Anarchism and the Environment

[Veg_Athei_Socialist]

I was wondering how ecology, wilderness, conservation, habitat restoration, climate change, etc. would be managed or dealt with in such a system. As an environmentalist I ask this because I'm concerned with the health of the Earth and wonder how it would be taken care of in a system without authority. Would we have councils dedicated to protection? I wonder in a system without authority what stops someone from just polluting a river, clear-cutting a forest or wiping out endangered species? I understand how in an economy based more on planning and focused on the production of quality goods for useful purposes helping people it could be easier to switch to alternative/renewable energies, but how could this transition happen without some kind of guidance(I'm not suggesting a state,I am an anarchist), cause I doubt it would be a spontaneous act right after the revolution. Same thing with organic farming. I can see how it would be more sustainable than capitalism since its not based on infinite growth. I can see how since its not based on infinite growth and since its not all about profit more it such eco-friendly practices would be easier.

I still don't quite understand how it would work, or would it at all? Is basic anarchism even concerned with this at all? Or is it only green anarchists that give a fuck? I'm not a primitivist or anything, I just don't want to see the destruction of the planet and the biosphere.

Could you guys help me with this?

Thank you.

Edit: I've heard Murray Bookchin's Social Ecology is supposed to deal sort of with this, but don't really know much about it.

[Magón]

Well we could have councils that would work towards eco protection. I mean, the Human race is the most advanced and knowledgable species, ever to be known on Earth, and the way our current society handles ecological mishaps and just general treatment of the Environment and Earth, obviously won't be like it will in an Anarchist society.

Through education and actually going out into the wilderness or whatever, I think we can teach the young people in a new society, that keeping the earth clean and working to keep it so, is far better for them and everyone/thing on Earth, than just saying, "Oh the Earth can clean itself up, so don't worry about dropping that can on the street." Which for some means the death of many things, including humans if it's built up too much. I for one think that with future technology, which will hopefully be cleaner and a LOT more eco-friendlier, than what's "eco-friendly" today, people will come to realize the Earth is one of the most vital things to keep clean and safe from those who would try to pollute and harm the Earth. I don't think people would like living in a certain dome sized community, where they're not allowed to leave because the air is so polluted, and the rivers are so dirty, nobody can breath or swim outside the dome. It'd be like a prison.

So I think that in an Anarchist Society, where everyone has an actual voice to say what they want, and not just some bullshit like now, the Earth will be cleaned up a lot quicker, and more efficiently, through new and growing technology that people will put forth to make so.

Also, I don't think you necessarily have to be called a "Green Anarchist", to give a fuck about the environment and world you live on, Green Anarchism is just those that focus most of their energy and time on environmental things and happenings.

[Summerspeaker]

In practice, environmental damage tends to directly and significantly affect nearby communities. Only the force of state and capital silences or marginalizes their protests. If people hold actual decision-making power over the conditions of their lives and don't fear going without wages, they won't accept things like polluted air and water.

[DaComm]

Anarchy will still have authority. You would not be able to rape, murder, arson, etc. as you please. There will always be a need for some sort of volunteer "community guardsmen" if you will; called on when necessary and acting upon laws set by society. It will instead lack hierarchy.

As for the enviornment, many of the pollution problems/ destruction of natural habitats stem from Capitalism itself. A system based off of the competition of profits finds itself neglecting essentials like worker safety/ enviornmental protections for the sake of growth and survival. Basically, Capitalism makes it anathema to survival to keep the Earth healthy, and so an Anarchist remuneration system based off of personal effort/ sacrifice rather than profit competition finds itself unhindered to implement such safety precautions. With active participation in governance by all of society, we'd find it much easier to implement endangered species/ enviornmental protection laws and have better solutions to reviving the enviornment from Capitalism.