Environmentalism

1. Environmentalism Toby oGUNNIYA

2. What is Environmentalism? • Grigsby says it is the study of interdependence between organisms and the life-sustaining materials (such as soil, water, air, etc.) and processes (such as photosynthesis) that comprise ecosystems (152). • In simpler words, environmentalism is the ideology that the environment is the major factor that aids the development and maturation of the individual. • The concept behind environmentalism is that nature and natural resources should not be forgotten in this technologically proficient world, as much as we tend to see no economical benefits, there are numerous advantages to acknowledging its existence and preserving it.

3. What do environmentalist fight for? • Primarily, environmentalists fight for the preservation of our natural resources and wildlife system. • They believe that each individual should ecological stewardship. • What is ecological stewardship? That humans have the right to take on the role as caretakers, or stewards of the earth • This idea of ecological stewardship was promoted by a man named Aldo Leopold (1886-1948). He said that human beings to strive to protect the natural ecosystems, rather than try to destroy them • He wrote a nonfiction book title ‘A Sand County Almanac’ supporting the environmental movement and praising the ecosystem. • In his novel, he quoted what he deemed to be his ‘land ethics’: “ A thing is right when it tends to preserve the integrity, stability, and beauty of the biotic community. It is wrong when it tends otherwise." (196)

4. Ecological stewardship raises the question of ecological ownership. Environmentalist believe that no one is ‘entirely’ entitled to their land, and therefore have a right to mistreat it. • Well, writer Sue Hubbell speaks about ownership more. She says she finds it hard to claim her farm in the Ozark Mountains as “truly hers”. She says that her farm would not be worth owning if she weren’t for the multiple life-forms and processes that contribute to its fertility and viability (6)

5. Environmentalists want to make it known that human beings may not be the center of the universe and the master of all creatures. • Besides, there are several animals and natural elements out there in the world that can devour humans in minutes. • Environmentalists believe we should be humble about our existence, especially for the fact that we do not even know all species of life out there in the world. • With that,what does that say about humans being the dominant species? Any thoughts?

6. Environmentalism says that economic value is not the only value to consider when talking about the net value of natural resources. • What would happen when we have limited clean water, clean air, fertile soil, trees? • Technology makes life easier, but we can’t survive off it!

7. Important Environmentalists • Aldo Leopold • Edward Abbey • Chico Mendes • Lester Brown • Henry David Thoreau • Al Gore

8. Environmental Organizations • Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) • Global Environment Facility (GEF) • United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) • Friends of Earth (FOE) • American Bird Conservancy (ABC) • National Geographic Society (NGS)

9. www.ran.org

10. Postmodernism

11. Postmodernism is simply an ideology that claims other political ideologies as metanarratives, therefore rejecting them. • Metanarratives, in a postmodernism view, is a concept that claims its ideas and principles to be the ultimate truth. • Postmodernism says that these ideologies are presenting themselves as the only solution towards a realistic world, rather than an opinion. • It also says that human “nature” is just an ideology’s terminology. That human nature are just “actions” and not nature, as that nothing is “natural

12. Feminism has come closest to relating to postmodernism, rejecting the claim that men are the “natural leaders” and other claims perceived as truths relating to men being dominant. • Postmodernism has been known to be hard to tackle, amongst the other ideologies. • A notable postmodernist who contributed most of its ideas was Richard Tarnas ( 1950- Present)

13. Works Cited • Grigsby, Ellen. Analyzing Politics: An Introduction to Political Science. Belmont, CA: Thomson Wadsworth, 2005. Print. • Aldo Leopold. A Sand County Almanac. With Other Essays on Conservation from Round River. New York: Oxford UP, 1966. p.239 Print. • Hubbell, Sue. A Country Year: Living the Questions. New York: Random House, 1986. p.6 Print.