The Responsibility Project^®. Exploring what it means to do the right thing

Up For Debate: Environmental Responsibility

96 Comments

April 8, 2010 by Kathy McManus

There’s a new sin in town.

Writing in The Chronicle of Higher Education, philosophy professor Stephen A. Asma believes that eco-judgmentalism — Too long in the shower! Not enough sustainable shopping bags! — is getting out of hand.

While brushing his teeth recently, Asma recounted, his six-year-old son “scolded me for running the water too long. He severely reprimanded me, and at the end of his censure asked me, with real outrage, ‘Don’t you love the earth?’”

As Asma sees it, green guilt has reached biblical proportions. “Instead of religious sins plaguing our conscience, we now have the transgressions of leaving the water running, leaving the lights on, failing to recycle, and using plastic grocery bags instead of paper,” he says. His “New heresies” also include “failure to compost, or refusal to go organic.”

None of this is to diminish the need for environmentalism, says Asma. “But we have a tendency to become neurotic and overly anxious, especially when we are regularly told, via marketing ploys, that each one of us is responsible for the survival of the planet. That’s a heavy guilt trip.”

Tell us what you think: Is there too much emphasis on environmental responsibility?

96 Comments

What do you think? Leave a comment

• April 9, 2010 by Michael Burkeens

  Do I recycle everything no. Do we need to do more yes. We live in a throw away society. A hundred years ago noone would ever dream of throwing away that hines ketchup bottle or that empty jar of jelly. They would reuse it as somthing. We need to get away from the throw away society that we have now. Everthing that we but should come in returnable contaimers. I bet if it cost you an extra 1.00 for that jar of green beans, you would make sure that you returned that jar the next time that you wanted to get another make sure that you didnt have to make sure that you didnt have to pay anothe doller. Some situation the unlimited bottles of water that we drink. They make almost every knid of beer in a glass bottle. Why connot they nake all the bottled water in a galss bottle and people are responsible for keeping it and returning it. Are we doing too much ? NO. We are not doing enough. We dont have to spent a buttload in order to go green, We have to get the businesses that we buy these items to go green. Go back to the ways things were. When you bought something you saved the container so you wouldnt have to pay the deposit when you bought another.

  Reply

  • April 19, 2010 by Hailey Miller

    everything has a going green with everything is possible you can.

    Reply

    • April 20, 2010 by jesse

      thats really true

  • April 20, 2010 by jesse ybarra

    the only thing that im thinking is that if people really want to go green then STOP TALKING AND DO IT ALREADY!!!!!!!!!

    Reply

    • April 21, 2010 by Jasmine StANLEY

      H... yah agreeable!

    • April 30, 2010 by talia

      i totally agree! i have made so many changes in my life going towards a "greener" life...i see people all the time who wear these love your earth shirts then turn around and buy plastic water bottles everyday and NEVER recycle them! so annoying.

    • September 9, 2010 by TRENTON

      SERIOSLY!!!!!!!

  • April 20, 2010 by jimmy

    let's go green

    Reply

    • September 9, 2010 by trenton

      I DONT LIKE GREEN WHY CAN WE GO BLUE?!?!?

  • April 23, 2010 by Nathan

    you spelled lots of words wrong. learn how to spell!

    Reply

    • April 23, 2010 by bloopie

      jerk :(

    • May 14, 2010 by LITTLEKAT

      You really should capitalize the first letter of a sentence. Learn some grammar.

    • June 22, 2010 by bmanzna

      wow thought this was a convo about conservation and going green not an english lesson you petty winers!

  • May 16, 2010 by euonymous

    You're right. I don't know if it's true (or ever was), but I read once that in Russia they charged the equivalent of a $3 deposit on glass jars. (Bet none of those littered the landscape.) Instead of taking nice evening walks these days, I find I go about with a trash bag and a long "gripper" to pick up trash that litters our country road. And it's mostly beer cans, water bottles (often nearly full), and fast food trash. This is not only visual pollution, but I have some concern about the animals that try to eat the trash or get cut on the broken beer bottles. We need to change what is commonly expected of people and the cost of waste. I try my best to leave as small a footprint as it is possible for an American to leave on the planet. (And, no, I don't expect a brass band or an award for it. I'd just like to leave the world as good as when I found it.)

