dmunk’s Recent Comments

• Click here to view comment in original post

  framing the issues (and the movement)

  Hoorah Sandy!

  I think you really hit on something with your comments re the allure (or potential liability!) of the term 'environmentalists'. We're in a 'headline society' and I think this played a big role in the recent elections - candidates and media say whatever they want,true or not, and their headlines are all that a significant segment of the population relies on. It's lamentable but real. So I say, let's look at the lessons that George Lakoff is trying to share (go to Amazon and check out his titles: moral politics and the one about the elephant).

  I'm not diminishing the other comments re a broader, value-based new approach to our causes and our country. But inevitably, a crucial element will be how we, in fact, frame our issues, and, as Sandy has revealed - the 'environmental' movement itself.  

  Perhaps the environmentals that are the true "Pro Life" Movement??? Think about it!Why cede that label to those who would be perhaps more accurately labeled 'Anti-Abortionists"? Let's muck things up and make a stand!On Whither the environmental movement? II posted 5 years ago 14 Responses

• Click here to view comment in original post

  Local Action, Local Voices

  I agree with the call to a local focus on positive action, and I would also like to suggest that a more effective message to a local or regional population might be best achieved through the voices of their own. I would like to see ads in coal country where folks talk to the camera about how their lives were damaged by coal dumping and relaxed standards. Where they have lived, hunted, raised families, fished - and now they can't. Or a message from a child or a mother with a child suffering from asthma, who can't play on many polluted days, and how the pollution has worsened due to relaxed air quality standards. There is a compelling story from every state, every region.

  There's a need for positive messages and also messages of concern - all would be strengthened greatly if they were spoken from those who are truly affected. And then those ads would be run in the areas where the speakers live - or areas where their message had relevance and credibility.

  Many of those writing here are correctly pointing out that the environmental movement can come off as elitist or as lecturers. I agree, and I support the idea of working locally to achieve positive results, and using local or regional voices to point out the problems or downside.On Whither the environmental movement? II posted 5 years ago 14 Responses