Love the Planet, Kill the Infidels

Green terrorists jihad against global warming

by Staff, Utne Reader
May-June 2011

love-the-planet-kill-the-infidels
Image Gallery
Paul Hostetler / www.phostetler.com
Article Tools
Print
Comments
RSS

What are we to make of a green terrorist? “Some of the most recognizable militants in the Islamic world,” writes Earth Island Journal (Winter 2011), “have recently made statements linking peace and stability with healthy ecosystems.”  

RELATED CONTENT

Last October, Hezbollah guerrilla leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah “took time out from his diatribes against the United States and Israel to deliver an environmentally themed stump speech.”  

“The climate threat today,” he told his listeners, according to Reuters, “is among the biggest threats faced by mankind.”

Osama bin Laden had chimed in a week earlier, suggesting a link between widespread flooding in Pakistan and global warming.  

For greens trying to attract allies to their battle against climate change, these endorsements are a mixed blessing: On one hand, they signal a growing acceptance of current climate science even in unexpected quarters. On the other, do we want the wrong people on the right side of this issue? Doesn’t it make it a wee bit easier for climate-change deniers to paint greens as anti-American terrorist sympathizers?  

“With enemies like these,” writes Earth Island Journal, “maybe it’s time to update the tired post-9/11 sound bite: If the U.S. gives up on tackling global climate change . . . the terrorists win?”

Cover-165-thumbnailThis article first appeared in the May-June 2011 issue of Utne Reader.

RSS | Comments | E-mail | Print


Archived Comments

  • HUSEN UDAIPURI 4/13/2011 7:45:34 AM

    Full cooperation with you.

  • Bob Bennett 4/12/2011 4:15:13 PM

    The truth will set you free; even when spoken by those you have serious disagreements with. If the politicans here, both left and right, would speak the truth and not whatever gives short term economic benefits to their major comapign contributors, perhaps we would once again be a country that the people of the world would consider fair and honest.

  • sclabo 4/12/2011 2:02:21 PM

    Why the "wrong" people? Those fighting Zionist imperialistism are not necessarily "wrong" just because they may disagree with the author. It's not really going to matter what political group agrees or disagrees with another once we're all starving thanks to climate change.

  • NMSmith 4/12/2011 11:52:19 AM

    I totally agree with you PJKutscher - it is time for us to stop waging an US vs. them war and work together by what unites us as humans as you so eloquently stated, that there are NO wrong sides and that is very true. Thanks for your enlightened thinking. It's nice to know that I'm not alone out here.

  • PJKutscher 4/12/2011 9:54:31 AM

    Perhaps it is time to focus not on what divides us, but on what unites us as humans--we all share the same planet and, like it or not, we are stuck here for awhile yet. There ARE NO wrong sides--only different pespectives.

2147489711
MY COMMUNITY
MOST POPULAR


Pay Now & Save $6!
First Name: *
 Last Name: *
Address: *
 City: *
State/Province: *
 Zip/Postal Code:*
Country:
 Email:*


(* indicates a required item)
Canadian subs: 1 year, (includes postage & GST). Foreign subs: 1 year, . U.S. funds.
Canadian Subscribers - Click Here
Non US and Canadian Subscribers - Click Here

Want to gain a fresh perspective? Read stories that matter? Feel optimistic about the future? It's all here! Utne Reader offers provocative writing from diverse perspectives, insightful analysis of art and media, down-to-earth news and in-depth coverage of eye-opening issues that affect your life.

Save Even More Money By Paying NOW!

Pay now with a credit card and take advantage of our earth-friendly automatic renewal savings plan. You save an additional $6 and get 6 issues of Utne Reader for only $29.95 (USA only).

Or Bill Me Later and pay just $36 for 6 issues of Utne Reader!