Sea Going Open Sailboat

Eulogy abstinence environmentalism Stigma

"So I say that today environmental movement has fewer features than before, as in most of the citizens' awareness and sustainability is, almost everyone is an environmentalist by conviction "

Berriel Sunday.

Minister for the Environment of the Canary Islands.

La Opinión. 10/24/1910. Very illustrative

three interviews published in the newspaper La Opinión in recent months to Antonio Plasencia, chairman of the Provincial Federation of Organizations of the Construction of Santa Cruz de Tenerife (Plasencia, 'I'm as green as any '. La Opinión. 07/26/2010) Berriel to Sunday, Minister for the Environment of the Canary Islands (Sunday Berriel:' I have planted lots of potatoes with a tractor. " La Opinión. 10/24/1910) and Antonio Machado, a biologist and director of the Environmental Monitoring of the Port of Granadilla ('Only God needed to give its approval to Puerto'-La Opinión. 03/11/2010)

Curiously, three managers, from different social classes in theory defend different interests, they claim to have a concept of environmentalism that matches in all three cases. In his interpretation of reality identified environmentalism with wisdom, common sense and the need in society should be groups that pose a counterweight others to generate developmental behaviors. A reflection on the very personal environmentalism and even wise if it were not together in a common interest and the same in all three cases, any idea or environmental conservation can not impede the construction of projects deemed strategic for the island as their vision. An apparent contradiction that challenges his notion of environmentalism. Should not call attention to this match in the definition of environmentalism and the synchrony in the interests of institutions (FEPECO, Canary Islands Government and Environmental Monitoring) having a source and a very different role in society?

a small scale, the three interviews are a valuable source of information for evidence of an offensive play that using the media as amplifiers, have developed some media groups, many operators and too many public institutions. Namely, all have sought and continue to search for the criminalization of the environmental movement or at least its stigma. Order, prevent certain infrastructure projects are hampered by threatening its construction. Behavior that calls into question the quality of our democracy and illuminates the existence of a number of common economic interests to a few who have reacted in a rush against those who dare question them. These signs could list them by the following mapping of stigmatization:

1 - The denial. Environmentalists are those of "not everything" and anti . with Machiavellian intent has attempted to identify the environmental movement with positions rejecting all proposed interventions by public and / or private. The reality, however, does not support this identification. In most cases, the environmental movement from a positive stance. Against intervention or government projects environmentalism faces a stance that could be defined under the maximum "yes, but otherwise" or at least "OK, let's discuss" . A position which by definition is installed away from the culture of denial. Rather it is an invitation to dialogue.

2 - The radicalism. The environmental movement does not dialogue, it takes a radical stance in defending its interests and in the process resulting in prejudice to society. Closely related to the above, we have tried to locate the positions of environmentalism with positions monolithic, immovable. However, the very essence of environmentalism is the need to discuss as the highest expression of democracy. If one claims the debate is because there are several proposals that could be discussed in calm and reasoned manner and therefore it is not radicalism, synonymous with a lack of debate. There seems to be, however, radicalism in the public discourse has not budge adopt authoritarian attitudes in imposing certain projects. On numerous occasions the environmental movement has requested that discuss alternative proposals to the official. The response has been indifference and / or silence.

3 - An appropriation. "Ecologist me" or even more "I'm environmentalism" . In an attempt to neutralize the strength of the movement, there are certain behaviors led some actors to redefine the concept of environmentalism or what purports to be an environmentalist, directing this redefinition to suit your interests. In this process each actor tries to appropriate part of the concept. Specifically the part that is related to environmental forms but discarding the contents and background. It seeks to usurp the position of environmentalists in the Company providing formal proposals for a light green patina that contributes to trivialize the concept. This is what happens with railway projects presented by the City Council in Tenerife and Gran Canaria. They promote the green aspects that may have a means of public transport like the train, to justify the implementation of a project that together generate great condition the territory where it intends to implement.

4 - The lateness. Environmentalism time has passed. People have already assimilated sustainability. Environmentalism is not necessary . Surprising this kind of stigma at a time in which all environmental indicators seem to show that we are in a deep ecological crisis and global colossal dimension. Environmentalism is not only outdated but inevitably will be one of the doctrines that should govern the XXI century. Certainly the successes of this movement in the last three decades has put the question in the minds of the citizenry. Subtraction still the most important and more complicated, introducing environmentalism on the political agenda of the parties that dominate public life.

5 - A gag. In defending their positions and ideas, the bastions of environmentalism in the Canaries have not enjoyed the same visibility distribution platforms and media sponsors who have cut many developmental projects, be they public or private. In this regard it is instructive exercise to account for each other's articles appearing in the mainstream media. The almost total absence of critical voices the same with many projects and the lack of a stage where this group can express their options, shows little ideological diversity of the media and democratic culture absent. One complains that despite all, thanks to the Internet has failed to silence the movement that has had to make an extra effort in publicizing their cause.

6 - The criminalization . The climax of this whole smear campaign comes as equals to ecologists with social terrorist. This is what has happened for example in the UK or the U.S. According to an internal document of the Ministry of Justice British environmentalists are included in a list of dangerous groups to national security along with other terrorist groups like Al Qaeda (Are the environmentalists are terrorists? 20 minutes. 11/02/1910.) . Without going so far, the islands have been branded a social terrorist free and with impunity by some of these actors. A real fallacy that has helped make the movement in the negative. The actions of environmentalism have been developed in an absolutely peaceful. In the absence of violence is wrong use the term "terrorist" .

Long ago we sailed on board a ship driven, not by force of the wind, but by burning their own wood beams that underpin the structure of the vessel, after reaching no really know what career goal in a competitive frenzy. The stigmatization of the environmental movement does not help to solve this dilemma and question the democratic nature of our society.

Photo 1: Mountain Tindaya. Fuerteventura. Eduardo Chillida draft generated a powerful movement of protest against the casting of the mountain who designed the Basque artist.
Photo 2: Toston Lighthouse. El Cotillo. Fuerteventura. One area where the Platform Save El Cotillo reported a development project of enormous proportions and that the TSJC paralyzed thereafter.