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"The greening of intolerance"

26 May 2005
"Far-right groups in Britain are increasingly using environmental and social justice concerns to argue against immigration. This is part of a clear political strategy to make racist ideas and goals seem more respectable. Whether they like it or not, environmentalists are therefore being increasingly drawn into debates on immigration, refugees and asylum seekers. To counter this strategy, environmental groups need to link with those who have to deal with racism every day as a matter of strategy, process and structure".

So say Sarah Sexton, Nicolas Hildyard and Larry Lohman of The Cornerhouse, a UK think tank, in their newish publication We're a small green island.

A passing anecdote, which should be treated with caution as it comes second or third hand:

An environmentalist attending a recent conference in England on climate change was surprised to see Nick Griffin, leader of the far right British National Party there. Nobody was talking to him, but the environmentalist was curious and asked him why he was there. Nick Griffin is reported to have said that climate change could cause economic collapse, and the last time that happened in Europe fascist parties came to power - to "solve" the problem. The BNP therefore took a particular interest in climate change.

The story may be distorted or apochryphal.

CH

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