Some of my right leaning friends have labeled me a hippy, and that is because I have some left leaning tendencies, particularly when it comes to the environment (I thank my mother). However, I usually don't see eye to eye with many of the pro-green organizations. ***This is my opinion.*** Most green groups do a lot of dreaming and fight for those dreams without determining whether they are logical, possible, or practical.
Case: Most environmentalist groups advocate protecting forests by stopping logging and controlled burns. No logging - OK, but just talk to one forester, who go to college to understand the biology and life cycles of trees, and they'll explain in detail how vital controlled burning is to a forest ecosystem (thank you Davis). The Wikipedia article has a lot of good information on Controlled Burning.
I believe in activism and helping the environment, but I believe in doing it "correctly."
My problem, a minor moral dilemma - recently joined the Sierra Club - an organization that I didn't even know existed until someone pointed me to their website.
The Sierra Club mission statement is:
"To explore, enjoy, and protect the wild places of the earth; to practice and promote the responsible use of the earth's ecosystems and resources; to educate and enlist humanity to protect and restore the quality of the natural and human environment; and to use all lawful means to carry out those objectives." (Sierra Club 101)
I joined it because I 100% in harmony with exploring, enjoying, and protecting all of the earth. Also, I joined because the local Sierra Club chapter leads weekly day hikes (~10 miles) that, I'm told, are pretty fun. The moral quandary is whether I agree with how the Sierra Club plans to protect the earth and what it views as "responsible use" of the planet's ecosystems and resources.
I need to remind myself the membership was only $25, and in essence it is for a good cause - I shouldn't get myself all spun up.
So, if you like hiking and can't get enough, you have $25, and don't have any moral objections, the Sierra Club could be your ticket. They seem to have local chapters everywhere.
Subscribe!
