ABSTRACT
One striking feature of the growing discussion of environmental issues in the United States is the attempt by many liberals, progressives and environmentalists to employ language traditionally associated with violence and war to understand environmental problems and to motivate action. Lester Brown, Jessica Tuchman Matthews, Michael Renner and others have proposed 'redefining national security' to encompass resource and environmental threats. Military violence and environmental degradation are linked directly in at least three major ways. First, the pursuit of national-security-from-violence through military means consumes resources that could be spent on environmental restoration. Second, war is directly destructive of the environment, in ancient times, the military destruction of olive groves in Mediterranean lands contributed to the long-lasting destruction of the lands' carrying capacities. Third, preparation for war causes pollution and consumes significant quantities of resources. In short, war and the preparation for war are clearly environmental threats and consume resources that could be used to ameliorate environmental degradation.
