The problem with ecoterrorism
4 March 2008 2 Comments
It’s completely beyond me as to how people think acts of violence such as this will actually change the way the victims think and act.
Note the specific order in the sentence above: “Think” and then “act.” People’s actions, in this case building very large, energy hoarding houses, aren’t likely to change until their worldview or personal values change. It seems to me that all such ecoterrorism will only serve to anger people; I really don’t see how it will serve to further any cause.
And have these so called ecologically guided arsonists taken into considering the likely massive amount of toxins and greenhouse gasses (their supposed prime nemesis) that burning such a large structure puts into the air? Would it not be so much more witty and productive for them to break into the house and install gray water systems and solar power? The building materials are already in place. Burning them is useless; disassembling and reusing is even a better idea. These people need a creative think-tank in their ranks.
10-to-1 that these ELF people are a bunch of lackluster college underclassmen, who’s prospects for a career top out just beyond food service or phone sales.
If they weren’t burning down houses to “save the environment”, they would be burning down churches to save the world from religion, or burning down vacant houses to save themselves another dull Saturday night playing World of Warcraft.
You make a good point. I was just discussing with some friends today that the difficulty in trying to communicate/share an experience is that, when describing it, something seemingly necessary is lost. For example, me telling you the chair is red communicates something, but that isn’t quite the same as actually seeing the chair as red and experiencing that.
In a similar way, they clearly want their “opponents” to arrive at a certain decision. But they aren’t taking the time to consider what it would take for them to experience a change like that. They assume it’s obvious, which is usually where the problem begins.
Nice post.