Is Environmentalism a Hindrance to Sound Clean Energy Policy?

    A persistent theme one can observe throughout world history is that ideas which were once formed under certain times and conditions later become 'out of phase' with their new historical circumstances.  Despite the discrepancy, which is often either not fully detected or internalized, these ideas are then used as ideological justifications for blatantly erroneous policies, given the natural human tendency to idealize tradition and ancestors.  Most religions typically suffer from this problem given their inherent tendency towards sweeping moral generalizations. However, because of the political stake in their ideological conceptions, from which these gain socioeconomic benefits, these bases tend to never be publicly declared as 'obsolete', creating a set of noxious societal goals and individual behavior patterns sharply at odds with the dictates of reason.

    It seems that contemporary environmentalism is heading in this direction as well, particularly with regard to clean energy policy.  Formed during the peak of the coal-petroleum prosperity in the United States, in which egregious environmental violations were committed, they became powerful political groups which brought to national attention the detrimental environmental impact of careless corporate practices.  Although these efforts did not always bear fruit, certainly they stand as a testament to American democracy--the ability to freely speak out about problems in-spite of the negative economic repercussions they might have.  Chinese citizens do not have the ability to make their rights and concerns as vocally and legally expressed.  But, as with every right, they have to be constantly and carefully measured against existing duties and realities.

    Environmental attacks on contemporary clean energy efforts are particularly out of phase with their alleged goals.   Instead of doing what should be done, such as dealing with the most serious global environmental polluters such as China--a most difficult thing to do-- these tend to attack nascent local efforts at clean energy that would set good (even if imperfect) precedent toward the continued development of clean energy.  They opt to take the easy and convenient path, even when this path contradictorily clashes with their groups own explicit goals. They do not seem to realize that, without the aggressive development of clean energy, current environmental efforts will be worth zilch.  All the individual species they tried to save will end up extinct, along with the rest of the us.  The current 'nuclear threat' to our world, is our own ominous carbon footprint.

    As the Keeling Curve demonstrates, these problems will not go away.  We still continue to use gasoline powered cars, coal generated electricity, and the Keeling "curve" (more of a upward sloping line) continues to inch up year by year in a seemingly unstoppable trend.  Our entire contemporary world system is built up around the 'consumption of carbon'.  It is deeply and invisibly embedded into the very structure of our everyday lives: our financial systems, our urban complexes, our intimate relations.  The issue of energy is so important right now, that in spite of all the toils and troubles of every day life (political scandals, violent mall shootings, etc.), energy should be a key goal on the agenda of every government and individual for years to come.  It is not something that will be fixed in a single media public relations event.  It is not something that will be fixed with a change of political parties or political leaders.  It is not something that will be fixed by switching religions or by joining environmental groups.  Nor, will it be solved by indignant shouting and hysterical protest.   It is something that will take a continued, rational, and persistent effort over many years and decades.  

    We have before us the opportunity to solve some of the principal problems of the 'old modernity', to possibly head into what is truly a new 'post-modern' society.  I do hope environmental groups show the reasonable discretion in their efforts to protect humble natural against our own savage existence.