Product Description

This book sets out the case for Hard Green, a conservative environmental agenda. Modern environmentalism, Peter Huber argues, destroys the environment. Captured as it has been by the Soft Green oligarchy of scientists, regulators, and lawyers, modern environmentalism does not conserve forests, oceans, lakes, and streams - it hastens their destruction. For all its scientific pretension, Soft Green is not green at all. Its effects are the opposites of green. This book lays out the alternative: a return to Yellowstone and the National Forests, the original environmentalism of Theodore Roosevelt and the conservation movement. Chapter by chapter, Hard Green takes on the big issues of environmental discourse from scarcity and pollution to efficiency and waste disposal. This is the Hard Green manifesto: Rediscover T. R. Reaffirm the conservationist ethic. Expose the Soft Green fallacy. Reverse the Soft Green agenda. Save the environment from the environmentalists.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #732256 in Books
• Published on: 2000-11-02
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 224 pages

Amazon.co.uk Review
Hard Green, by conservative engineer/attorney Peter Huber, pulls off a neat trick: redefining the terms of discussion to win by default. Environmentalists will be surprised to learn that "green" rightfully refers only to conservation of wilderness lands--certainly a noble cause, and just about the only green issue likely to fire up traditional conservatives.

Well worth reading by those of all political perspectives, Huber's writing is as clear and thorough as you'd expect from someone with his training. His assertions that shortages of fuel, food, and space for waste will be solved by ingenuity seem dazzlingly hopeful, but ultimately his arguments come down to faith. Much stronger are his discussions of privatising pollution and wilderness protection, which should open eyes across the board. Moreover, his analysis of recycling programmes and their ilk gives a much needed kick in the pants to complacent types who think their garbage-sorting is helping anything but their consciences. While it's unlikely to change the political Green movement, much less supplant it, Hard Green will certainly encourage thinking among the thoughtful--and that might be all we need. --Rob Lightner

Customer Reviews

Of little value
The book seems to be written purely to counter any position taken by a prior release from Al Gore. The book often wanders off topic into what can only be described as "neo-conservatism". There is very little "real science" behind anything written and is purely a political statement intending to discredit the views of "environmentalists" with very selective cases.
There are far more useful books available to counter the traditional environmentalist opinion. These offer more real science. However it has to be remembered that any book with a strong preference to either side of the argument will be selective in their cases.
The author also fails to reflect on various studies that counter his argument, for example the value of a wetland can be 100 times greater than its use value.