What is to be gained by embracing environmentalism?
And I cannot emphasize this any more strongly--THINK BEFORE YOU ANSWER.
Answer:
Good question. The people that would be gaining something would be the elites who make laws. They would be given more power to tell each of us how to live and work. We would gain nothing while losing Freedom and Liberty to elites who want power.
Of course, we will reduce CO2 emissions, reduce greenhouse gasses and effects. Most importantnly, DECREASE GLOBAL WARMING! I'm not trying to be mean or anything but decresing global warming is the ultimate accomplishment. If global warming continues, the north and south pole ice caps will completly melt and sealevels will rise 20 ft. (maps will have to be redrawn because places such as florida and sanfransico will be gone) Then there are all of the animals who depend on a steady climate, they will slowly but surely start dying out. DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THE POLAR BEARS WHO ARE DROWNING BECAUSE THEY CAN'T FIND ICE TO BE ON?
All i'm saying is that it is very important to embrace environmentalism for or well being and that of our children.
Environmentalism has many benefits.
It can increase economic opportunity through innovation. Going green requires new ideas and inventions to succeed. Those inventions eventually become products and services which means more economic opportunities and growth.
Protecting our natural resources will insure they are there for future generations. We shouldn't take for granted things like having clean drinking water, good soil to grow food with and fresh air to breathe. If we didn't protect the environment they all could disappear.
Going green also improves our health by reducing pollution. Better health means lowered cost for health care and increased productivity.
i think that environmental awareness would be gained. people would be more aware of how their actions have an effect on the environment. Personally I gain self worth when i do things that i know are good for the environement. I enjoy recycling and doing things like that. It makes me feel good about myself.
Well here are some figures to help you:
- price of a cancer for the society (whole impact): 100,000-500,000 $
- price for the US dependance on foreign oil: close to 4,000 casualties + price for the wars (sum of 40 years)
- avoided cost of global warming by taking action: (see Stern Report): 0.5-1% per annum over 100 years.
http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/independen...
- increase of GDP by reducing NOx and SOx pollution (impact reduction): 3% of the GDP
- increase of GDP possible over the next 20 years through energy efficiency: 10-20%
- decrease of the resource depletion: difficult to assess but huge impact.
- increase of social stability through a more sustainable economy
- switch to a society more based on knowledge: non material intellectual gain
The gains are in public awareness. As more frogs learn how living our lives affects the pond, we will progress as a species.
This country will never be 100% green. It is tough to get everyone on board. But doing the little things will help make sure our children and grandchildren grow up in a decent place with lots of resources and clean air. I just drove through New Jersey yesterday...What a dump!! I don't want my grandkids to have to breath smog like that in 40 years.
How could saving the planet we live on be detrimental? I think it would be worse if we all died, don't you? We have gone way past bad- no society in it's own history has ever been as far gone as our modern society without crumbling. If we all walked to the store instead of driving, recycled, used canvas instead of plastic bags, and so on and so on, then maybe our future relatives won't have to colonize other planets because ours is ruined.
That's not true. Going green will NOT hurt the economy.
Much the opposite, it is sure to be a huge engine for economic growth, as new technologies are invented and mass produced. It could be massive, like the Marshall Plan in Europe and America's post-WWII economic growth. Amazing new technologies like plug-in hybrid cars, massive civil engineering projects like a national high speed rail network.
Look at how emissions controls of the 60's through 80's have changed industry. Industrial output is greatly increased and cars are nicer than they were in every way.
What's more, we'll be spreading these improvements through the whole world, since the whole world must change. Done right, this could also bring prosperity to starving Africa. Prosperity in other countries equates to more customers for our goods.
Consider the alternative: If we DON'T act, we'll be fighting ecological calamities left and right, imagine what 2 or 3 Katrinas a year would do to the U.S. economy. (Katrina is what turned big business around. They saw, plain and simple, climate change is bad for business!)
Some environmentalists are using climate change as an excuse to push a "back to the earth" agenda. That's nice, but not necessary. We absolutely do have the technology to have both environmentalism and progress.
The problem is that environmentalism has turned into a dirty word because the socialists have used it to push their agenda. Responsible environmental policies will help everyone. Abusing the public's trust by attaching political agendas to these causes has only hurt the true environmental causes that we all share.
From every angle?
The country cannot and should not suddenly go "100% green." Such a sudden change requires a strong commitment and the kind of fortitude this country hasn't seen since it was asked to step up during WWII.
What would be gained? Reduced health care costs and fewer sick days paid out. Healthier children growing up to be healthier adults. Cleaner soil, water, and air. Certain cancers would begin to diminish.
The strain to find new landfills would be reduced. Technology, challenged to bridge the gap, would produce wonders that right now we can only imagine. World leaders might realize that America had chosen once again to lead by example, and join the cause.
Wildlife and open space areas would benefit as new communities incorporated greenbelts into the design process in a way that's seldom accomplished now. Permaculture would become a household term, rather than a question. ("What's that?")
Future generations would not be burdoned with a country treated little better than an ashtray or trash can. They would reap the rewards, rather than be forced to live in a world dimished by conditions brought upon by short sightedness and greed.
It's a beautiful planet we live on, and one drop-dead gorgeous country. Sustainability and solid environmental principles are the stalwart of a forward-thinking nation, not policies for politicians trying to impress gullible voters.
LOL. Your an idiot, why dont you think before you post. What is wrong with people today. I dont understand the stupidity of human beings. How could environmentalism ever be detrimental? Oh! I forgot about the economy, my absolute favorite reason for why we shouldnt protect our environment. Please explain to me what freakin good a stable economy is going to do anyone when our planet is uninhabitable??
The real question is what's NOT to be gained from embracing environmentalism. Here's what is to be gained:
1) Preventing catastrophic climate change.
2) Decreased dependency on foreign oil.
3) Improved air quality and thus health.
4) Long-term savings due to improved energy efficiency.
5) Decreased dependency on non-renewable and limited resources.
6) Opportunities for companies to benefit from increased demand for environmentally friendly technologies.
My god, you really need to learn more. Environmentalism is about sustainability. The environment provides essential resources and services that we can get nowhere else - clean water and air, for instance. Environmentalism is about efficiency too, which can save money and resources.
That doesn't mean we have to do everything that every environmental group wants. That's an extreme position. But the idea that environmentalism would be detrimental is way out there.
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