An elevator pitch for environmentalism 154

Posted 10:59 AM on 25 Jan 2005
by David Roberts
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Update [2005-3-14 9:31:34 by Dave Roberts]: The Elevator Pitch contest is over! (You can continue suggesting ideas, but they won't be entered in the contest.)

The American Prospect is running a contest: develop an "elevator pitch" for liberalism. An elevator pitch -- familiar to folks desperate to raise money (hi) -- refers to a short, pithy summary of the benefits of one's project. Conservatives, the Prospectors say, have a familiar elevator pitch (strong defense, lower taxes, fewer gay people, etc.), but people are constantly baffled as to what liberalism "stands for." (You can read a few Prospect readers' attempts here.)

"Hm," I thought. "What does environmentalism stand for? Aside from this or that piece of legislation, what is environmentalism's elevator pitch?"

So, with apologies/thanks to the Prospect, I'm ripping off their idea and starting a contest of my own.

Submit an elevator pitch for environmentalism in comments. It must be no more than 30 words. Pitches longer than that will be disqualified. Imagine yourself in an elevator with a skeptical but open-minded Average Citizen. You have seven floors to make your pitch. What does environmentalism offer them? What does it ask of them? What are its core values, its core vision? Try to limit your comment to a pitch -- if you want to discourse on the larger issue of environmentalism's future, you can do so over on this post.

The winner -- as determined by the Contest Dictator, i.e., me -- will win a highly coveted, fashion-forward, limited-edition, organic-cotton, still-have-a-few-lying-around-the-office, Very First Official Grist T-shirt (VGOFT) (this is on the front; this is on the back).

I'll announce the winner in a couple of weeks. Go to it!

Comments

David Roberts is staff writer for Grist. You can follow his Twitter feed at twitter.com/drgrist.

jonstahl Posted 8:41 am
25 Jan 2005
Environmentalism is about......creating the world I want my grandkids to live in.
Another, less serious take:
...hot showers. I like hot showers. I want there to keep on being hot showers. And I want everyone to be able to enjoy hot showers, too. Because I'm not selfish.
Permalink
wetecoman Posted 12:56 am
26 Jan 2005
Environmentalism is about...Imagine life in a spaceship. You carry sundry requirements to maintain your life. These things require appropriate technologies. Now imagine that one of the technologies fails. Environmentalism is life support engineering.

Ed Shadrick
Permalink
Emily Gertz Posted 1:44 am
26 Jan 2005
What's environmentalism...I sure want that shirt! Hmmm, here goes (w/apologies to Jon for jumping on the grandkids meme):
Imagine waking up every day knowing that you are breathing clean air, drinking safe water, and eating healthy food, in a country where you always have a say in how things get done.
Now, imagine feeling confident that your grandkids, and their kids, and theirs, will all wake up every day of their lives knowing the same things.
Permalink
hardisun Posted 3:09 am
26 Jan 2005
environmentalism is (haiku)in our world's fish bowl

we go forth and multiply

(while the filter works)
Permalink
Emily Gertz Posted 5:45 am
26 Jan 2005
30 wordsI went over the limit. So, pared down:
Environmentalism is waking up every day breathing clean air, drinking safe water, eating healthy food, and having a real vote, and knowing that your grandkids--and theirs--will, too.
Permalink
jsteinberger Posted 5:55 am
26 Jan 2005
Environmentalism is ...not taking the elevator but walking up the stairs.
Permalink
Skapo Posted 5:58 am
26 Jan 2005
Environmentalism is:Living life so that all life may life.
Knowing what is ecologically right and doing it.
A responsibility we have as the most "advanced" beings on earth.
Enviro-mentali-ty.

"To know and not to use is not yet to know."

-Buddhist saying
Permalink
Skapo Posted 6:00 am
26 Jan 2005
nice haikuVery nice, truly inspirational.
One constructive comment: shouldn't environmentalism be concerned about going forth and multiplying too much?
Perhaps you caould use your obvious haiku skills with another try.
I know I would appreciate it.
Peace.

"To know and not to use is not yet to know."

-Buddhist saying
Permalink
Skapo Posted 6:01 am
26 Jan 2005
correctionsorry, the first line in my original post should read:
Living life so that all life may live.
Thanks.

"To know and not to use is not yet to know."

-Buddhist saying
Permalink
bigdumbhoosier Posted 6:05 am
26 Jan 2005
strandedWe're stranded on island Earth in an otherwise lethal universe.
Only here can we make the sacred journey of life.
Every day, Earth gets more crowded and everybody wants more.
Permalink
Bobbi Katsanis Posted 6:12 am
26 Jan 2005
EnvironmentalismHealthy food, clean air and water, healthy ecosystems, and a sustainable relationship between human beings and their environment. A world where the needs of all living things are met.
Permalink
timmercure Posted 6:13 am
26 Jan 2005
elevator thingEarth is our house. We can keep it clean, safe and healthy or we can keep it dirty, unsafe and unhealthy. Houses don't clean themselves!
Permalink
Galileo Posted 6:28 am
26 Jan 2005
For the materialists in the elevatorThink of the Earth as a great bank whose funds are natural beauty and resources. Environmentalists are certified financial advisors. They give free advice about maintaining and increasing our wealth.
Permalink
ask Posted 6:57 am
26 Jan 2005
the pitchHere are two takes...
Take 1 -

Conservation is about health. We are our environment: the air we breathe, the water we drink. The health of our bodies, spirits, economies and communities depends on a healthy environment.
Take 2 -

Conservation is about improving lives. It's about the safety of air and water... the health of communities and economies... and places where families reconnect with the earth and each other.

