In a similar vein, another ‘scientific environmentalist’ and thrice-nominated for the Nobel Prize, Paul Ehrlich once said, “Giving society cheap, abundant energy… would be the equivalent of giving an idiot child a machine gun.” Ehrlich was best known for his 1968 environmentalist cult classic, The Population Bomb. The book argued for zero population growth and was later revised because of Ehrlich’s numerous errors and poorly conceived forecasts. Again, it was written after encouragement by (guess who?) David Brower. Both Ehrlich and Lovins owe their career launches to David Brower, who critics called a radical and militant environmentalist. He was the mentor for each of these anti-nuclear characters, as well as many others.

Some environmentalists owe their ‘blind faith’ to a single individual, especially when the individual enriches his life, either financially or through some other means. Brower was the true driving force behind Lovins and Ehrlich for many years. An admittedly zealous environmentalist, David Brower helped start many environmental organizations. These included the Sierra Club Foundation, John Muir Institute for Environmental Studies, Friends of the Earth, League of Conservation Voters, Ecological Council of America, Earth Island Institute and others.

Before he died in November 2000, Brower was the chief proselytizer for the environmentalist movement over more than four decades. That seems to coincide with the rise of the anti-nuclear movement. He ticked off his peers by arguing against overpopulation and immigration. Some called him very bad names. Perhaps they were being too gentle in their appraisal of Mr. Brower. He forever left his mark on the environmental movement as eulogized by a CNN reporter after his death.

Having lost his job in a candy factory, Brower moved on to office work for Yosemite National Park. He found his true life’s calling in the publicity department of that national park. Without missing a step, PR-savvy David Brower took a quiet, concerned non-profit organization, The Sierra Club, and quickly built up its membership. As a result of Brower’s fanaticism, the organization overstepped its boundaries and lost its tax-exempt status in 1969. Brower’s best friends, including fellow board member and world renowned photographer Ansel Adams, helped kick him out of the Sierra Club. In one commentary, it was reported Brower had committed the Sierra Club “to positions that the board had never taken – and was financially irresponsible to boot.”