OPINION & EDITORIAL
Prank distorts environmentalism
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by Letters to the Editor
Friday, April 4, 2008
As I read though Wednesday’s article (“April ‘fuel’ prank leaves tires flat,” April 3), I became increasingly angry with the intolerable acts committed against regular people. Not only are these acts highly annoying and costly to reconcile, but they can be very damaging when mistakenly connected to the legitimate environmental movement. These extreme measures in the name of environmentalism serve only to reinforce fictitious stereotypes about environmentalists.
I wish to express the severe disdain with which mainstream environmentalists regard such acts of vandalism. The majority of environmentalists are not “tree huggers.” We are regular people with regular jobs who strongly disagree with extremist tactics. I wholeheartedly ask those of you who read the article and those who had their vehicles vandalized not to confuse the immature actions of a very small minority with the vast majority of mainstream environmentalists.
Those of us actively involved in contemporary environmental issues — who work hard every day to facilitate positive, viable environmental progress — abhor acts of vandalism akin to those that happened on Tuesday. This behavior should not be associated with the vast majority who are well-intentioned environmentalists because it portrays environmentalism as little more than a fringe idea. These actions are in no way representative of the real environmental movement or its supporters and should be disconnected from the rational, well-intentioned environmental cause.
Thomas Wilson
UW sophomore, mechanical engineering
tlwilson1@wisc.edu
Anonymous (April 4, 2008 @ 7:43am):
Totally agree. I consider myself an environmentalist and I fell victim to this stupid prank! I hadn't used my (extremely gas efficient) car for almost two months and with the weather warming up I probably won't for use it again for weeks. BUT due to this prank a big truck had to drive around town to fill up my tires. And I have AAA - so it was free! A totally pointless and counterproductive 'demonstration.'
Anonymous (April 4, 2008 @ 9:16am):
The actions of these people DO represent environmentalism. Both these "fringe" groups and the mainstream groups want to shut down cars and industry.
It's true that most environmentalists want to do it through laws rather than direct action, but their goals are the same.
In other words, the GOAL of these vandals is consistant with environmentalism, even if their methods are different.
Anonymous (April 4, 2008 @ 11:10am):
"These actions are in no way representative of the real environmental movement or its supporters and should be disconnected from the rational, well-intentioned environmental cause."
"Well-intentioned environmentalists" are incredibly ineffective, consider getting meetings with decision makers to be movement successes, and have feel no personal consequences from environmental injustice. Even worse, they are more than willing to divert their efforts to selling out anyone more radical than them rather than fighting corporations or politicians who choose to wreck our earth. In short, to use a popular line, their politics are boring and bourgeois as fuck. Those of us who choose to use riskier tactics don't try to sabotage your million-dollar campaign industry; you don't have to join us, just accept us and together we can accomplish something great. Instead of what you're doing now, following green scare politics and shifting further and further right to protect your cushy lifestyles and nonprofit jobs.
Anonymous (April 4, 2008 @ 12:23pm):
Thomas - I congratulate you for your courage to decry the criminal and terrorist activities of the extremists within the environmental 'movement'. It is a sign of budding maturity that needs encouragement.
I don't consider myself to be an 'environmentalist'. I'm just a guy who plants trees, supports game management and wildlife reserves, enjoys the outdoors in all 4 seasons, and lives in a small(~2000sq ft) home that is very energy efficient. I do have a 1988 V6 4 wheel drive (the hated 'SUV') that I drive when the roads are really bad and I'm the guy who stops and gives your Prius a neighborly 'tug' out of the ditch. My daily driver (1991 small pickup) gets about 23mpg ... and hauls my work tools and stuff into rough areas that a high mpg vehicle just can't manage.
I don't fly to Fiji to attend 'global warming' conferences but I do keep up on the debate over the hypothesis of 'man made global warming'. Recent data provided in peer reviewed journals refutes the hypothesis, much to the chagrin of Al Gore and the UN-IPCC. The debate isn't over yet(sorry Al!) but the tide is definitely turning. A few more winters like this last one and the environmental alarmists will be warning us about the 'impending ice age' again, just like back in the 1970s.
In many ways, I'm the average Joe that self-proclaimed 'environmentalists' hold in disdain. The tools that I own are no more than I need to earn a living, yet I am held in contempt. I don't fly to Peru to see Machu Pichu or take spring break in Belize. I tread lightly on this world, especially compared to Al Gore and the jet set envronmentalists. Yet I am held in disdain.
Perhaps there is greater maturity to be developed within the 'environmental' movement. If you can set aside the caustic rhetoric, along with the more extreme criminal and terrorist activities, you just might be able to find common gound and understanding with the 'average Joes'.
Anonymous (April 4, 2008 @ 1:03pm):
The only way we are going to get rid of fossil fuels is to come up with solutions that are both affordable and popular with the public. "Risky Tactics" such as random property distruction are certainly not going to achieve this.
Anonymous (April 4, 2008 @ 2:26pm):
11:10am "Those of us who choose to use riskier tactics...."
