to which terrorists are committed, the uniformity of their rhetoric is striking. Polarizing and absolutist, it is a rhetoric of ‘us versus them.’ It is a rhetoric without nuance, without shades of grey. “They, the establishment, are the source of all evil…”(Origins of Terrorism, Reich w, 1998, p25)
Environmentalists concerned with the environment in the United States of America have developed this same type of rhetoric. They claim the government, industry, and American people are in league in destroying the environment:
“Increasingly it seems facts aren't necessary, because the tenets of environmentalism are all about belief. It's about whether you are going to be a sinner, or saved. Whether you are going to be one of the people on the side of salvation, or on the side of doom. Whether you are going to be one of us, or one of them”
The second factor demonstrated by both groups is a semi intellectual capacity and a capacity to use violence:
“Terrorists –especially terrorists of the millenarian type, as in West Germany,-have a comparatively rare personality of combination of the intellectual, (albeit usually not brilliant ones), and the physically violent person in the extreme.” …”(Origins of Terrorism, Reich w, 1998, p49)
Environmentalists so far in America are known for less violent crimes, but the examples are there, such as physical intervention by Green Peace in whaling, spikes being placed in trees to prevent logging, destruction of construction equipment, and other physical acts, show a willingness to go beyond theory and ideology. Environmentalists on the topic of Global Warming, have shown an intellectual sophistication using quotes and media to promote their ideologies, even though they ignore that the science of global warming has been found to be wanting and in error:
“More than 31,000 scientists across the U.S. – including more than 9,000 Ph.D.s in fields such as atmospheric science, climatology, Earth science, environment and dozens of other specialties – have signed a petition rejecting “global warming,” the assumption that the human production of greenhouse gases is damaging Earth’s climate.” (31,000 scientists reject 'global warming' agenda http://www.wnd.com/2008/05/64734/)
“The campaign to severely ration hydrocarbon energy technology has now been markedly expanded,” he said. “In the course of this campaign, many scientifically invalid claims about impending climate emergencies are being made. (31,000 scientists reject 'global warming' agenda http://www.wnd.com/2008/05/64734/)
The Third Symptom is the problem of being successful, which destroys the need for there to be a group of dissenters any more. Terrorists usually claim goals so high, they cannot be achieved. If achieved, they must change the cause, so they can continue to struggle on. Reich explains this by using the example of the Basque separatists who seemed to have achieved their goals to a large extent:
“Why does ETA not clap its collective hands in satisfaction, declare victory, dissolve the organization, and go back to work in the regions factories? ETA roars on. Its goals are absolutist, and nothing less than total victory will suffice, say its leaders, although many Basque politicians feel their actions are now counterproductive”( Origins of Terrorism, Reich w, 1998, p37)
Recently due to growing criticism of Global Warming and its growing lack of credibility, the movement’s name and organizations adopted new ideals and changed the name to Global Climate Change. A much more subjective title and goal than in its original form that allowed its members to fight on even though its original goal was found to be wanting and dropping in popularity.
“So which do I prefer? The more scientifically accurate term: namely, "climate change." Yes, global temperatures are on the rise. But that's just one effect. There are a lot more -- changing precipitation patterns, more extreme storms, ecosystem movement.”
(The Name Game: 'Climate Change' or 'Global Warming' http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=the-name-game-climate-change-or-glo)
SUMMING UP:
This paper is written to show some of the symptoms of a terrorist group. It is written using environmentalism as an example of an organization that shows many of these same symptoms. These symptoms are:
a. “Us Versus Them” mentality
b. A semi intellectual capacity, and a capacity to use violence
c. The danger of success by the group, and if needed a change of policy, to keep the struggle going.
Both groups show strikingly similar rhetoric and organization in all three categories.