Essay: Real Environmentalism

Introduction

When most of us hear terms like “eco-conscious” or “environmentalism,” what do we think of? Global warming, compact fluorescent light bulbs, green (literally) reusable shopping bags? Unfortunately, these things have little bearing on real environmentalism.

So what is “real” environmentalism? It is, first of all, so different from the standard image of environmentalism that it should not even bear the same name; I suggest the term “environmental stewardship.” Environmental stewardship does not place nature above man. It does not center around tenuous science (man-made global warming) or over-the-top politically-motivated rhetoric (“We use energy to mix toxic chemicals in with the natural resources to make toxic contaminated products.”) It is, simply, based on a desire to preserve, to conserve, the world that God gave us.