Ignorance is NOT Bliss

In my opinion, the combination of ignorance and apathy are the greatest problem facing environmental conservation. Simple interest would lead to greater activism for environmental causes. Unfortunately both ignorance and apathy are difficult to address. The best way to counteract ignorance is obviously through education. But until environmental issues are incorporated into the curriculum of all schools, it is only those people that show some personal interest who will actually study and gain greater knowledge of the interaction of humans and nature.

Apathy is even more difficult to address than ignorance. Through widespread educational and information campaigns, certain issues can, and have, become common knowledge. Take, for instance, the examples of deforestation and climate change. Though there are dissenters of both of these issues, you would be hard-pressed to find someone who doesn’t at least know the main arguments environmentalists make about them. Getting people to care and do something is the ultimate problem. Many methods have been tried; we’ve all seen pictures of people dressed as polar bears and videos of animals affected by oil spills. However, because these have been played over and over throughout our lives, people begin to tune them out. They might see it and think that “Oh, that’s too bad,” but most would be unlikely to think about how their own actions affect the polar bears’ melting habitat, or how their driving supports the company whose tanker spilled oil into the ocean. What’s worse is that so many people are individualistic and simply do not care how their actions will affect others. Because they do not experience the effects themselves, they assume that there are none. In the end, though, it is impossible for people to care if they are not even aware of the issue, which is why ignorance and apathy must be addressed jointly.

Fisher’s article “I Am, Therefore I Pollute” coincides with my argument. Not only does the author seem lazy and self-centered but he embodies the apathy I have discussed. He has the same negative, victimized view of environmentalism that so many Americans share based on the myth that to help the environment, your quality of life must decrease. Have we really become such a spoiled and lazy group that we must complain about things as simple as unplugging appliances? Unfortunately many have. As George H.W. Bush said at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, “The American way of life is not up for negotiation.” As long as we are still able to feed our consumerism and have no inconvenience requested of us, we are willing to speak out for support to the natural world. However, as soon as people are called on to do something (or refrain from doing something) to help the environment, people get defensive and are full of complaints. Still, it is difficult to be entirely environmentally friendly in the United States. As a whole, we thrive on consumption and it has become our norm. It is difficult to break our habits, but if we do not, we will be facing the consequences as we have already begun to.