What does it mean to be an 'environmentalist'?
I believe being an environmentalist is about living life with an increased level of consciousness, wherein, we try to live with an in-depth understanding of the choices we make, our actions and their consequences on the society and on the environment.
Let us take the example of an action that we often witness, which is of throwing away an empty PET (polyethylene terephthalate) bottle on the side of the road after consuming a soft drink. Many among us just do not pay heed to the fact that there is a high possibility that the bottle could remain there for years and years to come primarily because of slow biodegradability of PET. Before mindlessly throwing away batteries it is imperative that one should be aware of the heavy metals like lead present in them and how they contaminate the soil. As Rachel Carson has clearly explained in her book, ‘The Silent Spring’, a seemingly harmless act of spraying pesticides in one’s garden or agricultural field has potentially calamitous effects on the local eco-system. Hence, being an environmentalist is primarily about living with an increased level of consciousness.
The role of an environmentalist is also to help society awaken to the realisation that our present lifestyle is absolutely unsustainable. The way to achieve this is through education. It is important that an environmentalist helps those around to understand that we are a part of the biosphere and not outside it, and will therefore have to face the repercussions of our own actions.
Another practice that I feel is central to the philosophy of being an environmentalist is one of ‘live and let live’. Often, in the zealous pursuit of trying to conserve the environment people do more harm than good. Take the example of a nature photographer. In the attempt at getting the perfect shot they often tend to disturb and put at risk the very wildlife they claim to be trying to protect. The beauty of nature is in being a part of it and not in trying to manipulate it to serve our selfish pursuits.
In the same vein, a true environmentalist should try to ensure that his or her actions do not in any way achieve the opposite of what they are trying to accomplish. For example, before engaging in a tree plantation drive one must ensure that the tree species chosen for planting are suitable to the locality.
Being an environmentalist should not be an attempted act of ‘greenwashing’ wherein one can assuage oneself by saying that having taken part in a tree plantation campaign, it is fine to cool off in an air-conditioned room all day. Being an environmentalist is about accepting and adopting a way of life which is not in conflict with the environment. It is a continuing endeavour to contribute towards developing a sustainable society, with a fraternity of humankind; at peace with the surroundings, and using resources in a sustainable manner.
After having studied Chemical Engineering at my Bachelor’s program, I have observed that the industry predominantly remains dependent on non-renewable sources of energy like coal and petroleum for its energy requirements. These energy sources continue to contribute towards global warming. From this, I have come to understand that environmentalism must be rooted both in science and society. Mere activism cannot be an answer to our problems. Theories and premises must have a strong backing with facts and scientific methods. Only then will people believe in the veracity of our claims and the genuineness of our intent. Thus, being an environmentalist is not just being guided by high ideals but also demands good training and experience which must be rooted in one's day to day life.
Mukund Palat Rao