Permalink
hardisun Posted 7:16 am
26 Jan 2005
haiku try 2in our world's fish bowl

we all drink the same water

so don't crap in it.
Permalink
docwatson Posted 7:24 am
26 Jan 2005
Elevator pitch for environmentalism30 words to win the heart & mind of a stranger? good luck, but here goes:
Whenever I'm stuck in a little room like this, I think about our little spaceship earth. Hope we're doing enough to keep it a good place for the next generation.

Doc Watson

Today's mighty oak is just yesterday's nut that held its ground.

And a mighty river is just a lot of little drips who stuck together.
Permalink
glazkrem Posted 7:35 am
26 Jan 2005
Environmentalism is . . .Caring that human beings and their habits are destroying our earth, doing what we can to change our behavior, and wondering why more people don't give a damn!
Permalink
ornal Posted 10:02 am
26 Jan 2005
Elevator PitchEnvironmentalism is...
...Caring enough to take personal responsibility to protect the air, water, natural resources and natural beauty that we all need to survive and to thrive on this planet.

"Be the change you want to see in the world" (Ghandi)
Permalink
jonmarin Posted 10:21 am
26 Jan 2005
Elevator PitchHey, rumor has it you like clean air, water, and food that won't poison you, and you thought you weren't an environmentalist.
Permalink
jonmarin Posted 10:24 am
26 Jan 2005
elevator pitch modifiedHey, rumor has it you like clean air, water, and food that won't poison you, and you thought you weren't an environmentalist. Welcome aboard. :)
Permalink
veggiegirl Posted 2:07 pm
26 Jan 2005
Two simple questionsDon't you wish that generations before you had left you with cleaner air, cleaner waterways, and fewer landfills? Don't you think your children want the same?
Permalink
enrgywzrd Posted 2:41 pm
26 Jan 2005
Elevator pitch for environmentalismEarth supports human life within a comfort zone.

It is our responsibility to stay within the zone:

- reduce unnatural use of fossil fuels

- develop sustainable natural energy sources

Permalink
carol Posted 4:20 pm
26 Jan 2005
pitchThe environment is the basis of our food supply and our health. What could be more important than protecting the living resources that sustain our own lives?
Permalink
Shampnois Posted 11:07 pm
26 Jan 2005
Elevator PitchMadam, if we love life we are compelled to protect it; we can't watch it be trampled in someone's ambitious rush. Love is not discarded for profit. Love is environmentalism.
Permalink
Trevor Nagobian Posted 11:27 pm
26 Jan 2005
Elevator PitchOur Creator is going to be terribly disappointed with us if we don't appreciate, study and sustain Creation before our time comes. Creators hate having their work ignored!
Permalink
harford Posted 12:48 am
27 Jan 2005
elevator pitchThe elevator you are using is running on electricity produced by spewing chemical, nuclear, and heat poisons into the air and water. Walk, dammit, and you will be healthier and not guilty of ruining the world. If however, you suffer from a disability limiting your ability to use the stairs, we apologize for imposing upon you a statement that does not apply to you.
Permalink
onkasmonka Posted 1:43 am
27 Jan 2005
Elevator PitchIntro (not included in word count)

"Beautiful day outside" they would probably reply with "Yah", or "Sure is".
Ever imagine living out of a broken down elevator? (I would pretend to think about the question)-Hmm, that's what I imagine the world will be like when humans are done with it-have a good day!

Permalink
Justin Vood Good Posted 2:16 am
27 Jan 2005
A Green (as opposed to environmentalism) pitchThe Green Movement is:

Improving the economy by making it ecologically-rational (it isn't).
Bringing social justice to the world (it's possible).
Rediscovering a life of meaning and excitement by connecting to Nature (that's intuitive).

Permalink
wildtrout Posted 2:22 am
27 Jan 2005
Elevator pitchThe Future...

Followed by six floors of thoughtful silence.

"Life is too tragic for sadness: Let us rejoice." -Ed Abbey
Permalink
Enviro-Education Posted 3:27 am
27 Jan 2005
EnvironmentalismEnvironmentalism is -
Understanding that:

Everything is connected to everything else.

Everything has to go somewhere.

There is no free lunch.

Nature always bats last.

Regards,

Professorlife
Permalink
gracepburson Posted 3:28 am
27 Jan 2005
30 words ain't much.Environmentalism is everything that follows from the principle that people depend on the earth for life, and that the earth's gifts - air, water, food and beauty - should be shared equally.

"You cannot serve God and Money." -- Jesus
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Enviro-Education Posted 3:28 am
27 Jan 2005
EnvironmentalismEnvironmentalism is -
Understanding that:
All wealth comes from the land.

Regards,

Professorlife
Permalink
Micah Posted 3:45 am
27 Jan 2005
Clean air advocate... While riding in a cramped elevator up a skyscraper I lean over and casually ask:

"So do you think it's vital we all work to make sure the air we share is clean and unpolluted?"

And if they say no, I'll reply:

"Ok, I just farted."

