As always, it is in the encounter of two apparently unrelated areas that the new is found. For a long time now I have been announcing the time when two considerable forces, could come together in a new ideology, absolutely explosive. That time is certainly drawing nearer as the most recent events have demonstrated.
These two forces, yet very distinct, are those of ecology and spirituality.
One deals with the protection of nature, while it still does exist; the other with the protection of the soul, if it does exist. Both are in charge of some form of immortality; both are highly respectable. Both are under threat by the choice made by humanity, and above all by the West, to favor one value, that of individual freedom against all others; and have to accept the consequences of this: Priority to market growth, whim and immediate gains.
Faced with this tyranny of the immediate, those who defend other conceptions of the world increasingly take similar roads, parallel for the time being. With increasingly also the same speeches, the same means:
Both place the market in the balance, which artificializes nature, and in the long term will do the same with human beings, in the name of its well-being.
Both question democracy, which leaves the final say to our contemporaries, men and women, and to their whims without respecting the values that both consider superior.
Both think they can use democracy and the market economy to advance their causes, and they must fight them when they do not support their positions.
Both think that they should fully empower the long term, and those who today speak on its behalf.
Both increasingly use violent methods in order to further their causes. This is tragically reflected with the Jihad. This is reflected differently, tragically as well, with mass events getting out of hand against infrastructures though democratically adopted. This is also seen with the veiled threat of using drones against nuclear plants.
Thus far, there have been no meetings, gatherings or coalitions between environmentalists and fundamentalists. They do not brainstorm together. When they will do so, when they will come together in what I called the « double green, » their ideology will become a huge force.
This encounter can happen in the United States between evangelicals and environmentalists; in Europe between fundamentalists and environmentalists; in Asia, where spirituality often makes nature into an important expression of divinity. It can also happen in Islam, but less likely, where the environment is not yet a major issue.
It will be achieved first of all through a cynical and purely utilitarian alliance of these movements, as one already exists among fundamentalist, terrorist and criminal movements; and between the most radical environmental movements and part of anarchist extremism.
If market democracies fail to make sense of ethics, to preserve nature, to restore the climate equilibrium, to take into account the interests of future generations they will be swept away by these new forces that will lead to new totalitarianisms, after many disasters.
For example, in France this could be accomplished by giving shareholders voting rights proportional to the period for which the securities are held and that the Economic, Social and Environmental Council becomes a « House of long term, » bringing together only people under 30 with skills and competence and who will speak on behalf of future generations.
Of course, it will not happen. Unless there is a revolution, far broader and deeper.
j@attali.com
