Date: Sat, 06 Jun 1998 03:18:39 -0500
From: Nan Hildreth <Nan.Hildreth@Mcione.com>
Subject: A challenge to environmentalist intellectuals
In-reply-to: <3.0.32.19980605145635.0070d9d4@popact.org>
To: ppn@csf.colorado.edu
Message-id: <3.0.1.32.19980606031839.006e8378@mail65.MCIONE.com>
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At 02:56 PM 6/5/98 -0500, Richard wrote:
> <snip>
>When institutional adjustment occurs, we find the losers to often be the
>poor, the politically marginalized, many non-priced aspects of the
>environment (such as other species), people and assets beyond borders, and
>citizens of the future -- none of which are current "institutional
>participants," nor have they much to say about the rules of institutions
>(regardless of whether those institutions be market- or program-driven). In
>this model, it is no surprise that the poor and the environment are losers
>-- very often pitted against each other in lose-lose scenarios.  
>

Dear Richard and subscribers, 

I can see that I got a different point of view from folks here.   I am a
grass roots activist and wish I could just focus on it instead of doing so
much hard thinking.  My feedback will be my gift to you all.   :-) 

Why do you talk about the poor?  Why don't you talk about us?  Can you say
it more plainly?   Have you envisioned the solutions as well as the
problems?   I expand on these below. 

First, why do you talk about the poor rather than us?   I just returned
from an activist training weekend.  They told us that 70% of Texans
consider themselves environmentalists.  But Texas Sierrans are 1 of 1,000.
Nationally we are only 2 of 1,000.   Why?  Because most Americans are
"politically marginalized"?   (For brevity, I cut out a fine quote about
that from Chomsky.) 

Can you say it more plainly?  At least in a conclusion?  I have dishes to
wash.  At the activist training they said boil your campaign down to a
simple story with a threat, a villain and a hero.  Then boil it down even
more to a slogan.  True, there are no Devils but the ones in our heads.
But ....   My boss said that if you understand it, you can explain it
simply.  

What you wrote makes a fine case against our focusing on reforming
institutions by law.  Instead for a new mentality and vision.  "The world
will not be saved by old minds with new programs but by new minds with no
programs."  As Daniel Quinn says http://www.bnetwork.com/welcome.html

Last, have you tried to envision the solutions as well as the problems? We
grass roots need you intellectuals to work on that.  On how we might
achieve sustainability.  Folks have painted graffic pictures of  the worst
possible for a generation.  We hear you!  We belive you!   But too often we
 feel overwhelmed by the horror of it.  We need some positive visions to
inspire us.   Even worse, to help us from choosing pessimism and despair.
Oh, am I tired of activists' despair!   ;-D

"... the world faces not a preordained future, but a choice."
We believe that  "The choice is between models."
We must chose between the pessimistic model: "...the limits are real and
close, and that there is not enough time, and that people cannot be
moderate or responsible or compassionate.  That model is
self-fullfilling.... the result will also be collapse."

And the optimistic one:  "... the limits are real and close, and that there
is just exactly enough time, with no time to waste. There is just exactly
enough energy, enough material, enough money, enough environmental
resilience, and enough human virtue to bring about a revolution to a better
world." (Donella Meadows et al., Beyond the Limits, p 236).

Our lack of a clear story of how to get out of this mess is the challenge
of the decade.  In 1992, "When ...Ted Turner funded a competition to find a
fictional work demonstrating a plan for sustainability, ten thousand
manuscripts poured in.  And yet, reports Turner, "we did not have one
plausible treatise on how we could get to a sustainable, peaceful future."'
(Chellis Glendinning's, "My Name is Chellis and I'm in recovery from
Western Civilization.", 1994, p 206)   

This great work before us needs your contribution.   Because you're so good
at ideas. 


Nan Hildreth  Nan.Hildreth@MciOne.com
Houston Sierra Population/Sustainability Contact
713-864-7108

"I am filled with humidity." --Texas House Speaker Gib Lewis