~Micah
Permalink
Alison Wise Posted 3:49 am
27 Jan 2005
Environmentalism is not a MovementEnvironmentalism is just common sense...you clean your house and feed your kids? Environmentalism is about a clean house, only this time the planet is the house so clean water and clean air. And to feed everyone we need to make sure that we have a balance between what we use and what we grow. Imagine that you only fed yourselves and never cleaned your house; you'd never do that, right?
Permalink
Alison Wise Posted 3:56 am
27 Jan 2005
Environmentalism is not a Movement 2 (oops)Environmentalism is about cleanliness, which as you know is next to godliness. Clean air, clean water, clean communities. It is also about the future, smart decisions so we have one.
Permalink
bigdumbhoosier Posted 4:38 am
27 Jan 2005
Shampnois' elevator pitchthat's quite good!
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Little Hammer Posted 5:36 am
27 Jan 2005
Environmentalism is . . .Caring about where stuff comes from, and where it goes after it is used. Thinking cradle to cradle rather than cradle to grave just might change the world.
Permalink
Skapo Posted 5:37 am
27 Jan 2005
haiku try 2I really like it.
Great job and thank you!
Peace.

"To know and not to use is not yet to know."

-Buddhist saying
Permalink
Skapo Posted 5:43 am
27 Jan 2005
Environmentalism:We are human, so to make mistakes is expected, though isn't it best to err on the side of caution when dealing with the only environment we've got?
--or--
No environment = no air.

No air = no oxygen.

No oxygen = no life.

Does environmentalism make sense to you now?

"To know and not to use is not yet to know."

-Buddhist saying
Permalink
hardisun Posted 7:22 am
27 Jan 2005
elevator pitch to neoconHard to believe, but environmentalism actually lends itself to lucrative business opportunities that can be used to fool liberals into believing that you have compassion or some such quaint nonsense.

Permalink
hardisun Posted 7:28 am
27 Jan 2005
elevator pitch to religous rightyPssst - did you hear? On that rapture thing? Well, God's coming home, and he's gonna be pissed cuz you trashed his house.
Permalink
blueeyes Posted 8:02 am
27 Jan 2005
Environmentalism is...realizing that we're in quicksand and instead of being indifferent or leaving it up to others or technology to save us, we actually collaborate and figure out what to do.
Permalink
paaron Posted 8:15 am
27 Jan 2005
elevator chatter"The quest for knowledge is one of the most important things to Homo sapiens. Other species are the largest repository of unread knowledge."

Patti
Permalink
sugarwoodforestproducts Posted 8:50 am
27 Jan 2005
Elevator PitchEnvironmentalism is trying not to limit our future options by wantonly wasting resources now. It is about leaving our children with the resources to enjoy their own lives.
Permalink
MegaFauna Posted 3:37 pm
27 Jan 2005
Simply put"We aim for a 1% defect rate when manufacturing. Fishermen currently discard 5x their catch, dead. The surviving larger predators are now eating each other there is so little left".
That's my try. Word Processor counts exactly 30 words.
Tough Assignment. So much to say, so little time.
Problem is, enviromentalism has one stated goal: conservation. Neither liberalism or the Conservatives truely have a single invariable, fixed goal, so they can say whatever they like in their pitches. It just doesn't matter.
Permalink
Kira Posted 10:20 pm
27 Jan 2005
Elevator pitchEnvironmentalists believe that the right to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" includes the right to breathe clean air, drink clean water, and live on a sustainable planet.
Permalink
mperry Posted 11:30 pm
27 Jan 2005
EnvironmentalismEnvironmentalism is about seeking to understand the impacts of personal choices and lifestyle. It's about using this understanding to model and practice habits of preservation, conservation, and appreciation for resources.
Permalink
Melitta Posted 3:36 am
28 Jan 2005
Become an Environmentalist!Have the satisfaction of saving Earth! Cleaner air, greener spaces, safer food. More costly - yes - for renewable electricity, or organic food, but a more natural world is ample compensation.

Melitta Carter
Permalink
Jordan Posted 4:26 am
28 Jan 2005
Environmentalism's elevator pitchWe value safe drinking water, clean air, healthy ecosystems and flourishing wildlife--and we act to ensure that Earth's natural resources can be enjoyed now and for generations to come.
Permalink
Sean68 Posted 4:54 am
28 Jan 2005
environmental pitchEveryone who uses this elevator erodes the elevator cable. But nobody seems concerned about fixing or maintaining that cable. Our kids will take this elevator. Environmentalism is elevator cable maintenance...
Permalink
Jeff Lawrence Posted 6:18 am
28 Jan 2005
Environmentalism is:

Responsible self-procreation (Don't Litter!)

Love of all life, not only human

Stewardship, not exploitation

Recycling, not residualizing

Watchfulness, not wastefulness

Permalink
birdboy Posted 11:51 am
28 Jan 2005
responsible livingBeing an environmentalist means

accepting that humans have significant impact

on the Earth

and that we have both the ability

and the responsibility to minimize our impact,

however we can.
We are caretakers, not conquerors.

a liberal in redsville
Permalink
kaichan Posted 1:18 am
29 Jan 2005
[new] Environmentalism is about...Understanding and honoring the ecological connections between living things and the physical environment to provide sustainably for all people, while also nurturing non-human life for its own sake.
Permalink
paulaboub Posted 12:53 am
30 Jan 2005
elevator pitchsame thing I tell my kids in the Key to the Sea class,
How important is a healthy ocean to every living thing? Take 3 deep breaths. 2 of those breaths came from the phytoplankton floating in the ocean. Don't pollute!
Permalink
jdeans Posted 1:56 am
30 Jan 2005
Why environmentalism?Negatively impacting the environment is like trying to sink the ship that is bringing you your only supplies. Our present rate of destruction is blowing that ship to bits.
Permalink
Seth Zuckerman Posted 5:16 am
31 Jan 2005
Two pitchesOld approach:
It would suck if people smoked cigars in elevators. Environmentalism is an etiquette of treating treasures we all share, like rivers and summer breezes, as well as we treat elevators.
New approach:
Nature is a huge family, and humans are just one branch. As in any family, we feel compassion for our relatives. Coincidentally, our very survival depends on caring for them.
Permalink
metrognome0 Posted 7:32 am
31 Jan 2005
enviromental elevatorQ) What's the first thing you should do when you find yourself in a hole?
A) Stop digging.
If you'll stop digging, I can help you climb out of our environmental hole.

