New Ageists Undermine Legitimate Environmentalism

Environmentalism has become extremely trendy in the past decade. And while many scientists have spent years contributing to our storehouse of knowledge, their research and their credentials are severely undermined by New Ageists who claim that they know what is happening to "Mother Earth" better than all else.

What is their source? Their "feelings," their "connection" with the Earth with a capital "E" and their ability to be in tune with all things that are "earthy" unlike practically anyone else on the planet.

These people never have any credentials. It is shocking if they even hold a Bachelor's degree, and often that is in something that is completely unrelated to the rigorous sciences, something fluffy and often incomplete. They claim expertise in other, nebulous fields of "knowledge" such as "wholistic nutrition" or "Amazonian herbal expertise."

The problem with these people is severalfold. First, they over-identify with the Earth. Again, the point is not that the Earth should not be valued--indeed, there is much proof that humans undervalue the Earth and Americans in particular are seemingly incapable of exercising restraint in exploiting natural resources if their own gain is in the balance. Nevertheless, at issue is that New Agey people think themselves to be undervalued. They feel marginalized. Disrespected. They are convinced that if people only listened, they would see wisdom rather than mere charlatanism.

Conveniently, they share certain qualities with the Earth, which is also undervalued, often not "heard" and is too easily dismissed. Lo and behold! They are the same, these people think. And so they become the collective "voice" for Mother Earth, and begin adopting "native" monikers for both themselves and for various icons of Mother Earth. Though they mispronounce "Himalaya"--the accent is on the second, not third, syllable--they pride themselves on not calling Everest "Everest." They call themselves pseudo-Indian names, though they don't know what they mean. And occasionally, they subscribe to some gutted, white, milk-toast religion they claim is originally "Indian" since that, evidently, is the root of true spiritual authenticity.

Not much has changed from the Colonials of 18th century Britian. These people still view India for some strange reason as the center of white spiritual salvation, though their interpretation is actually a corrupt projection of their own value system. Indeed, it is the ultimate narcissistic gesture, the ultimate contemporary colonialism, though it is of course not seen as such.

Somehow, Mother Earth/Nature gets caught up in this cultural colonialist discourse.

It's a shame, really, because true, science-based environmentalism is the way to if not reverse, at least slow, the rapacious appetite of humans around the globe. Science will offer the technology and clear techniques to address the fundamental ills wrought by Western appetites. The last thing needed is a bunch of nitwits who know nothing, projecting their own needs and desires, onto the environmental cause.