    As a matter of fact, I find the original posting somewhat bizzarre. "Eco-Guilt?" If some professor's son has become more environmentally responsibile than the professor himself, it might occur to him that he himself is out of step with the times. But noooooooooo, it's easier to cling to old, bad habits than to develop responsible new ones. I can only say that when recycling and composting become your daily routine, it is amazingly like any other way of life and it becomes second nature. How could anyone possibly favor trash and waste? 'Tis a puzzlement.

    Reply

  • May 23, 2010 by Kermit The Frog

    Do I recycle everything no. Do we need to do more yes? We live in a throw away society. Hundred’s of years ago, No one would ever dream of throwing away that Hines ketchup bottle or that empty jar of jelly. They would reuse it as something. We need to get away from the throw away society that we now have. Everything that we have should come in returnable containers. I bet if it cost you an extra $1.00 for that jar of green beans, you would make sure that you returned that jar the next time that you wanted to get another. You would make sure that you didn’t have to pay another dollar. Another situation is unlimited bottles of water that we drink. They make almost every kind of beer in a glass bottle. What if they make all the bottled water in a glass bottle and people are responsible for keeping it and returning it. Are we doing too much? NO. We are not doing enough. We don’t have to spend a butt load in order to go green, we have to get the businesses that we buy these items to go green. Go back to the ways things were. When you bought something you saved the container so you wouldn’t have to pay the deposit when you bought another.

    It was driving me nuts, Good content. I like the way you think, I put it threw spell check.

    Reply

    • July 31, 2010 by C. Carusi

      I loved the point of the story but I'm SOOO glad you re-wrote the piece!! That was bugging me too!

      I buy water bottles all the time because the lifestyle I'm in right now doesn't allow me not to have bottles. I recycle every single one. If I'm not home I take the bottle back with me to recycle.

      We all want change but, of course, we need to think larger, think corporate. Who do we talk to so our ideas get heard? No, really. I'm asking! Haha.

    • August 16, 2010 by Tricia

      I don't know why everyone has to bash on everyone about their grammer. Heck if you misspell a word big woop! However if you put it out there that you put it through spell check. lol it's cute it really is cute. Although words are sound the same, they have different meanings. For instance, he threw the ball at her and she kicked the football through the field post. TOUCHDOWN!!!! FANS MAKE SURE TO RECYCLE YOUR BOTTLES!!!!! -Notice threw, through Next time put your comment through spell check not threw it...lol jjkn'

      We have started going green!!

  • May 24, 2010 by Miki Worth

    Need to know where to drop off glass containers in Las Vegas Valley for cash.

    Reply

  • August 30, 2010 by angie

    i totally agree.we as a unit could b doin sooo much more!i believe everyone should want to pitch in,we all r guilty of some crime againsat earth so now we r all payin 4 it!ppl must stop worrying bout $so much or who's ahead of who,and begin to take off the blinders and c what all our smarts have gotten is!our earth is dieing!y can 't we just go back to horses.no cars would really help and it should b some sort of fine or something 4 those who still do not recycle.ppl that truely c where wew r headed need to help open the eyes of the ones who do not b4 it is 2 late,that is if its not already!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!WORK 2GETHER,LOVE OUR PLANET,PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Reply

  • September 15, 2010 by Chu Ting Fang

    After reading the above thoughts, I suddenly feel guilty over my actions for not recycling and throwing away useful materials. I would like to apologise for doing so and hope that I, and everyone else would also... RECYCLE!!!! :)