When you open the door to violence, you cringing sneak-in-th-night coward, don't complain if it gets too rough for you....
Anonymous (April 4, 2008 @ 2:40pm):
"I congratulate you for your courage to decry the criminal and terrorist activities of the extremists within the environmental 'movement'."
Let's start up HUAC again and turn it against radicals and the left in general.
The only way people will stop using fossil fuels or polluting is if it's too costly not to. Obviously $4.00 a gallon is still affordable, so other costs need to be imposed.
Anonymous (April 4, 2008 @ 3:19pm):
"I don't consider myself to be an 'environmentalist'. I'm just a guy who plants trees, supports game management and wildlife reserves, enjoys the outdoors in all 4 seasons, and lives in a small(~2000sq ft) home that is very energy efficient."
Exactly. An environmentalist is NOT anyone who enjoys and protects plants, trees, and wildlife, or places value in efficiency.
Environmentalism is a specific idea. Namely, that preserving nature is the goal IN ITSELF, irrespective of the needs of people. It is for conservation and sacrifice, rather than using nature for MAN's use.
One example of this is environmentalism's ongoing attempts to prevent third-world countries from developing, and their support for banning DDT. They do this DESPITE that fact that millions have died from not having proper protection against malaria, and continue to die because of their lack of industrialization. This is done in the name of "protecting the environment."
The proper view is to change the environment for the betterment of human life.
Anonymous (April 4, 2008 @ 5:40pm):
"The only way people will stop using fossil fuels or polluting is if it's too costly not to. Obviously $4.00 a gallon is still affordable, so other costs need to be imposed."
Other costs need to be imposed?!?!?! Do you realize the majority of students who own cars need them to get to their off campus JOBS, INTERNSHIPS and other obligations? Owning a car on campus is EXPENSIVE. Parking is costly, car insurance is costly and, yes, $4.00 a gallon is costly. The problem is, they can't afford to NOT have a car.
Anonymous (April 4, 2008 @ 7:18pm):
I'd be more impressed if they laid on the runways to stop the Gulfsteam Greenies private jets from taking off to Bali.
Anonymous (April 5, 2008 @ 11:05am):
"The problem is, they can't afford to NOT have a car."
Bus, bike, walk. That's what I've done for the past 4 years, and that's worked out just fine.
Anonymous (April 5, 2008 @ 11:12am):
"When you open the door to violence"
Who's talking about violence? Deflating tires, or even setting fire to SUVs, is not violent--or at least less violent that clearing forests and polluting the air that we all have to breathe. At the very least it can be seen as self-defense.
Anonymous (April 5, 2008 @ 2:55pm):
"Who's talking about violence? Deflating tires, or even setting fire to SUVs, is not violent--or at least less violent that clearing forests and polluting the air that we all have to breathe. At the very least it can be seen as self-defense."
As I stated (3:19), THIS is what environmentalism demands. Since environmentalism treats nature as having rights, then using nature (cutting down forests, burning fossil fuels, etc.) for man's purposes, is no less violent than setting fire to someone's property.
This is the logical conclusion of environmentalism's demand to protect nature FROM man rather than FOR man.
Protecting the rights of individuals to own, protect, use, and dispose of property, is the proper view.
Anonymous (April 5, 2008 @ 11:43pm):
Perhaps those who favor the environment over humans should all commit suicide to help conserve resources, but then I read that many of that mind refuse to breed so maybe that won't be neccessary.
Anonymous (April 6, 2008 @ 1:03pm):
"Bus, bike, walk. That's what I've done for the past 4 years, and that's worked out just fine."
I am genuinely very happy that has worked out for you. I, on the other hand, was not able to get the internship I have without a car. The woman I work for recommended I do not take the position because bus lines do not run near this location (for very legitimate reasons) and it is far from campus. I do not think it is fair to chastise someone who is trying their best to get ahead and is living in a society that is heavily dependent on having a vehicle as a mode of transportation. I am going to reiterate what many people have previously said on this feedback and say students should not be your target for such "activist" actions. Those who did this have only angered and pushed people away instead of educating and gaining support from fellow students for these important issues facing our generation.
Anonymous (April 6, 2008 @ 1:43pm):
11:10:
You make the rest of us liberals look like shit. I'm ashamed, frankly, of what you did.
Take a shower, stop smoking marijuana, and get a goddamn life before you pull that stunt and make someone late to where they need to go again.
Anonymous (April 6, 2008 @ 11:01pm):
"You make the rest of us liberals look like shit. I'm ashamed, frankly, of what you did. Take a shower, stop smoking marijuana, and get a goddamn life before you pull that stunt and make someone late to where they need to go again."
This is "11:10", and speaking anonymously and honestly, although I find nothing morally reprehensible about those actions, they were not my actions, I was probably studying when the acts were committed. I also do not smoke pot, I probably smell better than you, and I bet I have a more meaningful and productive life than you ever will. I'm glad your schedule takes precedence over our environment and future ability to live, asshole.
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