Permalink
photokinesis Posted 7:42 am
31 Jan 2005
elevator "push poll"Elevating questions to an art form:

.Is the Earth getting healthier or sicker?

.Is the Earth really surrounded by cold hostile space?

.Do we need the Earth for our survival?

.To be on the safe side, should we take care of the Earth?

.What could one person do to help the Earth?

.Is this the thirteenth floor?
Permalink
Seth Zuckerman Posted 8:27 am
31 Jan 2005
Minor tinkeringOn reflection, I think the business about "etiquette" from my earlier post is a little precious for an elevator spiel. So here's a revised version:
It would suck if people smoked cigars in elevators. Let's look after our common treasures, like creeks and summer breezes, as well as we look after elevators. That's environmentalism.
Permalink
Rhndda Posted 9:32 am
31 Jan 2005
Elevator pitchThe dinosaurs will have lived longer than the human species will, if we keep fouling our nest. Who's dismissed then with a small brain? Microbes will then inherit the earth.

The earth is our home.
Permalink
nanders Posted 1:54 am
01 Feb 2005
The Environmental Elevator Pitch: The T-ShirtWho needs to protect the planet?

Everybody
When?

Now
Why?

What helps you helps me
How?

Pay attention. Speak out.

Nancy Anderson
Permalink
kensky Posted 5:18 am
01 Feb 2005
Perfect PitchWhere do we go from here?
Our water is tainted.
Our air is choked with chemicals,
Our food has fewer nutrients,
What will our children look forward too.
Space suits?

Permalink
tcaplow Posted 6:10 am
01 Feb 2005
Da pitchLook, most of us spend 80%-90% of our time indoors, and more time in elevators than in forests. So avoid looking like a tree-hugger in a busy elevator, and keep it relevant and real, something like:
"Environmentalists believe happiness flows from our surroundings. Whether this is plants, animals, rocks, streams, mountains...or buildings, bridges, and cities, we crave good food, clean water, open skies, beauty, and fascination."
Permalink
jfellrath Posted 6:20 am
01 Feb 2005
30 wordsEnvironmentalism is not making the same mistakes as our forebearers - mistakes that explain why they're not around any more.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Jamie Fellrath

Columbus, OH
Permalink
liquideve Posted 1:49 am
02 Feb 2005
I'm not talented......so I'm not going to try to come up with something snappy. But I would like to point out that elevators are one of the more energy-efficient forms of mass transport available today, because much of their lifting power comes from counterweights. Not to mention that the densely populated, vertical environments of cities - where elevators thrive! - are some of the most environmentally responsible places to live. (See, for example, "Green Manhattan: Why New York is the greenest city in the U.S." by David Owen in the New Yorker, 10/18/04.)
So yes, by all means take the stairs if you're able, but elevators are not the enemy. Big, sprawling, horizontal cities are.
Permalink
JohnJMiller Posted 2:20 am
02 Feb 2005
An elevator pitch on environmentalism

The most conservative proposition in American History:

Don't mess it up. Don't.

If you mess it up, you pay to clean it up. Period.

Much Peace,

jonnymil
Permalink
jdnichols Posted 7:37 am
02 Feb 2005
environmentalism....Ever watch a sunset on the beach or in the mountains? Ever go camping or have a picnic by the lake?
Beautiful isn't it..
Isn't that worth preserving?
Permalink
jdnichols Posted 7:44 am
02 Feb 2005
environmentalism ideasJust some additional thoughts as I read through some of these. I don't think you're going to get anywhere by being overly aggresive with most people.... the last thing you want is for a person to get defensive if you only have a moment to convince them. If they're anything like me, the minute they feel like they're being preached to you've already lost.
In my opinion (and it is just my opinion), to convince someone of anything, be respectful and try to provoke thought without seeming holier-than-though. I think this is why the population gets so polarized about issues as a whole. Arrogance and self-righteousness will bring out my stubborn side in a heartbeat. But being respectful... you'll at least get me to think about your argument even if I don't agree in the end.
Permalink
birdboy Posted 11:59 am
02 Feb 2005
ecowalitythe earth belongs to all of us;
the wealthy and the poor;
those of us with power
should even out the score.
Else 'ignorance and greed'
our tombstone will read.

a liberal in redsville
Permalink
photokinesis Posted 3:03 pm
02 Feb 2005
environmentalism the premiseEverything you own and use is taken from the earth, what can you do to give something back for the earths benefit?
Or perhaps...As long as we're stuck here on earth lets make it nice for all of us.
Permalink
ridleyj Posted 10:50 pm
02 Feb 2005
environmental cathedralWhen I want to go to Church, I go

out into the ancient forest all by my self

and quietly enter the true cathedral.

Hal J. Ridley, Jr.

(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

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Kira Posted 12:05 am
03 Feb 2005
RFK, Jr.'s elevator pitch"[W]e consider safeguarding the water we drink, the air we breathe, the wildlife and wild places we cherish ... as the most important of the moral values."
This is from "Nature: A Real Moral Value"

By Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., AlterNet

Posted on January 11, 2005, Printed on January 11, 2005

http://www.alternet.org/story/20937/
I hope he doesn't mind.
Permalink
ElaineAnn Posted 6:58 am
03 Feb 2005
elevator pitch -- appeal to the pocketbookMy friend, green is also the color of money. Fatten your wallet by paring down consumption of gasoline, water, electricity. Environmental consciousness is good for your pocketbook and the planet.
Permalink
ochotona Posted 8:58 am
03 Feb 2005
Elevator pitch for environmentalismIf you breathe, drink, eat, or love someone who does, you should be environmentalist. We're 60 percent water with filters for lungs. If it's in our environment, it's in us.

