Posts tagged environment

That’s right. Practicing environmentally friendly behaviors should be the norm, and not the exception. But even with the increasing awareness of environmental problems around the world, people still find ways to poke fun at those who live greener lifestyles.

I generally like to take a very practical approach to environmental change. I’m not a crazy activist that rallies around town protesting congressional decisions and inflaming others with my super green beliefs. All I want is for people to be more aware of their choices. And although progress definitely is taking off, there seems to be a sort of stigma associated with going green.

Everyone who takes part in greener behavior is not a “tree-hugger”, or a “hippie”, or a “flaming liberal”. However, such labels are widespread and don’t appear to be leaving any time soon. Even when these terms are used jokingly, they have the effect of almost discouraging people from being greener, for fear of being labeled as something supposedly negative.

Doing our part for the environment isn’t funny—it’s a matter of saving our world for the next generations. Sure, I’ve committed plenty of environmentally unhealthy acts in the past, as most people have. But I try my best to keep those to a minimum. Discouraging labels like “tree-hugger” and “hippie” don’t help the cause. In the past, before the green trend gained so much popularity, these terms targeted a minority. But it’s not a minority anymore. Help protect our environment: end the jokes.