REHW: Research Environment & Health Weekly
Environmentalism is a concern for the preservation, restoration, or
improvement of the natural environment, such as the conservation of natural
resources, prevention of pollution, and certain land use actions. It often
supports the struggles of indigenous peoples against the spread of globalization
to their way of life, which is seen as less harmful to the environment. The
study of practical environmentalism is split into two positions: the mainstream
‘anthropocentric’ or hierarchic, and the more radical ‘ecocentric’ or
egalitarian.
The term environmentalism is associated with other modern terms such as
greening, environmental management, resource efficiency and waste minimization,
and environmental responsibility, ethics and justice.
History
Environmentalism has its roots in the mid to late 19th century. In Europe it
grew out of the amenity movement, which was a reaction to industrialization, the
growth of cities, and worsening air and water pollution. In the United States it
grew out of concerns for protecting the natural resources of the West, with
individuals such as John Muir and Henry David Thoreau making key philosophical
contributions. Thoreau was interested in peoples' relationship with nature and
studied this by living close to nature in a simple life. He published his
experiences in the book Walden, which argues that people should become
intimately close with nature. Muir came to believe in nature's inherent right,
especially after spending time hiking in Yosemite Valley and studying both the
ecology and geology. He successfully lobbied congress to form Yosemite National
Park and went on to set up the Sierra Club. The conservationist principles as
well as the belief in an inherent right of nature were to become the bedrock of
modern environmentalism.
In the 20th century environmental ideas continued to grow in popularity and
recognition. Efforts were starting to be made to save some wildlife,
particularly the American Bison. The death of the last Passenger Pigeon as well
as the endangerment of the American Bison helped to focus the minds of
conservationists and popularize their concerns. Notably in 1916 the National
Park Service was founded by President Woodrow Wilson.
In 1949 A Sand County Almanac by Aldo Leopold was published. It explained
Leopold’s belief that humankind should have moral respect for the environment
and that it is unethical to harm it. The book is sometimes called the most
influential book on conservation.
It was not until the 1960s that concern for the environment by a few individuals
turned into a movement and the formation of environmentalism as an ideology
started to happen. In 1962 Rachel Carson published Silent Spring. In this Carson
detailed how insecticides and pesticides could enter the food chain affecting
the whole environment as well as causing a risk to people. The book particularly
looked at DDT and led to its eventual ban. The book's legacy was to produce a
far greater awareness of environmental issues and interest into how people
affect the environment. With this new interest in environment came interest in
problems such as air pollution and oil spills, and environmental interest grew.
New pressure groups formed, notably Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth.
In the 1970s the Chipko movement was formed in India; influenced by Mahatma
Gandhi, they set up peaceful resistance to deforestation by literally hugging
trees (leading to the term "tree huggers"). Their peaceful methods of protest
and slogan "ecology is permanent economy" were very influential.
By the mid 1970s many felt that people were on the edge of environmental
catastrophe. The back to the land movement started to form and ideas of
environmental ethics joined with anti-Vietnam War sentiments and other political
issues. These individuals lived outside normal society and started to take on
some of the more radical environmental theories such as deep ecology. Around
this time more mainstream environmentalism was starting to show force with the
signing of the Endangered Species Act in 1973 and the formation of CITES in
1975.
In 1979 former NASA scientist James Lovelock published Gaia: A new look at life
on Earth, which put forth the Gaia Hypothesis, that life on Earth can be
understood as a single organism. This became an important part of the Deep Green
ideology. Throughout the rest of the history of environmentalism there has been
debate and argument between more radical followers of this Deep Green ideology
and mainstream factions.
Environmentalism has also changed to deal with new issues such as global warming
and genetic engineering.
Environmental movement
Environmental movement
Greenpeace protest in Brasília, Brazil.The Environmental movement (a term that
sometimes includes the conservation and green movements) is a diverse
scientific, social, and political movement. In general terms, environmentalists
advocate the sustainable management of resources, and the protection (and
restoration, when necessary) of the natural environment through changes in
public policy and individual behavior. In its recognition of humanity as a
participant in ecosystems, the movement is centered around ecology, health, and
human rights. Additionally, throughout history, the movement has been
incorporated into religion. The movement is represented by a range of
organizations, from the large to grassroots, but a younger demographic than is
common in other social movements (see green seniors). Due to its large
membership, varying and strong beliefs, the movement is not entirely united.
