The Revolutionary Pen - beta

By Frank Schiavone

Well, I hope not. The environmental movement has brought us such landmark bills as the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, and the Endangered Species Act. Because of this legislation the air is cleaner, many dead rivers and lakes are now alive again, and the emblematic bald eagle is again soaring over many parts of the Continental US.

Environmental advocates of all persuasions have successfully worked together to curb acid rain, fluorocarbons, and the carcinogens that make their way into our food and the web of life.

The 21st Century will be faced with many more life-changing environmental problems. What is needed is more activism not less. The battle for Creation will only intensify. But by any measure we are losing.

These days, when people refer to someone as an ‘environmentalist’ they often qualify the label by preceding it with the word ‘radical’. The obvious strategy is to moniker “environmentalism’ as a pejorative term, or worse, an epithet. By labeling a movement or cause as radical you have for all intents and purposes marginalized it to the fringes.

Now I’ve been a nature lover since I was a child and have been an environmental advocate (an environmentalist) for as long as I can remember, but I’ve never thought of myself as a radical (let alone an epithet).

No one likes to be labeled a radical or extremist. Tends to put one on the defensive. But I have to admit that this strategy seems to be working. ‘Mainstream’ supporters tend to shy away from ‘radical’ organizations and, as a consequence, several major environmental groups are recasting themselves seeking the elusive ‘center’.

Some groups have aligned themselves with corporations and corporate interests for both practical and political reasons. This shift, however, tends to raise suspicions with their natural allies and supporters. Any new support they attract tends to lack passion, fire, and commitment. Mailing lists grow but their new agendas fail to excite.

I’m not suggesting that the environmental movement was ever a monolithic force, unified in purpose and direction, but its current trajectory seems to be downward. The current political atmosphere and discourse downplays environmental issues or dismisses them altogether. It’s no secret that political leaders and candidates give the environment short shrift.

Global warming seems to be on the radar now and there seems to be a slight shift in public opinion on this issue, but other pressing environmental issues are simply not on the table.

The movement needs to turn this around, raise awareness, and get its mojo back. Just as there is no shame in being a conservative or liberal, there is no shame in being an environmentalist. Let’s stop shunning the label.

I don’t have the answers and I know it’s easier said than done but the lack of clear focus and cohesion contributes to the environmental movement’s overall weakness and leaves us vulnerable to elements that consider us intrusive and dangerous.

Environmentalism is not dead. Major victories are still being won. But we need to get our bearings. We need to convince a doubting public that environmental problems are real and do matter. We need to put a human face on the effects of environmental destruction and degradation.

Our planet will experience numerous environmental crises in the coming decades – global warming, water shortages, mass extinctions, collapsed fisheries to name just a few. We can ill-afford to ignore them. The planet’s fate is our fate.

We need to build moral arguments and not just economic ones. Our protestations must be clad in established law and verifiable science. We need to recognize that this is not an ideological struggle pitting strong-willed persons against each other. Turning a blind eye to the facts because they don’t parallel our belief systems is not only reckless but also perilous.

Environmentalists are cast as worshippers of nature lacking compassion for our fellow human beings. We need to change this erroneous perception. Maybe it’s because we our information junkies and tend to want “just the facts”, (as Sergeant Friday used to say). Facts are often cold and seem disconnected from our day-to-day lives. We must give facts meaning, clearly articulate our concern for all living things, live by example, and stay true to our values.

Our cause is a worthy one. Most Americans are deeply concerned about the state of our planet and the world we are leaving to our children. We are not out in left field on this issue and we are not alarmists.

The environmental movement is not dead. It just needs a jumpstart.

Copyright © 2008 Frank Schiavone