Libertarian FAQ: Isn't any destruction of the earth a direct threat to the existence, -- and thus, the rights -- of future human beings?

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This article is from the Libertarian FAQ, by Joe Dehn jwd3@dehnbase.fidonet.org, Robert Bickford rab.AT.daft.com, Mike Huben mhuben@world.std.com and Advocates for Self-Government http://www.self-gov.org/ with numerous contributions by others.

69 Libertarian FAQ: Isn't any destruction of the earth a direct threat to the existence, -- and thus, the rights -- of future human beings?

"The best way to protect the earth is to honor property rights of
individuals. People care for things they own and can sell later, but
are not so careful about things they rent. If you go out West and
compare grazing land owned by individuals with that administered by
government, the benefit of individual ownership becomes apparent.

"When I was a member of the Kalamazoo Rain Forest Action Committee,
environmentalists recognized that helping the native people defend
their property rights was the best protection the rain forests could
have. The government is the biggest polluter and despoiler of our
lands, yet we've been fooled into letting this fox guard our hen
house." [5] -- Mary Ruwart

[5] "The Liberator OnLine," http://www.self-gov.org/liberator.