One of the things that saddens me most in the environmental movement is how hostile people can be towards it. Some people don't just disagree with living greener; they flat out oppose it. Calling people who care for the environment nut cases or granola are some of the milder terms used.
And yet, at it's heart much of environmentalism strikes me as simple good sense. Where is the harm in trying to use fewer resources? In trying to decrease pollution? In trying to keep more animal species from becoming endangered or extinct?
Most of the people who really cannot stand environmentalism look to the most extreme points of environmentalism and apply it to anyone who simply wants to live greener. It's as though the more moderate stances that are far more common are invisible.
You can point all you want to the fringe environmental groups who sometimes do more harm than good in their efforts to redirect how the rest of us live, but that's not the average environmentalist you'll meet every day.
Sure we want practical solar power. If it can be done more efficiently and cheaper than coal, why shouldn't we? The technology has made some great leaps this past year, and is looking promising at long last. It may have taken a few more decades to reach that point than originally hoped, but that's technology for you. Advances cannot be scheduled.
And yes, many an environmentalist would like to see fewer pesticides used on our foods. That's why organic produce is becoming so much more popular. And it appears that pesticides are doing a great deal of harm to our oceans. Organic farming can be done quite efficiently, and in many areas of the world would be far more cost effective than the constant use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides.
If the food is healthier for you and tastes better, while production is still good, why not?
There are not many environmentalists who want all humans to go back to a primitive lifestyle. Simplification is encouraged, yes, but don't confuse that with primitive.
And of course there's the fuss over global warming. Yes, environmentalists consider it to be a concern. Quite probably an urgent one.
Now I ask, what is the harm in trying to avoid global warming? Investigating it has resulted in a number of inventions, in new industries. I don't think it's going to hurt the economy as much as some fear. But the cost of ignoring the possibility could be much higher. I'd rather take my chances on trying to make a change today than do nothing.
No, not everything I do to live a greener lifestyle is comfortable. Most of what I do as an individual really won't add up on a scale the world will notice. But the more individuals who work at it, the more businesses who take note and make an effort, the greater the impact we can have. |