Ceal
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Shawn Keeley Posted 5:37 am
04 Feb 2005
elevatorEnvironmentalism means to care about things beyond yourself. Whether it's pristine landscapes, wildlife or simply your children and family. The health of all we love is dependant on the environment.
Permalink
elliotte4 Posted 1:59 am
07 Feb 2005
Environmentalism is...Environmentalism is taking some of the focus of off myself and extending it to the rest of the living world.
Permalink
raverill Posted 4:02 pm
07 Feb 2005
Environmentalism is ....Environmentalism means that if we don't look at the earth as something larger than ourselves, we are doomed as a civilization, perhaps as a race.

RVA
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sbeard Posted 3:03 am
08 Feb 2005
"Environmentalism""Environmentalism" recognizes that our actions here on Earth influence, for better or worse, the viability of every species, including our own, so we'd better make the right choices!

Steve Beard
Permalink
treebeard Posted 3:47 am
08 Feb 2005
Elevator contestEnvironmentalism is deciding to live within natural laws to conserve life. It enables all creatures great and small, the freedom to pursue happiness and prosperity in a healthy, sustainable world.
Permalink
Lori Posted 4:12 am
08 Feb 2005
Environmentalism means:"Waste not - Want not".
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Lori Posted 4:26 am
08 Feb 2005
EnvironmentalismLife and environment are really one entity: change our choices now and the environment will change for the better. Or, continue to change the environment and our lives will change for the worse.
Permalink
Hudson Posted 4:46 am
08 Feb 2005
Just 29 wordsBreathing clean air and swimming in clear streams. Protecting national forests and enjoying local parks. Creating better jobs and planning ahead. Stopping polluters and living more sustainably. That's environmentalism.

Animals are my friends. And I don't eat my friends. -- George Bernard Shaw
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Japhet Posted 9:36 am
10 Feb 2005
Ahhh....To steal some already superb quotes...
"Don't blow it--good planets are hard to find."
"I think the environment should be put in the category of our national security. Defense of our resources is just as important as defense abroad. Otherwise what is there to defend?" ~Robert Redford, Yosemite National Park dedication, 1985
And why do Europeans come over here to see OUR national parks? Because they cut their's down and developed the rest of their small continent. You don't want to do what the French and Germans do, do you? Disregard for the environment is un-American but conservation is part of our heritage.

Jay Els

Educate, Motivate and Bring About Change. http://www.ran.org
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nebulouscloud Posted 1:10 pm
10 Feb 2005
quantum cosmology :-)Biosolidarity. Planetary Stewardship. Nature and Nurture. Yin and Yang. Turbulence and Tranquility. Progress and Regress. A Death-Defying Balancing Act. The Art of Knowing When Enough is Enough.
Permalink
Carolyn Posted 1:54 pm
10 Feb 2005
environmentalism is about doing something everyday"Environmentalism is about the little everyday actions we can take to keep our water and air clean (while also saving money!)---actions like taking a reusable bag to the supermarket."
The actions taken can be interchanged with any number of others to create a whole series of elevator pitches, or just choose your favorite and stick with that one. Some examples (phrases to go after the words "actions like"):

buying recycled products, carpooling, installing low-flow showerheads and toilets, keeping vehicles maintained, reducing pesticide use, using cover crops in the winter, etc.

Permalink
nebulouscloud Posted 8:44 pm
10 Feb 2005
re: quantum cosmology :-)Oops. I should have written "Life-Affirming" instead of "Death-Defying". Death is, of course, a part of life, as perhaps life is of death. But "Life-Affirming" is also a more positive way of putting things, at least from my (environmenalist) point of view.
Permalink
nebulouscloud Posted 9:48 pm
10 Feb 2005
re: quantum cosmology :-)Biosolidarity. Planetary Stewardship. Nature and Nurture. Yin and Yang. Turbulence and Tranquility. Progress and Regress. A Life-Affirming Balancing Act. The Art of Knowing When Enough is Enough.
Lest it go unsaid, a big thanks to Bill M for the book Enough.
(Sorry about the repeat postings here)
Permalink
redboat Posted 12:42 am
12 Feb 2005
for our childrenTo me, the best elevator pitch would be:

"What kind of world do you want your children to live in?"
The Sierra Club often uses the phrase "For Our Families, For Our Future" which I think is pretty effective.
I terms of political power, if we could label anti-environment politicians as being "anti-hunting", "anti-habitat", or "anti-wildlife", maybe we could through some of the bums out. It seems as though anytime enviromentalists join forces with hunters and fishermen the coalition is unbeatable. See "Guns & Greens", by Ted Williams, in the latest Audubon, at
http://magazine.audubon.org/incite/incite0501.html

eddy out,

rich
Permalink
clarkmaxfield Posted 12:12 am
13 Feb 2005
the bigger picture In our elevator pitch, we really need to capture a larger calling than merely urging the recycling of our plastic bags. How about:
"We want to be as concerned about the cleanliness and future of the area outside, as we are about our cars and homes..."
"We're embarassed that an average American pollutes more than 5 Swedes, 10 Turks, or 25 Pakastanis...and we want to improve that figure"

Clark Maxfield

"Great minds discuss ideas;

average minds discuss events;

and small minds discuss people."