Popular environmentalism
Environmentalist action has recently led to the development of a new subculture.
It is mainly composed of the educated upper-class. These environmentally
conscious types take special pride in their sustainable consumption patterns,
shopping at grocery stores that trumpet earth-friendliness (such as Whole Foods
Market) and buying top-dollar organic products.
Some environmentalists complain that this group of elites is shopping under the
banner of environmentalism without espousing any of its true ideals. Because
organic and sustainable products are often more expensive, purchasing them has
become a mark of wealth. In another form of pretension, the young and single
have gone so far as to even begin labeling themselves 'ecosexual'. Closely akin
to the concept of the suave metrosexual, the ecosexual seeks out mates who share
their environmentalist ideals. Thus, environmentalism is not just about nature
anymore-- it's about social connections.
It is argued that this new trend has taken the focus away from the real problems
'true' environmentalists hope to solve: consumer items offer a deceptively easy,
feel-good way to both save the world and one's reputation simultaneously. Yet,
others who espouse the idea that people can effectively 'vote with their dollar'
argue that this new subculture is aiding the environmental cause. By purchasing
sustainable products, they are promoting sustainable business that will be
beneficial to the environment, even if the consumers have extraneous purposes
for supporting them.
Dark Greens and Light Greens
Environmentalists are sometimes split up into two groups, Dark and Light Greens.
Light Greens are the more popular and more visible part of the environmental
movement, which includes the more famous and public environmental groups such as
Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth and the Sierra Club. Light Greens do not follow
environmentalism as a distinct political ideology, but rather seek greater
environmental emphasis within existing ideologies such as Conservatism,
Socialism or Liberalism.
Dark Greens are much more radical than light greens; they tend to believe that
all the current political ideologies (that are referred to as industrialism) are
corrupt and naturally lead to environmental degradation as they do not view
mankind as part of the environment but rather as a higher form of life with the
right to take what it wants from the environment. Dark Greens claim that this is
caused by the emphasis on growth that exists within all existing ideologies
referred to a ‘growth mania’. The dark green brand of environmentalism is
associated with ideas of Deep Ecology, Post-materialism, Holism, the Gaia Theory
of James Lovelock and the work of Fritjof Capra. The division between light and
dark greens was visible in the fighting between Fundi and Realo factions of the
German Green Party.
Environmental organizations and conferences
List of environmental organizations
Environmental organizations can be global, regional, national or local; they can
be government-run or private (NGO). Several environmental organizations, among
them the Natural Resources Defense Council and the Environmental Defense Fund,
specialize in bringing lawsuits. Other environmentalist groups, such as the
National Wildlife Federation, World Wide Fund for Nature, Friends of the Earth,
the Nature Conservancy, and the Wilderness Society, disseminate information,
participate in public hearings, lobby, stage demonstrations, and purchase land
for preservation. Smaller groups, including Wildlife Conservation International,
conduct research on endangered species and ecosystems. More radical
organizations, such as Greenpeace, Earth First!, and the Earth Liberation Front,
have more directly opposed actions they regard as environmentally harmful. While
Greenpeace is devoted to nonviolent confrontation, the underground Earth
Liberation Front engages in the clandestine destruction of property, the release
of caged or penned animals, and other acts of sabotage.
On an international level, concern for the environment was the subject of a UN
conference in Stockholm in 1972, attended by 114 nations. Out of this meeting
developed UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme) and the follow-up United
Nations Conference on Environment and Development in 1992. Other international
organizations in support of environmental policies development include the
Commission for Environmental Cooperation (NAFTA), the European Environment
Agency (EEA), and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
Contact Information
Call our office today to set up an appointment. Learn more about how we can
help you, and learn more about the other services that we can offer you. All
messages we receive will be answered as soon as possible. We look forward to
hearing from you.
- Electronic mail
- General Information:
