Notes and Quotes
pg 1
- Considers the social and political thoughts of ecologists
pg 2
- environmentalism and ecologism are different from one
another
- definition of environmentalism – considers managing
consumption and industry rather than changing it radically
- definition ecologism – suggests that sustainability can only
be achieved with complete world view change to the environment and our social
and political approaches
pg 3
- environmentalism – not ideology
- ideologies need to outline actions that will take place to
make the change from one society to the desired society
- ecologism = ideology
- political ideologies are based on
issues as well as aspects of the human condition and will have an ideal of the
society in which it wants to create
pg 4
- many political ecologists do not feel the definition of
ecologism fits with their beliefs
- believe in limits to growth theory and are against
anthropocentric view of sustainability
pg 7
- environmentalism can become part of any political ideology
whereas ecologism is its own ideology with environmentalism within this
- ecocentrism separate’s ecologism from other ideologies –
environmentalism does not believe in this which can lead to ecologism’s
perceived meaning being watered down through association with environmentalism
pg 8
- by not understanding green politics,
its historical role as a challenge to other ideologies will not be understood
- ecologism is outspokenly opposing to current paradigms
pg 9
- management of technology to lower environmental damage does
not challenge societies desire for wealth, technology and services – management
of technologies effect on the environment does not challenge the current
paradigm
- reformist approach does not challenge paradigm instead in it
encouraged
- post industrialism for ecologists – industrialism fails and
economy is decentralized
- political ecologists aim to create a society that is more
environmentally centred and move away from damaging industrialism and
materialism, through non violent means
pg 10
- aims to change world view rather than adjust current system
- current world view created from Enlightenment
- Enlightenment places humans centrally in relation to the
rest of the world and living things as well as the universe
- Enlightenment is the belief that the world was created for
humans, meaning nothing should be hidden from them
- This world view remained dominant but allowed green ideology
to form in reaction to this
pg 11
- green politics opposes these societal norms
- it questions whether material affluence is sustainable or
desirable
- green politics should not just be considered as
environmentalist views of less damaging affluence
- ecologism vs industrialism – passion vs reason
- green politics are based on scientific evidence that proves
the current system is unsustainable
- ecologism’s utopia based on concept of equality
pg 12
- green politics is not a form of Romanticism
- ecologism wants to shift power away
from people who question the current system to those who want to protect
- ecologism is bringing Enlightenment back?
pg 13
- ecologism not environmentalism – environmentalism not
political ideology – environmentalisms general approach is applicable to most
ideologies – environmentalism most different from ecologism
- green ideology ranges – minimalists = light greens who are
more general – maximalists = dark greens who are stricter on the definition
pg 14
- minimalists believe that humans and the environment are
reliant on one another – they are - uncertain about the idea of humans being
central to the world – they are concerned about industrialisms effect on the
environment – author sees this as environmentalism
need for less damage and positive approach to nature in
ideology – author sees this as ecologism
- minimalism allows the history of the ideology to be seen
pg 15
- rethink on system needed because of ‘limits to economic and
population growth’ – system - rethink needed because of natural limits to
growth
- economic growth restricted by the Earths capacity to carry,
produce and absorb resources
- earth has finite resources
- green view that continuous growth is physically not possible
for the Earth even with technological solutions
- social and political system rethink needed
- once a picture of the Earth was released new view of the planet
emerged
- we have become detached from the Earth because of
industrialism
pg 16
- it is not just economic wealth that fuels the planet, wealth
in wellbeing from the planet is just as important
- greens suggest the need for overhaul of societal practices
to create a sustainable society
- for a sustainable society to be achieved, consumption in
industrial countries needs to be reduced and increased economic growth does not
effectively meet human needs
- limits to growth = limits to consumption
- greens are challenged with questioning consumption and
materialism which people aspire to and
- greens have the challenge of encouraging
less consumption and materialism, a behaviour - which people aspire to and aim to
increase - greens in difficult position of questioning consumption and
materialism and making the reduction of these more popular
- recycling and renewable energy are not the complete solution
