Wendell Berry's View on Single-Issue Movements - Literature review Example

Environmental Conservation Movements al Affiliation) Wendell Berry’s View on Single-Issue Movements In a book published in 1991, Wendell Berry asserted that, single issue movements geared towards facilitating environmental protection as well as conservation such as: Soil conservation or even water management are subject to failure. Berry believes that single-issue movements are not radical in the sense that the people promoting them do not practically apply them, but rather focus on the hypothetical benefits associated with. In addition, Berry believes that these movements are basically ideas propagated by elites within the society and are soon becoming commercialized, thus reducing their efficacy (Berry, 1991). However, research has shown that there are various successes associated with single issue movements, while also exhibiting instances of failures as discussed below (Ross 2010): Successes of Single Issue Movements Gaylord Nelson Wisconsin senator on a Democrat ticket, in September 1970 gave a very remarkable speech that was not highly publicized. In his speech he said ,’ “I am convinced that the same concern the youth of this nation took in changing this nation’s priorities on the war in Vietnam and on civil rights can be shown for the problem of the environment. That is why I plan to see to it that a national teach-in is held.” He was speaking in Seattle where he had been working on various projects on environment conservation. His main worry was the increasing rate of water pollution that was affecting the state as well as the whole nation. Water pollution had interfered with navigation and fishing processes. He took a step further despite the fact that he was a freshman and convinced the then President, Kennedy into staging a conservation tour in order to address the issue. President John, F. Kennedy took the challenge and visited a total of eleven states while conducting conferences on environment conservation. This took him about five days. The tour was a success. The response from the crowd that attended the meetings was so positive and in turn drew passion from president (http://www.thesocialcontract.com, n.d). This led to an increased levels of efforts directed towards ensuring that water conservation in Seattle was a given a high sense of priority, thus indicating a success of single-issue movement. The efforts are still visible up-to date (Lawson, 2014). Another success factor that has been evident in single-issue movement is protection of endangered wildlife. Various stakeholders have directed adequate resources towards ensuring the endangered wildlife are protected from further harm caused by anthropogenic forces. In the United Kingdom for example, the government and other concerned stakeholders have taken initiatives geared towards ensuring that endangered species are not only protected from further harm that could lead to their extinction locally, but also globally (Lawson, 2014). This has been successful through the formulation of policies that has ensured that endangered species in the United Kingdom such as bats, crayfish and invasive species are protected from further harm caused by anthropogenic forces. Failures of Single Issue Movements In as much as single-issue movements have been associated with certain aspects of successes, they have also experienced failures. Taking the case of Nelson‘s idea, which was positively received, there were certain challenges that reduced its efficacy. To begin with, Nelson had organized clean-up activities, which did not succeed owing to the fact that it was poorly coordinated. In addition, the number of people, who turned out for the event was lower than expected thus, reducing the magnitude of work that could have been done. According to Berry, failures occurring due to poor attendance of communities to environmental conservation activities can be attributed to lack of motivation arising from financial or psychological facets. In his book, Adam Rome “The Genius of Earth Day: How a 1970 Teach-in Unexpectedly Made the First Green Generation” conveys life as a fresh start, Adam Rome describes an instance that can lead to failure of single-issue movements. According to him, the efforts made are far from what can be called a successful earth day. Looking into significant matters such as bottle recycling is a disaster. This is because humans tend to stick to old laws and find it challenging to adapt to new regulations including environmental protections laws (Rome, 2013). In this regard, Adam Rome posits that environmental regulations geared towards enhancing single-issue movements may failure owing to the fact that they remain stagnant for a long period of time. Moreover, most societies are usually concerned by issues that seem more serious i.e. environmental damages caused by Hurricane, Tsunami among others, rather that issues that seem minor like recycling of bottles (Rome, 2013). In a research article published by Environmental 360, an online news article, it is indicated and described in details how organizations driven by single-issue movements in the United States have failed on their quest to protect the environment. The article describes in details various issues that have led to the failure of these organizations as they attempt to redeem the environment back to its normal state. One of the reasons