A great quote by the late Charles Bowden: “Environmentalism is an upper-middle-class white movement aimed at absolution and preserving a lifestyle with a Volvo.” To update the quote, substitute BMW, SUV, or even/especially Prius.
He is spot on. So many urban and suburban “consumers” claim to be environmentalists, and they yet ignore their own hypocritical way of living. And developers and their ilk, too. In many ways I prefer the intellectual honesty of common criminals who go about their business with little self-delusion.
Sustainability is the current faddish version the same hypocrisy, promoted by businesses, universities, and local governments. It is self-delusional hucksterism and green-washing disguised as concern for the planet, where the bureaucrats, plutocrats, and politicians hide behind a “green curtain” as they continue business as usual. I once attended a conference that included a presentation by the sustainability managers of both Rio Tinto, the huge mining company, and Chevron. The presenters as well as most of the audience took their presentations seriously.
More on that in future posts….