TWO KINDS OF ENVIRONMENTALISM
By
Ramachandra Guha
INDIA (South)
Origin/ Emerged at an early stage in the
causes of industrial process
environment Nature-based conflict
al conflict Lopsided (unbalanced), iniquitous(unfair)
and environmentally destructive process
of development in independent India
created severe shortage of resources.
Poor people fought over productive
resources to safeguard their livelihood and
for their survival.
Consumerism and uncontrolled economic
development was also responsible for
environmental conflict in India.
It was closely related to the production and
distribution process.
Organizatio Traditional networks of organization-
n/ people village and the tribe
Fighting It is led by the poor- farmers, villagers and
tribal people.
Method of Believe in traditional forms of protest- dharna &
Protest bhook hartal
Ideologies Demands change in the systems of
production and distribution.
Fights for the subsistence(livelihood) and
survival of the poor
Considers consumerism and uncontrolled
economic development as the root cause of
environmental conflict
The struggle of the poor is deeply
conservative because they refuse to
exchange a world they know, and are in
AMERICA (North)
Emerged after industrialization
Post-industrial society increased
opportunities for leisure (free
time)
It made car affordable
People used car to explore the
beauty of nature
They realized the importance of
preserving nature, that was
refreshingly different from the
polluted cities.
It gave rise to an anti-industrial
impulse
People wanted to save the
pristine (clean and fresh) and
unspoilt nature
It originated outside the
production process and runs
parallel to the consumer society.
Social movement organization- The
Sierra Club and the Friends of the
Earth, etc.
It is led by the educated people.
Believe in democratic form of redressal-
1. court case
2. lobbying of legislators and
ministers
3. exposure on television or in
the newspaper
Calls for a change in the attitude
towards the natural world.
Focuses on the health of the plant
Strives to protect and preserve
the beauty of nature.
 partial control over for an uncertain and
insecure future

Epitaph No Nature without Social Justice No Humanity without Nature

Environment Medha Patkar is an Indian social activist and Mark Dubois - a co-founder of Friends
alist social reformer turned politician. She is the of the River and the International Rivers
founder member of Narmada Bachao Andolan.. Network, he has long been a leader in
river conservation.

River The Narmada River in India The Stanislaus River in California

Dam Protested the construction of Sardar Sarovar dam Protested the construction of New
Melons dam
Method of Went into the river and chained himself to a rock Threatened to drown herself, along with
protest in a hidden spot. her colleagues, in the river.

Reason for To safeguard the interest of tens of Wanted to save the Stanislaus canyon as
Protest thousands of peasants(farmers) to be one of the remaining examples of the
displaced by the dam unspoilt Californian Wilderness.
She was fighting for a socially just and He wanted to save all the life of the
ecologically sustainable model of canyon, its unique geological grandeur
development. (impressiveness)
How were The Corps of Engineers stopped filling the Patkar and her band were found
they saved? reservoir and convinced to withdraw their
Sent search parties by air and on land to Samarpan dal.
find and rescue Dubois. The government promised a
fresh, independent review of the
Sardar Sarovar project.

TWO KINDS OF ENVIRONMENTALISM IN AMERICA

Environmental Justice Movement Wilderness Movement

Low-class often black communities led this Large mainstream environmental groups led
movement this movement

It is a protest against the incinerators (an It is a movement to protect the wilderness,

apparatus for burning waste material) and forests and oceans that cannot protect
toxic waste dumps near the house of the black themselves.
people.

It is a protest against the environmental It is protest against environmental degradation

hazards(dangers) and social and economic caused due to industrialization.
inequalities that ravage (destroy) the
communities of the poor/black.