Sovereignty over the Environment

Wretchard has interesting commentary (and comments) about an article in the Guardian by their science editor Robin McKie. McKie's purpose is to condemn a TV documentary for attacking the Global Warming orthodoxy. (His arguments are persuasively countered by many of his commenters—and credit is due to the Guardian for publishing them.) But what wretchard picks up on is something McKie pointed out in his article:

Consider emission controls. This is now assumed to be as much an issue of individual responsibility as of international negotiation. Petrol-guzzling 4x4s must be taxed, foreign holidays discouraged, TVs unplugged and lavatories left unflushed. After decades of waiting, the green movement has found the cause of its dreams: a crisis that gives them carte blanche, they believe, to rule our lives.

Hairshirts are being knitted and the self-righteous are gathering. The Observer's travel desk already gets hate mail merely for highlighting interesting destinations that might seem to encourage carbon-producing air travel. ...

I'm beginning to understand the extraordinary zeal powering this movement, beyond merely the fervor of the self-righteous.