About Environmentalists

Environmentalists and the environmental movement consists of individuals concerned about the holistic well-being of the planet earth and its occupants. There are varying levels of environmentalism. Some environmentalists make ecologically-friendly choices as part of their overall lifestyle, while other environmentalists choose to make the environment a part of their career through advocacy work.

History

Modern environmentalists can be traced back to various environmental movements through history. In the past, major environmental movements have occurred in the Middle East and Europe. Many of these movements were spearheaded by local farmer and agricultural experts concerned about the future of their work due to technological changes brought together by historical shifts such as the Industrial Revolution. While widespread concern for the environment may seem like a relatively recent development, this perception slightly unfounded in history. For example, in the late thirteenth century, British monarchy restricted the burning of coal due to air pollution concerns. The current environmental movement has picked up significant speed as it has gained the support of various political parties and international, non-governmental organizations.

Types

The term "environmentalist" encompasses a wide range of individuals with varying degrees of commitment to the environmental movement, a movement that in itself encompasses a wide range of ideologies. Environmentalists can largely be classified into three categories. The first category sees environmentalism as a part of their personal lifestyle choice, viewing it as a matter of political reform. The second category of environmentalists see it not as reform but as needing total change. The final, third category sees the future of environmentalists in a new wave of technologies that make environmental reform possible. These three categories are popular labeled Light Green, Dark Green and Bright Green, respectively.

Significance

The environmental movement has earned relative acceptance in both the spheres of science and politics. In the former, the movement has brought about a new emphasis on environmentalism in areas such as biology and ecology. Many universities and educational institutions have streams within their offered majors that focus on environmental conservation. In politics, environmentalists have grown to be especially significant and influential. Issues such as global warming and international environmental protocols such as the Kyoto Protocol, as well as the growing power of non-governmental lobbying groups such as Greenpeace, all attest to the significant contribution that environmentalists are making in the political world.

Misconceptions

Environmentalists are often labeled with derogatory monikers such as "tree huggers." Some people may view environmentalists and the movement they support as a New Age, hippie or even dangerous ideology. While some environmentalists are extreme and take admittedly radical actions in the name of saving the earth (e.g. the Earth Liberation Front, categorized as a terrorist group by the U.S. F.B.I.), most environmentalists have thought through their lifestyle choices and made a rational decision to work towards improving the planet's ecological systems. Not all environmentalists are "hippies." Many environmentalists are normal, successful career persons who simply try their best to consider the environmental impact that their consumer choices make.

Size

Environmentalists and the environmental movement have grown exponentially in recent years. As a career choice, environmentalism can encompass a variety of industries and specialties, most notably law, politics and advocacy. There are hundreds of environmental groups in the U.S. alone, though the movement is hardly restricted to North America. The environmental movement has grown internationally, as seen by the United Nations' environmental conference of 1972, of which 114 UN member states attended. Similarly, both the United Nations Environment Program and the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development have experienced significant support from member countries. Outside of the UN, the environmentalists have joined to create significant lobbying groups and commissions, including the European Environment Agency in the European Union, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate change and the Commission for Environmental Cooperation between Canada, the U.S. and Mexico.