Victorian Eco-Warriors

Antony Taylor reveals that Eco-Warriors were active more than a century ago.

'Swampy the Mole-Man' is an unlikely icon for Britain in the closing years of the twentieth century. Swampy is above all a modern-day outlaw whose concern for the environment celebrates the virtues of radical environmentalism. His is the acceptable face of instinctive direct-action activity by eco-radicals prepared to break the law in campaigns against uncaring developers. A significant personality cult now surrounds him and in recent months he has been elevated by the media to a position, part martyr, part caring 'new man'.

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