- Jackson W. Nanje
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kjhenderson Posted 8:00 am
14 Feb 2005
30 words Environmentalism is finding that place in nature that speaks to you and having enough respect and responsibility to preserve it, so hopefully someone else can find mystery in its beauty.
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birdboy Posted 10:22 am
14 Feb 2005
how long do we have?Ask them "how long do you think the planet can support our lifestyle?"
If he says 'forever', forget him, he's an idiot.
If he says 'until God decides otherwise', forget him, he's not responsible.
If he gives a finite time, he's on our side already.

a liberal in redsville
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LauriKayElbing Posted 6:43 pm
14 Feb 2005
Don't hold your breath....Do you believe you can live without air and water? Don't hold your breath...
How did they make breathable air, drinkable water, and edible food a political issue, anyhow? It's about life, not politics.
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LauriKayElbing Posted 7:07 pm
14 Feb 2005
Don't hold your breath....Do you believe you can live without air and water? Don't hold your breath...
How did they make breathable air, drinkable water, and edible food a political issue, anyhow?
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Seth Zuckerman Posted 10:11 am
15 Feb 2005
Elevator pitches and George Lakoff's framesSeems like elevator pitches ought to be fine-tuned to the audience that will hear them. Size up your fellow passengers in the lift, and offer the pitch that you suspect might resonate with them.
You know how George Lakoff (Don't Think of an Elephant, Moral Politics) divides up people's world views into "nurturing parent family" and "strict father family"? It seems that most of the preceeding entries (including my own) are written for people who fall into the "nurturing parent" camp. In the interests of broadening the field for the "strict father" world view, here is another entry for that market segment:
The Earth is our house, our pantry, and our backyard. God* left us in charge. If we screw it up, boy are we in trouble.
* or 'the Goddess,' depending on the listener.
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godot Posted 6:52 am
16 Feb 2005
in the elevator with joeHey tough guy: You like to eat? You like to drink? You like to breathe? You like sex? Then, you're an environmentalist, too, `cause the environment brings you those things.
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Geoff Johnson Posted 3:20 am
17 Feb 2005
An elevator pinchSorry... Mexican for lunch.

Pretty bad on this side. Mind if I squeeze over?

Clunk.

Dang. Stalled. AC's out, too. Guess we're stuck here awhile. Meantime, whaddya think about environmentalism?

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jakewan Posted 6:52 am
17 Feb 2005
Environmentalism is...Environmentalism is (1) seeking to understand how the things we do affect the complex system sustaining life on Earth and (2) when we find problems, having the courage to act.
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LauriKayElbing Posted 6:17 am
18 Feb 2005
Don't hold your breath, IIIHow'd they make our environment a political issue? It's about life, not politics. Do you believe you can live without clean air & water? Don't hold your breath....
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LauriKayElbing Posted 7:24 am
18 Feb 2005
Don't hold your breath, IVHow'd they make our environment a political issue anyway? It's about life, not politics. Do they really believe we can live without clean air & water? Don't hold your breath....
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LauriKayElbing Posted 5:44 am
19 Feb 2005
Designed to withstand time, if...Environmentalism is a common sense movement that strives to secure a healthy future for generations and generations to come. Earth, air, water, all living things: Designed to withstand time, if...
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Hallelujah Posted 3:39 am
23 Feb 2005
AhhhhhEnvironmentalism is a breath of fresh air - a drink of clean water. The problem is that we're running out of both. We need to protect them before it's too late.
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loneoak Posted 7:05 am
23 Feb 2005
My pitchesSlowball:

Environmentalism means leading a fulfilling life by using less resources more efficiently, living in intelligently and ethically designed communities, and preserving human and non-human well-being in the long run.
Fastball:

Environmentalism means: Don't poop where you eat.
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GrimAce Posted 6:59 am
24 Feb 2005
Mucking MediaEnvironmentalism is a movement discredited by a recklessly influential media that has yet to realize the story is not just about us versus them.
The media need revolution to survive.
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photokinesis Posted 12:58 pm
25 Feb 2005
EnvironmentalismEnvironmentalism is survival techniques to protect us. The earth is getting sick, if we work together we can help it get healthy again. We need the earth for our survival.
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Catfish John Posted 4:59 pm
25 Feb 2005
Elevator pitchThere's this planet called Earth. Have you ever been there?

Have a closer look, and forget what the critics say. Trust me, your life depends on it.

Good things,

JDT
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whippb Posted 1:47 am
27 Feb 2005
30 word pitchI find that people who are against environmentalism's actions often do so out of selfishness. They do not want to see their standard of living impacted or have to work hard to protect the environment. So I try to bring it back to a level that they can understand. Here's my pitch.
-Environmentalism is about self interest. You will suffer from bad air. You will suffer from unsafe drinking water. It's really about what is best for you.-
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JJC Posted 7:08 am
04 Mar 2005
Elevator PitchAll things on Mother Earth are connected. Live as if Gaia sings to you always because she does. Listen and you will know how she is Mother to us all.
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BlackBear Standing Posted 11:42 am
04 Mar 2005
The new direction of environmentalism

Hey buddy, you like sex dontcha? Wanna get rich? Invest in this new energy technology with me, chicks will think you're an environmentalist. You'll get lucky, I guarantee it!

