Willow is my name, and I feel like my reputation precedes. Instead of being a girl who likes knitting and politics, I’m supposed to live with my family in treehouses and be chained to bulldozers.
For a long period, I opposed this perception. While I love the outdoors and want them to survive for future generations of people, I wasn’t Willow the Environmentalist.
We are now on the brink of environmental disaster. Temperatures are rising at unprecedented rates. Numerous species are at risk of extinction. The ice caps are melting. The climate crisis is real and it is urgent. We must act now before it is too late. It is difficult to be an environmentalist.
American environmentalism’s history has been shrouded by racism and sexismand genocide for much of its history.
Aldo Leopold, President Teddy Roosevelt, and both revered as heroes of modern environmentalalism, advocated for National Parks by forcing the expulsion of indigenous populations. People who lived, hunted and farmed this land for generations. National Parks are focused on preservation. This is the act of keeping things the way they are. It doesn’t allow for sustainable practices by indigenous tribes. They were killed or removed, and whole cultures were lost.
I would argue that this is not true environmentalism. Rather, it is white supremacy being reinforced by manifest destiny. Too long, nature was restricted to white elites who had access to it. Although nature was isolated from the people, it is actually all around us.
Nature is sitting outside listening to the birds, or walking in a local parkandin natural nature (such a botanical garden). Environmentalism is not preservation. It’s about protecting the nature that is most important to you. It could be a National Park with the same name for more than 100 years, but it could also mean advocating for pollinator garden in medians.
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A degree in biology is not required to be an environmentalist. One doesn’t need to spend every moment in wilderness. One doesn’t have to give tithing money to The Sierra Club, World Wildlife Foundation or the Nature Conservancy. Instead, one should have an appreciation for and respect for nature.
Environmentalism is a well-organized movement that is led by scientists, policymakers and, most importantly Jane Fonda. But it is powered by everyday people like us. People who love to be outside. People who love to see pictures of exotic animals and distant lands. People who want the natural world to continue for future generations.
It’s okay to be selfish. It’s okay to care about the environment if it doesn’t disappear in your lifetime. I care about the Great Barrier Reef in Australia as it absorbs large amounts of carbon and serves many species. But I also care because I want to see it one-day.
I no longer fight for the name Willow. I no longer view it as a burden. Instead, I view it a call to action. I view it as a reminder of the connection between my life and nature, and I hope I can encourage others to have a similar mindset and remember:Environmentalism is not a dirty word.
Willow Krupin, a senior at Michigan State University is double majoring in policy and social relations.