Colonialism Disguised as Protection

Abstract

Chapter 7 investigates the popular concept of environmental protection. The authors of this book timidly challenge the notion that nature needs human protection, since nature mainly needs protection from the human species. It seems more apparent that existing power structures use any vulnerable group to argue for the need to protect them, when what those disregarded groups want most is self-worth and unconditional affection, not to be kept guarded under lock and key. Often, the vulnerable species or immature stage of development said to be in dire jeopardy is not a stage at all, but tragically viewed as a stage along a ladder of conceptual merit from dependent to sovereign, and inedible seed to valuable fruit. This seems in evidence by a colonial worldview that sees juvenility as a waste of resources, rather than that brief liberty called childhood inherent to every species.