    Reply

• April 9, 2010 by neill

  I hate to come off like an eco-hippy nut, but somethings must change; the way we are no is not sustainable in the long run. If you look at the water, for instance, we don't have a whole lot of it that we can drink (unless you live in the Great Lake states, then you're next to one of the largest freshwater sources in the world). A lot of people depend upon "borrowed water" whether it be from the deep Ogallala Aquifer in the Midwest or some aqueduct as is the case with the California State Water Project. These are just America's water woes. It is true that water is everywhere on earth; however as Samuel Taylor Coleridge wrote "water water everywhere and not a drop to drink." Even though most aquifers are replenishable, some are not. Finding potable water has posed to be a serious problem for humans. Lester Brown says in his book Plan B 3.0, "falling water tables are already adversely affecting harvests in some countries, including China, which rivals the United States as the world's largest grain producer... In the United States, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) reports that in parts of Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas-- three leading grain-producing states-- the underground water table has dropped by more than 30 meters (100 feet)." He later reports that irrigated crops account for 1/5 America's grain harvest and 3/5 in India and fallowed by 4/5 of China's harvest. As you can see water is a valuable commodity, both by itself and manifested as the global grain trade. Water resources need to be protected and managed both for human and wild needs. So maybe his little boy is right; the little things can add up, for example, how a "brick in every toilet tank saved Mono Lake." I do have to agree that there is a lot of "green washing," jive and rhetoric out there, but there are also some serious problems. The approach to the problem should be much different but we are all responsible for our actions. So no, there is not enough emphasis on environmental responsibility; however we should focus more on the positive and less on the "green guilt" as Asma calls it. PS. Going organic is not always the best.

  Reply

• April 9, 2010 by runi

  More "green jive" is coming. This is necessary because most of us are busy and need to be reminded. The current dicta "do not waste", "recycle", etc. will be linked to other relevant causes such as the need for human population growth stabilization and reversal (already happening in Britain), and the need to end the high energy, waste and cruelty costs of eating meat, dairy, eggs. Other approaches to communicating these problems, but apparently it's necessary to annoy some people before changes are made.

  Reply

• April 10, 2010 by Betty Sue Fitchett

  The child was 6 years old! School is for learning reading,writing,math,history,computer and sports. Music and gym are fine for our kids but Politics have no place in school. At 6 years old,the role of teaching,other than mentioned...is for the parent. Too much government innervention going on in our schools.

  Reply

  • April 19, 2010 by Alejandra Hernandez

    Caring for the enviroment has only a small role in politics, but a larger one in science. When I was in elementary shool we were already learning about the environment and how we need to care for it.It is important to start teaching children about possible healthy lifestyles so that they hopefully continue throughout their lives. With a child's mind you have to start somewhere and not just assume they won't understand what you are trying to teach them. I am not an environmentalism guru, but I still think its important to include learning about the enviroment and conservation as part of the cirriculum, and not make it just for adults.

    Reply

  • May 20, 2010 by Wissy

    Thankfully this child goes to a school that taught about the environment. While all of the other subjects they teach in school are certainly needed, they are not ultimately telling you how to become a healthy adult by using resources wisely. That is something that should be learned at an early age so that it becomes a natural part of your everyday life. Obviously it isn't being taught by the parent, so kudo's to the school and also to the child for being smarter than his parent.

    Reply

  • June 13, 2010 by charles laws

    Schools and politics: brain forming, and brain washing are close cousins, but finding out that human extinction is a possibility if humans consume or destroy essential resources goes well beyond politics. What's in Your tooth paste?

    Reply

• April 10, 2010 by randy

  The reason that the "green" movement appears to be industrially driven is because they are the one's feeling the pressure of regulations and laws that are put into place due to their impacts on the environment. Their wastes, directly or indirectly, have the greatest influences on our health. Some of these pollutants come directly from their extraction, refining, use in manufacturing, use in the general public, and the resulting chemistry from coming in contact with or from within us. Your student is responding to the new focus of science in the education of humans that focuses on the Earth as a intricate and delicate ecosystem that is responsible for our existence, and our role in the continued existence of the Earth as we know it. In case after case, it is well documented the success that happen when finger-pointing stops, responsibility is accepted, and all parties involved work for an answer that aids the existence of all the life invovled. All this despite what may have to be changed, not surrendered in human lifestyles. We are too intelligent to simply say it can't be done. It can't be done alone.

  Reply

• April 10, 2010 by Kate E.

  I agree with Michael, Neill and Randy but I also think that corporate America should bear more of the guilt and shame associated with environmental responsibility, not just individual citizens. I'm a huge believer in the power of one and starting at home, but I also think we could make greater strides more quickly if corporations were held to higher environmental standards. Packaging is one example. Do we really need to package Silly Bandz (which are silicone and unbreakable) in an extra layer of plastic that will be immediately thrown away and never used again? I don't think environmental responsibility is something to take lightly since there's only one Earth!

