Week 4 Question--Michael Maniate

In his article Michael Maniate describes several popular perspectives on current environmental issues. He refers to how various authors, researchers, and scientists have attempted to make light of climate change and the necessary steps humans have to take in order to maintain a stable and enduring environment. I really enjoy his frankness in the call on U.S citizens to think and act like responsible, conscientious adults who know how to be strong when there is resolute and unyielding need for it. In attacking the laziness and lethargic attitudes that the average American expresses in his/her self-centered actions, Maniate addresses the major problem facing us today: the need for social change when it comes to thinking about the environment. On a daily basis we continue to scrimp on our responsibilities and duties to save the planet, or minimally repair some of the damage that has already been wrought upon the earth. However, it is not just our fault. Maniate cites earlier times in which the cry for social change was much larger and filled with more intensity than any of the rhetoric flowing from any of the modern-day leaders in the field. He points out that so little has never before been asked of us which clarifies the current dilemma a bit more for me in that it faults the environmental elites for not asking more from us to change our habits and behavior. If the leaders of today and tomorrow are not willing to travel outside the realm of safe conversation in regards to pressing environmental matters the public cannot act in correspondence to it. Without proper guidance people will not be able to respond properly to the pressing need for fundamental social changes. It reflects poorly on current political leaders as well as so-called environmentalists to only go so far as to ask for the minimal sacrifice from people since it is clear that so much more is required in order to make a difference. They are the ultimate decision-makers on the country's priorities and by sidelining the environment they are telling the people of the U.S that their current lifestyles are not entirely harmful, just somewhat. I really agree with Maniate because I feel that, in order for the move from awareness to action to occur, there needs to be a push from those in positions of power to urge the masses to make those changes happen.