Violence and the environment: The case of ‘earth first!’

Abstract

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.