Encyclopedia:
Environmentalism,
Radical environmentalism,
Category:Environmentalism,
Talk:Environmentalism,
Cultural environmentalism,
environmental psychology,
Positive environmentalism,
Maturation and environmentalism,
Eco-socialism,
Evangelical environmentalism
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.
The term
environmentalism is associated with other terms that are currently in vogue such as
greening,
environmental management,
environmental responsibility,
resource efficiency and waste minimisation, and
environmental responsibility, ethics and justice (Bhattacharya, 2004).
History
Early environmental activism
Environmental activism dates back nearly 400 years. The first such recorded instance is that of the
Bishnois of
Rajasthan, India when a number of Bishnois embraced death to defy the cutting trees in their villages, by the king's men of that region. Though it was not a conscious movement at that time, it showed a community concern for the upkeep of environment -- a necessary attribute of environmentalism -- for the first time.
Modern environmentalism
Modern environmentalism has its roots in the Mid to Late
19th Century United States with individuals such as
John Muir and
Henry David Thoreau. Thoreau was interested in mans 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 man should become intimately close with nature. Muir also came to believe in nature's inherent right after spending time hiking in
Yosemite Valley as well as 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 are starting to be made to save some wildlife particully 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. 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 mankind 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 written.
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 effecting the whole environment as well as causing a risk to man. The book particully looked at
DDT and lead to its eventual ban. The books legacy was to produce a far greater awareness of environmental issues and interest into how man affects 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.
By the mid 70s many felt that man was 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 which put the
Gaia Theory that the earth is one 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.
Forms of Environmentalism
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, 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 (not enemy of) ecosystems, the movement is centered around ecology, health, and human rights. Additionally, throughout history, environmentalism has been incorporated into
religion.
The movement is represented by a range of organizations, from the large to
grassroots. Due to its large membership, varying and strong beliefs, and occasionally speculative nature, the Environmental Movement is not entirely united. At its broadest, the movement includes private citizens, professionals, religious devotees, and extremists. Environmentalists are also often linked with other social movements, such as
human and
animal rights and
pacifism.
Environmentalists are sometimes split up into two groups, Light and Dark Greens. Light Greens are the more popular and more visible part of the environmental movement, it 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 then 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 as a higher form of life that has a right to take from it. They claim that this is caused by the emphasis on growth that exists within all existing ideologies which is 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 devision between light and dark greens was visible in the fighting between
Fundi and
Realo factions of the
German Green Party Environmental organizations and conferences
main|List of environmental
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 Wildlife Fund,
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 and the
Worldwide Fund for Nature, conduct research on endangered species and ecosystems. More radical organizations, such
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 the
United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (1992). Other international groups include the
Commission for Environmental Cooperation (NAFTA), the
European Environment Agency (EEA), the
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and
UNEP (
United Nations Environment Programme).
Corporation-NGO-Government and Public Alliance
Though not without disputes and confrontation, the new areas of co-operation with public and private parties are adding a new dimension to environmentalism. One such relative success is the banning and implementation of the
Montreal Protocol for
ozone hole substances like
Freon which, albeit for a small time, showed the decrease in the size of the Antarctic ozone hole. The Greenpeace-Foron alliance is one such good example.
In a small scale in New Zealand Environmental Canterbury the canterbury district council provides funding education and support for projects. Introduction of recycling and education to the general public. A give and take that leads to ultimately a better environment, lower pollution etc.
Environmentalism places special priority on these areas:
Environmentalism in the arts
Non-fiction
*
Crimes Against Nature -
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.*
A Sand County Almanac -
Aldo Leopold*
Desert Solitaire -
Edward Abbey (
1968)
*
Silent Spring -
Rachel Carson (
1962)
*
Walden -
Henry David Thoreau*
The Everglades: River of Grass -
Marjory Stoneman Douglas*
The Skeptical Environmentalist -
Bjørn Lomborg*
Encounters with the Archdruid -
John McPhee*
Man and Nature -
George Perkins Marsh (
1864)
*
The Consumer's Guide to Effective Environmental Choices: Practical Advice from the Union of Concerned Scientists -
Michael Brower and
Warren Leon (
1999)
*
Return of the Primitive (The philosophy of Privation) -
Ayn Rand and
Peter Schwartz*
Global Corporate Environmentalism-
Jayanta Bhattacharya-
2004*
An Inconvenient Truth -
Al Gore -
2006Fiction
*
Edward Abbey's
The Monkey Wrench Gang.
*
Michael Crichton's
State of Fear*Many
anime movies by
Hayao Miyazaki carry a hidden environmentalist message. The best-known is
Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, but also well known is
Pom Poko as well as
Princess Mononoke, which is based on a conflict between technology and nature
*
Dr. Seuss's
The Lorax.
Popular music
Environmentalism has occasionally been the topic of song lyrics since the
1960s.
See
Environmental protest songs for a list of such songs. Recently, a record label has emerged out of a partnership with
Warner Music, which places environmental issues at its foundation.
Green Label Records produces CDs using biodegradable paper, donates the proceeds of CD sales to environmental organizations, and plans tours using alternative fuels and carbon-neutral philosophies. It is working to build a network of environmentally conscious musicians and music fans across North America.
See also
*
Conservation movement*
Environmental movement*
Roadless area conservation*
Sustainability*
Ecocentrism*
Eco Progressive*
Environmentalism in the U.S.A.*
California Proposition 65 (1986)*
Environmental agreements*
Wildlife conservation*
Wildlife managementFootnotes
References
cite web
| last =Reynolds
| first =Andy
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| url = http://www.channel4.com/science/microsites/S/science/nature/environment.html
| title = A Brief History of Environmentalism
| work =
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| publisher = Channel 4
| accessdate = 2006-11-25
cite web
| last = Hall
| first = Jeremiah
| authorlink =
| date =
| url = http://www.mtmultipleuse.org/endangered/esahistory.htm
| title = History Of The Environmental Movement
| work =
| format =
| publisher =
| accessdate = 2006-11-25
cite web
| last = Kovarik
| first = William
| authorlink =
| date =
| url = http://www.environmentalhistory.org/
| title = Environmental History Timeline
| work =
| format =
| publisher =
| accessdate = 2006-11-25
External links
*http://www.broadleft.org/greens.htm Comprehensive list of green and alternative parties
*
http://www.floridamemory.com/PhotographicCollection/photo_exhibits/everglades.cfm The Everglades in the Time of Marjorie Stoneman Douglas Photo exhibit created by the State Archives of Florida
*
http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/14.05/green.html The Next Green Revolution article in Wired Magazine
*
http://www.enn.com Environmental News Network - News, commentary, and information about how we live on earth.
*
http://www.envirolink.org EnviroLink Network - A non-profit clearinghouse of environmental news and information
*
http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/cgi-local/DHI/dhi.cgi?id=dv2-13 Dictionary of the History of Ideas: Environment
*
http://environment.harvard.edu/religion/main.html Essays on environmental teachings of major religions*
http://www.ecopoints.org EcopointsCategory:Activism*Category:Currents within green politicscs:Environmentalismusde:Umweltschutzfr:écologismeit:Ambientalismohe:איכות הסביבהnl:ecologismept:Ambientalismosk:Environmentalizmussv:Ekologism