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03/21/2006

Mea Culpa: Confessions of an Environmentalist

by Yeb Sano

Even though we’re environmentalists, we have our share of daily struggles. Just like what St. Augustine prayed for, “Lord, make me chaste--but not just yet." Nonetheless, environmentalists have this stereotype reputation for being self-righteous, being always holier than most people when it comes to devotion for Mother Earth. Environmentalists are usually perceived to be geeks, eating an all-organic diet, leading a hippie lifestyle, riding bikes, maintaining their own backyard compost pits, and riding rubber rafts to block nuclear ships.


But really, we are all flesh and blood and like all humans, we are also sinners. In the spirit of soul-searching and cleansing this time of lent, I’d like to take a little breather from saving the environment and confess the eco-sins of environmentalists like us. Some are mortal, some are venial, but they’re all sins against the Earth. (Note: the sins listed below are not exclusively this writer’s; it includes sins committed by his tree-hugging friends)

We …

… enjoy hearty fast-food burgers

… love driving our SUVs, with its sleekness and power-when-you-need-it especially when we haul our SCUBA gears

… stepped on some corals when we were novice SCUBA divers

… leave our computers on even when we’re not using them

… channel-surf like crazy

… enjoy long hot showers

… had fun watching the dolphin show in an amusement park

… use bleach

… did not separate the food waste from the plastic bags

… use blankets of toilet paper all in one episode

… own multiple things of things: twenty pairs of shoes, four cellphones, three microwave ovens, three tennis racquets, thirty bags

… have six toilets in one house

… flush the toilet indiscriminately

… own a dishwasher and a clothes dryer

… have three bicycles but do not use any of them

… would rather ride a taxi instead of the jeepney

… buy apparel which are known to be made in sweatshops

… do not use the clean side of sheet of paper

… have wasted dozens of paper by printing on the wrong size

… have wasted dozens of paper by printing on the wrong side

… have houses with bad septic systems

… buy bottled water very often

… use plastic bags very often

… love our cars, and use them even for short distance errands

… use toxic pesticides to get rid of bugs

… love going to mall and going shopping for things we don’t need

… leave the faucet running when brushing teeth or washing hands

… own narra furniture

… have an exotic animal as a pet

… buy orchids coming from protected areas

… angrily kill ants and other innocent insects that invade our homes

… love drinking coffee in Styrofoam cups

… drive with a really heavy foot on the pedal

… love to use the dioxin-filled, disposable baby diapers

… leave the lights on even when nobody is in the room

… harsh chemicals to clean the house

… leave the car engine on to keep the aircon running

… own shares in an oil company

… have a gorgeously manicured lawn that needs daily watering

… have cars with CFC aircons

… play golf

… still use incandescent bulbs

… print out websites


And the list goes on… well, it felt good to get these sins out in the open.


I hope that these confessions would earn us more respect, and soften that self-righteous reputation. We’re human after all. So, how many Hail Mary’s do we say? As penance, maybe we should plant one tree for every sin, or just try to do what we can one day at a time to become better citizens of the Earth. Or even better, do our jobs in taking action that will make this world a better place to live in. How about you, any eco-sins to confess?

00:29 Posted by in Sustainable Consumption | Permalink | Comments (2) | Email this | Tags: Sustainable Development

Comments

most of the time people from the upper class commit the sins you've mentioned. do you think the poor can afford to hang out in expensive weekend hideaways, get sick until their stomachs are full, perhaps acquire a dozen sedans before they bored? Please do admit it. The rich takes up the bulk of sin against mother nature.

there is inequality and the self proclaimed "environmentalist" must be aware of this or else the sacking continues.

Posted by: hs | 03/22/2006

thanks for the comment, hs.
yes, i totally agree with you that the rich are guilty of most impacts on the environment. By rich, I mean those who have the economic power (individuals and countries). The poor does not have the ability to splurge on luxurious things and therefore consume less. For instance, the amount of energy used by 1 American is equivalent to that used by 6 Mexicans, 38 Indians or 531 Ethiopians. I myself believe that poverty is not the root cause of environmental destruction. Greed is. As the great Gandhi once said, "There is enough resources on Earth for everyone's need, but not enough for everyone's greed." The inequity in this world is really shocking. But let us not lose hope and become cynical. There is hope. Even the rich can be real environmentalists.

My article's intention was to break some stereotype of environmentalists and 'humanize' the vocation. if it caused more stereotyping, then i apologize. As i disclaimed, the 'sins' are not exclusive to me as the author, but also reflects the 'sins' of many people who work in the environmentalist movement, where many are from the bourgeois class (mainly because of the nature of the movement). Environmentalism is not necessarily an elitist movement but as you said, poor people have higher priorities than consumptive luxuries or even saving the whales or forests. But gradually, many people from the basic sectors of society (farmers, fisherfolks) are becoming defenders of their own dwindling resources. To me, they are the real heroes of the environment.

I assure you that people who work in the environmentalist movement are aware of the inequity issues that haunt the world. Inequity is not limited to economic classes, but also pervade gender, ethnicity, and intergenerational dimensions. We are very much aware of the inequity problem that is why our programs are aimed at saving nature with people ... for people. By people, we refer more to the vast majority of the poor who directly rely on a healthy environment for their day to day existence. We have helped fisherfolk regain their livelihood by protecting their fishing grounds against destructive fishing (dynamite and cyanide). We have helped empower them by facilitating their union through community-organized Bantay Dagat patrols. We have worked with communities to ensure that tourism doesn't leave them at the losing end of development. By saving nature 'with people' we mean saving people together with them and saving natural areas where they live (as opposed to evicting them). By saving nature for people, we mean saving nature not for nature or for our own satisfaction, but to build people's lives.

But indeed, the battle will be long and ardous. We have a tough road ahead and we need all the good-hearted women and men in the world to succeed. To save Mother Earth, equality among people is necessary. It is a complex world and there are many issues. But as environmentalists, we have chosen our battle.

Posted by: yeb sano | 03/23/2006