Greenpeace and those like the Sea Shepherds.

In 1971, a group of peaceful protesters officially organized and formed what is known as "Greenpeace", an organization put together in order to protect animals, and land and marine habitats and environments.

Their very statement on their website says it all:
"
Our core values are reflected in our environmental campaign work: We 'bear witness' to environmental destruction in a peaceful, non-violent manner. We use non-violent confrontation to raise the level and quality of public debate. In exposing threats to the environment and finding solutions we have no permanent allies or adversaries. We ensure our financial independence from political or commercial interests. We seek solutions to environmental dilemmas and promote open, informed debate about society's environmental choices. "

http://www.greenpeace.org/usa/en/about/


Through peaceful protests, fundraising, campaigning, and various public events, Greenpeace manages to save thousands of animals, restoration of forest, other terrestrial, and marine habitats, and addressing problems as vast as global warming. They built themselves into an internationally recognized organization with offices worldwide.

Why do they do this? Because they care. They believe that while you need to care, you must act on it as well. But don't bomb, plot against people, declare war, or fight. Peacefully, logically, and rationally go out, gather supporters, and raise awareness. If you can do this then you can raise enough support to eventually change something.

While it is an ideal process, some people believe it takes too long to peacefully change the world. One example is Paul Watson, a former member and founder of Greenpeace, who left on his own to form an organization known as The Sea Shepherds.

http://www.seashepherd.org/whales/whale-wars.html

This group goes out to the Antarctic and directly fights whaling fleets with chemicals and other bombardments in order to achieve their goal of stopping over whaling and fishing in the southern Ocean. They believe this type of action is the only way to truly change outcomes and to protect these beings. While they now have a television series on Animal Planet, their true goal is to put an end to illegal whaling.

So, which is better? The peaceful protesting of activists world wide, or the small group of ragtag teammates who go out and aggressively defend the defenseless?

Both have their selling points and both get somethings done. While the Sea Shepherds are on the front battle lines, I believe that Greenpeace is the most successful in the long run. Unfortunately, the Sea shepherds have not seen  a  lot of progress on protecting these whales, while Greenpeace has seen a lot of progress in changing views, protecting species, and actively restoring numerous environments that were in extreme danger as well as raise vast support and awareness for numerous topics and issues.


Peaceful may be better for the long haul, but the aggressive is more entertaining for TV.

Kellen F.

Earth Day as a Social Movement

In the beginning of this school year I met with Denis Hayes, the founder of Earth Day as well as the CEO of the Bulitt Foundation. According to him, his wikipedia profile is fairly accurate.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denis_Hayes

This "holiday" started in 1970 with just the United States. And, in 1990, Denis Hayes took this event international. Today over 175 countries celebrate it each year.

The entire day is devoted to raising awareness about the facts of earth and its fragility and the desperate need for change from all people. Different organizations spread the messages of Earth Day by spouting facts of population numbers, resource use numbers, and various activities world wide in order to raise awareness.

Some people claim it is just another day, it makes no difference, and it has no real impact on the environment other than just a day set aside. I believe that Earth Day can be seen as a social movement for the environment in many ways. Although it happens just once a year, it encourages schools, both college level and below, students, businesses, and all other organizations to get involved. Many campuses hold events specifically to raise awareness for Earth day. The events themselves are held on April 22 each year, however, the message remains for every day after that. Earth day successfully recruits new members to the Earth Day Network each year.

Denis Hayes adamantly speaks about the amazing impact he feels this Day of Awareness has had on the world. There are global conversation days between communities and nations geared specifically at achieving higher sustainability world wide. He never thought his idea would carry out this far, being past its 40th anniversary, and that it would reach so many people internationally. Now that it has though, he hopes to continue to feed it until every country in the world recognizes it and helps to raise awareness for the Earth.

