Photo: Andrew ButittaIn the past few weeks, we've seen the fiercest attacks in recent history on collective bargaining. We've also seen the dramatic responses of people taking to the Wisconsin statehouse and the streets to stand together for their rights. Why are some environmentalists among them, and why should all environmentalists join the fight?    On a straightforward level, unionized public workers maintain our parks, ensure our water is clean, and protect our air quality. Unions lead to longer-term employees and, in many cases, additional job commitment and higher quality services. Collective bargaining also leads to healthier workplaces. And when people …

A May Day protest against Arizona’s immigration law.Photo courtesy th.omas via FlickrWithin a week of Arizona's new racial-profiling bill becoming law, the "1 MILLION Strong AGAINST the Arizona Immigration Law SB1070" group on Facebook climbed to nearly 1.3 million people. Via Facebook and emails and phone calls, I've been asked to attend vigils and marches, sign on to a boycott of Arizona, and show my support for comprehensive immigration reform. Meanwhile, even with an ongoing environmental catastrophe in the Gulf of Mexico, I have yet to see similar organizing and energy from the environmental movement on Facebook (or anywhere else). …

How many enviros can you spot in this picture?Photo: Salina CanizalesI grew up in a family that sorted recyclables, reused containers until they were no longer reusable, and walked whenever and wherever we could. We turned off our lights and carefully monitored our energy consumption. We made sure that we didn't leave the water running, and my sisters and I competed to take the shortest showers possible. Our travel often took us to nature preserves and national parks, where we learned about the importance of wildlife and conservation. Sounds like a typical childhood for a kid in an environmentally conscious …