Capitalism and the environment

[socialize_me]

I was curious if anyone had some good articles/writing/books on Capitalism and the Environment. I'm debating with this psychotic environmentalist who is bitching about how capitalism doesn't factor in soil erosion, deforestation, etc. and claims they are "market externalities".

I did ask her if she would prefer we switch to the totalitarian socialistic model of the Soviet Union where the communists stripped its fair share of Russia of its resources, and how Mao's Great Leap Forward managed to kill 25 million or so Chinese people by simultaneously destroying millions of acres of Chinese countryside.

However, is there anything in defense of capitalism here?? All I've pointed out is how bad the alternative is in the sense that socialism far outperforms any "externalities" capitalism produces by causing more environmental damage. Any thoughts?

[danberkeley]

Woohoo! I never thought I'd say that I'm glad to help you prove your point.

One point to make is that during the AMerican Industrial Revolution, government stopped protecting property rights by allowing polluters to illegally pollute on other people's property. Dr. Walter Block is good on this issue. See his archive on Mises.org http://mises.org/media.aspx?action=author&ID=443

[pdavis]

Walter Block video interview and article:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DrTsaSUFfpo&feature=PlayList&p=20928B72F87987E9&index=0

http://www.mises.org/etexts/environfreedom.pdf

[socialize_me]

thanks guys :)

[danberkeley]

Also, look at the many examples of government itself polluting the envoronment:
1) The nuclear fallout from the nuclear bombs during WWII on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
2) All the pollution created in during Desert Storm.
3) The US Army slaughtered thousands of buffalo during the way back when they relocated the Indians.

[Kludge]

What can be determined as pollution without being hypocritical or unjust?