To the Surprise and Chagrin of Some, The Movement Towards Social and Environmental Justice is Happening

Readers who don’t read the comments to these blog posts are missing out on some ferociously entertaining and edifying conversations.  Here, a cynic taunts a political activist with a note suggesting that there is little interest in sustainability and environmentalism: I’m sorry that your hopes of leading a movement of Woodstock-size proportions seems to have downsized to hosting a vegan Pete Seeger tribute band in your back yard.

I have to admit that this is a funny line, but its author is completely incorrect about the realities of what is happening on this planet.  There are at least 130,000 groups on Earth today working feverishly to achieve social and environmental justice, and the number is growing by the day.  Though some of them are huge, e.g., the Sierra Club, and, while others are much smaller, like the 2GreenEnergy readership (sniff, sniff), together this represents a colossal amount of horsepower, all pulling in essentially the same direction: replacing greed and indifference with compassion and mutual respect, while rebuilding our democracy such that we all have a voice in the course this civilization is taking vis-à-vis the things that define our modern times:  human rights, clean energy, potable water, nutritious and abundant food, a stable climate, life-giving oceans, and clean air.

Detractors can ridicule this as so much singing of Kumbaya, or whatever insult makes them happiest, but they can’t say (correctly) that it isn’t happening.

Here’s Paul Hawken (pictured): environmentalist, entrepreneur, and author. His work includes starting ecological businesses, writing about the impact of commerce on living systems, and consulting with heads of state and CEOs on economic development, industrial ecology, and environmental policy.   (From the YouTube page):

In this gripping presentation, author and social entrepreneur Paul Hawken illuminates the premise of his subsequent bestselling book Blessed Unrest that the biggest movement in world history is developing under the radar screen largely through civil society. Reviewing the rich roots of today’s U.S. environmental movement, he observes that this new global movement is far more diverse. It is non-violent, grassroots, and has no central ideology. Its origins are in indigenous culture and the environmental and social justice movements. “Intertwining, morphing, enlarging, this movement does not seek power, but seeks to dismantle power.” Hawken closes to a standing ovation, acknowledging with deep emotion the many people who compose this movement.

This may be the very best articulation of our civilization’s coming together to rescue itself that has ever been, or ever will be offered.  That may sound ridiculous considering speeches like MLK’s 1963 oration in the March on Washington (“I have a dream”) but in any case, it’s a great investment of 45 minutes of your time.