Earth First! and the WWF Network are both environmental organizations with ideologies spanning the breadth of environmental concern. Both are well-known for their involvement worldwide. Both face distinct challenges in terms of growth, and both are on precipice of change. Both are faced with choices as to their direction and fate. EF! and the WWF have been successful, with their respective missions in mind, but the structures that have brought them to this point are proving to be obstacles in their development. The Resource Mobilization Theory provides a sound basis for understanding the interests and success of the WWF Network but its lack of a strong discursive framework has left the organization vulnerable to loss of constituency. On the other hand, EF!’s dedicated membership, holding tight to its organizational structure rather than its ideology, may be missing out an opportunity to grow its resource base and capacity to create broad change.
Earth First! is an international group that promotes a biocentric approach to human interaction with the environment. EF! declines political appeasement, concerned with the unconditional preservation of ecosystems. While EF! is often portrayed as radical and socially deviant, their objectives are merely to achieve equality for all forms of life. To this end, EF! demands an immediate and unequivocal transformation in society’s perception of all life. Likewise, historical social movements to achieve equality for segments of humankind began with societal deviation, ultimately resulting in general public acceptance and even support. Thusly, the seemingly fanatical ideological demands are merely a strong invocation of an environmental ethic.
Empowerment is at the heart of EF!’s rhetoric. ...
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...n open to the general ideology of EF!. A shift away from civil disobedience, while preserving the notion of unyielding intrinsically-valued environmentalism, may lead to a growth in the EF! movement without the necessity of societal shunning. Such a tactical move must come from the international level of EF! and will require leadership. Members of EF! may very well resist the change, but if EF! does not fill the ideological need of post-materialist, another organization will.
Both organizations face a decision: the WWF Network may continue to chase well-heeled donors at the cost of its membership, and EF! may continue its radical practices, neglecting a generation of ideologically responsive individuals. In the end, whether the organizations continue to exist or not, the individuals with the passion for change and the drive to bring it to fruition will persist.
“The modern form of the word environment comes from an older word that we hardly use anymore: environ, to surround, to form a ring around, to encircle” (Stoll 3). The meaning of the word environment did not become a major factor in the lives of humanity until 1945. The tragic events that led to the end of World War II sparked a chief movement in history: American Environmentalism. Global decision-making changed as well as human unity due to the mere purpose that fate of all people and the environment became intertwined (Stoll 1). I will further discuss the dramatic attempts made by some Americans to bring the importance of preserving our environment to the surface to show if and how we have evolved.
This foundation is how David Suzuki leaved his legacy, how he marks his legacy now, and how others will help him continue on his legacy. The foundation’s goal is to “find ways for society to live in balance with the natural world that does sustain us.” In order to accomplish this, they must achieve other sub-goals too. Protecting our climate, creating livable communities, establishing environmental rights and justice, transforming the economy, connecting with nature, and building community are all sub-goals that once achieved, will carry out their main
It is generally agreed that modern environmentalism begins with ‘A Fable for Tomorrow’, the first chapter in Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring (1962). The fairytale-like opening to the book begins with the words, ‘There was once a town in the heart of America where all life seemed to live in harmony with its surroundings’, painting a classic pastoral picture where she describes civilization far from modern ills coexisting with nature yet away from the perceived danger of the wild. However pastoral peace swiftly gives way to destruction- 'Then a strange blight crept over the area and everything began to change. Some evil spell had settled on the community: mysterious maladies swept the flocks of chickens; the cattle and sheep
Thorne, Greg. “About Earth First!” Earth First! N.p., 18 May 2011. Web. 18 May 2011. .
Within nature, any form of species focus on selection and adaptation towards their environment to better themselves; organizations to utilize this idea as a metaphor to personify the organization-environment theory of population ecology underlining any organization functions as a living or dying species. Primarily, population ecology reflects both a rationalist and naturalist perspectives. Population ecology echoes rationalist theory because power is frequently controlled by those in superior positions due to their experiences within the organization (Taylor 25). Also, population ecology is natural because it denies specificity and predictability due to the organization’s dependence of the fluctuation of environmental resources (Sutton 1/20/11). Ultimately for any organization to adapt and change the future of the establishment, it is necessary for workers in a dominant and higher position to ruminate any strategies and environmental opportunities and threats (Hannan 930). Henry Yang, as UCSB’s chancellor, ...
In 1989, seventy five percent of Americans identified themselves as environmentalists, and the number has continued to grow since then (Walls 1). Environmentalism is now the most popular social movement in the United States, with over five million American families donating regularly to environmental organizations (Walls 1). Environmentalists today focus on what kind of world they hope to see in the future, and largely deal with limiting pollution and changing consumption rates (Kent 1 and 9). Modern environmentalists also have much different issues than those Carson’s America faced. With climate change becoming more threatening each year, protection of the natural world is needed more than ever. Pollution has caused the warmest decade in history, the deterioration of the ozone layer, and species extinction in extreme numbers (Hunter 2). It not only threatens nature, but also human populations, who already suffer from lack of clean water and poisoning from toxic chemicals (Hunter 16). Unlike environmental actions in the 1960’s, which were mostly focused on protection, a massive increase in pollution has caused efforts to be focused on environmental restoration (Hunter 16). Like in the time of Silent Spring, environmentalists are not only concerned with one country. Protecting the environment remains a global issue, and every nation is threatened by the
The United States has earned the reputation of a rebellious country since its birth in the revolution against Britain. Over the course of history, Americans have repeatedly confronted oppression, both foreign and national, through various wars and rights movements. Unfortunately, when it comes to environmental issues the average American has grown increasingly complacent. With a renewed urgency, government is working to combat global warming, but lacks the necessary social backing. This social support could be supplied through a new environmental movement that differs from past efforts. Throughout American history there have been three categories of environmental movements: preservation, conservation, and modern reform, all of which have failed to bring a ubiquitous social change and substantial impact on the overall environmental health.