He says that the Earth is in trouble. It will never change that people want to improve their quality of life as much as they can. So the question is then how do we do this why ensuring the maintenance of Earth's resources for the rest of future generations. And, environmental policies will unfortunately but most assuredly be driven by politics and the best way to ensure that these policies are in the benefit of both people and the Earth is to get more people involved in the sustainability movement. One way to do this is to help push Earth Day farther and to the best awareness day it can be.

Change is happening whether we like it or not. So, we need to make sure that it is for the better. Earth Day helps raise awareness but can only go so far without people behind it pushing it forward.  So we must always consider the future net value of resources and not just what we have today.

-Kellen F.

How Environmental NGOs have changed

     An NGO, or non-governmental organization, is one that can exist on local, national, and international levels. The environmental NGOs can all range in their political views, and all have different agendas in changing the environmental policy in the United States. Ranging from large national groups to smaller local groups with local concerns, many groups today focus on the old U.S. conservation movement, (National Geographic Society, Audubon Society) all American organizations with worldwide influence.

     Overall the scope of the NGO movements has been progressing since the early 19th century. In this period, many were focused on the conservation movement, which included fisheries and wildlife management, water, soil conservation, and sustainable forestry. This conservation movement has prolonged its existence and continues still today, including sustainable yield of limited natural resources, biodiversity and preservation of wilderness. The modern environmental movement, beginning from the 1960s was primarily concerned with issues of pollution, and over time has become broader in scope to include all human activity and how it affects the landscape.  

     Starting from the Progressive era between the 1890s-1920s, urban environmental health reforms included obtaining a clean water supply, more efficient removal of raw sewage, and reduction in crowded unsanitary living conditions. Today, the health reforms have moved more towards the physical well being of the human body. Such concerns have to do with nutrition, preventative medicines, and aging. 

     All in all these movements encompass the main idea of the sustainability movements, in that it is important to recognize how anthropogenesis will in turn affect the Earth's landscape. Started in 1980 and mainly focusing on the Gaia theory, the sustainability movements focus on the value of the Earth and its interrelations with humans and human interaction. The most important message to take away, if anything, is that humans are affecting the Earth more than they know, or would like to admit. In any case, it is extremely important to be aware of the decisions that are made, and how they will in turn affect us in the future. Whether or not you join an NGO is not relevant, people can make a huge difference simply by changing their own habits first.

-Daniel L.

The Appiko Movement

     Inspired by the Chipko Movement, the Appiko Chalewali movement was started in the Uttar Kannada region of Kamataka. In November 1983, the commercial felling of trees for timber extraction caused much disturbance in the surrounding communities. The destruction of the natural forest resulted in soil erosion and caused much of their water resources to be dried up. In the Saklani village of Sirsi, the people were prohibited to the natural resources, restricted from gathering timber, dried branches, and non timber forest products used for the purpose of fuelwood, fodder, etc. Essentially the people were denied their right to their land and its resources.

     In September 1983, a few women decided to begin a movement similar to that of the Chipko movement, but in South India. Many women gathered together from all different villages, walked five miles to the nearby forest, and hugged the trees, not allowing the contractors to cut them down. Frustration grew and negotiation drew on for 38 days before the contractors were finally forced to withdraw and stop felling the trees in the forest. While this did initially stop the government from further destroying the forest, they eventually picked up where they left off and continued to cut down the forest. As a result, a stronger wave of the movement came again, and it was backed by all the local people. Even the daily laborers hired by the contractors ceased to do their work.

     In October, the movement went into the second phase, spreading on to the Bengaon forest. Here, the forest was a mix of tropical and evergreen, mostly on hilly terrain. The indigenous peoples that lived in this forest thrived and depended on their surroundings for livelihood. Due to the commercial felling of the forest, bamboo began to disappear in the ecology of this population. This was detrimental to the surrounding societies because they used bamboo to weave baskets and mats; things that were used and sold in everyday life. Once again the peoples in the region hugged the trees, thus forcing the contractors to abandon the felling of trees. 

