BOOK RECOMMENDATION
August 10, 2004
Author Seeks to Reframe Environmentalism in Post-9/11
In the newly published The Last Refuge: Patriotism, Politics,and the Environment in an Age of Terror (Island Press), David Orr aims to reframe the U.S. environmental movement in thepost-9/11 landscape. He is concise, lucid, and angry about theBush administration's refusal to act on "the connections betweenreal security, prosperity, climate stability, environmentalprotection, and fairness." Orr advocates for a redefinition of"living well" to include living within the world's naturalmeans. Environmentalists and other progressives, many forced into areactive, 'emergency' mode by the Bush administration, may findOrr's ideas useful for putting their work into a larger, morehopeful context.
Orr offers inspiration for thinking the big thoughts thatsustain political and social change. While some of these arecertain to provoke controversy, they enrich the publicconversation about where to take the movement. Orr takes special aim at the scientific dishonesty of BjornLomborg, author of The Skeptical Environmentalist -- a favoriteread of Vice President Dick Cheney and The Economist magazine.He argues that the libertarian, "go it alone" strains inAmerican culture have outlived their usefulness in a world wherepollutants flow across national boundaries.
Orr describes the "Great Work" of our time: the transition fromfossil fuel to renewable energy resources; from extractive toregenerative economies; from social and economic inequity tofairness for all peoples; from violence to nonviolence. Heconsiders this the true patriotism. Many activists will likelybe eager to reclaim that much-abused term for their own.
Progressives will find grist for debate in The Last Refuge.Orr's enthusiasm for a "global spiritual revolution" may makesecular readers uneasy. And he eschews deep examination of thetransformative potential of new communication and greentechnologies.
Most likely to prompt discussion will be Orr's overallanti-urban bias, best expressed in his celebration of writerWendell Berry's agrarian ideals. Such a bias is no longerconsidered realistic or useful by many greens. Megacity livingis not for everyone, but as his fellow environmentalphilosopher, New York University professor Andrew Light recentlynoted, "residents of New York consume less energy per capitathan any other Americans and so make less of a contribution tosome of our most critical problems, such as the production ofgreenhouse gases... [U]rban density is a key to sustainability."[1]
Orr's ultimate frustration is that we -- the collective 'we'--can and should do better: at sustainability, economic equity,basic fairness and respect for all life. Both comforting andcontroversial, The Last Refuge may be a touchstone forarticulating a larger vision.
[1] "Trip the Light Fantastic: Andrew Light, an enviro-academic,answers Grist's questions," Grist Magazine, Jul. 26, 2004.
Author Seeks to Reframe Environmentalism in Post-9/11
In the newly published The Last Refuge: Patriotism, Politics,and the Environment in an Age of Terror (Island Press), David Orr aims to reframe the U.S. environmental movement in thepost-9/11 landscape. He is concise, lucid, and angry about theBush administration's refusal to act on "the connections betweenreal security, prosperity, climate stability, environmentalprotection, and fairness." Orr advocates for a redefinition of"living well" to include living within the world's naturalmeans. Environmentalists and other progressives, many forced into areactive, 'emergency' mode by the Bush administration, may findOrr's ideas useful for putting their work into a larger, morehopeful context.
Orr offers inspiration for thinking the big thoughts thatsustain political and social change. While some of these arecertain to provoke controversy, they enrich the publicconversation about where to take the movement. Orr takes special aim at the scientific dishonesty of BjornLomborg, author of The Skeptical Environmentalist -- a favoriteread of Vice President Dick Cheney and The Economist magazine.He argues that the libertarian, "go it alone" strains inAmerican culture have outlived their usefulness in a world wherepollutants flow across national boundaries.
Orr describes the "Great Work" of our time: the transition fromfossil fuel to renewable energy resources; from extractive toregenerative economies; from social and economic inequity tofairness for all peoples; from violence to nonviolence. Heconsiders this the true patriotism. Many activists will likelybe eager to reclaim that much-abused term for their own.
Progressives will find grist for debate in The Last Refuge.Orr's enthusiasm for a "global spiritual revolution" may makesecular readers uneasy. And he eschews deep examination of thetransformative potential of new communication and greentechnologies.
Most likely to prompt discussion will be Orr's overallanti-urban bias, best expressed in his celebration of writerWendell Berry's agrarian ideals. Such a bias is no longerconsidered realistic or useful by many greens. Megacity livingis not for everyone, but as his fellow environmentalphilosopher, New York University professor Andrew Light recentlynoted, "residents of New York consume less energy per capitathan any other Americans and so make less of a contribution tosome of our most critical problems, such as the production ofgreenhouse gases... [U]rban density is a key to sustainability."[1]
Orr's ultimate frustration is that we -- the collective 'we'--can and should do better: at sustainability, economic equity,basic fairness and respect for all life. Both comforting andcontroversial, The Last Refuge may be a touchstone forarticulating a larger vision.
[1] "Trip the Light Fantastic: Andrew Light, an enviro-academic,answers Grist's questions," Grist Magazine, Jul. 26, 2004.
posted by BLONDIE at 3:41 PM
1 Comments:
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