Since the onset of the industrial revolution during the 19th century, humanity has rapidly stripped the earth of its natural resources and dumped countless byproducts into our environment. While 97% of climate scientists agree that climate change is real as well as man made (Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences) there is still debate as to the validity of this in the public debate. Philanthropic individuals and organizations play an important role in influencing public opinion as well as directly conserving at risk land and species in addition to fighting projects that could have disastrous environmental impact. These individuals play a major role in providing funding for environmental groups due a general lack of available government subsidies for the issue relative to subsidies provided for many other issues. (Kimble Pg. 2) These philanthropists come from varying sectors including finance, alternative energy, high technology, broadcasting, development and real estate.
In his essay, The Ethics of Respect for Nature, Paul Taylor presents his argument for a deontological, biocentric egalitarian attitude toward nature based on the conviction that all living things possess equal intrinsic value and are worthy of the same moral consideration. Taylor offers four main premises to support his position. (1) Humans are members of the “Earth’s community of life” in the same capacity that nonhuman members are. (2) All species exist as a “complex web of interconnected elements” which are dependent upon one another for their well-being. (3) Individual organisms are “teleological centers of life” which possess a good of their own and a unique way in which to pursue it. (4) The concept that humans are superior to other species is an unsupported anthropocentric bias.
...rganisation of UNICEF the stakeholders that get more attention will be the people who are providing the donations to the company and the children that UNICEF provides support to. These will receive more attention because they are the most important stakeholders. Without the donations UNICEF would struggle to provide the children with any sort of support as they would be unable to fund it, or they would have to change the whole dynamics of the origination to still be able to provide support if they didn’t receive the fanatical donations. And the children that they provide and offer support to also receive a lot of attention. This is because without these children UNICEF would not be providing any sort of service. There organisation is based around the fact that there are children who need help and support so they are essential to the functioning of it as a business.
The Earth Charter website states that, the Earth Charter “is an extraordinarily diverse, global network of people, organizations, and institutions that participate in promoting and implementing the values and principles of the Earth Charter” (“The earth charter initiative”, 2009). As I browsed through the site, I also learned that the Earth Charter is a “declaration of fundamental ethical principles for building a just, sustainable and peaceful global society in the 21st century.” (“What is the earth charter”, 2009) Presently, in Fort Myers and Estero, FL., there are a few local businesses that supports the Earth Charter’s initiative. Even with the support of over “4,500 organizations, including many governments and international organizations,” there are still issues that concern the Earth Charter’s group (“What is the earth charter”, 2009). One of the central concerns is “with the transition to sustainable ways of living and sustainable human development” (“What is the earth charter”, 2011). There are so many people who have lived the same patterned l...
“Unless humanity is suicidal, it should want to preserve, at the minimum, the natural life-support systems and processes required to sustain its own existence” (Daily p.365). I agree with scientist Gretchen Daily that drastic action is needed now to prevent environmental disaster. Immediate action and changes in attitude are not only necessary for survival but are also morally required. In this paper, I will approach the topic of environmental ethics from several related sides. I will discuss why the environment is a morally significant concern, how an environmental ethic can be developed, and what actions such an ethic would require to maintain and protect the environment.
Though in theory, ecological feminism has been around for a number of years, it emerged as a political movement in the 1970s. Francoise d’Eaubonne, a French feminist philosopher, coined the term “Ecofeminism” in 1974. Ecofeminism is a feminist approach to environmental ethics. Karen Warren, in her book Ecofeminist Philosophy, claims that feminist theorists question the source of the oppression of women, and seek to eliminate this oppression. Ecofeminists consider the oppression of women, (sexism) the oppression of other humans (racism, classism, ageism, colonialism), and the domination of nature (naturism) to be interconnected. In her book New Woman/New Earth, Rosemary Radford Reuther wrote, “Women must see that there can be no liberation for them and no solution to the ecological crisis within a society whose fundamental model of relationships continues to be one of domination. They must unite the demands of the women’s movement with those of the ecological movement to envision a radical reshaping of the basic socioeconomic relations and the underlying values of this society (204).”
I have understood that the Sustainability study involves the transformation of our civilization toward a regenerative system that promotes healthy and stable ecosystems, consumes natural resources no faster than they can replenish, releases toxic pollutants into our habitat no faster than they can be absorbed, fosters healthy and cohesive habitats that can coexist and continue long time in the future. Sustainability initiatives work to change the world by changing activities in our personal and professional lives to achieve these objectives. I have learned that the Sustainability Revolution is a collection of values centered on healthy ecosystems, economic activities, and social justice. From the intensive focus on this topic during the last few weeks and from further readings on this subject, I have learned that Sustainability encompasses not just conservation and pollution, but a wide array of other issues, including Eco literacy, biodiversity, globalization, socially responsible investing, corporate social responsibility, human rights, population explosion, health, social and environmental justice, farming, labor issues, and women’s rights. I have also learned that Sustainability strategies are essential, transformative, and collaborative work involving participation of hundreds of thousands of citizens, communities and businesses around the world. Every organization and informed citizen needs to understand the perils that lie ahead and contribute their part towards Sustainability
Anthropocentrism is the school of thought that human beings are the single most significant entity in the universe. As a result, the philosophies of those with this belief reflect the prioritization of human objectives over the well-being of one’s environment. However, this is not to say that anthropocentric views neglect to recognize the importance of preserving the Earth. In fact, it is often in the best interests of humans to make concerted efforts towards sustaining the environment. Even from a purely anthropocentric point of view, there are three main reasons why mankind has a moral duty to protect the natural world.