to sustainability - as resources are
finite making consumption impossible at current rates - but they do make up
part of the solution
- continuing with current consumption levels and using
recycling – an industrial technique - as a technological fix creates the
impression of a solution, but it is only part of the answer
pg 17
- greens uncertain of technological fixes, such as recycling,
to solve environmental problems
- technology will not be enough to solve the problems of
consumption
- aim to show the benefits of less materialism to help reduce
consumption
- often things seen as needs are wants which we have been
persuaded to think are needs - - many needs are wants that we have been persuaded
to think are needs - persuasion converts wants into what we see as needs
meaning we wouldn’t lose much with less consumption
- a sustainable society would allow for greater fulfilment spiritually
compared to materialistic consumption
- greens encourage respect of the Earth and increased ties
with it
- if there is not a fundamental shift of concern for the
environment a sustainable society is not possible
pg 18
- greens believe population reductions are needed to reduce
consumption and create a sustainable society – less people = less consumption
- it benefits humans to care for the environment - care for
the environment benefits humans – the environment has intrinsic value even when
it cannot be used for human activities
pg 19
- many argue for protection of the
environment for its value to humans however it has intrinsic value for life
- ecologism changes tact on the importance of intrinsic value
over human instrumental value - to gain more confidence and support – swap and
change
- spiritual aspect also side-lined to appeal to more people
pg 20
- warnings about environmental breakdown are often talked
about by ecologists
- critics suggest that ecologists are pessimistic in their
view of the fate of the environment
- greens are optimistic about outcome if large changes are
made
- changes needed – policies that
encourage growth in materialistic consumption and population need to be changed
- efficiency of material use needs to be improved – change is needed to the
growth of materialistic consumption and population through policy and material
efficiency needs to improve
pg 21
- green ideology universal because it affects everyone across
society
- argued that environmental damage and subsequent social problems
are everybody’s problem
- ecologism has wider appeal than other political ideologies
- ecologism able to argue strongly about wider effects to
environment and humans if people don’t follow them than other political
ideologies
- naturalism runs throughout ecologism suggesting that human
beings are natural beings
- naturalism shows how there are natural limits to growth
- belief that society should use nature as a model for
societal structure, however this comes from a particular view of nature
pg 22
- ecologism adopted certain view of nature to base society on
– focusses on interdependence rather than competition etc
pg 23
- change to a sustainable society can be created though
different forms of political structure, dictatorial or democratic – authority structures
may have to change to create a sustainable society
pg 24
- nature is an interdependent system with reliance and
equality between beings
- all dependent on each other so there is no superiority
within nature
- ecosystems are interdependent webs
- social ecology does not believe in hierarchy in nature or
society
pg 25
- argued however that it is difficult to apply systems from
nature to society
- interdependence encourages a different view on nature and
provides a means for questioning peoples justification of damage to the
environment
- nature has more experience than technology - natures history
and experience both provides solutions and belittles technology
pg 27
- there are similarities between communism and capitalism in
that both encourage industrial and technological growth, materialism and
centralisation. Both have similar damaging views on the environment with the
aim of conquering it and seeing it as having little value
communism and capitalism are industrialist societies which
believe that needs are met through continual growth of consumption and
production
- ecologism questions our industrial society despite it being
a long-standing system
- greens consider communism and capitalism similar in this
respect
pg 28
- the anthropocentric world view that we are separate from
nature is damaging and needs to be altered to a biocentric/ ecocentric view
pg 31
- ecologisms history drawn Neolithic humans , the ecology
movement in 1960’s and 70’s and the nineteenth century
pg 32
- modern ecologism is separated from historical ecologism by
its belief that environmental damage has become global and the planets ability
to sustain our activities cannot continue
- ecologism systemic analysis has allowed for systemic
suggestions of change – modern ecologism has been systemic in its approach to
problem analysis and solutions
pg 34
- environmentalism aims to manage environmental impact within
the current industrial system
- both ecologism and environmentalism use nature as an
