It's not easy staying green: Is movement seeing decline?
There's no doubt the green movement is big, but is the trend here to stay?
Local environmentalists say people long have been concerned about the environment, but their support for solutions to environmental problems seems to ebb and flow.
The flows come when issues are obvious and people have an understanding of the actions they must take.
The ebbs come when issues are too nebulous and people lack a clear focus for their actions.
"The general public has a threshold for only being able to think about one or two environmental problems at any given time," said Eric Compas, assistant professor of geography and geology at UW-Whitewater who teaches classes in cultural ecology.
So what brought us over the limit this time?
Part of the answer might be a movie made by a politician.
Al Gore's blockbuster film, "An Inconvenient Truth," seared the concept of global warming into the popular consciousness, and people once again got fired up about the environment.
"It's been a dominant issue that again has allowed the environmental movement to find a single focus," Compas said.
But with every up comes a down.
"There will certainly be an ebb to the current interest," Compas said. "If you look at some of the recent public polling, given the economy, interest in the environment is at the lowest it's been in a long time."
Staying power
Local environmental activist Julie Backenkeller said she hopes the green movement has staying power.
"I hope it's real," she said. "If it isn't real, if it's just a trend … we're going to end up moving backward instead of forward—and that would be a disappointment."
Regardless of what has most recently spurred people into action to protect the environment, Backenkeller believes it's finally becoming clearer to people that something must be done.
It certainly was clear to her after reading Joseph C. Jenkins' alarming book, "Balance Point: Searching for a Spiritual Missing Link."
In the story, Jenkins likens the earth to an apple, Backenkeller explained. Ants crawl all over the apple, eat the apple until it's gone and move on to the next apple.
"And the point is, where are we going when we've used everything this earth has?" she said. "Where's our next earth?
"We're on a finite planet and it can't go on forever."
Backenkeller said the idea made her think twice about her actions.
"Silence is acceptance," she said. "If I sit here and do nothing, it means I think this is all fine. There comes a point where you have to decide if you're part of the problem or part of the solution. If you sit back and allow things to happen, you're part of the problem."
Backenkeller said protecting the environment starts with little things done by individuals, but it's the big things put in place by the government that will have a real impact.
"Time is wasting," she said.
That doesn't mean we haven't made progress, Backenkeller said.
"Definitely ...but I'm a very impatient person, so to me, I think we can do so much more," she said.
Gauging green
Compas said the stage is set for a significant change in global environmental policy.
The Kyoto Protocol, an international treaty that called for the reduction of greenhouse gases produced by industrialized nations, is about to expire.
A meeting of world environmental leaders is scheduled for December in Copenhagen, Denmark, to develop a new climate agreement for the period of time after 2012, when the commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions under the Kyoto Protocol expires.
"We're ready for the next global agreement," Compas said.
But given the current state of the economy around the world, the upcoming conference could offer a glimpse into how committed the world is to protecting the environment, he said.
"If we want a gauge of how strong the current wave of being green is, it's coming in the fall," Compas said.
Apr 24, 2009 at 2:49 p.m.
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oh my gosh - I am not the only one that posted on Balance Point - so your attempts to discredit are in vain. Sorry - So you know me - so reveal yourself? I doubt that you own land, since all your posts are about city services. Try to make a difference for the better -
Apr 24, 2009 at 5:26 a.m.
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Reads that kind of "drivel"? Probably.
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Look, Balance Point's tiresome tirades mirror your own. They're exactly the same. You are busted.
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I recommend anyone still following this blog go back and review Balance Point's posts.
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And stop telling me what to do with my farm land.
Apr 23, 2009 at 12:04 p.m.
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Am I the only one that reads?
Apr 23, 2009 at 8:37 a.m.
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ohmygosh
I didn't understand what you meant for a minute, but that is very funny!
Apr 23, 2009 at 7:51 a.m.
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I have made a personal commitment to leave a carbon footprint that's a small fraction of Al Gore's.
Apr 23, 2009 at 5:30 a.m.
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Julie let her guard down a bit. Balance Point . . . seems we have a poster here by that name.
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http://gazettextra.com/news/2009/mar/16/...
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I like how she refers to herself in the third person.
Apr 22, 2009 at 5:14 p.m.
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Wow1234 - you are right - we do have an suv - but we also drive 2 toyotas, one '97 that gets 50 miles to the gallon! I rarely leave the house, and try to drive our small car, or walk up to school when I volunteer my time. Would love to get a prius, but can't afford it right now. We originally bought our made-in-Jvl chev, to support our local workers, because it uses E85 and when we go out of town, I have 4-6 boys with me. One big car seemed better than having to take two cars. Trade-offs - can never win 'em all. Thanks for noticing me though! Julie
Apr 22, 2009 at 4:18 p.m.
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Dr. Compas rides a bicycle to UWW from Fort Atkinson in fair weather, his family does not own a television, the car they drive is a hybrid. I don't believe he was implying anyone was stupid. He was just pointing out that most people are too busy in their daily lives to address more than a few environmental issues at one time. I don't know if anybody can really be truly 100% eco-friendly, but it's fun to try ;)
This issue isn't about the "man" bringin' you down, it's about human impact on the environment. This country is very wasteful with it's resources and fails to recognize that the economy is based on those resources and not the other way around. People abuse the resources and have little care for the after affects thereof. And it's environmental problem solving that will keep people like Dr. Compas employed for a long time, as long as there are people who give up or don't even try in the first place.
Apr 22, 2009 at 1:28 p.m.
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Hey Julie-what kind of footprint is that huge SUV you drive leaving?
Apr 22, 2009 at 1:13 p.m.
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"The general public has a threshold for only being able to think about one or two environmental problems at any given time," said Eric Compas...
Notice he said ABLE. Not WILLING. Yeah, he just called the general population stupider than himself.
This is why I dislike the environmental movement. The most prominent spokespersons are the ones living in the huge houses with their fleets of cars telling the 'little people' how to live their lives.
Apr 22, 2009 at 12:42 p.m.
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Earth Day is everyday for people with "green" ideals. People like Julie and Eric are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to environmental involvement in this community. There are a lot of us "treehuggers" out in the real world with skills to help solve environmental problems and we never stop working towards the common goal-sustainability. It is a lifestyle that is easy to convert to, and that doesn't mean you have to be a vegan or a hippy. We all should take a moment to remember the founder of this fine day-Gaylord Nelson-proof that one person can make a difference.
Apr 22, 2009 at 11:52 a.m.
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Interest ebbs and flows in people who aren't making this a part of their daily grind. I've been involved in some fashion most of my life, and it's doesn't change from day to day.
Apr 22, 2009 at 11:29 a.m.
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It's really inappropriate to call it a "movement". It's more a philosophy or an approach. Being aware of the effects of chemical pollution, for example, is a straightforward matter of public health. It shouldn't be subject to popularity.
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