A Budding Environmentalist’s Perspective: What Does It Take to Care? What Does It Take To Be An Environmentalist?
This, I have wondered, over and over. And quite frankly, I don’t think I have given myself a conclusive answer. We have choices and options, what to, and what not to do. Man in his freedom exercises a degree of wholesomeness, making each unique. So, when a question such as, “What does it take to care.” You are abound to get varying answers (probably) all based on some amount of genuineness that really hopes to make the world a better place, now and in the future.
It took a while to realize that I have probably been on the journey to becoming an environmentalist, long before I became familiar with the term and started thinking of making it a lifestyle. For most that incline to do more for the environment, the stories are probably similar. A good percentage of what you ever did from some long years ago has been leading you to a direction; making an environmentalist out of you. It is at the point of realizing that our actions, though not always thought through, are inclined to creating a better environment that we start trying to accustom ourselves to the “environmentalist” tag. We start seeking answers, more satisfying actions to take, environmental groups to join and take more defined approaches towards an ecological goal.
With that consideration in view, it becomes obvious that there are a lot more environmentalists out there, who are yet to realize that they are one. They are yet to realize that their actions have a lot more positive impact in the interconnections that make up our ecosystem. They don’t realize it yet, but they are environmentalists.
The uniqueness in diversity means that no one model determines how one can care for the environment. Nevertheless, I gave myself a few pointers (or guidelines) to help me as I continue to take the baby steps.
Care without Bias and Restrictions
Being alive comes with an inherent bias sometimes, which may originate from cultural, religious, statutory, geographic, racial, demographic, or philosophical orientations. To one who has been clouded by such bias, carrying out any action which can result to the good of an opposing side might be ruled out as unnecessary. How much of an environmentalist will that make you???
The care for the environment should come without prejudice and should be appreciated wherever it is happening, not minding who is benefitting or who you have to work with to make it happen. You shouldn’t because your society or orientation has drawn a line between you and the other, forego an opportunity to make an impact.
If you can’t help it, take a stand as with Themis; blindfolded to all biases and willing to take positive actions that bring justice to the environment.
Care with Pride
Sometimes, caring for the environment means taking decisions or embracing actions that a lot of people around you will see as absolutely ridiculous. You will have to understand that people around you will not always support your decisions, and they might go as far as mocking you or discouraging your choices. You hear such questions as, “Is this how you want to live out the rest of your life?” “Don’t you know nobody ever became extremely wealthy by being an environmentalist?” “Since when did cleaning trash become cool, is it your job? Let the government (or whoever) handle it. Are you getting paid for it? Why leave the comfort of your home to do this?” You know, as a Nigerian, you will get a lot of questions that might make you question your sanity.
We have a bunch of unfashionable notions about pride, but to a great extent, it is until you take pride in your actions that you will be able to wave your environmentalist flag higher and better. It is cool to do things low-key, but in taking actions that make the earth better than we met it, it is nearly impossible not to be under the human gaze.
Whether you are in some sort of public enlightenment, a clean-up program, a campaign, or some other environmental activity; don’t feel shy or insecure about it, you are doing good, and there is no harm in feeling cool about it. Bear in mind that there are people who though they might not be in direct contact with you, get encouraged by your actions to do more than they have been doing.
Care with Love, Kindness and Acceptance
There is something about love that makes everything beautiful. Love is a key to acceptance, which gives room for longer environmental strides to be taken from one point to another. In opting to be part of a movement that acts and calls for a sustainable earth, you will have to understand that there is a need to accept situations and people as they come. A call for a sustainable planet is not just a call that makes the earth greener, but also a request that hopes to make the people and animals in it warm at heart. It is a social responsibility.
Act with love, spread love; even at points where you might be faced with crude or rude oppositions, address them with open arms. Understand that while one’s ideas or actions might be crippling yours, it doesn’t create room to abandon reason and spread over-bloated negativity about them. As an environmentalist, it is not uncommon to come across a corporation or an organization whose activities pollute the earth; sometimes, you might be tempted to follow them up with wild aggression. DON’T.
There is never a situation that cannot be settled amicably if both parties can agree to look for a reasonable middle ground.
Care with love, kindness, and acceptance when you are faced with criticisms.
Care with love, kindness, and acceptance when you are dealing with animals, plants, or humans. Let your passion be stamped in everything and everyone that you come across. Don’t for the lack of affection, abandon your good will.
Care with Determination
Ever had a plan which on more in-depth scrutiny seems unachievable? Ah, well, welcome aboard a common challenge in the environmental field. It is not uncommon to draft a plan for a strategy that should make the earth better than you met it, only to realize that it is not practically sustainable. The truth is, some of these strategies might not be practical, but that does not mean that they cannot be modified to create a more practical solution.
If you have conceived an idea, don’t abandon it. What you might need is the opinions of fellow environmentalist to work a way around and make it achievable.
Still on determination: it is not uncommon to face challenges during an environmental struggle. Such challenges might make you question the point or purpose of your actions. We can make an example from a common task like cleaning up a part of a city, but which while you continue to do it, the inhabitants continue to litter it — or helping set up some infrastructure that encourages the use of renewable energy, but which keeps getting vandalized. Or scheduling an environmental campaign but very few persons show up.
We can go on and on about a lot of things that can make you lose determination… but you already get the idea. Just remember; nobody ever achieved a feat by giving up.
Care like it’s All You Have Got to Live For
No, I do not say forsake your family and loved ones and take up an environmental struggle like it’s all you got to live for. No matter what, we still need the love they give. When I say care for the environment like it’s all you got to live for, I meant you should bear in mind that the earth envelopes all you will ever care for, for even longer than you live. Hence, treating the environment right already puts you in a position to take care of every other thing, and every other one you ever cared for as a unit. Here, you take into perspective, what was, what is, and what could be while making a case for the sustainability of the planet.
Your environmentally friendly actions today can create room for cleaner air in your community, leading to a significant increase in life expectancy. They are actions that take the environment a step forward in achieving the much-desired sustainability, taking care of ALL you ever got to live for now, and in the future — including your generations unborn.
Different things work for different people; there is more to being an environmentalist. And in line with that, this article does not serve as a one-size-fits-all approach to what makes one an environmentalist or how an environmentalist should act. Instead, it is the opinion of a budding environmentalist intended to help other budding environmentalists get it right or close to getting it right — you got the idea.
