To The Defeated Environmentalist, You May Lose Some Fights And Win Others, That Is OK
"Save the planet" should really be "save the humans."
I'm not just writing this as a note for my future self, but for any person who loves the environment and feels that their efforts to help it are going sideways or that everything would be better off if we just let it go.
An environmentalist helps others make better choices concerning the environment, prepares reports of environmentally hazardous accidents, and provides scientific proof for new laws and regulations. I'd say that, right now, I would consider myself an amateur in that respect, although I am currently minoring in environmental science.
If there is anything I have learned while studying in the minor, it's that there are some fights that will be won but many more will be lost.
Because here's the sad truth: we as Americans care less about the environment now than we did in the late 1980s and early 1990s. It has remained close to historic lows ever since. This is according to a March 2015 poll.
But, that doesn't mean we should simply give up. It means keep going no matter what. It means that even with everything that environmentalists face, there is still a bit of hope at the end of the day. So, the question becomes 'OK, so how do I get people to care?'
Simple - the environment around us is an essential part of human survival. Without it, we risk the possibility of not having any more humans.
Here's the good news: progress is slow, but it's coming.
All too often, the environmental movement focuses solely on problems. People are destroying the rainforest; oil is polluting the air; garbage is ravaging the ocean. And I think that is one of the problems with the entire thing.
So often, people talk about environmental issues as if the real challenge is convincing people. If only people were more aware and knowledgeable, if only they could actually see for themselves what is happening, we wouldn't have this problem.
Yes, we should be focused on the problems and finding possible solutions to those problems, but at the same time not letting them define us. The actual problem, though, is when it comes down to taking action.
Some things you can do are:
- Educating not only yourself on current issues but your children as well.
- Get involved with the environment - this could be as simple as going out in nature!
- And lastly, know that it can start right now with whatever you are doing and that YOU can make a difference no matter how small.
As an environmentalist, we are often on the losing side, but where we go from there is what matters.
