A term which has several meanings according to the perspective of the user. Its broadest meaning is a concern with all environmental matters: a recognition of increasing environmental degradation brought about by mismanagement of the Earth's resources (eg the burning of fossil fuels), and therefore the need for conservation. More narrowly, its use can be applied to the ideology which rejects the technocentric view of the environment, that all environmental problems can be solved through the use of technology and without a reduction in economic growth. Environmentalism adopts an ecocentric approach. This advocates that environmental problems cannot be solved without a shift away from policies of economic growth at any price; therefore economic growth is not seen as a central social issue. There is the recognition that the Earth's resources are finite, and that higher priority should be given to non-material values. Little confidence is placed in the ability of science to solve environmental problems.
Environmentalism is a concern for the preservation, restoration, or improvement of the natural environment, such as the conservation of natural resources, prevention of pollution, and certain land use actions.
The term environmentalism is associated with other terms that are currently in vogue such as greening, environmental management, environmental responsibility, resource efficiency and waste minimisation, and environmental responsibility, ethics and justice (Bhattacharya, 2004).
History
Environmental activism dates back nearly 400 years.
Forms of Environmentalism
The Environmental Movement (a term that sometimes includes the conservation and green movements) is a diverse scientific, social, and political movement. Due to its large membership, varying and strong beliefs, and occasionally speculative nature, the Environmental Movement is not entirely united.
Environmentalists are sometimes split up into two groups, Light and Dark Greens. Light Greens are the more popular and more visible part of the environmental movement, it includes the more famous and public environmental groups such as Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth and the Sierra Club. Light Greens do not follow environmentalism as a distinct political ideology, but rather seek greater environmental emphasis within existing ideologies such as Conservatism, Socialism or Liberalism.
Dark Greens are much more radical then light greens they tend to believe that all the current political ideologies (that are referred to as industrialism) are corrupt and naturally lead to environmental degradation as they do not view mankind as part of the environment but as a higher form of life that has a right to take from it.
Environmental organizations and conferences
Environmental organizations can be global, regional, national or local; Several environmental organizations, among them the Natural Resources Defense Council and the Environmental Defense Fund, specialize in bringing lawsuits. Other environmentalist groups, such as the National Wildlife Federation, World Wildlife Fund, Friends of the Earth, the Nature Conservancy, and the Wilderness Society, disseminate information, participate in public hearings, lobby, stage demonstrations, and purchase land for preservation. More radical organizations, such Greenpeace, Earth First!, and the Earth Liberation Front, have more directly opposed actions they regard as environmentally harmful. Other international groups include the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (NAFTA), the European Environment Agency (EEA), the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme).
Corporation-NGO-Government and Public Alliance
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Though not without disputes and confrontation, the new areas of co-operation with public and private parties are adding a new dimension to environmentalism. Environmentalism places special priority on these areas:
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