incentive for change but their approaches differ
- environmentalism takes a managerial approach to political
and economic systems
- environmentalism aims to manage political and economic
systems
- environmentalists may not believe in limits to growth or
getting rid of industrialism
- environmentalists do not consider the earth to have
intrinsic value or think we need metaphysical change
- environmentalists think technology, rather than reduction in
production / consumption, can create sustainability
pg 36
- Damage to the environment has an effect on things living on
the planet – interdependent
- Greens believe our world view and systems of industrialism
and consumption are the cause of social, environmental and political problems
pg 37
- Natural resources have value originally not just when humans
have processed them
- Sustainability and sustainable development are general terms
with multiple meanings
- Have become meaningless
- Sustainability to ecologists means ensuring natural
resources from natural processes continue into the future rather than just
human processed materials
pg 38
- ecology is holistic
pg 39
- bootstrap theory – all particles are needed – highlights how
species are equal
pg 40
- ecologists belief in interdependence goes against
anthropocentrism
pg 43
- Gaia considers every element of the biosphere to have value
pg 44
- some living things are higher in the hierarchy of valued
entities, this can be decided based on how much well-being the entity is able
to have
pg 45
- intrinsic value should be considered an ethic to encourage
more responsible action towards the environment
- things only become meaningful when humans place meaning upon
them
- meaningful natural phenomena have been given meaning through
education
pg 46
- a new world view is needed for the intrinsic value of nature
to become an ethic
- a new awareness is needed for intrinsic value to become an
ethic rather than expecting it to come from current world view
pg 62
- limited industrial growth available due to finite resources
- ecologists question ‘green’ consumerism as a solution to
environmental problems
- in relation to limits to growth political greens believe technology
will not create sustainability, the damage caused by industrialisms exponential
growth can have a disastrous sudden effect and an amalgamation of problems
means they need to be dealt with as a whole rather than individually
pg 64
- technology creates growth, whilst at the same time will
prevent it in the future
pg 65
- technology cannot create infinite growth using finite
resources
- environmentalism tries to limit damage which makes it
different from ecologism
- ecologism believes technology will not solve limits to
growth and that a wider societal change in values and ethics is needed
- technology will not stop exponential growth of finite
resources
exponential growth within the system is unsustainable
pg 67
- radical greens believe that environmental problems are
interrelated meaning that problems - have to be solved as a whole. Greens
consider our current focus on environmental damage as ineffective because wider
issues are not thought of together.
- Greens suggest that if there is uncertainty about how a
human action will effect the environment then it should not be done –
‘precautionary principle’
pg 68
- technology cannot create infinite growth in a finite world.
Exponential growth is unsustainable and limits to growth will become more
visible quicker. Current ‘solutions’ for environmental damage are considered
insufficient by greens because they do not look at the wider system
- it is not plausible for society to continue thinking they
can grow and consume
pg 70
- needs to be more international coordination to be able to
solve environmental problems
centralised authoritarianism would enforce measures needed
to reduce environmental damage
- Governments would enforce their plan of action for
sustainability despite others views
pg 71
- authoritarian communes could be used for sustainability be
devolving power more locally
pg 72
- social structures are taken from natural ones
- we need to change our expectations to fit better with the
constraints of the
- goals should be adapted to fit within and work with environmental
boundaries - goals should be adapted to fit within environmental boundaries and
work with the earth
- because of the multifactored aspect of environmental
problems, political organisations should reflect this complexity to solve the
problems
pg 73
- some systems are unsustainable because they don not reflect
our place / role on the planet
pg 74
- it is not possible for all countries to have the same living
standards as rich countries
- exponential growth makes the problem worse
- technology increases unemployment
- growth predictions are unsustainable
- greens consider unemployment as a negative thing, the
problem of continued growth is not the solution
- a finite resource system means shortages of resources are a
certainty which will eventually increase prices
pg 75
- greens have a negative view of using GNP to measure economy
- it does not consider whether production process are
sustainable
- there is a wariness of measuring an economy through GNP
