Modern And Scientific Vs. Anti-Scientific Environmentalism

[Anonymous]

I consider myself a conservationist. I support all engineering improvements that have and will continue to help us conserve resources and minimize damage to our health and environment. Unfortunately, today in Canada luddites and NIMBYists are what passes for environmentalism.

A passion for environmental conservation can manifest itself in many ways. But no matter how you slice it, environmental advocates boil down into two types: those who love the modern world, like me, and those activists who, quite frankly, despise the modern world.



Let me explain.



Modern environmentalists want a growing economy, embrace our scientific and technical prowess, support industry, and are damn glad that we have modern medicine to keep us alive. We modern environmentalists are fixated on the application of the best environmental technology to minimize pollution or the application of sound conservation planning to ensure that natural resources are harvested so as to ensure ecological integrity. The anti-modern environmentalists actually blame the modern world for environmental problems.



When it comes to actually doing something about conservation, modern environmentalists raise private money to improve fish habitat, restore wetlands, plant trees, stock lakes, and repair degraded lands. We also want government conservation dollars to go to real on-the-ground conservation as opposed to endless public hearings.



Groups such as Ducks Unlimited and the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters have raised millions of private dollars for projects that actually do something for nature. Many modern environmentalists hunt, fish and spend a lot of time outdoors. Thus they have a deep understanding of ecological processes and animal behaviour. This direct connection to nature nurtures an intense passion for conservation.



Modern environmentalists don't demonstrate, file petitions, agitate, or demand special status from governments. They quietly go about making life better for all of us.



Anti-modern environmentalists, on the other hand, think that modern life itself is the problem. They yearn for a post-industrial utopia where humans and Mother Nature will walk hand-in-hand to some mythical perfect world. Elizabeth May and the Green Party fit this to a 'T'.



Notice how the Elizabeth Mays and the David Suzukis of the world never describe their end game. In their anti-modern world would we still have jobs, cars, air travel, abundant food, quality medical care, or the many other gifts of an industrial society? These are gifts that have increased our lifespans, reduced suffering, enriched our lives, and enabled us to achieve things our ancestors could not have even dreamed of. Inquiring minds want to know!



Anti-modern environmentalists are more concerned about process than environmental results. Today's Liberal government is giving them exactly what they want. Extended and unpredictable environmental processes kill projects and throw thousands of people out of work. But to the anti-moderns that is a good thing because the sooner we "evolve" away from the modern industrial world the better off the planet will be.



I am convinced the vast majority of Canadians are firmly in the modern environmentalist camp, but many have fallen for the anti-modern dogma. This is because the anti-modernists have been the only ones "out on the field" so to speak. And they are adept at using the media via demonstrations, sit-ins, petitions and pictures of baby seals.



But the anti-modernists have been selling Canadians a bill of goods. If their agenda is fully implemented, as I fear it might be by this Liberal Government, all Canadians will feel the pain. And this pain is so unnecessary.



We can have it all: a clean and improving environment and a thriving industrial economy that has served us all so well. Environmental quality in rich countries far surpasses the impoverished countries of the world. Simply put, the modern world is good for the environment and good for us.



- Sopuck is the Conservative MP for Dauphin- Swan River – Neepawa, Manitoba.

http://www.torontosun.com/2016/02/19/modern-vs-anti-modern-environmentalism">http://www.torontosun.com/2016/02/19/mo ... nmentalism">http://www.torontosun.com/2016/02/19/modern-vs-anti-modern-environmentalism

[Anonymous]

In the end I have confidence that responsible development will prevail over the keep all resources in the ground crowd.