Author: Matthew Sima (Page 2 of 2)

After watching Bidder 7 and reading the Monkey Wrench Gang, my idea of what constitutes an activist has once again changed. To me, an activist is no longer one who fights for a cause, but rather one who inspires others to fight for a cause. It is this inspiration that separates an activist from a terrorist or criminal. While the cause is also important, an activist is equal to the cause but rather an activist is equal to the method by which he/she brings about the cause.

For example, I would argue that Tim (bidder 7) would not have been an activist if all he had done was monkey wrench the auction. Instead he became an activist after he rallied people to support his cause by creating Peaceful Uprising. His actions became a rallying cry for the organization and his actions and imprisonment although clearly criminal and unlawful became a rallying point for the members of the organization. He used the auction as a springboard to create this organization and subsequently become an activist.

Likewise, Hayduke became an activist and the rallying point behind the entire Monkey Wrench Gang. Although his ideas and actions were a bit unorthodox even for the members of the Gang, his ideas and motivation and even willingness to die for his cause clearly inspired the group and drove them to action. He continued to live in their hearts even after his “death” and inspired others to blow up the Glen Canyon bridge.

Therefore activism is not a one time event but rather a chain reaction that builds upon itself. No singular act in the series can be said to be activism but rather activism is the ability of each singular event to inspire others to continue after it and pursue the same cause.

What does it mean to be an activist? A social activist? An environmental activist? Why are activists important and what do they contribute to a cause? These are the questions that circulated my mind as I evaluated my personal thoughts on what was and want activism.

While it was easy to use my raw thoughts and emotions to place my vote with the majority and say that the black community leader who sought to educate and help empower individuals in her community was an activist while the vegan extremists who used violence and threats were not, it is much more difficult to take into consideration the implications of these choices. As a community and as citizens of the earth, it is our job to help protect the environment. It is our job to both preserve and conserve aspects of our wilderness, however at our current rate and using our current methods of environmental activism, our future looks very bland.

Currently our idea of environmental activism revolves around education and policymaking. We rely on socially acceptable nonviolent forms of activism such as protesting and education to enact change in governmental policies. In fact, we chose to confide ourselves within the social norms and boundaries and believe in the idea that “If only there were more educators or policymakers then we could save the environment”. However what is this is not the answer? What if the time for peaceful activism is over and the time for action has begun? Although monkeywrenching may only be a temporary solution to many environmental problems, there is no doubt in my mind that it still works.

However, there is a line between activism and terrorism. While I believe that activists need to take more action and stop relying on an unresponsive government, they must not go so far as to inflict terror on those around them. Activists work through empathy for the good or all, while terrorists work to instill their own will upon others. As a result, the current modes of activism must be swayed farther to the right, however not so far as to be considered terrorists.

I thought it was very interesting when in her article  It’s Not Climate Change, It’s Everything Change, Margaret Atwood stated that our beliefs are directly influenced by the energy culture of the time. For example, in the current oil and gas energy culture, there is a culture of consumption and the idea that “I am what I buy”. The entire culture revolves around the desire to make as much money as you can as fast as you can without necessary regard to the consequences. As a result, we have sought to squeeze every little bit of oil and gas out of the earth and create a global market that has become dependent on oil and gas as our primary source of energy. However my question is what came first: the oil and gas energy culture or the culture of consumption? Did the oil and gas culture bring about the culture of consumption or vice versa?

It is these questions that determine the necessary steps required to bring about a more sustainable alternative to the oil and gas culture. If it were the oil and gas culture that initiated the transition to a culture of consumption, then the necessary first steps would be to lobby and bring about an end to the oil and gas industries while alternatively publicizing the importance of sustainability.

But on the other hand, if it was the culture of consumption that brought about rise of the oil and gas culture then a transition would be much more difficult. Now rather working from the top down starting with government, it is necessary to go from the bottom up starting from the populace. We will first need to change the public opinion and culture to one of sustainability in order to initiate the shift to a renewable energy culture. While one way to do so would be through education and outreach, the chances of success are slim and the battle will be difficult.

As stated in class, humans are animals of habit and have a tendency to resist change. We like to follow routine and desire consistency both in our daily habits as well as our thoughts. However, on the bright side, humans are largely heard animals and will follow the herd mentality as long as there is a leader to initiate. While in both cases the outcome is grim, there is ultimately still hope for the future to a more sustainable culture.

Name: Matthew Sima

Hometown: Fort Collins, CO

Major: Environmental Science and Policy, Biology

Three topics that intrigue me: Global warming and how it contributes to the spread of diseases, religion, photography

Interesting news I read lately: Organisms living in high-stress urban medians possess adaptions to disturbance, making them more resilient to the effects of extreme weather events than organisms living in relatively low stress areas.