     It did not take long before this movement caught on and people began to realize that they have the ability to make changes and protect the world around them. The Appiko movement became a symbol of people's power for their rights to natural resources. The victories won in these movements showed that the people not only successfully protected their forests, they also took steps to regenerating the trees in already felled areas, and continued to utilize the resources with proper consideration to conservation. 

-Daniel L.

The Garden

     In our lecture today, we watched a documentary entitled The Garden. The beauty of the plants and community was rich and inspiring. Social movements like this one are important to pay attention to- because of their importance and magnitude.

     The fourteen-acre community garden at 41st and Alameda in South Central Los Angeles is the largest of its kind in the United States. Started as a form of healing after the devastating L.A. riots in 1992, the South Central Farmers have since created a miracle in one of the country’s most blighted neighborhoods.

     It was very interesting to me to witness the clash of chemical-free, indigenous-style gardening with the political system of the United States, mostly run by white, rich, upper-class men.  More interesting, however, was the select few fighting against the farmers who were not white men at all... the two main antagonized "characters" were women... one African American, and one Latino.

     It was difficult for me to separate myself, as someone who has been raised in a system of order and laws, from the antagonized government and private property owner (Horowitz).  As much as I wanted to empathize with the farmers (for their garden is no doubt strong and beautiful and important) it was difficult for me to get past the fact that the land was, in fact, privately owned.  I sighed with relief when they finally found a reason for fighting the eviction (that the land was suspiciously and privately sold to Horowitz by the city).

   Overall, I enjoyed the film and the the popular belief that the farmers fought against.... "If everyone told you nothing more could be done, would you give up?"


-Alice S.

Because Allah Said So

In previous blogs I have shown specific movements within religion, but how about a green movement with the spread of religiosity. In 2006 Carnegie Endowment for International Peace proclaimed Islam to be the fastest growing religion, and with the growth eco-friendly innovations. But first a little background...

  The Qu'ran is the holy text of Islam, it is the physical promotion for Muslims to follow a code of eco-friendly lifestyles. In the Qu'ran Allah gives responsibility to humans to protect His creations. This a very different concept from other religions because Christians were given land to use as they will, and Hinduism and Buddhism see everything as unified, but Muslims create a new paradigm. In this paradigm Allah has not produced animals, plants, and resources to be consumed and used at will, but rather entrusts beings with guardianship over the natural world. Not control or use, but protection. This enforced by Muhammad's teaching of "The world is green and beautiful, and Allah has appointed you his guardian over it".

 

Now the growth of Islam, and even the revival of practice in predominately Muslim locations like Iran has encouraged a spreading view of a protected ecological world.

Muslims follow the ideology of Akrah (accountability) and know that one day Allah will judge and hold them accountable for their actions, and whether they have indeed been guardians of the natural world. In order to combat carbon emissions (particularly during hajj) the Mekkah Metro will travel to Mecca, this is a new product of Muslim growth. Since over three million Muslims travel to Saudi Arabia every year to participate in hajj, since this is a particular event to Muslims the idea of increasing harmful pollutants was protested.

The metro isn't the only thing that is changing up the pilgrimage to Mecca, but during the meeting of International Islamic Green Movement Osman has suggested full plans to renovate the experience. This includes not just traveling, but creating "eco-friendly" materials for travelers that are biodegradable. Other potential changes are banning the use of disposable plastic water bottles, and holding workshops to teach environmentally conscious decisions.

The Qu'ran also addresses the issue of consumptions saying that "Allah does not love wasters".

   

In the International Islamic Green Movement meeting of 2006 a plan was put into action to develop a variety of eco-friendly mosques. This particular mosque is Singapore's first eco-friendly mosque equipped with solar tubing, roof top gardens, sky lights, sensor lights, water tap regulation controls, prayer partitions made of entirely recyclable material, and is fit with a "green" wall. This is only one example of an eco-friendly mosque, even the controversial mosque near ground zero would have been another addition to the environmentally friendly Islamic movement.

