may concentrate on individual problems pragmatically. Deep ecolo-
gists call for a total change of attitude by humans to recognise the
intrinsic value of all other species.
An interesting example of the ‘deep ecology’ approach is James
Lovelock’s ‘Gaia hypothesis’. This sees the earth as a single self-
regulating organism. He stresses that living things created the
atmosphere, the fertility of the soil, the temperature of the atmos-
phere, the oxygen we breathe, etc. and are, in turn, crucially depen-
dent upon these things (Lovelock, 1979). It would seem to be a matter
of some debate whether, despite the scientific terminology, this
is a scientific, moral or spiritual doctrine. One implication of this
would seem to be that if necessary Gaia will wipe out any species –
including humanity – which seeks to upset the natural harmony of
the ecosphere.
As a political doctrine for intellectuals ‘ecologism’ has great
advantages – it has something to say on almost every issue, is
opposed to many contemporary orthodoxies (especially the desira-
bility of economic growth), has a variety of esoteric insights to offer
and has appealing emotional undertones. In this sense, then, eco-
logism can be seen as a rather radical and oppositional doctrine. On
the other hand, in asserting the rights of succeeding generations
against the present, there are echoes of the conservative sentiments
expressed by Burke. He wrote: ‘I attest the retiring, I attest the
advancing generations, between which, as a link in the great chain of
eternal order we stand’ (quoted in Sabine, 1951: 519).
On the level of practical politics, Greens can identify themselves
with a variety of appealing local movements – especially of the
NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard) variety. There may, however, be
major problems in educating large electorates in the need for
measures which run directly counter to the consumerist trends of the
times and in achieving the necessary international co-ordination to
attain green objectives (see Chapter 5). As a result a lot of green
political activism is to be found in pressure group activity, rather than
political parties.Feminism as political radicalism
A consciousness of the need for political action to secure equal rights
for women is scarcely new. As we saw in an earlier chapter, Plato86 IDEOLOGIES