Environmentalism

Amidst growing concerns about the environment, several views on the importance of the environment are given. Although they all give different points, each author focuses on taking the extra step to be truly sustainable.

If, when you awake, you consider that you join forces with lions, wildebeest, aardvarks, moose, whales, hawks, blue jays, juncos, beetles, bees, spiders, oaks, pines, ferns, fungi, and yes, the Yeti crabs deep beneath the Pacific, in running a magnificent global life support system, it changes one’s world view.

The power that humans have over the environment is unprecedented. This domination over nature is the cause of most of our current “environmental problems”: climate change, water and air pollution, deforestation, loss of biodiversity, and resource depletion.

Buying goods labeled “environmentally friendly” does not necessarily insure that you are helping the earth—in reality, finding the best way to live a sustainable lifestyle in a specific area is quite complex.

Next time you walk amidst the green spaces on Columbia’s campus, try this exercise. Envision every tree, shrub, vine, and flower as a food-producing plant. Sustainable food, meaning minimally processed food that is grown locally in an ethically and environmentally conscious manner, is not only for the rich.

You probably have the tote bag. Or maybe the new coffee mug from Blue Java. And if you haven’t acquired any of this merchandise, you’ve certainly seen the logo—Columbia’s way of jumping on the trendy environmentalism bandwagon, and confirming that Green really is the new Black.