Ecological political construction of a green society

Author: (USA) Coleman
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-07-01
Features: Who should bear the blame for the environmental crisis: is it overpopulation, insatiable consumerism, or reckless technology? What is the path to saving our planet: is it birth control, appropriate technology, recycling, or ecological consumption? People generally attribute the root causes of the environmental crisis and its solutions to individual behavior, but Coleman argues: "Reconsider. When we excessively focus on individual responsibility, we allow governments and corporations to get away with it. While making changes to our own lifestyles and engaging in small environmental acts certainly have value, we must not overlook the deeper roots of environmental disasters. The true causes are deeply embedded in the politics of human affairs, and the solutions must also lie within them. He believes that we can reverse the process of environmental destruction by establishing values such as ecological responsibility, participatory democracy, environmental justice, and community action. Numerous examples show that a sustainable society is not an illusion but is achievable."