Dave’s environmental ethics post addressed an issue that has become more and more apparent here in Gristmill: the term “environmentalism” means something different to each one of us.
This is exemplified in today’s Soapbox by Oliver Bernstein on environmental issues along the U.S.-Mexico border:
Laguna La Escondida in Reynosa, Mexico, a water source for the surrounding community whose name means Hidden Lagoon, is also an important migratory bird stopover point. Reynosa citizens concerned about their environment are working to clean up the lagoon to protect their families’ health from the waste dumped into its waters. Neighboring Texas citizens concerned about their environment are working to clean up the lagoon to prevent habitat destruction for hundreds of migratory birds. This binational effort is a terrific start, but it avoids confronting the issue of poverty. For all their goodwill and concern, the Texans’ narrow focus on bird habitat prevents many of them from seeing the bigger problem — human habitat.
So, I’m curious. How do you define “environmentalism”?
First, some ground rules. Responses can be as short or as long as you like. And as this is intended as an exercise to demonstrate the varying definitions of environmentalism, please refrain from criticizing other Gristmillers comments.
