This week in class, our discussions and readings largely revolved around the topic of “good activism” vs “bad activism”. The discussion was particularly relevant for me as I used to be involved with a group of activists who had a bit of a bad activist reputation. We were a small but eclectic group; people of all ages and backgrounds came together to protect the humble Briger Forest from the evil corporate monstrosities, Scripps and Kolter. Their website still remains, although it’s antiquated. While I only participated in the “good activism” — peaceful protests, researching EPA guidelines, calling congressmen — some of the more radical activists made local headlines when they were arrested for creating a blockade that cancelled class for a nearby school. Ironically enough, these activists were with Earth First!, an environmental organization that was inspired by the Monkey Wrench Gang. I had already been familiar with them before reading the Monkey Wrench Gang, so when I learned about its influence on Earth First!, I figured that the wrench in their logo MUST be an homage to the revolutionary novel. A quick google search offered no confirmation, but I still have my suspicions.
I have to admit that while reading this book, I was reminded a bit of my high school self. While I may not have gone through as many cigs or beers as the characters in the Monkey Wrench Gang, I did share the belief that radical eco-activism was the only true solution. I didn’t go around burning bridges or destroying tractors, but I felt that attention-grabbing activism was the way to go. I remember listening with deep admiration whenever my environmental teacher would share stories (in a slightly disapproving tone) of his anarchist daughter, and I had dreams of working with Greenpeace. While the Hayduke, Seldom, Doc, and Bonnie were certainly more extreme and “eco-terrorist”-esque than myself and the eco-activists I admired, I did share a few similar beliefs with them, including the need to protect our natural land and the need to have bring attention to the movement. I have since changed my viewpoints to be a bit more practical and anthropocentric (to clarify — I do not exclusively look out for the needs of humans, I just consider them far more than I used to in the context of environmentalism). I see the benefits of sustainability and urban planning, and I understand that in some circumstances, it’s necessary to lose a Briger Forest here and there to create a sustainable living community.
All of this being said, I still wholeheartedly believe that The Monkey Wrench Gang had a positive impact on the environmental movement. I don’t think that it necessarily inspired activists to turn to eco-terrorism. While Abbey did provide pretty detailed descriptions of the group’s destructive actions, I don’t think that the environmental movement saw a huge spark in this type of activism. Rather, this book inspired people to ACT. It led to an increase in eco-activism groups and likely inspired some of the greatest environmental justice warriors, most of whom would advocate in peaceful yet attention-grabbing ways. Also, the fact that this book was fictional, rather than the often dense and monotonous nonfiction environmental books, likely caused a great increase in the number engaged with the movement. If Rachel Carson is the mother of the environmental movement, then Edward Abbey is the crazy uncle who may seem like a bad influence on you but is really exactly what you need to grow and become a stronger person!
