This whole discussion and dialogue on environmentalism has got me wondering. In this environmental movement, who are the good guys and who are the bad ones? We’re all in this to make some meaningful change to the environment, whether it’s through pollution control initiatives, carbon taxes or planting trees in our backyards. All of these actions will have some impact on the environment albeit small on the overall scale. As Chris mentioned in an earlier post, the Earth has been around for about 4.7 billion years. It adapts tremendously overtime and continues to adapt with the onslaught of our profligate industrial activities. Whether the Earth can handle our anthropocentric pressures is another story. But as environmental policy becomes more progressive and stringent, we are going to see more action taken on the environment because we have collectively agreed to do so. Policy instruments like carbon taxes, congestion pricing schemes and the polluter pays principle will all come to the forefront.
Who are the environmental gangsters? I would argue not people exploiting or abusing the environment, but people who do good for the environment. Environmental gangsters are people who take a fond interest over their natural environment. Just like neighbourhood gangsters who take great pride in protecting their community, albeit through more aggressive means, environmental gangsters really are the protectors of our planet. Individuals who recognize its intrinsic value and people who are willing to protect it from industrialists or people who only see the environment for its monetary value. In spite of the negative connotation attached to this to this label, it is a message that comes with passion and conviction.
Do environmental gangsters need more policy control to implement tools that will protect the environment? Sure! The merits of pricing and taxation can induce positive consumer changes like conservation and environmental awareness. Environmental gangsters are the real catalysts of change. With power and vision, they could administer extraordinary initiatives that would protect the environment and embrace it for its natural beauty and inherent value. More will follow on environmental gangsterism...
hm...interesting term
ReplyDeleteSo are you an environmental gangster? I like the idea of the article, but things can become problematic when we start to create dichotomies of good and bad, us vs. them. Hopefully environmentalism can be a inclusive process where all see the benefits of protecting the earth. One thing is for certain though, for true sustainability to occur people must have foresight and a vision for a better future.
ReplyDeleteAdam Wright