Radical Value

After being asked what we would personally sacrifice for, similarities started to emerge. Family and loved ones were of course at the top of most lists. Our nation and ideals of freedom also ranked high, not surprising seeing as this is a military academy, and those who could not defend themselves seemed to round off the top three. Two traits jumped out at me from these lists. Although our exact words were different, our entire class was willing to risk their lives for those that are close to them and for those that they find innocent and uncorrupt. From this perspective, radical environmental movements seem to make a bit more sense. Nature is not a bad guy. It doesn’t hold up banks, it doesn’t rob old ladies of their purses. Nature is then innocent. Many people form intimate bonds with nature as well. Nature offers them an escape from life, an adventure to invigorate life, or simply a place to live and for life to grow. Thus Nature is close to people. It’s not hard to see why people provide friction in the protection of nature then. To them, the degradation of natural areas would be similar to the pillaging of your home town. Everything would be destroyed and nothing would be left living. Would you fight to defend that?

India is interesting when it comes to environmental movements. During the 1950’s and 1960’s when environmentalism started to take off in strides within the US, India was more focused on achieving social equality. However, as standard of living improved and Indians sought to protect lands from industry. The Chipko movement was the first big environmental group beginning in 1974. Environmentalism continues to be seen today with movements such as Jhola Aandolan and the anti-dam movement trying to keep waste out of the environment as well as letting nature and natural events occur without interference. Issues concerning the environmental movement today in India is the fact that “the more creative marginal voices and protests have been pushed out. The media has been responsible for the fact that only radicals are heard. No one wants to listen to a logical, reasoned argument on anything like how to solve the water crisis in Kutch. The environmentalists have only themselves to blame for this.” says Historian Ramachandra Guha.

http://infochangeindia.org/environment/changemakers/ramachandra-guha-the-trouble-with-radical-environmentalists.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chipko_movement

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_movement#India