In the book Green Rage, Christopher Manes (1990) discusses the rise, goals, activities, and excesses of the radical environmentalist movement, with reference to a number of groups that can be placed under this heading. Manes tells of the history of this movement and of the way many groups became radicalized because of the perception that they were not otherwise being as effective as they wished. He also shows how the movement has become more radicalized as it has sought more and more change and developed a stronger and more explicit philosophy of what the relationship between human beings and nature should be. The subtitle for the book is a bit grandiose in its assessment of the situation -- ARadical Environmentalism and the Unmaking of Civilization@ -- but the distinction between environmentalism and civilization is one many of the radical fringe would make and would see the need for their side to win at all costs.
Manes first notes some of the tactics that have developed among certain environmental groups to protect old-growth forests, such as spiking trees to hurt anyone who tries to cut them down, a tactic attributed to Earth First!, or tree sitting, which involves climbing the tree and sitting in it to prevent anyone from cutting it down. Various groups, notably Geenpeace, have taken to the high seas to protect whales by interfering with whaling ships trying to track and capture a herd. Manes notes that often such groups draw fire for their radicalism, allowing more reasonable groups to gain success simply by being able to appear moderate by comparison.
Manes finds a connection between the growth of a perception of an environmental crisis and political change in different parts of the world. In the developed world, ecological concern was raised and first undertook a reform method of change, bringing problems to light and seeking political, economic, and social change to address these issues through normal channels. ...