"Sentiment without action is the ruin of the soul." - Ed Abbey
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thatgirlinnyc Posted 6:00 am
09 Mar 2005
2 cents in (exactly) 30 wordsAs the superior species on Earth, we're entrusted with a finite amount of resources. The responsibility falls on our shoulders to make the finite as infinite as possible. That's environmentalism.
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vjbeach Posted 6:17 am
09 Mar 2005
Elevator Pitch for EnvironmentalismWe are each an integral part of the world around us. We should all take an active role in making sure our world is the healthiest it can be.
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Alan Parker Posted 6:21 am
09 Mar 2005
Elevator pitch for environmentalism"Environmentalism is about loving the natural worls enough to ask ourselves honestly, 'Just because we CAN do something, does that mean we actually should do it?"
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nrwalker Posted 6:34 am
09 Mar 2005
Enviromentalism is about remembering the followingWe are perhaps the only species inhabiting the earth that when removed, the earth actually benefits and prospers without.

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somersetglobal Posted 7:24 am
09 Mar 2005
two offeringsEnvironmentalism aims to understand how nature and humans interact and to take action to preserve nature so that present and future generations can enjoy a decent life.
Environmentalism looks at how human beings affect nature and how we can protect nature so that it continues to support life on our planet.

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kevinak Posted 7:41 am
09 Mar 2005
Elevator PitchExcuse me, but have you ever given serious thought to what we humans will do when we start running out of the natural resources we need to sustain our lives?
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argalite Posted 7:47 am
09 Mar 2005
elevator pitchWe need plants and animals to keep the air and water clean. Salmon distribute the oceans nutrients to the forest, the forest cleans and stores the water, and produces oxygen.
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dave2 Posted 8:11 am
09 Mar 2005
You might be an environmentalist...Do you...Prefer your tuna mercury-free? Like community, not commuting? Tell your children "just say no" to asthma? Support job growth in burgeoning industries? Yes? You might be an environmentalist.
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jsteinberger Posted 8:16 am
09 Mar 2005
Environmentalism is ...knowing that elevators consume up to 15 % of the energy consumed by a building and that is why I am getting off at the next floor and taking the stairs.
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billpaine Posted 8:23 am
09 Mar 2005
ELEVATOR PITCHIn a world where the dominant value system is nothing more than fiscal, environmentalism represents the pursuit of less shallow principals and ideals that embrace honesty, morality and integrity.

"We have met the enemy, and he is us."
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irwin Posted 8:36 am
09 Mar 2005
elevator commentEnvironmentalism is about the survival of the planet and hence,the human race, moron.
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contrarian Posted 9:09 am
09 Mar 2005
Elevator Pitch for EnvironmentalismEnvironmentalism is realizing that we are part of a global system. Every living thing is connected to every other living thing. When we harm other living things we harm ourselves.
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ronniehoresh Posted 9:17 am
09 Mar 2005
Environmentalism is...about life extension. It's cheaper than cryonics and you don't have to die first.
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naturemom43 Posted 11:43 am
09 Mar 2005
EnvironmentalismEnvironmentalism improves the chances that your children and their children will have healthy lungs, toxin-free food and the thrill of seeing an eagle or dolphin living wild and free.
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naturemom43 Posted 11:51 am
09 Mar 2005
comment on your statementThis is beautiful.
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clembert Posted 2:07 pm
09 Mar 2005
Environmentalism is...A market opportunity, an opportunity to make your products and services stand out from all the others. Plus... it's sexy to show that you can take care of others.
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a1celt Posted 3:28 pm
09 Mar 2005
Elevator PitchB krap lieing on yor dethbed wit yor GRANDCHILDREN rubishin yew 4 crapin on theyr werld!
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MikeCapone Posted 5:13 pm
09 Mar 2005
My feeble incoherent attemptTo forget that we are alive thanks to the rest of nature is not in our best interest and leads to bad decisions. We must instead learn from the rest of life on earth to create a human society that will outlast our children's childrens, because the alternative - our current system - which is based on growth just can't go on for long for the simple fact that our planet isn't growing.

--

SUVs are squared-out minivans.
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jwebb Posted 10:31 pm
09 Mar 2005
Love in an Elevator:Livin' it up while its goin......down (sorry to rip ya Steve)
Environmentalism is giving a voice to every person, place, and thing. Then, knowing the consequences of our actions and making the best choice for all.
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reidhaus Posted 11:13 pm
09 Mar 2005
Elevator PitchYou and your family share the same oxygen, water, and food supplies that all living creatures require. Wouldn't you want to keep them as pollution free and pristine as possible?
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andrewrudiin Posted 11:28 pm
09 Mar 2005
Elevator pitchI would pull out a large cigar and lighter, and then ask the other elevator occupants...
"Do you mind if I smoke?"
Wait for the objections, and, putting the cigar away, say...
"I agree. It is not fair for one of us to pollute the air we all have in common. That is why I am an environmentalist, and why you should be one too."

Andrew Rudin

Energy Management

Melrose Park, PA
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garpol Posted 12:49 am
10 Mar 2005
EnvironmentalismWithout the "environment" we wouldn't be here, so if we continue to destroy it we soon won't be, and neither will anything else.
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dedalus Posted 12:50 am
10 Mar 2005
Environmentalism is :A way of ensuring your grandchildren aren't hideous, three-eyed monsters who are hungry and slowly, painfully dying of mercury poisoning in a vast wasteland stripped of color and life.