This is just a small touch on what the growth of Islam is doing for the environment, after all the practice of Shariah is to protect animals from cruelty, conserve the forest, consume the necessities, and regulate limitations on city growth. If a Muslim is to follow the duties Allah demands than Shariah is key to Islamic practice.

Jordan Carlson

The Big Green Jewish Movement!

A New York Jewish community launched a program in 2004 called "Tuv Ha’Aretz" which means "good for the land and best of the land". This program is the partnership between a synagogue and a local organic farmer. Between the religious leaders of the synagogue and the farmer an agreement of share has been made; while they pre-purchase so much produce for the season, it ensures that the farmer has a market and that the Jewish community can gain from cheaper organic produce.

 

The basic local idea is to remote organic farming by leading with action, the do as I do concept. In the broader context this "movement" is helping preserve farmland, create protection for surrounding wildlife and water sources from pesticides, and its building a stronger community around this ideology.

 

In 2009 this program had branched out to roughly 32 organized agreements just in the US and Israel alone. During this survey in 2009 it was recorded that more than 1 million dollars in the US of Jewish purchases was funding organic food. Now a member of Tuv Ha’Aretz organizes a Jewish Farm School, that promotes environmental education and practices that for sustainable agriculture.

This movement is strikingly different from the "Ecological Monks" and "Chipko" because their religious pretense was for unity of all living things. This natural obligation is a major aspect of Buddhism and Hinduism, but is not necessarily stressed in Jewish text like the Torah. It is interesting that the organization was founded not on obligation or expectation, but an ideology that this movement will better the world. And it is interesting that both the Hinduism and Buddhism movement was focused around the protection of nature by protesting, where this movement was all about developing a beneficial organization that helps the local farming market, while still gaining from the inexpensive produce, and promoting a worldwide message of preservation.

-Jordan Carlson

Chipko Movement

     One of the most beautiful environmental movements that I have ever studied is the Chipko movement, originating in Uttar Pradesh, in the Himalayas, in India. The name of the movement originates from the word "embrace", which makes reference to the protests in 1973, where women embraced the trees with their bodies to keep them from being felled. Below is perhaps one of the most well-known images of the Chipko movement.

circa April 1973

These women gained an enormous victory for their cause when in 1980, because of their protests, there was imposed a 15-year ban on green felling in the Himalayan forests. The movement has now stopped clear felling in the Western Ghats and the Vindhyas as well as putting pressure on lawmakers to generate policies that are sensitive to the needs of the environment and people.

The very first Chipko movement is a beautiful and sad story. In 1730AD, 363 Bishnois people sacrificed their lives to protect the Khejri tree groves that are sacred to their community even today. Although too late to save those that perished, the Maharaja at the time, after hearing the tragic story, made it a crime punishable by death to cut down Khejri trees. To this day, the Bishnois people are a federal authority against those who break this law.

Maatu hamru, paani hamru, hamra hi chhan yi baun bhi... Pitron na lagai baun, hamunahi ta bachon bhi"

Soil ours, water ours, ours are these forests. Our forefathers raised them, it’s we who must protect them.

-- Old Chipko Song (Garhwali language)

-Alice S.

Ecology Buddhist Monks?

I'm not sure what defines a religion, but how are religions defining their ecological relationship?

Buddhists have always been known for their harmonizing relationship with the environment, as their beliefs encompass samsara and the re-birthing cycle of the universe, but in Thailand a small contingency of monks decided to spread their ecological knowledge.

This movement is also known as "The ordination of the tree", and involves monks protesting against mass deforestation, by providing spiritual whole-ism. 



I think this is an interesting concept because instead of a social movement just naturally affecting an area, there are monks going into farm lands and intentionally trying to use their religious beliefs as a temple for conservation. Not only is in an innate ideology that Buddhists must practice good conservation, but they tie it to many religious rituals like ordaining trees. This ritual of "ordaining" a tree is taking a tree and wrapping it in orange, to simulate the monk and his devotion, and they perform a ceremony making the tree sacred.