  Reply

• April 15, 2010 by Rhonda

  Yes I do think we have some responsibility to go green. This earth is a living thing and we're just guess for a little while. If everyone would do just a little bit more it would make a big difference. In most communities that offer recycling programs all you have to do is go to your community center and pick up a green recycle bin. It doesn't even cost you anything. In fact some recycling pays you. Cans are a good way to recycle and get a little cash. We don't have to go overboard, but if everyone would just do their part it would make things a lot better.

  Reply

• April 17, 2010 by Victoria

  I feel like ecological education is the key to developing environmentally aware future leaders. If you think math and reading are more important than the overall condition of our planet you should move to Mars. Seriously though being informed of the problem is half the battle. I am not offended when my kids pick up a cause that will improve them or the planet. I would be so very proud of my six year old for listening to this issue. We will no doubt face environmental concerns until the end of time. The real question is when is that going to occur and can education slow the inevitable? So when your kiddo says something about how to save the planet take a minute to listen and encourage. Who knows you might be raising the next Al Gore.

  Reply

• April 19, 2010 by Marguerite Breda

  As a full time volunteer at various National Wildlife Refuges for the past nine years, I have become more and more aware of what we have not done and what different states are doing. I was asked at one refuge to come up with more ways to make the 5 star energy efficient building better and to also make the staff aware of more ways they could become greener. Talk about a great way to learn! Then I went across the country (last time I will travel that far) to the desert and studied our water plight. Why don't we all have a rain barrel? Why do we continue to mess up our rivers? When will we each get a water bottle that can be refilled many many times? Are we being too guitl ridden or not enough? How hard is it to practice a little conservation? I learned of a group that has sworn not to buy anything new for a year! So maybe you do not want to go that far, ok how about having a meatless meal ONCE a week. Would you die? Would you need to think a little? What could you make without meat? How about becomming a locavor? Do something now. Do more next month. It is easy and makes you feel good. Shrink that carbon footprint today.

  Reply

• April 20, 2010 by jesse ybarra

  GOING ORGANIC IS NOT ALWAYS THE BEST IDEA!!!!

  Reply

  • May 20, 2010 by Wissy

    Regardless of what many major companies say, organic food is still better for you than something sprayed with or fed with an unnatural product. It also helps the local farmers to survive, boosting the economy where you live. Yes, it's more expensive than chemically laden products, but my family has always been worth the sacrifice to me. At least pick and choose from the food available and give your family those with the least amount of pesticides, hormones and chemicals for a starter. Every little bit is helpful and your kids growing bodies will thank you. I certainly wouldn't open my refrigerator fruit and vegetable drawers and spray some insect repellent in them, so why buy it from a non-organic food supplier? It sounds a little harsh, but it's something to think about. There are so many unhealthy things added to meat, milk, eggs, etc. At least treat your family to some healthy options, whenever you can.

    Reply

• April 20, 2010 by Daisha

  I am doing research on "America's Next Revolution"... Going Green! We only have on Earth and it is our job to protect it. Going Green is all about making slight readjustments in your everyday life. Take a second and throw a bottle in a blue or green can, turn off your computer every night, and be grateful of every drop of water you use. However, we arent fooling anyone with our Hybrid cars and solar panels. WE LOVE TO WASTE because thats what we know. Consumed by our technological world we expect the earth to protect itself but it won't. We have forgotten the beauty of the world outside and it will perish if we don't help. Even the little things can make a BIG Difference.

  Reply

• April 20, 2010 by Yolanda

  I too agree that there is so much media hype abot recycling and "going green", but I am buying into all of it. All of the media and journalism that is writen about all the things that we can do to help the environment has enabled me to take a look at what I can do and what I should do better. I have really made some changes in my life that were not easy and during that process I have become a better person (I think).

  My son too is making it a habit to pick up every piece of paper or trash he sees on the ground outside. He is becoming a little obsessed about it, but that is my reminder that I need to keep doing my part. It makes me proud to see him take an interest in helping "keep the Earth healthy :) "

  Reply

Tell us what you think.