I liked this one:

"Environmentalism is ...
not taking the elevator but walking up the stairs."

Now all the uber cheesy pitches are winning.  C'mon people, stay strong. Resist the inner cheese-ball. Resist. For America. For the birds, grandchildren, butterflies, peaceful rivers, and, and... I can't go on, I'm getting all choked up.

Responsible human reproduction, to prevent extermination of other species through loss of habitat, to prevent overuse of nonrenewable resources and to prevent pollution of the air, the ground and the water in the closed system of Spaceship Earth.

... in favor of the following entry (not my own), which succinctly blends the need for knowledge and action, with a little dose of humility.

"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."

I would think one might note that touchingly evoking the best aspects of our world hasn't been making an effect for some time now.

Dedalus

Riki Ott, in her writing on today's Interactivist, summed up what I was fumbling around, trying to express - "The earth is our home. If we trash it, where will we live?" To me, that sums it up very well.

La Vida is right on! But, herein lies the problem...we're always taking the stairs and therefore forfeiting opportunities to talk to people on the elevator. Likewise, we are at the farmers' market and miss the scene at Safeway, at a peace rally and avoiding the NASCAR race, etc.  The only time we cross paths with "others" is at family holiday gatherings.

At a time when environmentalism needs major reframing and persons everywhere are in need of the insertion of vast worldviews into their brains, this contest and its entries are pathetic and certainly not even possessed of the usual edgy humor that makes Gristmill worth the visit.

"persons everywhere are in need of the insertion of vast worldviews into their brains ..."

Your patronizing tone aside, jcybergeekfrost, how do you propose we insert these worldviews? You may feel that all of the critical information won't fit into an elevator ride, but we must take advantage of the opportunities that we have. The world is a busy place, and people will not sit still for the massive re-education you advocate. Keep it simple, and make it fun, and give the edgy humor a rest for once -- it turns of a lot of people, especially those who don't share your views.

Dan

President Bush and his shenanigans!

Well then build everything single story or underground, then you will always first be going downhill.

ldmstr/of/the/left

It would seem the best sollution would be for all humanity to commit suicide and leave it to the animals.

ldmstr/of/the/left

A true environmentalist is first a teacher.  If all they do do is protest and be/little the masses for their lack of education, then how can an environmetalist really get anywhere but kicked in the teeth by the likes of MEEE!!!

ldmstr/of/the/left

Let's see you take the stairs up 25 flights carrying a fully loaded laptop bag that weighs a good 25 pounds. It's true that without the elevators we wouldn't have the skyscapers, but when the buildings are full, wouldn't we end up with more buildings and sprawl?

It's the same as the government giving a farm equipment rebate (farmers do need the heavy equipment) to folks buying stretch Humvees for limos - apples and grapefruit comparisons.

Yes - we each need to do what we can (when I am not overloaded and am not going up 15 flights, I take the stairs), but being priggish about it turns folks off!

Environmentalism is: making sure that my right to breathe outweighs a utility's right to pollute the air.  

"The environment" is more than photos of pristine mountaintops and rivers on your calendar or that zip by on tv commercials for SUVs during the evening news. The environment is here, this elevator,  the parking lot, and the oil fields and electric plants that pollute the air and water so you can go about your life and work.  Caring about "the environment" means caring about all the actions done to the planet in your name.  It means giving our planet a voice, and fighting to minimize the destruction that allows you to stand here and breathe while you wait for the door to open.