Comments Shambu has made

  • Smart growth is an oxymoron

    There is no such thing as smart growth. Sustainable development is really a compromise position that many environmentalists get so wrapped up in that they think it is actually something achievable. They are so enraptured with this cute phrase that they forget it was the developers and World Bankers that have actually created and pushed this idea in the first place. And Dave is right - all of this compromise results from the constant fact that most Americans still do not see the intrinsic wealth of wilderness; wilderness for its own sake. Touting wilderness for its own sake opens the doors for critiques from the other side that we (environmentalists) care more about the trees than people. And we are rushing to prove to them and to ourselves that is just not true. Of course its not true but i will still fight to protect Alaskan wilderness even if i never step foot in that state. There are very old problems for environmentalists and we don't always reach for the right solution. Sustainable development is something that will help us along the way - an intermediate solution, rather like Ethanol - to (hopefully) an ultimate appreciation for wilderness for its own sake and an understanding of the human species' place within it.On Earth Firster urges a return to conservationism posted 2 years, 8 months ago 42 Responses

  • Gore did us all a disservice

    I do agree that there are two America's in many senses but Gore has NOT helped us bridge the divide between the two. I applaud Gore's efforts however we might not want such a divisive character to be our spokesperson on this very important issue.
    Although it might be liberal sacrilege to criticize Mr. Al Gore, the Great Prophet of Climate Change, his  does us all a great disservice by cracking a joke about George Bush in the first 10 minutes of Inconvenient Truth. There is a very large portion of the population that we want to work with, that we need on our side but after that joke, a large percent of viewers will not hear another word of this very important message. How can we get more people - of all classes, ethnicities and political perspectives - to embrace environmental activism when partisan politics is involved at every step? On On climate, U.S. attitudes are split along partisan lines posted 2 years, 8 months ago 20 Responses