The Green Movement

The Green Movement

Going Green is one of the hottest things to do recently. Everywhere you look you can see something describing either the benefit of going green or that an item you are purchasing is "green". Going green has become part of popular culture all of a sudden. It is one of the most common causes that Americans have adopted as a means of reducing their carbon footprint. Celebrities have endorsed the green movement, hybrid cars are selling in higher numbers than ever before, companies are focusing on making higher energy efficient merchandise, and even Hollywood productions (movies and television shows) have began stamping their products as being "green" (I personally don’t see how these television shows can be green, unless of course you count when stations "recycle" them with reruns). It seems to me that "going green" has become as popular as the furry Ug boots that some women wear (and they are called Ug boots for a reason; because they are Ug-ly). The trend is so popular even the Democratic National Convention went "green". It's obvious that the term as well as the change in lifestyle is penetrating American behavior.
Going green is a good idea, don't get me wrong. I personally love the environment and wooded areas surrounding Middlesboro. I think that taking a few steps out of my way to help "Mother Nature" is a good thing. However, just like the Ug boot fashion trend, I feel that maybe the going green trend is just that; a trend. What happens when the trend is no longer popular?
I don't want to sound like all those 1980's public service announcements, but for the most part they are right; we only have one planet. Everyone, to some extent, cares about the environment. However, most people will assume that the Green movement is something for those that connect with the Democratic Party and/or the liberal persuasion. The important distinction that people must remember is that both parties care for the environment to some degree; one just wants to safeguard the environment more than the other. People who identify as being either a conservatives or Republican still care for the environment, but maybe not as much as someone from "the other side of the aisle". However, when faced with the decision between economic progress and protecting the environment they will, more often than not, chose progress over saving the trees.
So we have celebrities and former politicians (most notably Al Gore) that adamantly support the green movement. They argue that by taking a little extra time and making a little conscious effort that we can help save the earth. They point to evidence of our carbon footprint like global warming (with movies like "An Inconvenient Truth") and describe our wastefulness. Rightfully so. We are a wasteful society. I think we can all concede that. There are a lot of people that have ample resources and often waste what they don't want or use. But what about those that don't have that much? It seems that those that don't have a lot are the ones that are least concerned about saving the earth. And why should they care about recycling or high energy efficient light bulbs when these individuals struggle to feed their families? Often times, going green means you have less green in your pocket. Basic needs like food, shelter, and clothing are your primary needs. Once these are met adequately and there are resources left over, then people can begin using their resources for their secondary needs (or things that they like but are necessary for survival). But if someone only has enough resources to provide for their primary needs, often they must forgo "saving the rainforests" of the world. They often have to make their dollar stretch by skipping on those high energy efficient light bulbs or the recycled garbage bags. Their concerns are getting through the day, not how much plastic and paper products they throw away.
The problem with the marketing strategy of the going green campaign is that the spokespersons are those that have more than enough resources and can more than afford to make charitable contributions to help save the environment. I dare the individuals responsible for the going green movement to try to find someone that is near the federal poverty line that is willing to use the few precious resources afforded to them to help save anything besides themselves and/or their families.
It just feels that individuals that are so proud of their effort to save the earth are the most smug. I feel that boasting one’s "green actions" is the new way of saying "I have more than enough money" or can be seen as a demonstration that they are better than "non-green" individuals. This demonstration of self-congratulation can work against the green movement. I know I do not want to be "that guy" that is so pleased with my actions that I look down on others for not living the same lifestyle. To me, the green movement is a form of class warfare; the rich demonstrate they are able and have ample resources to save the earth.
The green movement is a noble one but you shouldn't feel sucked into the pull of the hysteria surrounding it. Celebrity spokespersons often will build fads and trends that the rest of America is hard pressed to imitate. What happens when the economic recession tightens the budgets of middle-class Americans? They will begin to abandon the higher priced green items in favor of cheaper, more harmful products to stretch their resources. When this happens, the green movement will fade like the other trends before it.