Preservationism

From Gothpoodle

On Earth, the Preservationist movement of the 2050s was often portrayed as a conservative reaction to Transhumanism. In fact, Preservationism had its roots in the environmentalist movements of the late 20th century, and was given its modern form during the debates over Martian terraforming in the 2040s. After the Ares Plague was released in 2050, radical Preservationism spread widely on both Mars and Earth.

Preservationism stood in opposition to all significant applications of biotechnology. Unlike earlier environmental movements, the Preservationists had little quarrel with high-industrial technologies or (nonsapient) digital networks. The manipulation of life and of living ecosystems, however, was seen as the height of human arrogance. Preservationists argued that humanity could thrive without using genetic technology, allowing “wild” ecosystems to manage themselves through natural processes. They also opposed any attempt to create nonhuman intelligence which might one day eclipse “natural” humanity. Terraforming, the creation of new species through genetic manipulation, the use of sapient AI, all were regarded as evils to be resisted by any means necessary. In particular, the divergence of humanity itself due to the creation of variant subspecies was regarded as deeply dehumanizing and dangerous. It was this position that placed Preservationism in direct opposition to the Transhumanists.

Preservationism was essentially a reactionary movement, driven by older citizens and often arguing on the basis of traditional moral values. Even so, its members were easily as prone to radical action as the Transhumanists. Some members of the movement worked in the halls of state or corporate power to enforce their ideals. Others mounted popular crusades against technological excess, attacking genetic clinics, sabotaging AI research facilities, even organizing street violence against nonhuman “monsters.”