This movement has been going on for over twenty years and yet we still know so little about it in the US, but we do know that illegal "grooming" is being done over massive acreage regardless.

-Jordan Carlson


In addition...

Buddhist monks in Thailand are also very conscientious about the wildlife around them. When I visited Thailand a number of years ago, my family and I were taken on a tour on one of the rivers that ran by a number of temples. Once on a boat and going upstream, the tour guide began to hand us bread, and told us to throw some into the river. As soon as the bread hit the water, literally hundreds of fish began to swarm around the boat. Although it took me by surprise at first, the tour guide began to tell us that the Buddhist monks in this area strongly believe in allowing the fish that inhabit that river to flourish. No one is allowed to fish in that area, so it is quite literally overflowing with fish.


^Kinda like this...^

Especially since Thailand has had many problems with overfishing and deforestation in the past and even today, the monks' conservative practices help the environment to replenish all that humans have taken away from it. To some it may seem like a great ecological social movement, the monks do it simply because it is what they believe in; It has always been their way of life. I feel that we could definitely learn from the monks in the sense that the US needs to be enlightened (no pun intended) about the word conservation....

-Daniel Li

Our School is Green!

I love the University of Washington. There was never a doubt in my mind that this was going to be my school. One of the things I love so much about this University is that it is so dedicated to sustainability- in fact, we are included in the top 10 environmentally friendly schools in the entire United States!


Some great examples of sustainable programs here at the UW:

1. SEED (Students Expressing Environmental Dedication) is an environmentally-focused student organization at the University of Washington. Their main focus is promoting sustainability in the campus residence halls and dining operations. Visit the SEED website.

2. With the help of SEED, WashPIRG, Earth Club, the Sierra Student Coalition, and light bulbs donated by Seattle City Light, the UW exchanged more than 4,000 incandescent light bulbs across campus to improve campus energy efficiency. Compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) use 75 percent less energy than incandescents.

Chris Bruno, former UW student. The campus-wide light bulb exchange was his idea.

3. "New technology of the ultra-modern salt-power generator. Instead of solar or wind power, which rely on certain weather conditions to produce a consistent output of energy, or corn energy systems, which require massive amounts of resources to produce usable amounts, salt power offers a consistently accessible source of green energy. It is, in short, a mechanism that harnesses the energy produced when salt water meets fresh water. This technology remains the first of its kind" (The Daily <http://dailyuw.com/2010/1/11/salt-power-leads-new-energy-sources/>).

4. Composting/ recycling! I'm sure you've noticed all the different containers around campus dedicated to composting and recycling.

5. The UW held its first Sustainability Summit yesterday, organized by the Campus Sustainability Fund (CSF). Read the Daily article here.

I'm looking forward to everything else our campus can accomplish through environmental social movements.

-Alice S.

Our First Post!

This is our first blog post!

Our blog will be centered around Ecology and Social Movements all around the world.  Environmental Social Movements usually advocate sustainable management of resources and environmental stewardship by individuals and the public.

Modern movements have changed in multiple ways since their strong reemergence in the 1960's, largely because of a better understanding of environment issues and their intricate intertwining with social issues.  Some of the ways that these movements have grown is through expansion... in order to include ecofeminism and the movement against environmental racism.

One of my favorite types of environmental social movements is called ecofeminism. The concept of ecofeminism is based around the parallels between the rape and domination of the environment and the oppression and subordination of women by many of the same people.

Environmental racism refers to the enactment of public policy that negatively affects the environment of racially homogenous or low-income areas at a higher rate than areas of affluent majorities. A wonderful example of environmental racism is in this blog post about Nova Scotia.

Thanks for reading our blog! This is the first post of many to come.

-Alice S.