Dedalus
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dschorr Posted 2:48 am
10 Mar 2005
elevator pitchWe've been given an amazing, beautiful world to live in. Environmentalism just means making sure our kids and grandkids get to enjoy the same wonderful gift.
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BarbaraLee Posted 3:54 am
10 Mar 2005
Elevator PitchOur survival on this elevator depends upon its being well-cared for and maintained, likewise our survival on this planet depends upon our care and maintenance of its resources.
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monsterzero Posted 4:21 am
10 Mar 2005
Elevator EnvironmentalismWhat is Environmentalism all about? (in 30 words or less...)
Environmentalism is about...
Seizing our opportunity. We've learned the Earth cannot withstand current levels of impact, and still have enough time to do something about it. Together, we'll make it - are you in?
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KRex Posted 4:24 am
10 Mar 2005
Elevator PitchEnvironmentalism equals immortality. Sustain the planet, and parent untold generations. Kill off the planet, kill off your genes. Kill off your genes, kill off your immortality. Who doesn't want immortality?
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monsterzero Posted 5:07 am
10 Mar 2005
Environmentalism in an elevatorNo one said anything about only entering once, so here's my second crack at this. If it helps, assume we are going down in this mythical elevator from the 7th floor.
Open-minded yet skeptical guy: What is environmentalism and why should I care?
My answer:
Think of life like elevator floors: (said as we slowly descend)
6 - Toys

5 - Needs

4 - Home

3 - Family

2 - Health

G - Environment
Without a healthy environment, we have no foundation. Environmentalism is about ensuring our lives don't collapse around us.

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mark4earth Posted 5:26 am
10 Mar 2005
contest

Environmentalism: advocacy of clean air, water and earth as "commons" that are shared by a global society, consciousness of one's own impact, and commitment to protecting and preserving mother earth.

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marylounoble Posted 5:40 am
10 Mar 2005
Elevator contestEnvironmentalism is enhancing the health of the earth and its inhabitants by using our resources in a wise, fair and harmless manner. The actions of every individual are significant.

Marylou Noble
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katesisco Posted 5:54 am
10 Mar 2005
elevator pitchGoing out walking with my granddaughter without having to plug up a respirator and explain why all of us have to use one because the air isn't what it used to be.
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hardisun Posted 7:16 am
10 Mar 2005
last pitch - no hitterSadly, there is no way to condense down a pitch about the environment for ADD-types like you, so I'm just going to have to go Edward Abbey on your ass.
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Tetsuo Posted 7:25 am
10 Mar 2005
Lateral LiftThe planet isn't in danger we are. Self preservation should be the reason to climb aboard and not accept the slow suicide of carcinogen filled lungs and tainted mutant food.
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dcarveth Posted 7:36 am
10 Mar 2005
Elevator Gist for Environmentalism"God gave us dominion over all things. Therefore, it is our Godly duty to protect and preserve that which God gave us. Conservation is as important as caring for children."
That's 30 words, sign me up for the "strict father figure" family style - thanks George Lakoff - and I can at least talk the talk.

Deanna Carveth
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jillozarski Posted 10:45 am
10 Mar 2005
Keep it simpleEnvironmentalism is about caring for the beautiful world around us - water, air, land, and life - so that the world will continue to take care of us.
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jradoff Posted 2:15 pm
10 Mar 2005
Elevator PitchEnvironmentalism is society's way of keeping the toilet from backing up. Without it we'd be awash in our own poop.
Josh Radoff
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bthurber Posted 2:58 pm
10 Mar 2005
E PitchThere's been a misunderstanding. Environmentalists do include sandal-wearing do-nothings. They're also anyone who believes that having healthy families the world over and secure energy, made-in-America, are strategies to fight terrorism.
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jakplihal Posted 5:11 pm
10 Mar 2005
enviro-elevator actionThe earth and our bodies are both organic systems.
Trees are lungs, water is blood, etc.
Environmentalism is caring for Earth's health so it can sustain human life without fail.
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Cheetah Posted 6:04 pm
10 Mar 2005
says I to the sceptic'Wowo, imagine soon climbing the dark stairs with oxygen packs. Want to have some fun getting us off hydrocarbons, cleaning up our act and celebrating the big time regeneration?
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Maxine Posted 11:05 pm
10 Mar 2005
Simply put...Environmentalism is simply helping to curb human excess (like pollution and sprawl), for a heathier, more enjoyable place to live, for us and for our great, great, great grandkids.
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saltman Posted 12:02 am
11 Mar 2005
30 words on environmentalismDo you love breathing air and drinking water? mountains, oceans, cities, streams? Want kids to grow up healthy, happy, and peaceful? That's environmentalism. It's about everyone and everything you love.
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moremi Posted 4:58 am
11 Mar 2005
30 Word PitchEnvironmental Issues are Public Health Issues. Clean air, water, land are the best and cheapest ways to ensure our own survival. Those dying species are indicators of danger to ourselves.

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kasandrew Posted 6:51 am
11 Mar 2005
Thinking EnvironmentallySeemingly inconsequential choices when multiplied by billions have enormous impact. If we all work towards improvement, we can't lose - be a conscious, educated consumer. You can make a difference.
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MaryKay Posted 7:13 am
11 Mar 2005
elevator pitch for environmentalismWhen we went camping as kids, my mom made us leave it better than we found it. That's what we need to do. Leave it better than we found it.
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evanthomaspaul Posted 12:50 pm
11 Mar 2005
Elevator pitchLife on earth is pretty miraculous. We want to cooperate with the earth's natural systems so that we can have a high quality of life now and in the future.
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monsterzero Posted 10:51 am
13 Mar 2005
EnvironmentalismEnvironmentalism is about putting the health of future generations above higher profits for today's corporations. It's about hope, beauty, wonder, fairness and a better tomorrow for everyone.

"The stone age did not end because we ran out of stones."
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Posted 10:59 AM on 25 Jan 2005
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