Environmental Hypocrites

John Conlin

With all the hubbub of late regarding illegal immigration there is one group whose silence is astounding. The population of the United States is presently around 300 million. It is projected to double in the next fifty to seventy five years – from 300 to 600 million – and almost 100% of this population growth will be due to immigration – right now being driven primarily by illegal immigration.

Immigration is THE issue which will affect this country’s environment. Fuel economy standards and other such measures? They pale in comparison with the impact of doubling the US population over the next 50 to 75 years. Wherever you live, look around and double the number of people in your city or state – then do this for every place in the country. What do you think traffic will be like? Air pollution? Impact on animal and plant life? Water and other resource needs? Rather than let the problem occur and then wonder how to deal with it – like the issue of illegals already residing in the U.S. – we must have a serious discussion of immigration.

Yet where are the supposed environmental groups? Have you heard one peep from them on this issue? I am an ex-hard rock exploration geologist (we’re the ones who find mineral deposits) so I guess that I would disagree with these “environmentalists” on many issues, but not love of the environment. How can they remain silent on the most profound ecological issue to confront this country?

I have some clues. One large environmental group has been told by a major donor if they take a stand on illegal immigration, the donations will end. At least they put their beliefs ahead of crass things like money and power. Yeah right. I would guess others keep silent since they would never want to be on the same side as conservatives or Republicans, they’re evil you know. Here’s news for you, in the early nineties many Democrats were calling for strong measures to end illegal immigration. The problem is they have about as much commitment to their beliefs as it seems do the people who run the large environmental organizations.

AFTER this population is already here, it will be far too late to address the egregious environmental issues caused by this doubling of our population. Yet those who supposedly speak for environmental causes look the other way. 100 years from now, few will be thanking them for their hypocritical, cowardly silence.


John Conlin is founder and CEO of E.I.C. Enterprises, Inc. (www.eicenterprises.org), a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing a science and fact-based education to the poor and disadvantaged here and throughout the world.