The secret thought of many environmentalists is, "Thank God Earth Day comes only once a year." The torrent of green scam announcements by politicians who ignore or plunder the environment the other 364 days of the year is particularly hard to take.
And then there's that ongoing and needed critique of the environmental movement going on. 35 years after the first E-Day, something needs to be changed if the environment is going to be something to the average American besides "just another special interest." See:
The leaders of the organizations are working hard for a good cause; this planet and its people need their collective expertise, dedication, and clout. But we also need them to step back and take a look at what they're doing and what they aren't.
Instead of a broad, values-based vision, they're offering up narrow policy fixes. Instead of reaching out to young people of all backgrounds, they're preaching to a middle-aged, upper-middle-class choir. Instead of looking at the plight of inner cities and rural areas, they're focusing on urban sprawl and wild lands.
Instead of connecting environmental concerns to unemployment, outsourcing, rising health care costs, rising gas prices, and rising disease rates -- in short, to the issues that matter most to tens of millions of people -- they're talking a language almost no one speaks: CAFE standards, NSR rules, POPs treaties.
http://www.commondreams.org/views05/0421-27.htm