because it does not consider the sustainability of the system
- GNP does not consider the environment
- The use of GNP and a drive for economic growth illustrates
the shortsightedness of the current system
- Other ways of judging the success of the economy are needed
pg 76
- money spent on sorting environmental issues caused by the
current system should not be part of GNP to allow quality of life to be
measured
- production and consumption is without restraint – wealth
enables power and ability to achieve goals
pg 77
- economic growth / throughput needs to be reduced as well as
consumption
- ecologists believe consumption need to be reduced for
sustainability and alternative gains - will be made up for the reduction in
living standards
- ecologists haven’t considered the role of advertising much
- production and consumption is linked to advertising
- consumption could be highlighted if the moral issues of
advertising were highlighted advertising has moral issues when sustainability
is considered
pg 79
- reduction, sharing and substitution goes against mass
advertising – advertising is linked to - economic growth which we need to move
away from
- greens believe in finite resources, restricted growth,
reduced consumption and exposing things that encourage growth
- needs are essential to live, whilst wants are add ons to
meet desires
pg 81
- reduction in people would reduce consumption
- suggestions of universal consumption reduction is not necessary
because consumption levels are not the same universally
pg 84
- greens believe science has caused most of current problems
and in some ways don’t think more of this is the solution
- there is uncertainty about technology and it depends on the
technology in question
- focus on the need for moral change for sustainability
pg 85
- reducing consumption is not enough – relying on recycling
may hide the fact that a system - change is needed – reduction in consumption is
more important than recycling
recycling is more of a technological solution to consumption
rather than an ecological
creates the appearance of a solution
pg 86
- if something can’t be created without damaging the environment
something else should be used or it shouldn’t be used at all
pg 87
- technological solutions do not reduce consumption, instead
just hide the effects
nuclear power fuelled by finite resources
pg 88
- greens push for renewable energy and the conservation of
energy
- renewable energy is almost unlimited, less damaging and can
be used in a decentralized system
- renewable energy is preferred by greens because it is seen
as less damaging, however the technology is not and has the same problem as
recycling in that respect
- not enough energy will be produced to meet the demand using
alternative energy so there is still a need to reduce consumption
- needs can be satisfied with alternative energy and not have
an effect on other generations – we can meet our needs but not our wants with
this energy
pg 93
- resources go up, capital investment goes down, labour
intensive production goes up
pg 98
- green and grey consumption are not sustainable in the long
run, there are limits to growth – green consumerism is too much like the
current system which is unsustainable – a new system is needed
- growth needs to be within the limits of the earth
pg 100
- bioregionalists believe in communal land rather than
centrally owned land
pg 101
- bioregionalists believe we should have closer connections
with the land
pg 106
- local production is not possible for everything
pg 107
- the government would have to enforce limits to resources
pg 112
- change is so out of reach that it is thought that people
would need an environmental disaster for policy to change
- the suggestion of environmental consequences is not enough
pg 113
- green ideology is new meaning there is less understanding of
how to implement change
- ecologism calls for a system change
- governments committed to environmental policy
pg 114
- governments may need to enforce change to prevent
environmental damage as more is needed than people will voluntarily do
pg 120
- decentralised local production and consumption is preferred
over global imports
pg 124
- greens have tried to push for change in policy
- legislation processes and economic systems allow for green
policies to be fulfilled
- the government needs to solve the problems rather than the
symptoms of environmental problems, through legislation and policy
pg 130
- change in thought = change in behaviour
- 1980s boom in green living
- Green face used to sell products
- Opportunities for green living everywhere
pg 131
- Recessions affected consumer purchasing, who mainly look for
cheapest rather than greenest products
- Green products have become normal so we don’t notice them
- Personal change can lead to behavioural change creating
sustainable living
- In response to this people live more environmentally
friendly, however the world also continues as it is
- Difficult to persuade enough people for it to have a
widescale effect for the environment
- Suggestions usually get people to change aspects of their
lives whilst continuing consumption in other ways
- Green consumerism is not green
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