pointed out in the article that has led to the failure of these single-issue driven organizations in the fact that organizations have lost their ground and focus in relation to solving environmental challenges, but have given more priority on their development and increased sophistication (http://e360.yale.edu, n.d). Wendell Berry views single issue movements may not be positively received by some quarters of the society. In some cases, the society may even reject environmental conservation programs that are undertaken in a voluntary basis for instance: When a community is asked to voluntarily contribute financial resources towards a community cleaning program, they may not accept, many people have greater challenges facing their families; hence such issues may be given less priority. Moreover, lack of positive reception of single-issue movement ideas may occur when a the conservation targets a resource that serves the basic needs of a community for instance (Hawken, 2007): A ban that is introduced to save endangered fish may not be accepted by the society, a case example is evident in the conservation efforts that have been directed towards saving Tuna, a fish species. These efforts have not successful owing to the fact that tuna is considered an important delicacy in various parts of the world and has high market value (Black, 2010). Introduction of single-issue movement policies by authorities has also been associated with the failures exhibited by the single-issue movements. According to Wendell Berry (1991), single-issue movement policies have been considered ideas of the elite by ordinary citizens; in this case such policies have been constantly rejected, while some communities simple ignore the fact they exist. An example of failed single-issue movement policies is evident in sub-Saharan parts of Africa, where leaders have worked collaboratively with elites from Western and European nations to ensure that they develop policies geared towards reducing deforestation, however, the ordinary society members have constantly rejected these policies, viewing them as Eurocentric ideologies that cannot save the environment, thus an enhanced rate of desertification (Lawson, 2014). Conclusion In conclusion, Wendell Berry’s view that single-issue movements such as soil conservations, clean water preservation and protection of wildlife inevitably fail is not correct. This has been proved by the fact that some certain single-issue movements have been successful in specific geographical localities, while others have failed. The idea that certain single-issue movements have failed due to fact that they are perceived to be the ideas of the elite is relatively true: This has been evident in developing nations where, single-issue movements have been constantly rejected by the local populace, who perceive them as ideas of the west meant to manipulate less developed nations, while exploring their natural resources. Berry is also right in his argument that single-issue movements are increasingly becoming commercialized; majority of stakeholders in issues ascribed to environmental management and protection i.e. soil conservation ideas develop these ideas, while targeting financial donations from sponsors such as the government and other international environmental stakeholders, with a major focus directed towards acquiring financial resources, rather than redeeming the environment. References Berry, W. (1991). Wendell Berry. Lewiston, Idaho: Confluence Press ; Black, R. (2010, March 18). Bluefin tuna ban proposal meets rejection. Retrieved November 4, 2014, from http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8574775.stm Environmental Failure: A Case for a New Green Politics. (n.d.). Retrieved November 4, 2014, from http://e360.yale.edu/feature/environmental_failure_a_case_for_a_new_green_politics/2075/ Rome, A. (2013). The genius of Earth Day: How a 1970 teach-in unexpectedly made the first green generation. New York: Hill and Wang. Top of Form Bottom of Form Ross, J. (2010). The conservation: Bhutan’s Environmental Success is aPleasing Paradox. New York: Sage. Top of Form Bottom of Form Lawson, N. (2014). An appeal to reason: A cool look at global warming. New York: Overlook Duckworth. Top of Form Bottom of Form Hawken, P. (2007). Blessed unrest: How the largest movement in the world came into being, and why no one saw it coming. New York: Viking. Home. (n.d.). Retrieved November 4, 2014, from http://www.thesocialcontract.com/artman2/publish/tsc1504/article_1331.shtml Home. (n.d.). Retrieved November 4, 2014, from http://www.thesocialcontract.com/artman2/publish/tsc1504/article_1331.shtml Home. (n.d.). Retrieved November 4, 2014, from http://www.thesocialcontract.com/artman2/publish/tsc1504/article_1331.shtml Home. (n.d.). Retrieved November 4, 2014, from http://www.thesocialcontract.com/artman2/publish/tsc1504/article_1331.shtml Home. (n.d.). Retrieved November 4, 2014, from http://www.thesocialcontract.com/artman2/publish/tsc1504/article_1331.shtml Home. (n.d.). Retrieved November 4, 2014, from http://www.thesocialcontract.com/artman2/publish/tsc1504/article_1331.shtml Berry, W. (1991). Wendell Berry. Lewiston, Idaho: Confluence Press ;. Berry, W. (1991). Wendell Berry. Lewiston, Idaho: Confluence Press ;. Berry, W. (1991). Wendell Berry. Lewiston, Idaho: Confluence Press ;. Top of Form Bottom of Form Top of Form Bottom of Form Read More